- List (laminated) attached inside each bag, reminding you of what you need, even for day sailing.
- Waterproof handheld VHF.
- Cell phone in waterproof case or box. Our car keys and wallet are in there too.
- Water. A liter per person minimum.
- Flashlight.
- Non-perishable snack food you can eat cold (Power bars or similar).
- Knife.
- Athletic tape, 1-2 rolls. Handy on boat and for bandaging larger wounds and supporting joint injuries.
- Spare glasses.
- Vital meds. Many critical medications, such as insulin, will not survive storage in a sealed ditch bag anyway. They must be kept in date, so what you carry for a trip is best.
- Extra clothes, depending on the weather.
- Sunscreen.
- Grab the flares off the boat.
- Grab the EPIRB (if off-shore, out of VHF range).
- First aid kit.
- A few bits of cord, a multi-tool, a pencil and notepad, and other bits can always be handy. Stuff you would take sailing. I also carry a small tool bag (see PS October 2018, Get-Home Tool Bag) and might grab it, at least to sort through later.
Second Bag
- More water if its hot.
- More clothes and blankets if cold packed in very heavy duty trash bags. The bags are useful for covering stuff, people, first aid, and making sure the bag floats.
- Food (already in there).
Grab Items
- One dock line (can be untwisted into cord)
On Person
- PFD
- Clothes
- Shoes. Dont kick them off to swim unless you must; these can be a life saver on coral or rocks.
- Tether
- Hat
- Glasses
- Whistle (or in the tender)
- Gloves
