Provisioning - an indispensable part of the yacht charter experience

• 11.03.2024.
• News, User experience

Why is provisioning necessary? What exactly do provisioning services do? If you plan to sail for a week or two, how do you order supplies to be waiting for you before you sail? Sail carefree order everything you need online.

Bareboat yacht charter and provisioning go hand in hand.  
   
For those who don't know, provisioning involves ordering food and supplies directly for the yacht charter vessel.  
   
Why is provisioning vital if you are on a charter, on a bareboat vessel?  
   
While the check-in procedure or the vessel is being inspected for safe departure, your order is already waiting for you or will arrive at the agreed-upon time.  
   
When you rent a bareboat, it is important to plan in advance the supply of food and what you will eat and drink every day so that you don't have to dock in and out of ports and marinas every now and then and look for shops.  
   
And stores in season, especially island ones, can have "slightly" higher prices.  
   
What is provisioning for? This supply service directly to the vessel allows you to enjoy sailing without stress and worry, especially during check-in.  
   
With good preparation in advance and provisioning of the vessel before sailing, there is no unnecessary loss of time. Order everything you need and want in advance—and it will be delivered to you.  
   
There will be less worry about whether you have anything for lunch tomorrow, which will leave more time to enjoy the beauties of the Adriatic, right?  

  
 

A guide through provisioning service - selecting and ordering food and drinks  

For those who have never done it before or don't know where to start, here is a guide on how to actually stock up for a multi-week sail:

• Assess and plan - depending on how long you will be at sea (a week, two, or more), assess what you need according to your household's established rules. Plan your meals and supplies according to how many people you have on board.  
  Be sure to include a variety of foods that are easy to prepare, require as few dishes as possible, and meet all nutritional needs.  
  Also, consider how the sea, the sun, and daily activities are exhausting, and you will probably need light but nutritious meals.  
• Check - before ordering, make sure you have enough space to store food, especially in the fridge and freezer. Also, make sure you have everything you need to prepare a meal (pots, pans, cutting boards, plates, etc.).  
• Make a list - make sure you don't miss anything while sailing because it's not like you'll have a neighbour over the fence from whom you can borrow some sugar. Although this may be the case in the bays of the Adriatic, someone will always be close to you, but let the basic things be on your list, to begin with:  
  - kitchen supplies and personal care supplies  
  - sufficient amount of water for drinking, and other drinks of your own choice  
  - essential foods such as bread, pasta, fruit and vegetables, meat and fish  
  - canned food or semi-finished food that is easy to prepare  
  - snacks and sweets of your choice  
  - olive oil and other ingredients to enrich dishes  
  - don't forget the spices that give the final touch to the dish (salt, pepper, etc., as well as the more exotic ones)  
• Order - depending on the agreement, most provisioning services will deliver the order directly to the marina for your vessel or yacht charter base. It is necessary to place an order in advance, especially during peak season when it is very crowded.  
  On the websites of provisioning companies, you will find a selection of products you can order online. Simply put the products in the cart, pay, and wait for delivery—thus making the whole process easier.  

   

Provisioning service - delivery to your vessel  

In addition to providing everything needed for navigation (and good planning), it's also important to know more about the local community. 
   
If you order from a local provisioning service, you are more likely to do better, especially with fresh food. Choosing one that deals exclusively with provisioning and has experience working with sailors would be best.  
   
Most of the websites where you can order everything you need online have pre-prepared packages—from basic groceries to fresh fruit and vegetable packages, vegan packages, and packages with selected wines and delicacies, etc.  
   
Our advice is to have an alternative plan and stay in touch with them in case you need more supplies.  
   

How to preserve the freshness of food during sailing for as long as possible  

How can you organise carefree sailing without fear of throwing away food, having to tie up in the marina, or doing shopping in small coastal towns?  
   
Storing food may be a challenge in some smaller vessels due to the limited size of the kitchen or storage space. Still, with good organisation and approach, anything is possible.  

• Pack and order supplies smartly - order foods that are pre-packaged in vacuum bags because such packaging takes up less space and prolongs the freshness of food. In addition to fresh foods, stock up on dry and canned products that serve as quick and practical meal replacements.  
• Get organised - organise the space where you store food by adequately storing fruits and vegetables to prevent them from spoiling. You should also put more delicate and perishable foods in the refrigerator.  
• Additional space (and cooling) - if you think you will have too little space, provide additional cooling, portable refrigerators, and use cooling gels to help preserve the temperature.  
• Check your supplies regularly - immediately remove foods that show signs of deterioration to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria, and regularly check expiration dates. Keep all lids and caps tightly closed so that the ingredients are not scattered during navigation and prevent the entry of moisture or air, which allows the food to spoil.  

 

  
Finally, is there anything better than carefree sailing, where the only thing you have to worry about is which new bay you will discover?  
   
That's why there are provisioning services that offer everything you might need on their website, and by the way they also deliver... Nothing else is left but to enjoy.  
   
If you need more information on how to connect with provisioning services or you want to open one such service, please feel free to contact us.  
   
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