Ditch Bag for the Daysailer

• 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