Please go through this sheet twice, carefully. Once when you first receive it, and the second time three weeks before the voyage.

All of the gear you'll need on our sailing voyages must fit in two bags: a duffel bag and a small knapsack or backpack. The knapsack can double as a day pack when you join us on hiking and snorkeling trips. No suitcases, please; they cannot be flattened and therefore are difficult to store .  Nearly everyone brings more gear than necessary. Your over packing results in reduced storage for others on board. Each person will have shelving space for clothes and toiletries, and hanging room for your foul weather gear and/or jackets. Also, there is underbed storage for your duffel and little-used items, such as your return travel gear.  Folding or rolling up gear reduces the space it will take in your sea bag. Use zip-lock bags to organize your clothing. This also keeps your clothing dry, lessens wrinkling, and works well with shelf storage. You must be able to easily carry all of your gear by yourself; a good weight allowance for all of your gear is about 40 lbs. If there are marina stops scheduled on your voyage, you will be able to wash some clothes. The following list is merely a guideline; other brands and sources are available. The gear listed here is available from a combination of these sources:

West Marine: 800-262-8464 or 1-800-BOATING, westmarine.com
Patagonia : 800-638-6464
REI Co-op: 800-426-4840

CLOTHING FOR TROPICAL DESTINATIONS

If you don't already own a set of foul weather gear, lightweight gear for tropical waters is my best recommendation for tropical sailing because it's breathable, comfortable and not too expensive. Individual PFDs (Personal flotation devices) and safety harnesses are provided.
- 2 pair of nylon shorts that will dry quickly.
- Patagonia type Baggies Long Pants, or similar quick-drying wind shell pants
(Please do not bring blue jeans; they are difficult to dry)
- 3 lightweight short-sleeve sports shirts (both West Marine and Patagonia have good selections; Columbia is a good brand). Cotton tee-shirts are considerably hotter in the topics and you can often purchase these as souvenirs. Singlets or sleeveless blouses work well in the tropics.
- 2 tee-shirts (for snorkeling or wearing at night).
- Light-colored, lightweight long-sleeved shirt and pants for sun protection.
- Lightweight modest skirts or dresses for women for village tours
- W est marine or Patagonia Mesh Cap or similar sailing cap with under-chin tie downs
- Minimum of two swimsuits
- Underwear

FOOTWEAR
-1 pair of deck shoes, sandals, or boat shoes for boat use only. These should have white soles or been previously proven to not mark the deck or floor. (Mostly, we go barefoot on board in the tropics.)
- Comfortable, sturdy, lightweight and fast drying shoes for shore use; TEVAs are good.
 - Cotton crew socks, 2 pair

MISCELLANEOUS GEAR

-Waterproof watch, alarm clock, AA flashlight, waterproof sunscreen and lip screen.
- Polarized sunglasses are a must for looking out for reefs in the tropics. The best are REI Polarized Glacier Glasses #409-158-0011, which include side patches for $63. REI: 1-800-426-4840. Bring two pair of sunglasses in case you lose a pair.
-Bedding, towels, and beach towels are provided.  We have 110-volt power available through an inverter for shavers, hair dryers, etc. and for recharging camcorder or camera batteries.

SEASICKNESS: Many sailors are queasy, if not seasick, for the first 24-48 hours of any ocean passage. Eliminating coffee and increasing water intake for the first week of the passage greatly reduces the chance of seasickness and dehydration.

We recommend that you obtain 12 Compazine (generic name: prochlorperazine) 25 mg.suppositories (NOT ORAL) which has proven to be the most reliable prescription seasickness remedy. Please try this drug out before joining the voyage to check for possible side effects. If plan to bring other medication, please try it out at home first.

Antibiotics: As with any adventure in an isolated area (open ocean without a nearby landfall), we ask that you consult your doctor and obtain a broad-spectrum oral antibiotic for treating potential skin, throat, eye or ear infections. If your adventure with us takes you into malaria-prone areas, check with the CDC website or contact your doctor to decide whether to take preventive or treatment medication with you.

OPTIONAL: Mask and snorkel, camera, film, Walkman, video camera, diary, three books, and music. Pacific Bliss has a library of paperbacks, music and books-on-tape.

Communications: We have a satellite phone for emergencies. We also have email (Sailmail) on board through our SSB system. On shore, we can access internet cafes.  Some marinas also offer wireless internet, which we can use via adaptors for our laptops. We will try to notify you as to our estimated time of arrival and estimated departure date from various ports. But keep in mind, we are not a plane; we are not a train; we are not a cruise ship. As a small sailing vessel, we are dependent on the whims of Nature. We will never sacrifice the safety of vessel and/or crew to meet a deadline.

Tickets : Please purchase flexible tickets!  Do NOT use frequent flyer or consolidator tickets that push you into a specific date that cannot be changed. We will be sailing conservatively and will not push through an adverse weather pattern, push our sail systems, or change a destination in order to make a crew departure deadline.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL TO BRING WITH YOU : A positive attitude and an eagerness to crew and to learn- not only about sailing and navigation, but to learn from fascinating people of different cultures and countries. You are about to take part in an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We wish you well!