A soft bag beats a hard suitcase, and a handful of essentials matter more than a full wardrobe. Here's what actually belongs on a sailing holiday packing list, and what you can safely leave at home.
1. Pack a soft, foldable bag, not a hard suitcase
Hard suitcases are awkward on a yacht: there's rarely anywhere to store them once you're on board. A soft, foldable holdall fits easily into the cockpit lockers (the storage compartments under the outdoor benches) and takes up far less space once it's empty.
2. Make a checklist, and keep it for next time
The easiest way to avoid last-minute stress is a simple checklist, ticked off a day or two before departure. Once you've built your own, save it, it'll save you time on every future trip.
3. The essentials that should never be missing
Payment cards and some cash, ID or passport, your boating licence (an ICC or equivalent), clothing for both warm days and cooler evenings, sunscreen, and basic toiletries including a toothbrush.
4. What to leave at home
A few things rarely get used and just take up space: a work laptop, heavy sweaters (one is plenty), a hairdryer or curling iron, and, unless you're sailing somewhere genuinely rough, full wet-weather sailing gear and boots.
5. What to wear once you're on board
Flip-flops or sandals are fine for most Mediterranean sailing, including Croatia and Greece. Grippy sailing shoes are really only necessary for more serious sailing in rougher conditions. Expect to spend most days in swimwear, and evenings in shorts with a light shirt or polo. Rain passes quickly in the Mediterranean summer, so anything that gets wet dries fast, including you.
