Sunsail Yacht.

Two Weeks to Go… What Have We Forgotten?

Two weeks to go until our sailing holiday… and that familiar feeling is setting in.

Not excitement. Not anticipation.

No… it’s that quiet, nagging voice saying:
“You’ve forgotten something important.”

Let’s take stock.

✔ Two new jackets (very smart, very waterproof, possibly unnecessary in 25°C sunshine)
✖ No salopettes (so when it does rain… we’ll look like well-dressed teabags)
✔ Head torch and hand torch (clearly planning for either night sailing or a power cut in Croatia)
✔ Wife has packed sensibly (extra clothes, options, layers… all the things I should have done)
✔ I have… a couple of old t-shirts and shorts (optimism over preparation)
✔ Sailing shoes from the Thames (perfect for mud… less certain for marinas and hot decks)
✔ Flights booked, car hire sorted, bags located (a minor miracle)

And then there’s the big one…

❌ No apps on the iPad yet

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The Forgotten Digital Crew

In today’s sailing world, your iPad is almost as important as your skipper.

Right now ours is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

No charts.
No weather.
No navigation backup.

Just a glowing rectangle of missed opportunity.

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What Else Might We Be Missing?

Here’s the slightly worrying checklist that usually only gets noticed halfway across the Adriatic:

Sailing Essentials

• Gloves (the Thames ones may not survive rope burn on a yacht)
• Sunglasses with a strap (unless you enjoy donating them to the sea)
• Hat with a clip (same reason)
• Dry bag for phones & valuables

Warm Weather Reality Check

• Sunscreen (you will burn… even when it’s cloudy)
• Lip balm (wind + sun = misery)
• Light long-sleeve top (sun protection beats bravado)

Onboard Life

• Soft bag (hard suitcases are the enemy on yachts)
• Earplugs (marinas are not quiet… ever)
• Travel towel (boats are many things… spacious is not one of them)

The “Why Didn’t We Bring That?” List

• Charging cables (all of them… and spares)
• Power bank
• European plug adapters
• A small multitool or knife

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Final Thought

At this stage, preparation splits into two types of sailor:

1. The organised one (lists, backups, labelled bags)
2. The optimistic one (“It’ll be fine”)

I suspect you can guess which one I am.

Still… that’s half the fun of a sailing holiday.

Because no matter what you forget…
there’s always a chandlery somewhere nearby…
charging twice the price…
for exactly the thing you didn’t bring.