Dinghy cruising: equipment packing lists..........

The final packing lists for Arwen

I have been ill and off work for a few days with a serious ear infection and dizziness. But now I am just about upright and I have been trying to keep myself positive by thinking about cruises next year. I have various packing lists for Arwen but have decided to take it down to one comprehensive one based on what I have read in Roger Barnes excellent book on dinghy cruising, the really helpful lists prepared by Joel on his blog about Ellie and some lists that Steve Earley uses on Spartina which I think he got from some annual water expedition in the USA. 

So here goes

When day sailing within the sound or up the various rivers

- handheld compass

- local charts

- first aid kit

- torch and spare batteries 

- spare clothes

- sailing knife

- two anchors and their rides

- my handheld VHF

- SPOT PLB and spare batteries 

- mobile phone

- sun cream and lipsalve

- food and drink

- sun hat or warm beanie

- foulies bag containing waterproof walking trousers, waterproof sailing sallopettes, waterproof sailing jacket, sea boots, spare sealskinz socks, sun hat, wooly hat, sealskinz waterproof hat, spare gloves

- charts

- distress flares

- handheld GPS

- wind anonometer

- logbook

- radio licence and insurance papers

- gopro and batteries and mounts

- spare camera

- a watch

- sunglasses

- waterproof pouch for car keys, bank cards and money

Already on board for day sail

- four fenders

- four big white fenders

- two anchors and rodes

- bucket

- fuel bottles x 2 and outboard fuel funnel

- one five litre jerrycan

- bailer and hand pump

- drogue and rode

- morning warps x 4

- spare mooring warps x 3

- oars 

- fog horn

- spare sail ties

- rowing cushions and side thwart cushions

- folded radar reflector

-  rudder and tiller

- waterproof large torch

- sponges and towels

- odd lengths various widths of rope

- toolbox containing small can oil, WD40, clothes, marine grease, marine select, file, pliers, mole grips, screw drivers assorted sizes, saw, mallet, adjustable spanner, bradawl, hand drill and various drill bits, screws and nuts and bolts, spare blocks of different sizes, duct tape, sail tape, wooden bungs of various sizes, spare cleats, spare kill cord, spare shackles of various sizes

- safety harness

Spare inflatable lifejackets x 3

- emergency grab bag containing fire starting kit, spare water, smoke flare canisters, spare emergency rations, spray hood, spare VHF handheld radio and batteries, spare penknife and sailing knife, wind proof matches

- lead line 

For coastal passages

- steering compass already on board

- passage charts all waterproofed

- my navigation equipment including dividers, Breton plotter, small boat almanac, binoculars, skippers handbook, small flip file of emergency procedures and rescue signals, waterproof notebooks, waterproof pencils, pencil sharpener, 

- solar powered small transistor radio, erasers, speed-distance tables, 

- passage plan documents

- notebook with pilotage notes

- OS map of area

- simple instruction sheets for sail trimming and sailing onto or off moorings etc ........I forget sometimes and it pays to have the info in easy to see annotated diagrams when in doubt as aide memoirs ......awful isn't it!

For sleeping onboard trips

- sewing kit

- spare batteries 

- boom crutches

- boom tent

- sleeping platform although this will be replaced this winter with the ingenious system used and designed by Joel, onboard Ellie

- another jerrycan of fuel

- twelve  1.5 litre bottles of freshwater

- washing up bowl

- cooking box 1 containing transit stove, fuel bottle, paper towel, cooking utensils, bowl plate, mug, knife, fork, spoon, teaspoon, sponges, washing up liquid, scourers, matches, tin opener, small torch on flexi wire stand, aluminium foil, waste rubbish bin liners, spare carrier bags, 

- cooking box 2 containing foodstuff for trip 

- sleeping waterproof bag containing sleeping roll mat, sleeping bag, gortex bivvy bag, sleepwear, washing kit, toilet rolls, pyjamas, three soft cushions, head torch, powermonkey solar charger and cables, reading book, 

- clothes bag containing  underwear, mid layers, spare trousers, and shirts, spare socks, spare waterproof sealskins socks, trainers and or sandals, spare waterproof jacket (lightweight),