| If you're going bareboat yachting in Tortola and the | | | | easy to transport (freeze meat and bring it in a |
| British Virgin Islands, you'll need to be prepared for | | | | cooler as a carryon) and cost much less at home |
| everything. That means you need to provision the | | | | than at Tortola's provisioners. If you're planning to |
| boat. Fortunately, in most towns with bareboat | | | | fish, you can also figure on at least one meal being |
| charter companies you'll also find provisioning | | | | your tasty fresh catch. |
| companies who will be happy to deliver proper | | | | Bring lots of ziplock bags. This saves time, as you can |
| provisions to your boat at prices comparable to an | | | | more easily pre-prep and separate out meals, toss |
| ordinary store, and who will help you select the | | | | them in baggies, and then store them in the ship |
| provisions you need. This can be a significant savings | | | | refrigerator, labeled and ready to prepare. It also |
| over asking the charter company to do this for you, | | | | makes it very easy to store leftovers. You'll find |
| and it allows you to easily modify your provision | | | | dozens of other uses for ziplock bags, from storing |
| needs by yourself. | | | | extra fish fillets to sorting medications or creating |
| If you choose to provision your bareboat yacht | | | | quick ice packs. |
| yourself, remember the following tips. | | | | Buy your rum, gin, and vodka at the British Virgin |
| Plan your own meals before you go bareboating. | | | | Islands, but if you want wine and are picky, you may |
| Consider what you'll really need to feed the crew, | | | | want to bring your own or check ahead for |
| keeping in mind that most crews tend to eat a lighter | | | | availability. |
| than usual breakfast and that dinners are often eaten | | | | Because ship water, despite being potable, gains an |
| on shore, especially when you spot tempting | | | | interesting and unpleasant flavor from the tanks, it's |
| restaurants that are easy to tie up at. Once you've | | | | a good idea to get bottled water. Figure on a |
| planned your menus, go online and look for | | | | half-gallon per person per day. |
| provisioners and their inventories. Often, you can do | | | | Roaches, unfortunately, are a problem on many |
| most of your shopping online before you go on your | | | | boats and yachts, even the nicest ones. Ensure that |
| trip, saving time and worry. | | | | the charter company you're renting from has |
| When planning meals, figure on eating breakfast and | | | | recently sprayed for vermin on board before you get |
| lunch onboard, but probably only half your dinners on | | | | on the ship. To avoid carrying more critters onto the |
| the boat. The rest will be at some of the nice area | | | | boat, take your provisions out of the cardboard |
| restaurants. | | | | boxes the provisioner delivers in before carrying |
| Small, portable foods can be purchased at home and | | | | them onto the boat. Roaches like to piggyback in |
| brought to the British Virgin Islands with you. This will | | | | cardboard, and this is the route through which most |
| save money on some of the most expensive | | | | boats get an infestation. |
| provisions. Coffee, spices, and meat, for instance, are | | | | |