Well of course a bottle of rum. Captain Morgan’s is our favorite if you ask me! Sailing and alcohol is like yin & yang. One complements and fills the other but balance is necessary and will make the difference. No one would ever enjoy sailing with a hangover and everyone would become alcoholics if they had to deal with a hardcore sailor only. So, provisioning is step one and although alcohol is related to sailing, water is actually the absolute must have onboard especially for those who chose Greece to sail. Our summers can easily hit 40C so staying hydrated is a matter of safety and wellbeing for yourselves and the crew.
Do not buy too many things as in most if not all ports you will visit, islands or mainland; there are sufficient numbers of mini and supermarkets, grocery stores and bakeries. Therefore, it would be strongly advisable to buy small portions at a time and enjoy the freshness of the products every day. Dry pasta, rice, potatoes and tins of tuna, beans etc is also good and will buy you some last minute freedom if you change your plans out of the blue. Dairy products and fresh meat or fish should be stored in fridges for maximum 2 days otherwise you risk to through your provisioning in to the waste bin. It only takes someone to forget the fridge door open or your batteries to go down and with our hot summers you can kiss your “feta” good bye!
Clothes wise, again don’t overdo it. You do not need ultra expensive hardware sailing clothes. You come over for a week, in more than good conditions and your offshore sailing gear is not really necessary. Take at least 2-3 bathing suits, some comfortable sorts or dresses and several t-shirts. Have a light jacket in case weather gets a bit tricky and long trousers. Usually weather can be chilly enough to request warmer clothes during May, Mid September and October and again, usually only during the night. You need a pair of shoes or your flip-flops or your sandals for walking outside the boat and a good firm grip not slippery pair of shoes to use onboard. Breaking a toe is easier that you think on a slippery curvy deck.
A hat, long sleeve breathable shirts and high UV protection sun block will protect you for the first days on sea.
Remember, it’s not only about how many personal items you bring but also where to store them. So, pack up wisely only with the absolutely essential and if you want to be acknowledged as a good sailor, respect the boat and bring a non wheels suitcase.
You are ready, welcome onboard!
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