8 Helpful Tips for Provisioning Your Yacht
Provisioning your yacht can seem like an overwhelming task — What do we need? How much should we buy? What will stay fresh? There is definitely some strategy involved with choosing the right items to ensure you don’t end up with a surplus of salsa but no tortilla chips for dipping (gasp!). Lucky for you, we’ve been the industry leaders for more than 50 years, and have mastered the art of yacht provisioning. We are happy to share our top tips to ensure your charter vacation is as relaxing and rewarding as possible.
1. Check with your group to make sure you know exactly what they like/dislike. Be sure to take into consideration any fellow crew members that may have food allergies or special dietary needs. If someone on board requires or desires a specific item that might not be readily available at your charter destination, make arrangements to bring it with you when you travel!
2. Organization is key to proper planning and efficient provisioning. You certainly don’t need to set a strict schedule for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the more precisely you know the total number of meals you want to have aboard the boat, the better. It helps to jot down a list of ingredients needed for each meal.
3. 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. Whether it’s hummus and veggie sticks, island-inspired fruit cocktails, or a full-fledged charcuterie board with a variety of cheeses, you’ll be glad to have plenty of “light bites” on board. It’s easy to work up an appetite from all the fun water activities, so things like nuts and granola bars are ideal to have on-hand in the galley.
4. 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. Being out in the sun all day feels great on your skin, but it also dehydrates the body, so we recommend at least 1 gallon of water per person per day.
5. To get the most out of fresh produce items, be sure to store fruits that ripen quickly (bananas, pineapple, mangoes, citrus, melon) in the cooler or in a cool/dry place. Just don’t forget to eat them! Apples, cabbage, carrots and other root vegetables are excellent provision choices because they don’t spoil easily in the heat.
6. If toast and sandwiches are part of your crew’s daily diet, make plans to re-provision bread along the way. This is another item that does not hold up well in the heat and humidity so it’s better not to over-buy. Alternatively, you can store it in the fridge/freezer as well.
7. In the British Virgin Islands take advantage of our Charter Starter Kits, which include staples like condiments, olive oil, spices, paper plates, napkins, disposable wipes, aluminum foil, charcoal, lighter fuel, and cleaning products. Provisioning is so much easier when you don’t have to buy all these grocery items individually.
8. Don’t go overboard (pun intended). You will have opportunities along the way to restock or pick up miscellaneous items you may have missed or suddenly have a craving for.
Provisioning a yacht for your group can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never chartered before. Rest assured our Vacation Planners are here to answer your questions and guide you through our easy online provisioning site, so you can plan with the support of a charter expert and have peace of mind when you arrive for your vacation.
Contributor
Leslie Montenegro
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