The Packing List: a Week (or Two) on a Catamaran

By Sam & Oriane · Updated July 2026 · 7 min read

This is the checklist we send everyone who comes sailing with us aboard Little Cloud, our Catana 431 catamaran: a week of coastal hopping, a fortnight island to island, or a crossing. We've put it here so you can tick your list at your own pace, and because it works for any boat you might join.

📅 The dates and the itinerary

For a week or two aboard, we plan with margin: we can guarantee to pick you up and drop you off where and when agreed. In between, the itinerary is discussed together, around what you feel like and what the weather offers: anchorages can swap order, one island can replace another, and that's exactly how it should be.

• We fix the boarding port and the landing port together, and we stick to them.
• Flexible or refundable tickets are mostly worth it on long legs and crossings, where the weather runs the calendar.

🛂 Paperwork

Depending on the destination, an ID card is enough (Europe) or you'll need a passport valid at least 6 months past your return date (Caribbean, Cape Verde). Many countries require a crew list: we'll ask for a photo of your ID, sent privately, never in the group chat.

On the health side, we also ask every crew member to send us privately: current medication (bring extra), food and drug allergies, dietary requirements, seasickness history, blood group, and an emergency contact. Nothing public, it just lets us do our job as skippers properly.

🎒 The bag

No specialist sailing kit needed: the golden rule is a soft duffel, never a hard suitcase, storage space aboard is gold. If you already own sailing gear, bring it of course.

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⚓ Life aboard

The rhythm. Coastal sailing is mostly daytime: legs of a few hours, anchorages, swims, paddleboarding, freediving for whoever wants. If there's a night sail on the plan, we keep you company on your first watches.

Tasks. Everyone contributes, the idea is to be a real crew, not passengers. But no stress: you'll have plenty of time to finish your book.

Cooking. Shared aboard, simply. If you have a signature dish, it will get its moment. And we fish: ceviche or grilled fish when the ocean cooperates.

Cabins. Three double cabins, one with separate bunks. We sort out the sleeping plan together aboard.

Water. Limited, but we have a watermaker: we just stay reasonable.

Connectivity. Starlink aboard. We lean team-disconnect, but we talk it through together and everyone says what they need.

And if you're keen: small workshops on sailing, navigation and the sextant: a few 10-15 minute sessions spread through the day, with time to let things sink in between. If you're aiming for the Swiss high seas licence, we can also sign off your offshore miles.

🧭 Crossing special

If you're joining for a transat or a long passage, everything above still applies, plus a few particulars:

• Weather margin gets serious: a crossing departure waits for its window and can shift by several days.
• Night watches: 2 to 3 hour watches, accompanied at first. Those solo moments under the stars with phosphorescence in the wake are often the best memory of the crossing.
• Meals get planned: before departure everyone thinks up a few dishes they enjoy cooking, with ingredient lists, so we provision the right quantities. Fresh food the first week, tins and dry goods after.
• Arrive a few days early: time to discover the departure port, help with provisioning and settle in aboard.

🦺 Safety

Personal locator beacons (PLBs) and auto-inflating lifejackets with harnesses for everyone, with clear and sensible rules about when we wear what. The boat carries an EPIRB and a life raft, and we run a proper safety briefing aboard before departure. No limit on questions: ask them all.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need sailing experience to come aboard?

Not aboard Little Cloud. A full safety briefing, accompanied sailing, and mini-lessons for anyone who wants to learn. Enthusiasm beats a sailing CV.

Can I come with family or friends?

Yes, that's actually our favourite format. Three double cabins, a trampoline, scuba, freediving and paddleboard kit: everyone finds their own rhythm.

How long does an Atlantic crossing take?

From Cape Verde, roughly 2 weeks at sea, sometimes 3 depending on the trades. Departure depends on the weather window, so always keep a few days of margin.

Can I log miles for the Swiss high seas licence?

Yes. Sam is an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore 200t and holds the Swiss licence himself: he keeps a compliant logbook and signs off your miles. We wrote a whole article about it.