Obviously the basics are important, but you probably know what those are.
Things that we found really make a difference, but that we didn't really think about/plan for until a few months into the trip (when we were in the middle of nowhere...):
-Protection for your
electronics. We have a silly number of Pelican cases, but the peace of mind they bring - especially when dinghying to and from shore - is irreplaceable.
-An AeroPress. Because sad coffee is sad, but AeroPress coffee is good (bonus: power-free and super easy to clean).
-Activities. For me this is thousands of small TV/movie files that I can watch on my
iPad during night watch when a book/the stars just aren't going to cut it. For my boyfriend this is his guitar and strange
books about coding (or whatever life skill you aspire to learn).
Music and podcasts also good. Snorkelling
gear also important.
-Sun
safety. Two things: (1) In many places of the world, sunscreen can be prohibitively expensive. So stock up where you can. (2) Hotter places/the tropics/near the equator it can be impossible to find sunscreen with less than SPF 50. More SPF is better safety-wise, but some days when you're mostly lounging about inside it's nice to have some SPF 20-30 on hand so you don't need to coat your body with super heavy and slimy stuff. That said, we got a 1L
pump bottle of SPF 50 from some sailor friends and it's fabulous for when you're running out the door (or off the swimming platform, as it were).
-Sun shade. Some days are just too nice to be inside, so being able to safely hang out in the
cockpit is a must.
-Things to make your
food interesting and the
cooking enjoyable. The more small weird things the better.We make lots of rices/risottos/pastas, so being able to mix and match spices and sauces etc. makes it far more fun and tasty. Coconut milk is a must have. ALSO: NZ/AUS sell small, thermos-looking yoghurt makers (see: EasiYo, which are utterly amazing. The yoghurt mix - many different kinds and flavours - just come in small packets that are easy to stock up on. Fresh yoghurt on day 24 at sea? Yes please.
-Harness (basically looks like a
PFD that can clip on to the
boat but without the
inflatable bits). We don't have one yet, but I get tension headaches from wearing my
PFD so hopefully this should help.