Have I Finally Become Organised… or Is This a Trap?
Two weeks to go… and something very strange has happened.
I appear to be… organised.
This is deeply suspicious.
Let’s review the evidence:
✔ Travel insurance – done
✔ Taxi to and from the airport – done (no 4am panic then)
✔ Cash ordered – done (because not every marina likes plastic)
✔ Squashy bags – done (no rigid suitcase arguments onboard)
✔ Dry bag – done
✔ Phones, cameras, cables, hard drive, SD dump system – done (quite proud of that one)
✔ RavPower setup – ready for full-on photo hoarding mode
Clothing situation:
✔ A couple more t-shirts and shorts (progress!)
✔ Long trousers + shirt for evenings (civilised… who knew?)
✔ Gloves
✔ Sunglasses + strap (learned that lesson the expensive way)
✔ Hat
✔ Sunscreen factor 50 (optimistic… or realistic?)
Even the tech is underway:
✔ OpenSeaMap installed
Might explore a few more apps closer to the time
So What’s Gone Wrong?
Because something must have.
There’s always something.
That one item you only realise you need when:
- You’re already onboard
- The nearest shop is “just a short dinghy ride away”
- And it costs three times the normal price
The Big Question: Do I Need Salopettes?
Short answer:
Probably not essential for Croatia in mid–late April… but not a bad idea.
Longer answer:
Most Likely Conditions
- Mild to warm days (15–22°C)
- Plenty of sunshine
- Light to moderate winds
In these conditions:
You’ll be absolutely fine in shorts, t-shirt, and your shiny new jacket if needed.
But… This Is Sailing
Things can change quickly:
- Strong winds = spray over the bow
- Early season = cooler water
- Evening sails = surprisingly chilly
Without salopettes:
- You’ll get wet from spray
- Your lower half won’t stay warm
- You may look slightly heroic… but uncomfortable
The Realistic Verdict
- Essential? ❌ No
- Nice to have? ✔ Yes
- Will you regret not having them in a blow? ✔ Also yes
Conclusion
This is a classic sailing dilemma:
“Take them and not need them…
or don’t take them and absolutely wish you had.”
If you’ve got an old lightweight pair, chuck them in.
If not?
You’ll probably survive…
but you may spend one slightly damp afternoon thinking:
“I knew I’d forgotten something…”
Final Thought
For once, I might actually be ready.
Which is worrying.
Because in sailing, just when you think you’ve remembered everything…
That’s when you realise you haven’t packed:
- The charger
- The passport
- Or worse…
The sense of humour
