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The original was posted on /r/sailing by /u/va1kyrja-kara on 2025-07-25 11:05:44+00:00.
So my fiancé walked out on me a month before our wedding after 5 years together. I always wanted to learn yachting, but I was told that he would not want to learn sailing with me, because he would learn faster and better than me, and I would hold him back.
So I used our honeymoon money to book a 5-day RYA Competent Crew course in the Solent (UK) in the week that we would have gotten married. Dates are 1-5 September. Guess I'll be learning sailing after all 🤷🏻♀️
I really need advice as a woman who has never stayed over on a 32ft yacht before. I have done some research on what to pack but it would be fantastic if someone could point me in the actual direction with the following, any links or photos of what you use would be super helpful:
- What luggage bag do you all use? My osprey duffel is done with life and I can just as well upgrade it. Looking for something rugged that could hold what it takes to go on a yacht for 5 days.
- Are leggings a good thing to wear? They provide waterproofs. I dont know what to expect of the solent in the first week of september. How many sets of clothes do you go through per day?
- What sleeping bags and pillows do you all use? My sleeping bag is huge, doesnt pack up small at all, will that be okay?
- I booked a single berth. How claustrophobic are the sleeping chambers? Should I shotgun a bunk in the saloon to feel less claustrophobic?
- Shoes. I dont have anything non-marking. I found a pair of helly hansen sailing trainers on sale. In terms of the boots they ask for, is it wiser to invest in expensive leather boots than cheaper rubber boots? I want to go on a rubicon 3 sail next year as well as do my day skipper etc. So do you buy once and get it done with, or do you start off cheap?
Any advice or tricks and tips from other ladies would be appreciated!!