Provisioning For a Long Cruise
It has definitely gotten easier to provision in the past few years. Many times I am Offshore for a few days, with up to 5 crew members. I would be Sailing to Bermuda, or taking a run from Block Island, RI to Virginia. Some trips I would do Singlehanded….but you still need to Provision, keeping in mind that some days your crew, how should I say…..may be under the weather.
I break it down to Breakfast, Lunch, Dinners, Quick eats, Snacks, Sweets and Desserts. Depending on the Crew size is the amount of meals needed at a sitting. For the Cook, he knows that not everyone will be up for each meal. So he may have to make each meal twice.
One for the "On Watch" Crew and one for the "Off Watch" Crew. On some larger yachts, the Galley is open 24 hours. With smaller Yachts, it could be only one meal made for breakfast-lunch-dinner, and if you’re not up for it, you have to make your own.
When you go to the Grocery Store, I start with breakfast first…I have a list made and find I try to stay with things that don’t need refrigeration. Offshore, you never know when your refrigerator may give out. I always have Ice on the bottom in case it does. This way, when the refrigerator is working the Ice does not melt. Once the refrigerator does give out, your Ice takes over and can give you extra days of cooling. So here is a list…no refrigeration towards the top…
Breakfast
Coffee/Tea
Pancake mix, ready for water
Hot cereals, ready for water
Fruit
Bread/crackers
Eggs/Egg sandwiches
French Toast
There are other Microwaveable breakfast items, for quicky heat-ups
Lunch
Peanut butter and jelly
Tuna/Salmon in cans
Pretzels/chips/etc
Cheeses with crackers
Bite-size carrots, comes pre-packaged
Hot dogs
Cold cuts
Yodels/Twinkies
There are so many Microwaveable items for Lunch
Dinner
Spaghetti – different types
Clams w/sauce in cans…red or white
Lobster w/sauce in cans
Spaghetti and meatballs in cans
Stews in cans
Again the items you can get that are Microwaveable are endless.
This is just a basic list…..but as you can see, refrigeration is not needed for most, and it takes the worry out. You can of course bring along ingredients to make the meals more like home made. I find I can go days Coastal or Offshore with this list. You can mix and match to keep the meals interesting…Then when ashore, going to a Restaurant becomes a great taste experience!
As you keep provisioning for those trips, you’ll find you still have a lot left over and then get things you would normally not get…Trying this and that also expands the menu when on that long trip, which keeps the crew happy.
It becomes a challenge to find items that don’t need refrigeration, but are healthy and nourishing. You will find a lot of additives in these items, such as preservatives. On the flip side, you will also find natures’ natural items last quite some time, and with a reliable refrigeration unit, your options are endless.
Douglas Malat is a captain, sailor and creator of YachtAuthority.com, where you will find everything you need for offshore sailing.
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