Here, in our tourist marina in Genoa, we see them practically every day in summer. We are talking about all those people who, being friends or relatives of one of the boaters who have chosen our berths to moor their vessel, arrive at our docks to spend a day among the waves, in company. What could be more beautiful? You arrive at the marina, meet with friends, prepare the boat, cast off the moorings and off you go, to discover the Ligurian coast, around Camogli and Portofino, or perhaps as far as the Cinque Terre, to mention just two of the most famous boat excursions from Genoa. Between smiles, small lessons for non-boaters to help cast off the moorings and so on, you reach the moment of departure; and it is at that precise moment that one of the guests, punctually, realizes they have forgotten something essential at home. Due to distraction, forgetfulness, because they are not used to leaving the “well-served” mainland. To prevent experiences of this kind, today we want to make
What to bring aboard the boat for a day among the waves
Comfortable clothing: the first rule for a person invited aboard a boat is simply to dress comfortably. We are therefore talking about the simple combination of shorts and T-shirt, possibly bringing a sweatshirt for the early morning hours or for the evening. And shoes? In summer they will only be needed to get to the marina, since you will probably be barefoot aboard the boat.
A soft bag: certainly for a day boat trip you don’t need to bring much stuff with you. In any case, to maintain order and minimize bulk, it is advisable to put everything inside a soft bag, which will not take up a centimeter more than strictly necessary: space is precious on a boat!
Swimsuit: it’s hard to resist the possibility of a dive from the boat when temperatures rise. For this reason it is always good to bring a swimsuit with you.
Beach towel: those who plan to take a swim will necessarily have to bring a beach towel with them, so they can dry off after the dive. But that’s not all: on sufficiently spacious boats, the beach towel is also excellent for being spread on the deck to sunbathe.
Drinking water: at sea, fresh water is a precious and rare commodity. The advice, when invited on friends’ boats, is always to bring at least one bottle of water with you, so as not to affect the common reserves. It should also be said that water can often be purchased at the tourist marina or in the immediate vicinity: our Marina Porto Antico is surrounded for example by bars and shops, and has a vending machine active 24 hours a day.
What you need to protect yourself from the sun: on a boat, the sun beats down hard. Obviously some boats may have protections and special awnings, but it is always good to bring what you need to protect yourself from ultraviolet rays. So in the soft bag mentioned above, along with the beach towel and water, it will be good to also put a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Smartphone and documents: perhaps it is completely useless to remember to bring your smartphone, since we are all now used to carrying our mobile phone with us on every trip. However, having to think about all the “special” things to bring aboard the boat, you could exceptionally forget it. And it would be a shame, because the photos you can take aboard are often fantastic! In addition to the mobile phone, it is good to also bring identification documents, for any checks by law enforcement.
Waterproof bags: this is a tip for those who will be moving on a sailboat, or for those who will cast off from the port on a dinghy or on a small boat. In all these cases, splashes are part of the game. For this reason the advice is to put your smartphone and documents inside a waterproof bag, to be certain not to cause damage.
What you need for snorkeling: there are many places where you can go snorkeling in Liguria. It is therefore worth bringing the necessary equipment aboard, especially since these accessories take up little space and are very light. So let’s put a snorkel and mask in the bag, so we can discover the seabed and fish that inhabit the Ligurian Sea.
Some snacks: it is possible that the owner of the boat who invited you aboard will think about food. But it’s not certain! It’s better to inquire and act accordingly. For a trip of a few hours, obviously a snack will suffice, like a sandwich or a piece of fruit, while for a day among the waves it will be good to bring a thermal bag with something more!
Plus 1, spray with fresh water: in fact, we have seen all the essential things to bring aboard the boat for a day at sea. The meticulous ones can bring something extra aboard, such as a small spray bottle simply filled with fresh water. This will be very useful for “washing” your face and possibly hair and body after diving into the sea, so as to eliminate the salt, which can be annoying. Not all boats can in fact count on a small shower aboard!
Plus 2, gum against seasickness: there are those who have already dealt with this disorder, and who therefore do well to start with a remedy, and those who perhaps have never sailed the seas by boat, and who therefore do not know whether they might suffer from seasickness or not. A suggestion? When in doubt, it’s better to make sure there are gums against seasickness aboard!
