3 Items to Keep In Your Sailing Bag

On April 22, 2021
By Kimberly

Weighing the need for equipment versus the sheer weight of my sailing bag; three more items made the cut and are now staples in my every day carry captain’s sailing bag; I added binoculars, a head lamp, and a solar charger. In my work as a sailboat captain, there are essentials I bring on every sail.

What Is In My Sailing Bag?

A LOT of gear! Everything from sunscreen to pens to my captain’s license! Plus a few additions below, thanks to Bill who watches out for my sailing needs.

Vortex Optics Vanquish Binoculars

Binoculars are so useful on a boat; not only for bird watching, but also to locate landmarks, channel markers, sea buoys, and fellow boaters.

My husband Bill gifted me with the Vortex Optics Vanquish Binoculars. I suspect he actually ordered them for shooting, then realized they would not accept a tripod, and that’s how I became the lucky recipient. No matter; I love them!

The Vortex binoculars are small and light enough that I don’t mind adding their weight and bulk to my daily bag. Of course, as soon as I received them, I headed out and ran a trial against a couple other pairs.

Binocular Trials

Everyone on the boat participated in the trial, viewing birds on shore as the goal. While there are far, far more expensive binoculars on the market; these are at a price point that if they do get dropped overboard; I won’t cry or jump overboard after them.

One interesting feature on the Vortex binoculars is their small size. In order to use them; first you rotate and extend the eyecup. A couple times, I have forgotten this step. They still work, but it’s a much better view when extended!

After trying each pair; everyone was impressed with the small frame of the Vortex binoculars. They fit easily into my sailing bag, and added very little weight. Some of the older, heavier versions were more difficult to hold still and tiring to keep raised to the eyes for long periods of time.

Anker Portable Solar Charger With Foldable Panel

Although there are usually cigarette lighter-type outlets on the larger sailboats I sail; they are located below at the navigation station.

If someone on board wishes to charge their cell phone, yet keep it handy for weather, navigation, or photography; something closer is needed.

Bill’s solution to this was to give me an Anker Portable Solar Charger With Foldable Panel. We already were familiar with Anker charging cables and their level of quality, so this was a natural choice.

The Anker Portable Solar Charger has three panels, is designed to be tied on top of a backpack or hung. It’s outdoor weather-resistant, and extremely lightweight and thin. My sailing bag has a padded envelope for a laptop; so the Anker Charger fits in it perfectly with lots of room to spare.

Black Diamond Storm Headlamp

You know the saying, “One hand for the boat, one hand for you?” Well, this was Bill’s answer to my need to check engine oil, examine battery terminals, and locate bilge pump float switches in dark bilges on the boats; a Black Diamond Storm LED Headlamp.

Instead of a rechargeable variety, Bill chose one with actual batteries for me so I would not have to wait for it to charge if one set went dead.

The Black Diamond Storm has several lighting choices; solid, blinking, and can angle up or down in its housing. Bill especially liked the red, blue, and green LED’s – we use red for maintaining our night vision on the boats.

It’s waterproof, dustproof, and I can switch from bright to dimmer with a single tap no matter in which color mode I am operating.

I’ve Got It In The Bag!

I chose an Osprey backpack in red so I can find it fast when everything falls on the cabin sole during fast and furious sailing.

RZ Mask – https://rzmask.com/
Stream2Sea Spray Hand Sanitizer – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Tervis hard travel thermos so it doesn’t get crushed – https://amzn.to/3ecOwns
Glasses Hard Case – https://amzn.to/3i0BDQ5
Sunglasses – https://amzn.to/3i4Psgg
Spare Sunglasses – https://amzn.to/3i4Psgg
Lip Balm – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Sunscreen in a teeny container – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Leave-In Conditioner – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Cash
Toothpick
Pen – Rite in the Rain pen – https://amzn.to/3eEMmxh
Sandpaper water – https://amzn.to/2CLwPxO
ASA Log Book Case – https://amzn.to/2Vnbv8g
Boater’s Federal Regulation Guide
Racing Course with Chart
Free Drink Coupons
Mineral Sunscreen – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Tinted Sunscreen – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Spray Hand Sanitizer – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Mask Defog – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Highlighter
Multi Tool Throwaway – https://amzn.to/2BDGSV3
Pens for signing log books
Improvised Tourniquet Windlass Pen from Crisis Medicine
Osprey revo backpack – https://amzn.to/2CIfS7j
Apple
Clif Bars White Chocolate Macadamia – https://amzn.to/2A6jUW7
Clif Bars Cool Chocolate Mint – https://amzn.to/3g5ENAm
Card Holder from Azurina – https://theazurinastore.com/
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Deodorant
St. Augustine Race Week Neck Gaiter
Stream2Sea Neck Gaiters – three with designs – http://bit.ly/dwhS2Sea Use coupon code DeepWH for 10% off
Diva Cup – https://amzn.to/2CIfXrD
Wet Wipes
Ibuprofin
Will add Benadryl
Hair Ties
Leatherman – https://amzn.to/3g36sBP
White shirt – https://amzn.to/2BcmVVm
Visor
Rain Jacket Foul Weather Gear From West Marine in separate grab bag
Binoculars from Vortex – https://amzn.to/2A8ypcb
Red Protest Flag
Streamlight Tiny Flashlight – must be small enough to hold in your mouth – https://amzn.to/2ZhLok8 – this is the one that lands on the button so you don’t lose it in the dark when you drop it!
Columbia UPF shirt –
Anker Portable Solar Charger With Foldable Panel
Captain’s License
Plastic Bag
Walther RBL 800 Tactical LED Flashlight – https://amzn.to/31kj17z
Fork
Vanquest First Aid Pouch – https://amzn.to/382ETpu
Gerber Line Cutter – https://amzn.to/2VmXxU2
North American Rescue gloves size XL – https://www.narescue.com/
North American Rescue CAT tourniquet – https://www.narescue.com/
Gauze – https://www.narescue.com/
Wound Packing – https://www.narescue.com/
Elastic Bandage – https://www.narescue.com/
Whistle on Foul Weather Gear – https://amzn.to/31m5wnO
West Marine Foul Weather Gear – https://bit.ly/dwhWM3rdReefJkt

Compact, Portable, Functional

Those are the requirements for anything to take up space in my sailing bag.

What could you add to your kit that would:

Make your sailing more fun.
Add a bit of safety to your boating.
Function for more than one use.
Be helpful to others on board.

We Don’t Go Anywhere Without:

Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “DeepWH” for 10% off. The packages are biodegradeable – not just recycled and recyclable.
MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code “DeepWH15” will save you 15% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
North American Rescue CAT tourniquets. Use code “MAY25” for 20% off through midnight on 5/31/20. This is a huge savings!
Airbnb, “Kimberly gave you up to $55 off your first trip.”
Airbnb says, “Deep gave you up to $415 off your first adventure.
Uber gives you $2 off your first three rides.
Travelex is our trip insurer – click for a free quote.
Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
REI Co-op for great sports equipment and travel clothes.
Sailo for $100 off your next boat rental! Discount Code: “KimWa1”
PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
BoatUS for your boat towing insurance! Code: “HEWAF88”

Thank you for using my links – your price does not change, but they may gift me a small percentage of your sale in return for my mention, which allows me to continue to bring to you fun content.
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