What to Pack for a Yacht Charter: The Complete List

The Golden Rule: Pack Half What You Think

Yacht cabins are small. Storage is limited. There are no wardrobes, just narrow lockers and shelves. If you bring a hard suitcase, you will spend the week tripping over it because there is nowhere to store it. The single most important packing rule: use a soft bag (duffel or backpack) and bring less than you think you need.

You will live in swimwear. You will rewear things. Nobody on a yacht cares what you wore yesterday. Pack for function, not variety.

The Essential List

Clothes

• Swimwear (3 sets). You will swim 2 to 3 times a day. Nothing dries as fast as you expect on a boat, especially below deck.
• Rash vest or UV swim shirt. Protects against sunburn while snorkelling. The sun reflecting off the water is significantly stronger than on a beach.
• Shorts (2 pairs). Quick-dry material. One for on the boat, one for going ashore.
• T-shirts or tank tops (3 to 4). Light, breathable. Cotton is fine but dries slowly. Synthetic or linen is better.
• One light long-sleeve shirt. For sun protection during long sails, or evenings when the breeze picks up.
• One pair of trousers or a long skirt. For dinner ashore. Some waterfront restaurants appreciate a slight step up from swimwear, though most in Greece or Croatia are relaxed.
• A light fleece or hoodie. Evenings at anchor can be cool, especially in May, June, and September. On passage, the wind makes it feel cooler than the air temperature.
• Underwear (enough for the week). This is the one thing you will not want to rewear.
• A light rain jacket. You probably will not need it, but Mediterranean squalls happen. A thin packable waterproof is enough.

Footwear

• Reef shoes or water sandals. Essential. You need something you can wear in the dinghy, on rocky beaches, and on wet decks. Crocs, Tevas, or any water shoe with a non-marking sole.
• One pair of deck shoes or boat shoes (optional). If you want something nicer for restaurants. Must have non-marking soles. Black-soled shoes leave marks on teak decks, and charter companies will be unhappy.
• Flip-flops. For the marina and the beach.

Do not bring: Heels, formal shoes, hiking boots (unless you specifically plan to hike), or any shoes with dark soles.

Sun Protection

The sun on a boat is intense. Water reflects UV from below, so you burn from angles you would not on land. Sailors call it "boat burn" because people underestimate it every time.

• Sunscreen (SPF 50, lotion form). Not spray. Spray makes the deck slippery (dangerous) and is worse for the marine environment. Reef-safe is better if you are swimming in marine reserves. Reapply every 2 hours, more often if swimming.
• A hat with a chin strap or cord. Wide brim or baseball cap, but it must stay on your head. The wind will take an unsecured hat overboard within the first hour. Neck-covering hats are even better.
• Polarised sunglasses with a retainer strap. Polarised lenses cut the water glare and let you see through the surface, which is useful for spotting shallow rocks when anchoring. The retainer strap is non-negotiable. Sunglasses overboard is the most common loss on a yacht.
• Lip balm with SPF. Easily forgotten, but wind and sun chap lips quickly.

Sailing Gear

• Sailing gloves (optional). Only needed if you are bareboat chartering and pulling ropes. Not needed on crewed charters.
• A headlamp or small torch. Yachts at anchor are dark at night. Useful for finding the heads (bathroom) without waking everyone.
• A dry bag. For keeping phones, wallets, and electronics safe during dinghy rides. A 10-litre dry bag costs under 10 pounds and is the most useful item on this list.

Health and Comfort

• Seasickness remedies. Even if you do not normally get motion sick. Scopolamine patches, Dramamine, or ginger are all options. Take them preventatively before the first sail, not after symptoms start.
• Any regular medications. There may not be a pharmacy on a small island.
• After-sun or aloe vera gel. For when the sunscreen was not enough.
• Insect repellent. Mosquitoes at anchor in sheltered bays, especially at dusk.
• Basic first aid. Plasters, painkillers, anti-diarrhoea tablets. The yacht will have a first aid kit, but it may not have everything you use.

Electronics

• Waterproof phone case. A universal waterproof pouch (the kind with a clear front) protects your phone during dinghy rides, swimming, and splashes. Salt water kills phones. This is essential, not optional.
• A portable power bank. Yacht charging points are limited and often in use. A 10,000mAh bank keeps your phone alive for the week.
• Download offline maps. Google Maps, Navionics, or similar. Mobile signal between islands can be patchy. Download the area before departure.
• Download music and films. Wi-Fi on charter yachts ranges from slow to non-existent. Download what you want before boarding.

For the Galley (Bareboat Only)

If you are bareboat chartering and cooking on board, bring:

• Your favourite spices or sauces. Provisioning on board is basic. A bottle of olive oil, salt, and pepper are usually there, but anything specific to your cooking is not.
• A decent knife (in checked luggage). Galley knives on charter yachts are universally terrible. One sharp chef's knife transforms meal prep.
• Ziplock bags. For storing leftovers, keeping bread fresh, and a dozen other uses.
• A corkscrew (check the boat has one). Some do, some do not.

What NOT to Pack

• Hard suitcases. There is nowhere to store them. They scratch teak surfaces and do not fit through cabin hatches. Soft bags only.
• Too many clothes. You will rewear everything. Nobody notices or cares. A week on a yacht needs less than a weekend city break.
• White clothes you care about. Boats are greasy. Winch oil, diesel, and general grime will find your favourite white shirt.
• Valuable jewellery. Salt water, dinghy rides, and swimming are not compatible with expensive accessories. Leave them at home.
• Full-size towels. The yacht provides them. Beach towels are fine to bring if you have space, but the boat towels work.
• Books (physical). They get damp and heavy. Use a Kindle or your phone.
• Hair dryers or straighteners. Yacht electrical systems are limited. Most charter yachts have a 12V system that cannot handle high-wattage appliances. Your hair will be salty and windswept. Embrace it.
• Formal wear. No charter dinner requires a tie, a cocktail dress, or anything that needs ironing. Smart-casual is the maximum for any waterfront restaurant.

The Day-Before Checklist

The night before you board:

1. Download offline maps for your sailing area
2. Download music, films, and podcasts
3. Charge all devices and the power bank
4. Put sunscreen, hat, and swimwear in an easy-to-reach spot (you will want them within the first hour)
5. Take your seasickness remedy if you are using the scopolamine patch (it needs 6 to 8 hours to take effect)
6. Pack everything in your soft bag and do a final check: passport, sailing licence (bareboat), credit card for the damage deposit

What Experienced Sailors Add

After a few charters, people start bringing things that are not obvious to first-timers:

• A small Bluetooth speaker. For music in the cockpit during sundowners. Not too loud. Sound carries across water.
• Snorkelling gear that fits. Charter boats often have snorkels and masks, but the fit is rarely good. Your own mask that does not leak makes a big difference.
• A small cool bag. For taking drinks and snacks to the beach in the dinghy.
• Clothesline and pegs. For drying swimwear on the lifelines. Some yachts have them, many do not.
• A headband or buff. Keeps hair out of your face while sailing. Practical and unremarkable until you need it.

We Handle the Rest

Packing the right bag is your job. Finding the right boat, destination, and crew is ours. We will make sure you have a charter that matches your group, a fair contract, and an itinerary that works.

Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram to plan your yacht charter.