Offshore Packing List: Stay Warm, Dry, and Comfortable

If you’re doing an Atlantic crossing, it depends on what type of boat you’re in, but it’s basically the same amount of equipment. Start with the base: put your two pairs of dry underwear in a Ziploc bag, roll them up, seal them, and keep them dry. Do the same with your socks, because there’s nothing worse than wet, cold feet. Depending on what size boat, you probably have a little more room if you’re doing a crossing or a delivery, so you can bring two or three technical shirts so you can wash them and have fresh, clean gear. You’re going to want a fleece and a puffer because in the middle of the night when you’re on watch, you want to stay warm. Don’t forget your legs—thermal pants are the best thing to bring across, especially when you know you’ve got to be up on deck for three hours and you just checked the temperature and it’s 42 degrees. Then you’ll have your foul weather gear—your bibs and your jacket. If you were doing an Atlantic crossing, go with a trilaminate fabric because it dries faster if you get moisture on the inside, whereas a coated fabric takes longer to dry. The boat may have its own harnesses, but check with them because you may have a particular inflatable and harness, and that’s what you’re going to wear when you’re on deck all the time—make sure it’s comfortable and fits you. Think about what time of year you’re crossing—if it’s in the colder months, bring a really good waterproof hat that’s a bonded fleece. Having a good pair of gloves is really important—your regular sailing gloves, and then a cold weather pair for when the temperature drops. There is a checklist—talk to whomever you are going transatlantic or transpacific with about what they have on the boat and what their expectation is for what you need to do. And don’t forget your boots—and because you don’t need to wear your boots every day, have a really good pair of sailing shoes as well. 00:00 - Base layer: dry underwear in a Ziploc 00:39 - Mid-layers: fleece + puffer for night watch 01:19 - Foul weather gear: bibs + jacket/smock 01:55 - Harness check: inflatable + harness fit/comfort 02:18 - Bonded fleece waterproof hat 03:00 - Gloves and Footwear #sailing #sailinggear #offshoresailing #sailor