Life Onboard
What to Actually Pack for Your First Season
In short
Pack light for your first yacht season: a soft collapsible bag, neutral plain basics, non-marking deck shoes, a smart interview outfit, and essentials like a water bottle, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen and a power bank. Buy the rest in port.
For a first yacht season, pack one soft, collapsible bag and only a couple of each item of clothing: as Superyacht Content puts it, “A collapsible bag with wheels is the way forward, so it can be easily stored onboard.” Hard, square suitcases are, in the same guide's words, “a mission for onboard storage” (checked 9 October 2026).
Cabin space is tiny and shared, so pack light and pack smart. A soft, collapsible bag beats a hard suitcase every time — there's nowhere to store a big shell once you're aboard. You'll be living this closely with the same small crew for months, which shapes more than just packing - our guide to relationships on board covers what that's actually like.
What clothes should I pack?
Bring neutral, plain basics: white and navy polos, plain shorts, good boat shoes or deck trainers with non-marking soles, and a smart outfit for interviews. Most boats provide uniform, so don't overdo your own clothes.
Not sure yet if this is the right move for you?
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“It never felt like a course or a programme — it felt like having someone in your corner who genuinely cared about where you ended up. Nick showed me I already had more to offer than I thought. Six months later I was a deckhand. I’ve sailed to Fiji. I’m 19.” — Freddie MHospitality → Deckhand · sailed to Fiji · age 19
What are the essentials people forget?
A quality reusable water bottle, good sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, seasickness remedies, a small kit of your own toiletries, and a power bank. Comfortable, broken-in shoes matter more than anything fashionable.
Leave the 'just in case' pile at home. You can buy almost anything in the big yachting ports, and space you save now is space you'll be grateful for later. Not sure how to land that first contract yet? Start with our tips for landing your first yachting job - or grab our free First Season Checklist for the whole list in one place.
Thinking about a career on superyachts?
If you want to talk through your options — no pressure, just an honest conversation about what's possible — get in touch.
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“He wanted to make the most of his gap year — not the ordinary version of it. Three months later he’s working on multi-million dollar yachts in the Med, watching the sun set over the Balearic Sea, living a life most people only dream about.” — Antoni MHigh school → full-time in Palma · age 19
Nick studied at university in Dunedin before finding his way onto superyachts with zero prior experience and sailing around the world. He's worked in recruitment and education, watched good candidates get overlooked for doing the wrong training in the wrong ports, and now coaches young Kiwis through the same journey: honest, one-on-one and industry-backed.