Provisioning for your sailing vacation in the Caribbean
Part of the excitement of a Caribbean sailing vacation is the sense of adventure of exploring new places, as well as the chance to experience exotic cuisine. Nowhere is this more apparent than when it comes time to provision your letter. Whether you’re just buying drinks and snacks, or planning to prepare meals on board, provisioning can be a rewarding adventure in itself.
The key is to keep it simple and reduce vacation time spent cooking so it doesn’t become a chore. Basically, there are three options for provisioning on your Caribbean sailing vacation. Firstly, if you have money to spend and you like caviar, you can have your provisions prepared in advance by an independent provisioner and delivered to your ship. Second, for an additional fee, most charter companies offer a selection of provisioning options. The charter company will take care of a convenient pre-selected plan.
The two main plans are “full provisioning”, which includes three meals a day, or a “split program”, which eliminates some dinners in order to eat on land. The rental company’s provisions are not only delivered to your boat, but are often stored on board for you. Most charter companies will provide a sample menu.
The third option is to provision the ship yourself. Many of the islands have a supermarket at the marina or a short taxi ride away. Although they may not be the mega-superstores you’re used to at home, local supermarkets often have a surprising variety of products. Keep in mind, however, that some items are very expensive. A box of cereal, for example, can often cost around $7.00. The selections may also not be as plentiful. So, if there’s a certain spice you can’t live without, or if paying over $3.00 for a box of cornflakes will completely ruin your Caribbean vacation, you might want to consider packing and bringing these items on the plane with you. you. However, you run the risk of having them confiscated at customs. Regardless of what you pack and bring, don’t try to pack frozen steaks and other meats in your luggage. If your flight is delayed for any reason or your luggage is misplaced, and your meat thaws in that nice tropical heat… yuck!
In many places, supermarkets will deliver your supplies directly to the boat for a nominal tip or the taxi driver will wait while you shop and bring you back with your supplies. Most of these supermarkets accept credit cards. Even more exciting is shopping at an outdoor market. These markets offer everything from flowers, fruits, spices and vegetables to fresh fish or even live animals. Avoid “guides” (usually a small child) who offer to take you around the market. Often they will lead you to their friends’ stalls and a commission will be added to your bill. Throughout the Caribbean, everyone speaks some form of English, so it’s easy to communicate and get what you need. Before you buy anything, take a look at the entire market. This will let you know what’s available, general prices, and the stalls with the best products. Bring bags or your own bags to carry your purchases as they are not provided in these markets. At most, the food is wrapped in newspapers. Prices are usually listed somewhere on the stall. The open-air market vendors make their living selling food, not cheating tourists. The prices are extremely competitive and usually very reasonable, so it is not right to haggle over prices in food markets. Vendors will be happy to help you make selections and often explain how to prepare unfamiliar foods. A word of caution: most of the fresh food we are used to is washed multiple times and wrapped in plastic. In local Caribbean markets this is not the case. Wash everything before consuming it.
Knowing what and how much to buy is very important when stocking up for a Caribbean sailing vacation. Many first time charterers really struggle. To figure out how much food to buy, think in terms of how many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners you’ll need, plus any snacks. Also plan at least one emergency meal in case a trip takes longer than you think.
Unless you are an experienced cruising sailor who really wants to escape the real world, you should plan to have multiple meals ashore. There are plenty of beach bars in almost all the anchorages. After a few drinks of rum in the afternoon, it’s very easy to stay for a burger and fries or some kind of Caribbean fare. Also, when exploring the islands off the coast, it’s not uncommon to discover an inexpensive but lovely place to dine that serves quality food.
Think of food in terms of how long it will last without spoiling, since refrigeration space is limited. Buy fruits and vegetables at all stages of ripeness so they can be enjoyed throughout your cruise. One item that most first-time charterers are unfamiliar with is long-life ultra-treated milk. It is a non-refrigerated product that comes in a paper box. It tastes as fresh as pasteurized milk, contains more vitamins, and if left unopened, can last for six months without refrigeration. It comes in half-quart and quart cases and is available throughout the islands under the Parma brand. For those boaters watching their weight while on vacation in the Caribbean, a fat-free version is even available. Be sure to purchase a variety of Ziploc bags and trash bags if they are not provided by the rental base.
There are two things that people almost always don’t buy enough of: paper towels and bottled water. Expect to consume more drinks on your Caribbean sailing vacation than you normally would on land. Having enough drinking water on board is important so you don’t overindulge in alcohol simply to stay hydrated in the tropical climate. You should allow for at least one 1 ½ liter bottle of water per person per day of your Caribbean sailing vacation.
When we have family or friends boating with us, we have everyone write their name on a water bottle once they open it so we don’t have multiple open bottles sitting around. Again, because refrigeration space is limited, only a few drinks can be chilled at a time. Cold drinks are usually stored in the lower part of the refrigerator. This means constantly dumping everything on top to get to the drinks, letting cold air escape. A good tip is to buy an extra bag of ice and put the day’s drinks in a cooler to store in the cabin. Most charter companies will provide you with a cooler upon request.
For a seven-day charter, plan to buy at least four ice packs initially, then restock every two to three days as needed. Block ice lasts longer and stores better than cubes. Line the bottom of the refrigerator with these ice blocks. Do not put crushed ice on everything. When the compressor cools down, the crushed ice will freeze into an impenetrable mass. No matter what you buy, never bring a paper bag or corrugated cardboard on board. They are known to be the hiding place of cockroaches. If your supplies have not been packed in plastic bags, unpack everything at the dock before taking it on board. Although the charter base will advise you on how to use the refrigerator prior to your departure, here are some tips.
The refrigerator is the most coveted place on the sailboat to store food. It must be loaded with care. Most marine coolers are top-loading. Unlike a home fridge, they don’t lose as much cold when the doors are opened, however food is often less accessible. The goal is to get as much food into the refrigerator as possible without overpacking it (this interferes with the cold air’s ability to circulate) and without having to unpack it to reach the bottom items. Drinks are usually the most in demand during your Caribbean sailing vacation and should be kept as close at hand as possible. Pack food on the wire trays provided in the refrigerator or in mesh bags. This prevents the food from touching the support plate and freezing. If possible, try to layer foods in order of use. Items that need to be colder or will be consumed last should go to the bottom of the refrigerator. Remember that the ice blocks should cover the bottom of the refrigerator.
The boat motor is a power source for the refrigerator compressor. At least twice a day during your rental, you will need to run the engine for at least 30 minutes. This can be done at an anchorage or during a voyage if you are motoring. Regardless of where you sail on your Caribbean sailing vacation, part of the adventure is provisioning your boat. Although the charter company will be happy to do this for you, there’s a special thrill that comes from planning an excursion that includes shopping on the exciting islands of the Caribbean, especially the open-air markets. It’s a great way to interact with the places and experience island life in a completely different but up close and personal way.
So book your sailing charter and experience the provisioning yourself. The chance to make grocery shopping a whole new adventure awaits!
