Provisioning

Provisioning Tips

Many of our members enjoy cruising, whether for an overnight or a month or longer. They have come up with myriad ways to strategically plan their stops, how to keep food fresh longer, and tips for provisioning based on their extensive experiences.

Following are some ideas from several of our experienced cruising members. Check back for updates and please share your tips with Debbie Greco Cohen at [email protected] so she can add them to this list.

Planning your trip

• Whether you have specific ports in mind or want to be flexible, plan out your route both for travel and approximate cruising time, but also where there are stores within walking distance or a short taxi ride from the dock.
• Provision based on your boat’s equipment. For example, if you don’t have an icebox to store perishables for an extended time, you’ll need to use shelf-stable foods and/or make more frequent stops for supplies.
• Be flexible. If the wind changes direction or isn’t there at all for days, adjust your schedule.
• It’s important to own a cruising guide (e.g., Embassy Guide) that provides information on every port within the area the guide covers (e.g., Long Island Sound) as well as printed charts in case cell phone service isn’t available in certain areas.
• If you’re a newer cruiser, talk to members and friends that have been cruising for years for tips on how to have a fun and safe cruise.

Ways to keep perishables fresh in your icebox

• Start out with a block of ice, putting meats and other perishable foods on top and around it.
• Freeze some of the perishables at home before storing in icebox to preserve them longer and help keep other foods cold.
• To avoid opening the icebox frequently, have a separate cooler for drinks for the day and keep them cool with ice packs that are stored in the icebox overnight. Also, know where you put the food in the icebox to avoid keeping it opened for a prolonged time.

Foods that keep

• Canned soups, vegetables, sauces, pastas, rice
• Tinned fish and meats
• Hard cheeses, salami
• Non-fat dry milk, Parmalat
• Freeze-dried food that are shelf stable and only require water and heat to prepare
• Condiments, snacks

Important Tips

• Be sure you have a First Aid kit onboard, along with a tourniquet.
• Avoid cooking while underway to prevent possible mishaps or injuries.
• Don’t overchallenge yourself if you’re a relatively new cruiser. Cruising is very enjoyable but is also tiring when you spend the entire day sailing to a specific destination.
• If you cruise with relative frequency, consider stocking your boat with shelf-stable provisions that will last through the season. This will make your task of stocking food for trips easier.
• After estimating your cruising time, add extra time due to the wind, currents and other factors. Because your plans might change based on these unforeseeable factors, know where alternate places to stop are along your route.
• Since your cell phone may not work when not in a port, be sure to contact family when in port so they know you’re safe and just to touch base.