12 Essentials to Take With You on Your Summer Yacht Vacation

Summer season for yacht charters is officially under way this weekend, and travelers from Croatia to the Caribbean are hitting the high seas. But whether you’re a yachting neophyte or a seasoned pro, packing for a trip is not necessarily easy. Not every yacht comes equal: Yacht operators offer a range of craft, whether you’re looking for a helipad and 10-foot waterslide or the customary cinema, gym, and Jacuzzi setup. As you make your packing list, we rounded up a dozen of the best items you’ll find helpful for getting your family shipshape during that unforgettable week.

Brunello Cucinelli Country Weekender Bag

The first rule of yacht charter: You’ll never have as much room as you think. That’s why it’s best to skip the hard-sided luggage and go with something more malleable. This Italian-made grained calf-leather Brunello Cucinelli Country Weekender Bag ($4,695) says that you’ve arrived. The manufacturing process imbues the leather of each bag with a unique vintage feel so there’s no need to worry about crew confusing which one is yours. The double-handled design is durable enough to carry your essentials, and its fabric is fittingly water resistant.

Jimmy Choo Hazal Flat

Charter vets already know the golden rule: no heels on deck. For a fashionable flat, look no further than the Jimmy Choo Hazal Flat ($675). This open-toe, leather-sole sandal comes with faux pearl embellishments and a choice of bright colors that make it the ideal footwear to dress up or down.

Tory Burch Tote

Right-sizing your beach bag is a perennial summer challenge, but not anymore: the Tory Burch Ella Printed Straw Basket Tote Bag ($498) is a chic, versatile carry-all that doubles as a handbag when dining or exploring ashore. Inside you’ll find the designer’s bold compass-print silk lining, a removable scarf pouch, and plenty of room for a beach read, towel and beverage. The lining can serve as a silk scarf or a tie to close the bag. The limited-edition, hand-woven tote comes from a women’s weaving collective in Marrakech, Morocco, so no two totes bear the same striations.

Vilebrequin Swimming Trunks

When it’s time to drop anchor in Sardinia or St. Barth’s, you can’t go wrong with a classic. Outfit the whole family in Vilebrequin (from $260), the standard in tailored, soft-as-silk swimwear for more than 50 years. The heritage brand evokes the freewheeling spirit of its Saint-Tropez origins, as its whimsical summer prints grace the world’s top beaches and berths. Most suits are made with a fast-drying, high-density polyamide in a 32-step process completed in Italy, Spain, and France. This year the swim purveyor features a men’s capsule collection certified by The Woolmark Company, the benchmark in fine Merino wool suit tailoring. Snorkeling, anyone?

Sofia Cashmere Cable Knit Throw

When the sun goes down, cozy up with this oversized cable-knit Sofia Cashmere Cable Knit Throw ($595), ideal for keeping warm when watching a movie in the salon or carousing at the fire. The company sources its cashmere from goats in the grasslands of Mongolia and China, using long fibers that make the chic white throw unusually durable, too. Whether you prefer to spend your time above or below deck, keep a few of these on hand to keep the chill at bay.

Prada Terry Beach Towel

Whiling away a lazy afternoon on the lido only requires one thing: a good towel. This jaunty Prada Terry Beach Towel ($1,270) says you’re serious about your leisure time. Available in yellow or blue bold enough for your crew to locate you on a crowded beach, this oversized towel comes with a nylon case and detachable and adjustable shoulder strap, which leaves your hands free to wave to your friends as you move from dock to shore. A removable pouch holds keys, credit cards, and other small sundries.

Yeti Stainless Steel Cooler

Keep your Champagne and king crab legs cool beneath the blazing summer sun with this range-topping Yeti Stainless Steel Cooler ($800) from the performance-built outdoor purveyor’s V Series. The handsome ice chest features advanced-technology vacuum insulation to chill oysters, wine bottles, or up to 50 cans of beer on the rocks all day. Cast aluminum hinges, stainless steel latch loops, and non-slip feet make this the next-best option to hauling aboard your Sub-Zero. A tie-down kit ($50) ensures the cooler stays secure on deck.

Baccarat Crystal Chess Set

When the lazy afternoon stretches ahead, everyone loves a game. Break out an Asprey Hanover Leather Backgammon Set ($3,900) in the salon, or take a Baccarat Crystal & Marble Checkers Set ($10,000) to the sundeck and while away the pre-cocktail hours with these clear and midnight blue crystal checkers hand cut by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France. (That’s the title bestowed upon the victor in the country’s annual master craftsman competition.) Seeking more rigor? Up your gamesmanship with this Baccarat Crystal Chess Set ($15,000), also made with mouthblown and hand-cut crystal from France. Checkmate.

Zeiss SFL 40 Binoculars

Zeiss’s SFL 40 is the newest series of compact binoculars from the famed optics manufacturer. SFL stands for SmartFocus and Lightweight, and that’s exactly how the 40’s performed in an informal field test on the water. The compact binoculars, available in 8×40 and 10×40 sizes, are designed to be intuitive, while offering the high performance of larger field glasses. That makes them worth the wait until July when they’re available.

Rolex Yacht-Master II

The Rolex Yacht-Master II has been a staple at sea since the Swiss watchmaker introduced it more than a decade ago. The 44-mm timepiece’s chronograph technology features a programmable 10-minute timer designed for the particular horological intervals of a regatta’s starting sequence. Rolex spent four years—or 35,000 hours—developing the system, which consists of 360 parts and a 72-hour power reserve when not in use. Wear this sporty-yet-classic oyster-design bracelet proudly, knowing you’ll never be late for a yachting competition—or dinner—again.

Naim Mu-So for Bentley Special Edition Portable Speaker

Half the joy of yachting comes from cruising the high seas with your favorite tunes. The Naim Mu-so for Bentley Special Edition ($2,299) portable wireless speaker is suitable for the stateroom to the sundeck. Features include lacquered wood finish crafted from African hardwood, a copper-threaded speaker grille, and the bespoke British marque’s signature diamond-pattern knurling around the dial. Form meets function: the all-in-one unit can connect through Bluetooth, Chromecast, HDMI or USB to play Spotify, Internet radio, and Tidal, as well as control television volume, Google Assistant and Apple Siri voice command.

Moscot Lemtosh Polarized Sunglasses

Style meets function with these polarized shades from Moscot. Available in multiple styles, our favorite was the Lemtosh, with the tortoise frame. Available in three sizes, the glasses are particularly suitable to yacht travel because they cut glare off the water while allowing direct light to pass through and enhancing depth and clarity.