Sea  Bag  List

Temperate  Legs - Mahina  Expeditions

2008: Legs 1- 6        2009: Leg 6          2010: Legs 1, 4, 5, 6

 

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

All of the gear you'll need must fit in two bags: a soft-sided duffel bag no larger than West Marine’s Explorer or Chattanooga Duffel (6894174) or Henri Lloyd or Gill (max. length 30”, max. girth 60”) and a medium knapsack.  The knapsack is important and doubles as a daypack when you join us on hiking and dinghy trips.

No suitcases, guitars, camera bags that don’t fit in your duffel, bags with wheels, metal framed backpacks, folding luggage carts or excuses please. Nearly everyone brings more gear than necessary. Each person will have a small private locker for clothes and toiletries and shared lockers for shoes and foulweather gear. Folding or rolling up gear and organizing it in Eagle Creek Cubes or zip-loc bags reduce the space it will take in your bags and locker.

You must be able to easily carry your duffel and knapsack by yourself.  Total maximum weight allowance for all of your gear is 40 Ibs for temperate legs. We will ask you to weigh your bag on the dock and leave ashore anything over the 40lb. allowance. The following list is a guideline; other brands and sources are available. The gear listed here is available from a combination of these sources: (product codes change frequently)

¨        West Marine: 800-538-0775, www.westmarine.com.

¨        Patagonia: 800-638-6464, product numbers are listed (eg. #47720)

¨        InSport: 800-652-5200, www.insport.com

¨        REI: 800-426-4840, rei.com, product numbers are listed (#409-158-0011)

 

Foul Weather Gear

If you don't already own a set of reasonably new offshore foul weather gear, check out West Marine's Third Reef ($109-incredible quality, great price!) or Explorer Breathable ($199). Musto, Henri Lloyd and Gill provide high quality, more expensive options. Hiking or skiing jacket & pants are not appropriate in a saltwater environment. Jackets must have hoods.

Individual PFD's are provided. We request that you bring your own safety harness and non-elastic tether and strongly recommend inflatable PFD-safety harness which travels legally as checked (not carry-on) luggage. The best tether is a WM 8821464: single, non-elastic snap shackle and snap hook, $69.99. Please bring a bag to store your harness and tether in.

 

Primary and Middle Layers

£      1 lightweight smart-looking short-sleeved collared shirt for clearing customs.

£      2 cotton T-shirts.

£      2 loose-fitting CoolMax running or cycling T-shirts (InSport or REI)

£      1 midweight Patagonia Capilene long-sleeve top, (available from REI #742775), or similar from West Marine.

£      Shelled fleece jacket or pullover from West Marine, REI or Patagonia. Please do not bring cotton sweatshirts.

£      2 nylon running shorts that are comfortable, loose-fitting & quick drying. (InSport is our favorite brand)

£      Patagonia Gi II long pants, #55025 or similar quick-drying nylon pants. Please do not bring jeans or cotton sweat pants as they are bulky and difficult to dry.

£      Fleece pants, available from West Marine or REI.

 

Footwear

£      1 pair of NEW, never worn on the street, neutral soled boat shoes for boat use only. Not to be worn ashore. IMPORTANT! Crocs or athletic-style deck shoes provide better support than many traditional boat shoes.

£       Comfortable, sturdy, non-leather, lightweight, fast drying shoes for shore use. Crocs will work.

£      Thongs or sandals (non-leather) to wear in showers ashore. Crocs will work.

£      SealSkinz MVT waterproof, breathable socks from REI (620085) which, when worn with Crocs or boat shoes are a much lighter and more comfortable option than sea boots.

 

Miscellaneous Gear

£      Mid-weight sleeping bag. Please no down bags or clothes.

£      1 double or full-sized flat sheet (not a sleeping sack) and two pillowcases (pillows are provided). 

£      2 small MSR PackTowl towels (REI #684305) or small hand towels, maximum size: 16” x 30”. (Please do not bring large bath towels that take forever to dry and are bulky to stow) and washcloth

£      Swimsuit (running shorts work well for guys)

£      Underwear  (suggest 3 sports bras for women)

£      Sun cap with tie down. West Marine and Patagonia have many suitable styles.

£      Baseball cap.

£      Sleepwear (T-shirt and shorts).

£      Waterproof watch with light.

£      Alarm clock. Watch alarms are rarely loud enough to wake you when it’s time for you to stand watch.

£      2 small AA waterproof flashlights (ideally) with red lens, spare batteries.

£      Waterproof sun and lip screen.

£      Polarized Sailing sunglasses with keeper strap.

£      Passport valid for at least six months from start of expedition. Please ensure that we have received a fax of your latest passport at least three months before joining.

£      A PIN number for your Visa or Mastercard so that you’ll be able to get cash advances in the local currency upon arrival at your destination airport.

¨        110 volt power is available through an inverter for shavers and recharging batteries.

 

Seasickness: Many of us are queasy, if not seasick for the first 24-48 hours of any ocean passage. If you eliminate coffee and colas and increase you water intake to two liters daily for two weeks before joining the expedition you greatly reduce your chances of seasickness and dehydration.

 

Antibiotics:  As with any expedition-type adventure in an isolated area we ask that you consult your doctor and obtain a broad-spectrum oral antibiotic for treating skin, throat, eye or ear infections before joining us.

 

Optional:  Camera, music machine, journal, 3 books, running shoes (if you’re a runner). We have loaner masks, snorkels and fins aboard.

 

Airline Connections: Michael Henrichs at Doug Fox Travel, 1-877-429-5787, email: Michael.henrichs@dougfoxtravel.com can book the least expensive and most efficient air connections and hotel accommodations for our expeditions members. For travel and trip cancellation insurance, contact www.csatravelprotection.com.

 

Expedition Timing: Each leg begins and ends promptly at 12 noon on the day stated in the brochure. Do not schedule your return flight before 2pm on the last day of the expedition. Many people plan a night or more ashore at our destination, before flying home. Jenny can recommend hotels within your budget. It is not possible to join the boat earlier or stay later than 12 noon, as the time between passages is needed for maintenance and provisioning.

 

Arrival: Please arrive at least 24 hours (48 hours if you are coming from a high-stress environment) before the start of your passage, spending the night(s) in a hotel, so that you'll have a chance to get over jet lag and be well rested and acclimatized when you come aboard. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION. This extra day(s) reduces the chance of holding up the start of the passage because of late flights or baggage.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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