Guests enjoying food provisioning service

The Ultimate Guide to Yacht Provisioning – 8 Tips for a Stress-Free Charter

July 28, 2020 5 min

Provisioning your yacht doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right tips and a bit of planning, you’ll have everything you need for smooth sailing and stress-free meals on board.

Luckily for you, we’ve been the industry leaders for more than 50 years, and have mastered the art of yacht provisioning, so let us share what we know. We are happy to share our top tips to ensure your charter vacation is as relaxing and rewarding as possible.

Who Are These Yacht Provisioning Tips For?

These provisioning tips are highly relevant for the following types of charters:

Sailing Charters: Ideal for those who want full control of their provisioning and prefer planning meals and snacks themselves while enjoying the sailing experience.
Skippered Yacht Charters: While the skipper handles the sailing, guests are usually responsible for provisioning food, drinks, and other essentials for themselves and the crew.
Power Yacht Charters: With speed and convenience in mind, provisioning for power yachts often involves lighter planning due to access to ports for quick re-stocking.

Here are eight essential tips to make your trip as seamless as possible…
Boy unpacking provisioning on yacht

1. Know Your Crew’s Preferences and Dietary Needs

Understanding the needs of your group is the first step to effective provisioning. Every person on board has unique preferences, and accommodating these can make the experience more enjoyable for everyone.

Allergies and dietary requirements: Ask about food allergies, vegetarian or vegan diets, and other dietary restrictions. Bring specialty items from home if they’re hard to source locally.
Beverage preferences: Find out who drinks coffee, tea, or alcohol. If someone has a favorite morning brew or cocktail ingredient, ensure it’s on the list.
Snacks and indulgences: Everyone has a favorite snack or treat. Knowing what these are will help keep spirits high during your voyage.

It can be helpful to use a shared note app like Google Keep or a group WhatsApp chat to collect input from your crew before the trip. You can use this to make your yacht provisioning list.

2. Plan Meals and Stay Organized

Organization is key to proper planning and efficient provisioning. You’ll find that meal planning is a lifesaver when it comes to yacht provisioning, because a little organization upfront ensures you have everything you need without overloading the galley.

Break it down by meals: Calculate the number of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners you’ll have on board. Account for a few meals out if you plan to eat ashore.
Create a list of ingredients: For each meal, jot down the essentials to avoid missing key items.
Organize by storage type: Separate your list into categories such as fridge, freezer, pantry, and fresh produce. This will help when loading up the yacht.

If you’re looking to keep cooking duties to a minimum as a yacht provisioner, stick to simple, one-pot meals or dishes that require minimal preparation and cleanup, like pasta salads, grilled fish, or wraps.

3. Stock Up on Snacks

Don’t be shy when it comes to snack foods. There’s just something about the sun, the sea, and the intimacy of a private yacht that provides the perfect setting for swapping stories and sharing snacks with your favorite people. From mid-morning nibbles to sunset appetizers, having plenty of options will keep everyone happy.

Easy-to-grab snacks: Include granola bars, trail mix, nuts, and dried fruit for quick energy boosts. Pop them in resealable bags or containers to keep them fresh and prevent spills.
Shareable platters: Think hummus and veggie sticks, cheese and crackers, or fresh fruit bowls for group enjoyment.
Treats: Don’t forget sweet options like chocolate, cookies, or pastries for a little indulgence, but remember to find suitable storage for the weather conditions.

4. Prioritize Fresh Water

Sure, you’ll be surrounded by rejuvenating saltwater wherever you go, but fresh water is harder to come by. We can’t stress enough the importance of having plenty of drinking water with you. Dehydration can sneak up on you, especially when you’re out in the sun and saltwater all day.

Fresh drinking water is one of the most important provisions for your trip. The Moorings sailing yachts are delivered with a full water tank and 2 bags of ice in your cooler. Complimentary water and 2 additional bags of ice are available from any Moorings base.

Calculate water needs: Plan for at least 1 gallon of drinking water per person per day. For a seven-day trip with six people, that’s at least 42 gallons.
Bring reusable bottles: Encourage everyone to bring a refillable water bottle to reduce waste.
Find backup options: Consider packing a few electrolyte tablets or powders for extra hydration on especially hot days.

If you’re in a remote area, check ahead to see if you’ll need to stock additional water tanks at the marina.

5. Choose Produce That Lasts Longer

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a vital part of yacht provisioning, but their longevity depends on how you store them.

Shorter-lasting items: Bananas, mangoes, and berries should be eaten first as they ripen quickly. Store them in a cool, dry place to extend their freshness.
Longer-lasting options: Apples, carrots, and cabbage hold up well in warmer conditions and can last longer without refrigeration.
Avoid waste: Plan meals around what’s ripening to make the most of your produce.

Bring along reusable mesh produce bags to keep items organized and reduce bruising.

6. Be Strategic About Bread and Baked Goods

Bread and baked goods are a yacht provisioning staple but don’t overstock them as they can go stale quickly in heat and humidity.

Store carefully: Bread can be stored in the fridge or freezer to extend its freshness. Wrap it in plastic or foil to prevent drying out.
Plan to restock: If your itinerary includes stops at marinas or markets, plan to re-provision fresh bread as needed.
Alternatives: Consider bringing flatbreads or tortillas, which tend to last longer than loaves.

Another tip is to pre-slice bread before freezing it to make it easier to thaw only what you need.

7. Use Starter Kits (When Available)

In the British Virgin Islands, you can take advantage of our Charter Starter Kits. You can add your BVI provisioning to your booking online 5 days prior to your departure date.

What’s included: Condiments, spices, paper goods, aluminum foil, charcoal, cleaning supplies, and more.
Why they’re useful: Starter kits reduce the hassle of sourcing these basics individually, giving you more time to relax and enjoy your trip.

8. Don’t Overbuy – Re-Provision Along the Way

It’s tempting to pack for every scenario, but overbuying can lead to clutter on your yacht, and wasted food. Many charter destinations have ample opportunities to restock your yacht provisions mid-trip.

Scout local markets: Fresh seafood, fruits, and local delicacies can be picked up at ports or villages.
Keep it flexible: Leave room in your meal plan for spontaneous finds or cravings.
Avoid food waste: By provisioning lightly and replenishing as needed, you’ll reduce leftovers and spoilage.

You can also check ahead for yacht provisioning services or grocery delivery options at marinas along your route.

Let Us Help Simplify Your Provisioning

Need some help with your yacht charter provisioning? We know that provisioning a yacht for your group can feel like a big job if you’ve never chartered before. Our Vacation Planners are here to answer your questions (and for the British Virgin Islands, guide you through our easy online BVI provisioning site), so you can plan with the support of a charter expert and have peace of mind when you arrive for your vacation.

Want to skip the prep? With a crewed yacht charter, our team takes care of provisioning, cooking, and cleanup—leaving you to relax and enjoy the journey. With a crewed charter, provisioning, cooking, and cleanup are managed by professional staff, allowing you to relax and focus solely on enjoying your vacation.

Visit Provisioning Site