Ice Yachting

There are two kinds of sailors, cruisers and racers. And there are two kinds of sailboat racers. There are club racers, who keep a boat at a club and go out to race around buoys once or twice a week for as long as the sailing season lasts in their home locale. Then there are regatta racers, who drive all over the interstate highway system, in a car packed to the rafters with clothing, food, cooking gear, sailing gear, and possibly an ample supply of rum, towing a boat with a fully loaded trailer. Of course, there are some wealthy sailors who fly around to regattas in private jets, stay in fine hotels, and pay someone to get the boat to the dock. The rest fend for themselves.

Sailors in the latter category often drive straight through to their destination, sometimes 40 or more hours, rotating drivers to save the expense of a hotel room en route. For lodging near the regatta, options include staying in private homes, renting a house or condo by the week, and staying in hotels. It is sometimes difficult to find a reasonably priced hotel near a regatta location, but shop around, and insist on a room with a refrigerator. If there is space in your vehicle, pack a slow cooker. Making beef stew in a hotel room is a memorable event, and creates a whole new aroma experience inside and outside the room. Bring a box of kitchen tools including a cutting board, a sharp knife, a couple of coffee mugs if you dislike drinking from Styrofoam, salt and pepper, dish soap, artificial sweetener, microwave popcorn and whatever else is important to you. Keep a list of everything that belongs in the box, so that you do not forget anything when preparing for the trip.

Bring Your Own Lunch, Yes or No?

Regatta organizers often provide lunch on race days to the sailors, but it's usually box lunches meant to be eaten on the water, in the boat, between races. If members of your team have dietary restrictions or sensitive digestive systems, you will want to bring your own lunches, hence the need for refrigeration. Pack sandwiches in a soft-sided cooler, chips and cookies in a separate bag. Many racing sailboats in the smaller classes have no cabin for onboard lunch preparation, nor is there an ice chest or a head (toilet)!

Boat Stuff

Your first few journeys to out-of-town regattas will involve many trips to the marine supply store or chandlery. After a few regattas, your traveling rig will be stocked with many common spare parts, boat washing equipment, solvents, tapes, tools, new and used rope and bungee cords. Be cautious about letting your competitors know that you are so well equipped, or they will find it easier to borrow your stuff than to make a trip to the chandlery themselves! On race day, in particular, know how helpful you are willing to be. "Do unto others" is a good rule to follow. If a competitor breaks something at the last moment, and you know that the same thing could have happened to you, it would be a sportsmanlike act to offer assistance.

Medical

And last but certainly not least, people get hurt on boats. You should have basic first aid supplies on board. In addition, each sailor should bring any prescription drugs they are taking, and the team supply box should include bandages in many sizes, antiseptic and antibiotic ointment, and medications for pain, indigestion, diarrhea, sinus congestion and cough. Everyone on the boat needs polarized sunglasses, a hat with a brim, and sunscreen. Don't forget lip balm with sunscreen. Sunburned lips are very painful. Insect repellent and insect bite treatment may also be needed.

Well, that's a start. It may seem that you are taking everything but the kitchen sink, and typically there are stores at your destination that have whatever you may need. But you are there to accomplish a goal, and that is to race and win. Every trip to the store is an inconvenience and a distraction, not to mention the expense of having to buy something like that darned cutting board, knowing that you have several of the same item at home and do not need to own another one.

Carmella Zagone Foster is an avid sailboat racer who lives in Minnesota. Driven by a passion for living near or on the water, Carmella founded Deephaven Direct, a source for nautical themed items to put you in an "at the lake" state of mind.