Packing for any trip can be a stressful experience. But when you add the extra challenge of traveling on an outdoorsy trip, like a sailing adventure in Croatia, it becomes even more challenging. You can't necessarily use your normal travel packing list. At least that was my experience!

If you’ve never been on an extended boat stay before, you might be wondering “What the heck do I pack for a sailing trip?!?”

I just returned from sailing trip with More Sailing in Croatia. During the trip, I learned some valuable lessons on what to pack and what not to pack. This is the ultimate packing guide for a summer sailing adventure in Croatia! I've included my lessons learned, as well as items for everyday use, tips for maximizing your packing efforts and things to avoid bringing. 

Ultimate Packing Guide for a Sailing Trip in Croatia

Effective Packing Suggestions for a Sailing Trip

Packing Cubes

I only recently started using packing cubes, but I found them to be incredibly useful for staying organized on this trip. In your cabin, you have a small wardrobe to hold all of your items. That way, you don’t need to dig in your suitcase each day. The last thing you want to do is dig through all of your stuff to find something, especially when wet from swimming or with hands greasy from sunscreen. I simply unpacked my packing cubes into the cabin’s wardrobe, which kept them super organized on the day-to-day.

Electronics & Valuables

Regarding electronics, the interior of the boat stays dry so you don’t have to worry about your phone or computer getting damaged. However, boats are difficult to securely lock at night. It is rare, but someone could potentially climb on from the dock and raid your stuff. Bringing a small backpack lock isn’t a bad idea.

It would also be a good idea to pack an extra battery pack. There are some nights when you’ll stay at a buoy instead of a dock, which means your boat won’t have access to power from shore. Battery packs are useful in circumstances like this!

What Luggage to Use?

Deciding on the right luggage is critical. Sailboats, while roomy for passengers, don’t offer a lot of excess storage. I would recommend packing as a minimalist for your sailing trip, using a soft-sided backpack or carry-on suitcase. The suitcase will likely be stored in your cabin or common areas, so it is a good idea to keep it small. Sometimes, suitcases are not allowed, so make sure to check with your charter provider before packing.

Recently, I’ve been travelling with my Level8 Voyageur Suitcase and Level8 Capture Carry-On. They have both totally elevated how I pack and move. For my Croatia sailing trip, I brought the Capture Carry-On. It was perfect! It offered enough space for all the items in this packing list, but could also squish down slightly to fit under the bed in my cabin. Best of both worlds.

Ultimate Croatia Packing List for a Sailing Adventure

Must-Bring Items That I Used Every Day

• Hat: The sun gets intense during the day as it bounces off the surface of the water. Even with sunglasses, I found myself squinting at the brightness. I wore my baseball cap every day to keep the sun off my face. Several other group members also brought sun hats to protect their necks from the sun. Be sure to pack a hat clip so it doesn’t blow off in the ocean with a gust of wind!
• Sunscreen: Being outside every day means you are going to get A LOT of time in the sun. My spouse and I went through 2 full bottles of sunscreen in 8 days.
• Refillable Water Bottle: On a sailing trip, it is recommend to drink 3 liters of water per day. You lose so much hydration to the sun. Your boat will likely provide drinkable water for you. If not, I recommend buying large jugs of water to fill a refillable bottle.  
• Clothespins: The interior of the cabin on a sailboat doesn’t get a lot of airflow, which means all of your towels, clothes, and swimwear need to dry outside. We hung up our clothes on the rails of the boat each day and we pinned them down from the wind using clothes pins. Your boat will probably come equipped with at least a few pins, but it would be a good idea to pack some just in case!
• Comfortable “Boatwear”: A good portion of your days are spent sailing around between various islands and in total, we spent about 3-5 hours a day on board. Any time we were on the boat, I found myself wearing the same few loungewear items that our group affectionately started calling our boat attire. This includes a swimsuit, comfortables shorts (like athletic shorts or something lightweight), and a coverup. These clothes are probably going to get sweaty and covered in sunscreen, so they should be things that are comfortable and that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty.
• Ear Plugs and a Sleep Mask: Noise carries really well over water, so even if your fellow travelers are considerate about noise, boats docked nearby might not be as nice. Ear plugs were an absolute lifesaver for me! Same with a sleep mask. The sun comes up early, and there aren’t really shades so you’ll be awake with the sunrise. The mask will give you a few extra zzzz’s in the morning!

Items I Brought But Didn’t Use

• Slippers: I normally love wearing slippers or socks when I am lounging around, but on a boat, they are just impractical. They are too slippery, so I spent most of my days onboard barefoot.
• “Going Out” Clothes: I packed several outfits to wear at night or get dressed up for dinner. I found these almost useless. Since I wore basically a swimsuit and beach coverup all day on the boat, none of my regular daywear got dirty. I was able to wear it at night instead. Plus, the islands of Croatia have a pretty laid-back vibe. There was rarely an occasion that I needed to get really dressed up. Bring one good nighttime outfit and that should be enough.
• Work Out Attire: Let’s be real… you’re on a sailing vacation. Working out is probably going to be the last thing on your mind. I always seem to pack workout clothes to encourage myself, only to not use them at all. In the case of Croatia, gym shoes are especially bulky and not useful. Instead of a traditional workout, try swimming for exercise or doing stretches on the beach in your swimsuit!

Items I Wish I Brought

• Aloe Vera: As I mentioned above, I am easily susceptible to sunburn. Even with the most diligent sunscreen application, I still found myself with patches of red skin by the end of the trip. I wound up buying some (overpriced) aloe vera during the trip, but I wish I had just brought my own.
• Polarized Sunglasses: Even though these are more expensive than normal sunglasses, polarized glasses are well worth it on a sailing trip. The polarization really cuts down on the sun glare from the water, allowing you to see more clearly and squint less.My spouse had a pair, and after wearing them for an afternoon, I was quite jealous that I didn’t have some for myself.
• Beach Tote: Most days, we would arrive into our port in the afternoon, leaving enough time to explore the island’s beaches or walk around the town. I only had my purse and camera bag. I wish I had brought an easy tote bag. It would have been perfect for throwing in my towel, beach shoes, sunscreen, swimsuit, etc as I headed off for the excursions of the day.
• Rash or Skin Cream: Between all the sun, salt, and sunscreen along with less than ideal showering conditions, your skin takes a beating during a sailing trip. You might find that your skin is a bit temperamental. Almost everyone on our trip had a minor breakout or skin issue. For me, I got a small sun rash on my ankles. I definitely could have used some skin cream to treat the redness. Trying to decipher those of types of products in a foreign pharmacy is a challenge and it is easier to have it with you just in case.
• Camping or Sleeping Mat: Depending on how bougie your sailing trip is, you might find sleeping inside a sailboat to be challenging. Snug quarters and limited airflow don't make for the most comfortable sleeping conditions. Sleeping on the deck is a nice alternative for the more adventurous passengers. I brought chair cushions up on the deck each night to sleep on. In this case, I think a camping mat would have been more comfortable and a bit less disruptive. If you know you need cool temperatures and fresh air for sleeping, bringing your own mat will make you much more comfortable on the deck!

General Packing List Items 

Below is a general list of what I packed for my trip, in addition to everything mentioned above. Of course, what you pack will vary depending on your own personal preferences but I would suggest keeping extra clothing to a minimum if you can help it.  

• Tops: 5-7 options, preferably of different lengths and fabric weights to accommodate different weather
• Bottoms: 3-5 options, preferably of different lengths and fabric weights to accommodate different weather
• Cover-Ups: 1-2 items of clothing to wear as a cover up on the boat. Something like a poncho or dress are easy to throw on and off.
• Swimsuits: 2-4 should be enough
• Underwear: enough to cover your full trip in case you don’t find laundry services
• Shoes: 3 pairs is ideal. You want a sandal, a walking shoe and a pair for general use. Bonus points if you bring water shoes for rocky beaches.
• Toiletries: All the basics (lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, etc). It is best if you can find biodegradable ones since your boat’s waste water gets dumped into open ocean.
• Chargers and Converters: Depending on your country of origin, you may need a power converter and adapter when traveling in Europe.
• Aux Cord or USB cord: Bring one to connect your device to the boat’s audio system for tunes on the deck!

My trip to Croatia with More Sailing was a spectacular experience that I felt totally prepared for. With this helpful packing guide, I hope that you will be ready for your sailing adventure too. If you need any other suggestions, consult the pre-departure materials sent to you by your tour operator. I found their packing resources to be robust and quite informative!

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Have thoughts or questions about this Croatia packing list? Tell me in the comments below!