Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the water, we thought we’d give you some ideas on what to bring to your Bluetooth RIB charter. After all, you don’t want to be on board wishing you’d packed your wetsuit or woolly hat!
What should I wear when onboard the RIB?
What you should wear will naturally depend on the time of year of your charter, and the expected weather.
Even on the mildest days, when you head onto Solent Water at 25 knots it will feel chilly. So if you are wearing a vest top or short sleeve tee under your lifejacket you may feel the cold.
Wearing layers is a great idea, so a sweatshirt or fleece and then a jacket will help keep you warm. Items with a zip at the front are easier to undo and even remove them with your lifejacket on.
Hats and gloves are a great idea if you feel the cold. In the summer a cap is also a good idea to keep the sun off your head. Hats and caps can go flying when travelling at speed so consider buying a cap clip.
If showery weather is forecast then remember your waterproofs. A jacket and trousers or sailing dungarees are ideal – but you can wear whatever will keep you dry.
Both RIBs in the Bluetooth fleet have jockey seats for 6 and a small bench seat at the front. So if you plan to sit on the jockey seats you may find wearing shorts or trousers more comfortable than a skirt or dress.
Wondering what shoes to wear? Flat with non-slip soles are best. Deck shoes, sailing boots or trainers are great and comfortable. Please don’t be tempted to wear anything with a heel. Not only will you find it hard to walk, but they may also damage the boat.
What else should I bring along for my RIB Charter?
The storage onboard the RIBs is limited so rather than packing a suitcase worth of stuff, here are some top tips for items you may like to pack for your trip.
- Suntan lotion – even on cloudy days you’ll be getting more sun on the water than you will on land
- Warm drinks – a flask of coffee is a great way to warm up cold hands
- Soft drinks – bring reusable bottles if you are able
- Snacks – whatever the age of your fellow RIB passengers, a bit of sea air can make the tummy rumble!
- Picnic – if you are onboard all day and don’t want to go ashore, pack a picnic and enjoy onboard. You can pre-order from the Ketch Rigger and collect from Hamble Point Marina before you depart.
- Think you may fancy a dip in the Solent? Then don’t forget your swimsuits, wetsuits and towels. Dryrobes are handy if you have them and a warm drink always go down well after a dip!
What bag should I bring?
Bear in mind that however nice the day there is always the chance that anything bought onto the RIBs could get wet.
Flexible non-solid-sided bags are the best. If packing a picnic, although a hamper sounds idyllic, it won’t work so well on the boat. So a soft-sided cool bag for your food would be best.
If you have a dry bag, bring that. When we head out as a family we clip our dry bags onto the back of the rear jockey seats.
We find that the Ikea blue bag (or similar) is super helpful for carrying towels, wetsuits and woggles. It can either go under the bench seat or if it’s full (or you have more than one) then they can sit between the bench seats.
If you have any questions about what to wear or bring on your next RIB charter in the Solent with Bluetooth RIB Charter, please get in touch.