How to dress for sailing? Weekend on the lake

If you are sailing often – you know perfectly well how to dress for such an occasion. However, this post is dedicated to people who receive such an invitation for the first time and do not know what to take on a boat.

How to pack for a short sailing trip?

Sailing weekend? Theoretically, everything is „obvious” – Instagram shows us styled models posing on yachts. If you followed this style and focus solely on the selection of sunglasses and a set of costumes, a sailing trip can disappoint you very much, or even turn into a two-day drama. Our inland reality is slightly different from the ideas stimulated by fashion brands. So what to take for sailing on a lake?

How to dress for sailing on the lake? Comfortable, safe, warm

We spend our time freely. Sailing outfit should be comfortable and let us move easily. During the day, a top or t-shirt and comfortable shorts will be perfect. Shorts will be perfect for a hot weekend. For mixed weather, you can take shorts and comfortable pants. The evenings, on the other hand, may already be cool. Perhaps you will spend them somewhere by the bonfire or outside in the marina tavern. Bring a sweatshirt or sweater and comfortable pants or leggings. If you want to feel more elegant on land and you don’t want to keep your luggage to a minimum, it’s no problem for you to bring a light dress for the evening. A linen shirt can also be a good choice.

Check the forecast! When the weather will be windy or rainy, waterproof pants are a must have. It’s also good to have a raincoat (or a jacket with a hood that protects against wind and rain), I take it just in case.

What to wear on sailing trip – shoes and other accessories

Forget elegant footwear – take sneakers or other shoes with a white flat sole that will not slip on the deck and will not scratch or stain its surface. The etiquette says that shoes should be covered. Flip-flops will also be useful – for the shower, if you spend the night in the marina or after swimming in the lake. A swimsuit is a must in summer – who will resist swimming in non-chlorinated water? Sunglasses and a baseball cap will protect you from the sun. Protect them from falling into the water. I advise against wearing jewelery as there is a very high risk that it will fall off while swimming.

When packing for a weekend sailing trip, it is a bit difficult to be minimalist. We must be prepared for wind and temperature chang, and also „insured” against emergencies like our clothes getting wet and the need to completely change.

How to dress for sailing? What to pack

For several seasons we have been sailing a small sports boat without a cabin, so I do not have to worry about any luggage, because these are only trips lasting a few hours. However, when I was going on a traditional weekend cruise, my bag contained:

Clothes for sailing trip on the summer weekend:
2 light-colored t-shirts plus 1 extra just in case
2 pairs of shorts or shorts + comfortable pants
storm jacket
sweatshirt
leggings
scarf as if it was windy
something to sleep in (reasonably warm)
trainers
flip flops
water shoes
swimsuit
baseball cap
sunglasses

Additional accessories:
towel
sleeping bag
waterproof phone case
belt bag
powerbank

Cosmetics:
cream with high SPF
after sunbathing cosmetic
items for the daily hygene
mascara – my weakness and the only makeup cosmetic I take
protector from mosquitoes and bites
washing wipes

All these things are best packed in a bag or backpack. The suitcase is not recommended for many reasons! It is bulky, it will be difficult to fit in the cabin, and true sailors say it even brings bad luck. Either way, showing up with a suitcase is a sailing faux-pas.

I hope you’ve found the answer to the question of what to take for sailing. I know all ladies who have daydreamed seeing themselvers in lovely sessions on board in their minds may be disappointed with this list. However, it is not a problem – even with such down-to-earth guidelines – to dress stylishly. Remember – a stylish woman is always dressed according to the occasion, even if it means wearing a tracksuit!