Sailing the Florida Keys, the British Virgin Island, and the Greek Islands is well within your reach thanks to yacht chartering companies. If you’re new to this type of vacation you might want to check you bags for the following items which will vastly improve your vacation. The trick is to pack in a collapsible bag so it can be stowed away during your charter.

Recommended Accessories

• Two Way Radio - Cell phones don’t always work in the islands and even if you have a signal the roaming charges add up fast so I recommend picking up a set of good old fashion walkie talkies so you can communicate with the boast while you are on shore provisioning, shopping, or just relaxing


• Nautical Charts - All charter yachts are outfitted with color GPS displays but I find it nice to lay out a chart to plan my trips.


• Leisure Reading Material - I won’t try to sway your decision on this topic but I read Search by John Battelle during my last yacht charter – great read with a fascinating look into the Google machine.


• Cards or Board Games - There’s nothing more enjoyable than a good board game while you’re anchored in the evenings.


• Compact Camera - Digital cameras are getting better each day but I would recommend finding a small one with at least 3x optical zoom and 4MP. I always buy Canon.


• First Aid Kit - Boats injuries will happen and it’s best to be prepared. You might want to pack some extra Advil if you plan to spend a lot of time at the island bars!

Clothing
The trick to packing for a charter trip is efficiency. I usually pack way to much but that’s okay because I always forward my luggage directly to the ship but if you’re traveling the old fashion way by lugging your bags through the airport then this list will help you identify the necessities. I recommend packing light clothes that can be washed on board if necessary.

• 2 bathing suites


• 2-3 pair shorts


• 5-7 short sleeve shirts


• 2 evening shirts for dinner on shore


• 1 pair nice pants/skirt/shorts


• 1 fleece/sweatshirt – it can get cold at night


• 1 pair flip flops/sandals


• 1 pair comfortable shoes


• Underwear for each day

Toiletries
Definitely leave your hair dryer at home but other than that I guess it depends how much you want to carry. Here are my suggestions for toiletries you simply can’t live without on a boat.

• Sun block – 30 if you burn easily


• Gold Bond Powder – gets sticky on a boat


• Shampoo and Bath Gel


• Deodorant


• Toothpaste and Toothbrush

I may write another article about provisioning a boat but this should get you started on your packing. Bon Voyage!