Ditch Bag for the Daysailer

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  • 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
Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him at darrellnicholson.com.