What to bring for a day on a boat in Lefkada, the honest packing list

A day on a boat in Lefkada is eight hours in the sun on a wet, salty, moving surface. Most first-time guests bring too little of what they need and too much of what they don't. This is the packing list we wish every guest had read before they got on the boat.

What we provide on board

Before you pack: every booking includes a welcome basket with fresh fruit, water, soft drinks and basic snacks. There is shade under the Bimini (dual Bimini on the Mazziena 26SP rental). There is a freezer on the Mazziena for cold drinks. There is a Bluetooth audio system you can connect your phone to. There is a swim ladder and a boarding step.

We don't provide towels, sunscreen, hats or warm layers. That is on you.

What you actually need

A wide-brim hat. Not a baseball cap. The sun bounces up off the water and reaches under any brim less than six centimetres wide. Hours of low-angle reflected light burn the underside of the chin, neck, and tops of the ears more than the top of the head.

Reef-safe sunscreen, factor 30 minimum. Reapply every 90 minutes. Spray bottles are easier than tubes on a moving boat. Bring more than you think.

Polarised sunglasses. Cheap sunglasses turn the sea into a flat metallic glare. Polarised lenses cut through the surface so you can see the seabed when you swim. They also make the day less tiring on the eyes.

A long-sleeve UPF top. Cotton t-shirts soak through at the first swim and are useless after that. A thin UPF rash top dries in five minutes and stays sun-protective.

Swimwear and a change of clothes. You will be wet by lunch and dry by 16:00. Bring a second swimsuit if you are picky. Bring proper underwear and a dry shirt for the ride home.

A towel. Two if you are on the boat all day. We don't supply these.

Water shoes or sturdy flip-flops. Some of the beaches we stop at are pebble, not sand. Bare feet hurt by the third stop.

A light jacket or fleece for the return. Wind on the boat at 30 knots back to base in late afternoon is colder than you expect, even in August. A thin layer makes the last hour pleasant instead of cold.

Food and drink

The welcome basket covers a couple of hours of grazing for a small group. For a full day plus lunch, plan one of:

• Stop at a beach taverna (Kalamos, Meganisi, Lakka on Paxos, Vasiliki), this is the easiest. You order, eat, swim, leave.
• Bring your own picnic. We can hold cold things in the freezer on the Mazziena. The Highfield has a cool box. Decent options: a bakery sandwich from Lefkada town, fruit, cheese, olives.
• A combination: snacks on board for mid-morning, taverna for lunch.

Wine and beer are fine on board. We ask only that the renter of the boat (or anyone driving) stays sober if you are self-driving.

What to leave at home

• Hard suitcases. Soft duffel or beach bag only. Hard cases slide on a moving deck.
• Speakers. Our Hertz audio system is louder than anything portable, and you'll annoy other boats at anchor.
• Lots of cash. Tavernas and beach bars almost all take cards now.
• Drone, unless you have asked us in advance. Some anchorages are near private property; we'll tell you where you can fly.

A real example

A British family of six last July arrived for a Paxos day with one tube of factor-15 sunscreen and one beach towel between them. By Voutoumi they were already turning pink. We stopped at the taverna for lunch, bought a bottle of factor-50 from the shop next door, and rationed it for the afternoon. They burned anyway. Now we send the packing list with every booking confirmation.

FAQ

Do you provide towels? No. Bring your own. Two per person for a full day.

Is there a toilet on the boat? The Mazziena 26SP has a marine head. The Highfield 650 Sport does not, bathroom stops are at the lunch taverna or at one of the harbours we pass through.

Can I bring my own food and drink? Yes. We provide the welcome basket; anything beyond that is up to you. Cool storage available on the Mazziena.

What if I get seasick? The Meganisi by boat inner Ionian routes stay in protected water and rarely cause issues. For the Lefkada to Paxos boat crossing or rough west-coast days, take a tablet 30 minutes before departure. Sea-Band wristbands work for some people.

To book your day, see the booking form.