Bare Minimum

[shipofools]

desitin.

[Roaring Girl]

Still not sure where you are but (sorry mark) I'd definitely add the gloves. But I think many sailing gloves are a rip off: these days in dryer/hotter climes, I wear workout gloves, which have a strengthened palm, a webbing back, no fingers and little loops topull them off when your hands are hot. EU5 and last for ever. Cycling ones with leather palms are even better.

Otherwise - it's only a week. You don't need much. Don't forget you cannot fly with a lifejacket (gas canister) so if you are taking a plane, the skipper had better provide this. When you get there, ask if you can have a lifejacket allocated for you. Adjust it to your size and tie a piece of ribbon it so you know it's yours. It is your responsibility to know where it is and be able to get it on. We do this as standard on RG and it's worked well for us.

If it is colder areas - good quality base layers and good oilies. This is more stuff, but you must keep warm and reasonably dry. Wet hypothermic crew are a danger to everyone!

If you're in the rich world, in the worst case you can buy it there!

[Eleven]

Cotton dries faster and keeps you warmer. You'll need a change of clothes, especially socks.
You will only need waterprrofs in rain, any yellow workmans jacket cos if it's raining it's probably cold, if it's windy and raining it's definitely cold, or on a mono.
A woollen 'bbennie' hat that pulls well down. More use than an extra jumper at night.
If it is a racing mono you'll need waterproof trousers as a minimum, preferabley a decent waterproof jacket as well because it's the new man that sits on the windward side and keeps the boat upright.
If it's not temperate zone add some thin rubber gloves to keep hands warm when wet, and a pair of those yellow rubberised mesh gloves that give your hands far more grip than you can achieve without conditioning of skin and muscles.
My rule in the UK is one Jacket when we cast off, another jacket when we start sailing. That keeps me comfortable in most conditions, even winter in strong winds.
The top jacket tends be a one of those road menders yellow jobs big enough to go over a gardeners jacket beneath it.
You must allow for sailing at dawn on a cool morning, already wet and tired and a little fed up because you haven't got a go at the wheel yet. Skippers and crew vary enormously. Most don't mind questions but there's a time and a place. When it gets busy all they want to hear is YES SIR.
Once they've got it sorted out then you can gently ask your questions.
Personnaly I wouldn't go on a boat that doesn't have, and has demonstrated, a Radio and a GPS system. You should also be shown how to hit the MOB button before you leave the mooring and how to call the Coastguard next.
Asoft bag to airline dimensions is the biggest you should take.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by Eleven

Cotton dries faster and keeps you warmer. You'll need a change of clothes, especially socks.

I apologize but this is simply not true. I do a fair amount of backcountry climbing, backpacking, skiing, ice climbing and mountaineering. In these arenas, Cotton = death in cold weather and is a highway to hypothemia when it gets wet in cold climates. If you ever dive or white water raft in a wetsuit in cold water one of the first thing you're told is "don't wear cotton under the wets suit".

There are very few materials that will still insulate when wet....silk and wool being natural fibers. Polyester for synthetics. Anything that is labelled as 'quick dry' is ideal. I have quick dry shirts and shorts by a number of different manufacturers. I've gotten wet in both, and the cotton will be wet for 3-4 times longer than any polyester or silk materials. wet cotton will rob body heat. As your body is robbed of heat, it spends a good amount of time burning energy trying to recreate the lost heat only to have that sucked from the body as well. It will actually drain energy in the process.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Shrew

There are very few materials that will still insulate when wet....silk and wool being natural fibers. Polyester for synthetics. Anything that is labelled as 'quick dry' is ideal. I have quick dry shirts and shorts by a number of different manufacturers. I've gotten wet in both, and the cotton will be wet for 3-4 times longer than any polyester or silk materials. wet cotton will rob body heat. As your body is robbed of heat, it spends a good amount of time burning energy trying to recreate the lost heat only to have that sucked from the body as well. It will actually drain energy in the process.

We get lots of thunderstorms and showers here. I always wear quick dry clothing. 15 minutes after the rain I am dry. My cotton clad bretheren are still soaked.

Here in 32*C land the "benefit" of cooling you get from the cotton drying doesn't work. You end up a steamy uncomfortable mess...

Here is a shot from a twilight race in heavy rain on the rare occasion I didn't wear dry fit. The cotton was miserable. The second shot is our J24 team at the J24 nationals in light rain taken from the committee boat. Dry fit rocks.

[rebel heart]

Some other items (in addition to some of the good advice above):

- An ebook reader (kindle, etc) with a lot of books and good battery life.
- An mp3 player with comfy headphones.
- Your own pillow (and possibly blanket or sleeping bag; ask if you need to bring your own stuff, but your own small pillow can make a big difference).
- weather gear">Foul weather gear.
- Sailing gloves.
- Sun glasses with holder.
- Wet wipes (for your rear), some lunch paper bags (to put them in and then throw them overboard or in the trash depending).

[rebel heart]

Cotton is great if you have a lot of water to wash it (and heat to dry it) and you're in really dry conditions. If any of that is not true (which is typical) you're a lot better off wearing "quick dry" clothing.

See how much time, water, and soap it takes to correctly wash some cotton vs. nylon underwear. It's absurd how much water is used for things like denim or even a simple t shirt.

[MarkJ]

Theres pretty well no doubt that cotton ain't no good when you're cold and wet.

But when its hot and not raining, just tropical hot and palm trees hot and hotter than warm hot but real hot then I can only have cotton on... from cotton shorts to cotton shirts or tshits cotton is the go for the heat

[ReMetau]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Theres pretty well no doubt that cotton ain't no good when you're cold and wet.

But when its hot and not raining, just tropical hot and palm trees hot and hotter than warm hot but real hot then I can only have cotton on... from cotton shorts to cotton shirts or tshits cotton is the go for the heat

Better yet, nothing at all.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Apart from what you would take for a days walk over the hills in a UK summer (i.e. normal outdoor - and some "just in case").

I would say deck shoes (or at least some soft non-marking and ideally newish shoes). and a soft squashable holdall (no frame. nor wheels).

I would also tell the Skipper what you are thinking of bringing and ask advice for anything else. Skippers like to feel important

As first time on a boat Skipper shouldn't be embarking you on a non-stop RTW voyage - after even only a day aboard most things will become self evident or can be talked through when onboard. Just got to remember that different boats / skippers / voyages have different requirements - like much else it's the assumptions that catch yer out

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

I would also tell the Skipper what you are thinking of bringing and ask advice for anything else. Skippers like to feel important

Gentlemen always carry a Dinner Suit so you can ask you Skipper (called a Captain on propper vessels) what nights you should dress for dinner.

Actually I do have a jacket and tie of a certain yacht club... I just took a smell of it and hope theres a dry cleaner co-located with the next invitation!

Mark

[shipofools]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

I would also tell the Skipper what you are thinking of bringing and ask advice for anything else. Skippers like to feel important

good point, my crew typically just shows up with a bottle of 151 goslings. makes me feel important . . . in my own mind.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Gentlemen always carry a Dinner Suit so you can ask you Skipper (called a Captain on propper vessels) what nights you should dress for dinner.

Funnily enough I was looking at cake stands (for afternoon tea ) the other day



But might be a while before I need to buy as I took the Galley apart at the weekend............

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Gentlemen always carry a Dinner Suit so you can ask you Skipper (called a Captain on propper vessels) what nights you should dress for dinner.

Pleeease, one should have a blue blazer, grey flannels white shirt and club tie for socialising in the yacht club. Black tie for more formal occasions Buttons should be dark, brass ones are for crew.

Pete

[zeehag]

me wearing anything more than a wife beater tank top in hot weather means i have to meet someone more important than myself. that is rare.

is a dress on me.

dries fast. no other cotton in rain is any good-- i wear oilies on top of this if it is cold out so i dont get cold. silk in cold weather-- makes great warming of bod. dries exceptionally fast. pair gill stretched out an dworn much sailing gloves with a leather palm so i can grab and keep grabbed lol -- so i can handle lines.

i figger if someone is to eb a repeat offender in my shiplet for crew, there will eb a permanent kit of supplies for that soul kept aside.

anyone showing up at my boat in or with a blue blazer and alladat gets to walk the plank...LOL....i dont get really fancy. i dont own fancy anymore. fancy is not comfy.
\my momm always told me you have to suffer to be beautiful.
i decided i didnt want to be beautiful. comfort is better.

doj--you really gonna put one of those in yer boat?????