What you need for a windsurfing marathon

A windsurfing marathon needs more than boards and sails. Your shopping list must cover the course, water rescue, communications, registration, timing, shelter, and food for participants and volunteers. Plan quantities around the number of competitors, rescue teams, and hours on site. Check safety equipment early, because life jackets, throw lines, rescue boards, and thermal blankets are easy to overlook and harder to replace at the last minute.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 3
Foldable tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 40
Clothes racksqty 2

Sports equipment

Course buoysqty 12
Start and finish buoysqty 4
Anchor weightsqty 16
Anchor linesqty 16
Signal flagsqty 8
Life ringsqty 6
Throw linesqty 6
Life jacketsqty 12
Rescue boardsqty 2
Thermal blanketsqty 12
Bib numbersqty 100
Race bib strapsqty 100
Stopwatchesqty 4
Clipboardsqty 6

Equipment

Walkie-Talkiesqty 8
Megaphone
Portable speakersqty 2
Competition clock
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Power banksqty 6
Two-way radio chargersqty 4

Tableware

Reusable drinking cupsqty 120
Reusable platesqty 100
Reusable cutleryqty 120
Serving plattersqty 10

Kitchen

Coolersqty 6
Water dispensersqty 3
Coffee machinesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Serving spoonsqty 8

Decorations

Route signsqty 12
Directional signsqty 8
Barrier tapeqty 4
Buntingqty 6

Lighting

LED work lightsqty 6
LED lanternsqty 12

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Broom setsqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Bucketsqty 4
First aid kitsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Coffee milk - 2 bottles
- Stirrers - 150 pieces
- Spa Blue - 12 crates
- Spa Rood - 4 crates
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Sports drink - 8 cases
- Isotonic drink - 6 boxes
- Paper napkins - 8 packs
- Raisin buns - 100 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- White rolls - 100 pieces
- Wholemeal rolls - 60 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 2 tubs
- Mild cheese - 3 kilograms
- Cooked ham - 2 kilograms
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilograms
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Apples - 100 pieces
- Bananas - 100 pieces
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Muesli bars - 120 pieces
- Energy gels - 100 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Salty pretzels - 4 bags
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Bandages - 4 boxes
- Disposable gloves - 4 boxes

Tips

Prepare one clearly marked safety kit for every rescue boat or safety station, including life jackets, life rings, throw lines, rescue boards, and thermal blankets. Keep spare equipment available rather than relying on one shared item.
Buy enough course buoys, start and finish buoys, anchor weights, and anchor lines for the full route, plus a small reserve. Count the buoys after the course layout is tested, not only when the order is placed.
Allow at least one working walkie-talkie for each safety, start, finish, and coordination role, and keep two-way radio chargers and power banks on site. Charge every radio the day before and label spare batteries or charging points.
Prepare one bib number and race bib strap for every registered participant, with extras for late changes or damaged numbers. Keep clipboards, stopwatches, the competition clock, signal flags, and a megaphone together at the start and finish area.
Plan refreshments by time rather than guesswork: allow roughly two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person per hour. Reusable cups, plates, cutlery, serving platters, snacks, and a covered serving area are often forgotten until the final setup.

Frequently asked questions

What safety equipment do I need for a windsurfing marathon?: For each rescue boat or safety station, provide life jackets, a life ring, a throw line, a rescue board, and thermal blankets. Also include course and start/finish buoys with anchor weights and lines, and check everything at least 24 hours before the event.
How many radios are needed for a windsurfing marathon?: Provide at least one walkie-talkie for every operational role that must communicate, including rescue, start, finish, and event coordination. Add one or two spare radios, and charge all units the day before; keep chargers and power banks at the venue.
How many bib numbers should I order?: Prepare one bib number and one race bib strap per registered participant, plus 5–10% extra for replacements and late registration changes. Assemble the bibs before event day so registration staff can hand them out without sorting delays.
How much food and drink do I need for the event?: For the first hour, allow roughly two to three drinks per person, followed by about one drink per person per hour. Add snacks for the full event duration and collect dietary requirements before shopping, ideally at least one week in advance.

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