Pack with Prosail: what to bring on a Whitsundays sailing tour

Alright team, you’ve made the hard decision about what the perfect trip is for you and now you’re probably gleaming at your computer, ear to ear, wondering: what do you bring on a Whitsundays sailing tour anyway? Surely just a bunch of bikinis (ladies) and boardies (fellas) with a couple of hats, some sunnies, and that’ll be you sorted right?

You’re mostly on the money, and you’d definitely get by in on a sailing tour with just that, you just probably won’t be enjoying the whole trip as much as you could. Remember this is the tropics – you gotta be prepared for anything.

Good news is we’ve prepared for you and written this handy little list for you.

Firstly, we recommend bringing a tote/weekender along with your suitcase. Most sailing companies don’t have room for excess luggage (especially not big wheelie suitcases..) so it’s a good idea to pop in a smaller bag that you can take on your Whitsundays sailing tour. If you need a place to store your luggage while you’re on your tour, there’s a storage place at Prosail’s check in office for $5 per day. 

Okay, now let’s get started on this list. 

Clothing:

• If you’re travelling in winter then definitely bring a jumper! It gets pretty chilly at sea at night time and in the wind (great for sailing though)
• Windcheater or waterproof jacket
• Bathers (of course)
• Long sleeved shirt or rash vest for sun protection – this is really important because you spend a lot of time in the sun
• A couple of shorts/tops/pants/light jumper, the key is to be comfortable when you’re moving around the boat
• Sarong (…this one’s not a necessity but more of a convenient throw over bathers- plus, sailing in the tropics, you know?)

Footwear:

• Thongs or sandals
• Trainers – there’s a few beautiful hikes and you won’t want to miss out

 If you have a GoPro then definitely don’t forget to pack that – you’re going to want to document the underwater oasis of the Great Barrier Reef, and of course nail that turtle selfie. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to buy one then a Whitsundays sailing tour is the perfect excuse.

And if your partner questions the charge on the credit card we’ll cop the blame, just say ‘hey, it was on Prosail’s ‘what to bring on a Whitsundays sailing tour’ article so we thought we had to?’

Toiletries: 

• Toothbrush & toothpaste 
• Deoderant 
• Sunscreen 
• Moisturiser
• Lip balm

When you’re packing, just think long days in the sun. Whitehaven Beach is notorious for a few burnt feet and arms as you’ll usually get 2+ hours there on an overnight trip – so make sure you keep reapplying sunscreen. Because of it’s high grade white silica sand (one of the reasons it’s so beautiful) the sun actually refracts off of the sand making it twice as likely for you to burn. But that can be easily avoided if you have the right things. 

That’s pretty much it for the essentials of what to bring on a Whitsundays sailing tour, but keep reading for a few little extra things most people don’t think about. 

Oh and aaaall the sun protection: sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, long sleeved shirt, etc. 

A few other, less thought of, essentials to answer the question of what to bring on a Whitsundays sailing tour:

• Reusable water bottle (we try and reduce waste wherever we can to keep these Whitsunday sailing tour’s as eco as possible)
• Portable charging bank
• USB cords for your electronics (most sailing boats only have 12v charging)
• Aloe Vera or After Sun (if you don’t need it, you’ll have a fellow passenger very grateful for you)
• Insect repellent (for the beachy sunset hangs)
• A small tote bag for taking to the beach or carrying water on walks 

Most Whitsunday sailing tour’s are BYO alcohol too – so be prepared for this if you’re wanting a few cheeky sundowners. Just try to avoid bringing any glass as it’s a big hazard if it breaks on the deck – and red wine is usually a no-go for white decks.

There’s also no shops on the islands (a question people sometimes ask) so if you are after this then make sure you’re well prepared – once you leave Airlie there will be no chances to buy anything for the duration of the trip.

From essentials to the little extra comforts – we’ve provided you with the perfect list of what to bring on a Whitsundays Sailing Tour

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you forget a few things from the list. Your fellow passengers on your boat tour become your family and everyone helps each other out if you’ve forgotten a few key things. 

Your list of what to bring on a Whitsundays sailing tour for the day is obviously a bit smaller : 

• Water bottle
• Hat 
• Dry change of clothes
• Light jumper 
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen 
• Camera 
• Bikinis

Viola – you’re good to go. 

For the overnight sailing tour’s you’ll usually have all your food and basic tea/coffee/hot choc/filtered water, but if you’re a snack fan then it’s a good idea to bring a few tasty treats, there’s no judgement here. 😉 Typically there’s more food than you can want for, but it can’t hurt to bring a cheeky few extras.

Now you’re good to go – but as we said – don’t stress! If you forget anything it’s really not that big of a deal, Airlie Beach has all the essential shops if you need to buy replacements (or a cheeky outfit to take with you). 

How Can I Get More Information?

Hopefully you’re now feeling fully prepared on what to bring on a Whitsunadys sailing tour – but if you want any extra info on Prosail tours we have a live chat button at the bottom of your screen. Or feel free to contact us by email info@prosail.com.au