Learn How to Sail - Cooking at Sea

When writing your passage plan it should include aSome yachts have water makers onboard which are
previsions list that will cover the duration of thesmall desalination plants enabling the use of sea
passage plus say 10% extra for waste and delays.water, a must for long distance passages but and
Dependent on your passage plan duration yourrain water collection and storage facility should also
previsions list should be made up of a healthybe available.
balanced diet, some dried foods, tinned foods, sealedFor those evenings when the sea state is slight your
packets and spices, try to avoid glass bottles. If youcaught fresh fish can be BBQ on the stern of your
are taking part in a yacht race then weight takesyacht. You can purchase from your chandlers special
precedence, so tins, bottles or any heavy containerspurpose BBQ'S that be bolted to the stern rails and
are not the first choice. Vacuum packed dried foodscantilevering over the stern of the yacht for safety.
will weigh less and sometimes go a lot further in yourBBQ coals can help save on your yachts gas
menu.consumption, of which your gas bottle requirements
The choice of cooking pots and utensils are alsoand correct stowage should be checked prior to
important for the different types of sea state thatdeparture and not forgetting to turn off the gas at
you may encounter on your passage. At least onethe supply after use. Your yacht should have fitted a
hot meal per day should be included in your previsionsgas detection alarm to notify you on any potential
list and if sailing in heavy weather conditions the panleakage.
size is important, a large pan that a casserole orStorage of any fresh or frozen food depends upon
stew could be cooked in is ideal. Then when theyour yachts fridge / freezer capacity, it is advisable
cooker is swinging away on its gimble in a force eightto make sure that both fridge and freezer
gale, you only have to contend with one pan. Forcompartments are completely full on departure and if
serving suggestions it would normally be a bowl and apossible maintained that way throughout your
spoon, easier to manage when bouncing about!passage. This helps on the fuel consumption of the
Storage of you food onboard should be consideredfridge freezer.
carefully, for dried foods and vacuum packed foodsWaste storage is as important as food storage and
when opened, plastic containers are ideal. Tinned foodshould be considered seriously before departure,
due to its weight can be good ballast for your yachtplenty of heavy duty plastic sacks for dry stowage
so should be stowed low in the hull but clear of thewaste would be required. For degradable waste
bilge with similar foods placed evenly about thebio-degradable plastic bags should be use and when
centre line of your yacht.disposing of the sacks overboard holes should be
Water storage should be checked before departuremade in the sack so enabling sinking of the sacks.
and if a long passage then extra water containsWhen you're learning how to sail, hygiene must take
should be use. Purification tablets can be added toa prominent part of your passage planning as the
your supply to maintain the water hygienic state.safety of yourself and the crew is paramount!