How to Plan the Perfect Boat Day: The Complete Packing List

After thousands of guest days on the water across our fleet, a consistent pattern emerges: the guests who have the best charters are the ones who arrived prepared. Not over-packed — prepared. This list is everything you need, nothing you don't.

Sun protection (non-negotiable)

• SPF 50 sunscreen — two bottles minimum. Reapply every 90 minutes. One bottle will not last a full day for a group. Buy waterproof formulation and don't skip your ears, the back of your neck, or the tops of your feet.
• Wide-brim hat. The sun hits you from above and reflects up from the water below. A baseball cap covers the top of your head and nothing else. A wide-brim hat — 10cm of brim or more — covers your face, ears, and the back of your neck simultaneously.
• UV-protective sunglasses. Six hours of sun-reflected glare off open water without eye protection will leave you with a headache that ruins the evening. Polarised lenses are a genuine advantage on the water.

Clothing

• Swimwear (two sets if possible). Sitting in wet swimwear for eight hours is uncomfortable. A second set that dries while you wear the first is worth the extra bag space.
• Soft-sole non-marking shoes. Deck shoes, flip-flops, or barefoot. Hard-soled shoes mark gelcoat and are slippery when wet.
• Light windproof layer. The return journey in late afternoon, after a day of sun exposure, feels surprisingly cold once you're no longer moving. A thin fleece or wind jacket is genuinely useful even in July.

Technology and valuables

• Waterproof phone case. Salt spray is invisible until it isn't. A dry bag or waterproof case costs three euros and saves a phone worth a thousand.
• Portable power bank. A full day of photography, music, and navigation will drain a phone battery completely.
• Leave the laptop at the hotel. The boat is a phone-and-camera day only.

Health

• Seasickness tablets. Take them 30 minutes before departure, not after you start feeling unwell. Once motion sickness sets in, oral medication takes too long to act. Stugeron (cinnarizine) is the most effective over-the-counter option available in Spanish pharmacies.
• Water — more than you think. Most boats carry drinks, but bring your own personal water bottle. Dehydration accelerates in sun and wind and mimics the symptoms of seasickness.

One last thing

Tip your skipper. If they gave you an outstanding day — and they will — ten percent of the charter fee is the norm. Pay in cash, hand it to them personally when you step off at the dock. It matters more than you might think.