I’ve compiled a list of all the must-bring items along with tips and tricks for any Yacht Week adventure! Feel free to reach out with any questions!

 

Portable Mirror

The inside and bottom of the boat is a hot, steamy, sweaty, sauna. You don’t want to spend any more time down there than you have to and 5 women trying to apply make up in bathrooms the size of a closet while continuously sweating is a disaster waiting to happen. Do yourself a favor and bring a standing mirror like this one so that you can apply on the top deck where its breezy! Our bathroom actually reeked from the holding tank so this was even more beneficial to not have to smell that awful smell!

 

Face Sunscreen

This face sunscreen is lightly tinted for light coverage, non-greasy, and smells amazing! It’s a staple in my bag now. It’s perfect for those lazy swim days as well as application under foundation. A must when you will be sailing for 7 days!

 

A Backpack or Duffel Bag

It’s generally highly advisable not to bring hard cases on board the boat. Space is tight and the bags need to be able to fold up for storage. I use the Osprey 30 because I am a tiny woman and the 46 was too large for me, but any of these bags will work fine. I traveled for 2 weeks and was able to fit everything I needed into the 30L, so it’s very spacious.

 

Electrolyte Powder

Seven days of non-stop drinking combined with heat and a rocking boat. Need I say more? Do yourself a solid and bring TONS of electrolyte powder to stay hydrated. You won’t have a lot of time to drink as much water as you should.

 

Medicine

After days of flights & airports, combined with lack of sleep, my immune system got the best of me and I came down with fever, chills, and terrible cough the very FIRST day on the boat. So naturally, the entire crew would end up sick before it was over. One thing I wish we had that we didn’t was tons of Vitamin C and Sudafed/Ibuprofen (such as Advil Cold & Sinus) for congestion/upper respiratory problems. We ended up having to hunt down pharmacies every time we made it to land and it was no fun when we ran out. I had no voice for almost 3 weeks and a cough that kept me awake at night for over a month. DO NOT FORGET THESE.

 

Rechargeable Fan

The fans in the bedrooms on the boat don’t do squat. You can’t even feel them. I brought one of these mini collapsible & rechargeable fans and was thankful I did. It has 8 hours of battery time for a full nights sleep, folds up to stand almost anywhere, and was powerful enough for me to stay somewhat cool while sleeping. It also has a USB cord for charging it so its easy to charge on the go and on the boat.

 

 

Cross Body

I brought a handwoven rattan cross body similar to this one for nights out on shore and at the beach and it was perfect. It was big enough to hold all of my items like cell phone and sunglasses, cards, cash, etc. and I got a LOT of compliments on it. Remember that space on the boat is limited so bring only one cross body that’s versatile. You don’t need to bring a different one for each outfit. You’ll hate yourself for carrying that much stuff on board and so will your crew mates. Keep it simple.

 

 

Body Wipes

It’s going to be hot. That’s a sure thing. There are times that you will go from one party to the next with little time in between. Everyone will be thankful that you wiped down and cleaned up before getting close to them on the dance floor. Don’t forget your cleansing wipes of whatever brand of your choosing as long as they work. These are simple, inexpensive, biodegradable, and are sure to get the job done. And there’s plenty for the other crew mates who forgot to bring their own.

 

Wet Brush

If you have long hair, you’ll want one of these wet brushes. It minimizes pain and allows you to brush through wet hair with less force helping you to prevent breakage and damage. I’ve actually tossed my regular brush and now only use these because I love them so much.

 

 Make Up

Don’t try to be glamorous when you’re spending 7 days on a boat. No one expects you to look like a queen and everyone else is in the same boat as you (pun intended). Only bring the necessities and spend the rest of your time enjoying the water and sun!

• • Sunscreen/moisturizer
  • Foundation w/ SPF
  • Bronzer
  • Waterproof Mascara
  • Eyebrow pencil (if you must)
  • Bright lipstick to spice things up

Clothing/Shoes/Swimwear

Leave the jeans at home and opt for lightweight and fast drying clothing! Depending on the route you take you will mostly only need a few different articles! (You can check out a few pics below to get a feel on the crowd.) You will spend most of your time in swimwear. Most importantly, don’t overthink it – you will have fun regardless!

• • 2-3 swim cover-ups
  • 1 pair of boat shoes/ 1 pair of versatile sandals (to dress-up or dress down)
  • 3-4 sundresses
  • 2-3 shorts (combination of casual & dressy)
  • something lightweight for sleeping (IT’S HOT)
  • Something tropical (think bright colors, florals, etc.)
  • Something for the white party. Even though it’s a white party, it’s still summer and you’re sailing – so remember to keep it lightweight.
  • After you pack everything, you bring however many swimsuits you can fit!
• Tip: Buy body wash, sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, etc upon arrival and buy the big bottles for the boat to share. It saves so much space when 10 people aren’t lugging around their own bottles and you will have space in your bag for other items!
• Tip: Don’t bother bringing a hair dryer/ curling iron/ flat iron, etc. They pull entirely way too much power to be used on the boat. Embrace the all natural look – everyone else will be too!

Hopefully this gives you a good idea of what to expect during TYW. Feel free to ask any questions! The most important things are to not overthink it and just HAVE FUN! And remember to be grateful and LOVE YOURSELF!

Travel. Discover. Inspire –