What to pack for a Lake Lanier sailing charter: complete list
Last summer a couple showed up at Aqualand Marina in flip-flops, holding a bag of ice and nothing else. Sweet folks. They lasted about ninety minutes before we motored back to Dock Zk so she could grab a hat and shoes. If you have never sailed before and are wondering what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier trip, this list is the one I wish every first-time guest read the night before their booking.
What to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier: clothing and footwear for Georgia weather
Light layers you can peel off, closed-toe soft-soled shoes, and a hat that stays on when the wind picks up past Browns Bridge. Georgia summers are hot and Lake Lanier reflects sun straight back up at your face.
The clothing chapter of what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier starts with three items: soft-soled shoes, light layers, and a wide-brim hat. In July and August wear a moisture-wicking short-sleeve or UPF sun shirt, quick-dry shorts, and boat shoes, Tevas with heel straps, or old sneakers. No black-soled shoes; they mark the deck. No flip-flops; they fly off during tacks.
For May and September morning departures, add a light long-sleeve shirt or fleece. According to the National Weather Service Peachtree City office, morning temps at Lake Lanier can run 15 degrees cooler than the afternoon high on shoulder-season days.
Late season needs different gear. The list of what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier in October changes with the water. Lake Lanier surface temperatures drop from around 80F in July to roughly 55 to 60F by November, per USACE Mobile District lake records. For October and November sails, pack a windbreaker, warm hat, and a change of socks.
A wide-brim hat with a chin strap beats a baseball cap every time. Sunglasses need a strap; if they go overboard on Lake Lanier they sink into 30 feet of stained water. For a full month-by-month rundown, see the best time to sail Lake Lanier guide.
For a closer look at this, see Lake Lanier Sailing Charter Length: Half-Day vs Full-Day Guide.
For a closer look at this, see Lake Lanier wildlife sailing: birds, eagles & fish you'll spot.
Sun and skin protection for open-water UV exposure
Sunscreen is the most-forgotten item on my boat. On open water your skin burns faster because the surface reflects UV back up. Even overcast Georgia afternoons will crisp exposed shoulders between Aqualand Marina and Buford Dam if you skipped the reapplication step.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen reapplied every two hours on open water, where UV reflection off the surface can increase exposure by up to 25 percent. For a 7-hour full-day sail, that means at least three reapplications after the initial coat.
Bring a mineral zinc or titanium sunscreen if you are sensitive; chemical formulas sting after a full day of sweat. A stick applicator works better than a bottle on a moving boat. Pack SPF lip balm; the wind cracks lips fast.
UV-rated clothing is the top-tier item on any what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier list for sun-sensitive guests. A UPF 50 long-sleeve shirt removes sunscreen from the equation for arms and torso. The American Sailing Association prep guidance prioritizes sun-protective fabric over repeat sunscreen applications during a multi-hour sail.
Polarized sunglasses cut glare off the water surface, which reduces fatigue during a 4 to 7 hour trip. Non-polarized shades let too much reflected light through. Check the UV index for your booking date at weather.gov the night before; anything above 8 means double-check reapplication.
Food, drinks, and coolers: what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier for a BYOB day
Lord Nelson Charters is a BYOB operation with no galley on board. Guests on half-day and full-day charters (4 to 7 hours) are responsible for bringing all food, beverages, and a cooler. Plan the menu like a picnic, not a restaurant meal.
Bring one soft-sided cooler with wheels or handles. Hard rolling coolers work too but scrape the deck. Ice packs beat loose ice because meltwater sloshes and gets into your food.
Menu suggestions after 20+ years watching what works: charcuterie boards, sandwiches, cut fruit, chips, and cheese. Skip anything that needs reheating. Skip heavy sauces that smear in the cooler when the boat heels.
Water first, always. Bring one liter per person minimum for a half-day, two liters for a full-day. Beer, wine, and cocktails in cans or plastic are welcome. Glass bottles are prohibited on the boat; one broken bottle in the cockpit ends the day for everyone.
Full BYOB rules are in the BYOB boat charter Lake Lanier guide. The quantity column of what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier planning is where guests over-pack most; four adults on a half-day need about the food you would bring to a small backyard cookout, not a wedding buffet.
Trash: I provide a bag on board and take everything to the marina dumpster at Aqualand Marina after we return.
Personal items and motion sickness remedies for sensitive guests
The best thing you can do about motion sickness is take the remedy before you feel symptoms. Once you feel it on the lake, no pill catches up. Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy, or ginger chews taken 60 minutes before you leave Dock Zk beat any onboard fix.
What goes in the personal bag: prescription meds, a small towel, a phone charging cable (USB-A and USB-C are both on board), and a dry bag for phones and wallets. Lake Lanier is freshwater but the cockpit gets splashed on a spirited afternoon sail.
The motion-sickness kit on any what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier checklist should include Bonine or Dramamine Less Drowsy, Sea-Band acupressure wristbands as a backup, ginger candy, and water to swallow the pill. Kids under 12 need pediatric formulations only; check with your pediatrician the day before.
The boat has a marine head, but it is small; use the marina restroom before we depart to reduce stops during the sail.
The camera column of what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier is easy to miss. Bring a camera or your phone; sunset over Browns Bridge, the shoreline near Two Mile Creek, and eagles overhead happen without warning. A phone lanyard is cheap and saves you a much larger replacement bill.
For guests bringing kids, add snacks, a change of clothes, and towels. Kids get wet even on a calm day. See your first time on a sailboat guide for family-specific prep. Bring a strap for prescription eyewear or a spare pair; I have fished exactly zero pairs of glasses out of Lake Lanier.
What to leave home when planning what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier
The don't-bring list is shorter than the bring list, but every item on it has ruined a sail I was captaining. Glass bottles, hard-heel shoes, oversized speakers, uncleared pets, and hard-sided luggage all stay in the car at Aqualand Marina.
Every what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier list I share also has a don't-bring column. Glass bottles: one wine bottle broke in the cockpit on a hot July afternoon and we spent 40 minutes cleaning it up. Cans or plastic only. Wineglasses are fine if you bring acrylic camping ones.
Hard-heel shoes: stilettos, cowboy boots, and hiking boots with lugged soles all mark the fiberglass deck. If you forget and drive up to Flowery Branch in boots, going barefoot on the smooth deck is safe.
Speakers: a small portable bluetooth speaker is fine; a suitcase-sized boombox is not. I have a marine stereo on board with an aux cable. The Lake Lanier Association asks all operators to keep sound courteous.
Fireworks and firearms: prohibited on chartered vessels per US Coast Guard boating safety guidance. For a Fourth of July trip, see the Fourth of July Lake Lanier boat charter guide; I coordinate viewing spots for the public fireworks display.
Excess luggage: no hard-sided suitcases. A backpack per guest plus one cooler is the sweet spot. Pets: dogs are welcome when arranged in advance; see the dog-friendly Lake Lanier charter guide.
Frequently asked questions
What clothes should I wear on a Lake Lanier sailing charter in summer?
In June, July, and August wear moisture-wicking short sleeves or a UPF sun shirt, quick-dry shorts, closed-toe non-marking shoes (boat shoes, Tevas, or old sneakers), a wide-brim hat with chin strap, and polarized sunglasses with a strap. Skip flip-flops because they fly off during tacks. Skip heavy cotton tees; they stay wet and give near-zero UV protection. NOAA climate summaries for north Georgia show consistent 90F+ afternoon highs from mid-June through early September, so light-color fabrics matter.
Do I need to bring my own food and drinks on the charter?
Yes. Lord Nelson Charters is a BYOB operation with no galley on board, so guests on half-day and full-day charters (4 to 7 hours) bring all food, beverages, and a cooler. Plan a picnic-style menu: charcuterie, sandwiches, fruit, chips, cheese. Skip glass bottles (prohibited) and heavy-sauce dishes. Bring one liter of water per person per half-day, two liters per full-day. Explore Georgia lists Lake Lanier as one of the state's largest recreation reservoirs, so plan for a big-water day.
What sunscreen and sun protection do I need on the lake?
Bring broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends reapplying every two hours on open water, where UV reflection off the surface can increase exposure by up to 25 percent. For a 7-hour full-day sail from Aqualand Marina, that means at least three reapplications after the initial coat. Add a UPF 50 long-sleeve shirt, wide-brim hat with chin strap, polarized sunglasses, and SPF lip balm. Check Georgia Wildlife Resources Division for current lake conditions before departure.
What should I do about seasickness before my Lake Lanier sail?
Take a motion-sickness remedy 60 minutes before your booking, not after you feel symptoms. Bonine (meclizine, non-drowsy), Dramamine Less Drowsy, or ginger chews all work. Sea-Band wristbands help as backup. Keep your eyes on the horizon toward Browns Bridge and stay in fresh air on deck; going below aggravates the feeling. Lake Lanier is smaller and calmer than open ocean so real motion sickness is uncommon here, but sensitive guests should still prep. Kids under 12 need pediatric formulations only.
What kind of shoes are allowed on a sailboat charter?
Closed-toe, non-marking, soft-soled shoes only. Boat shoes (Sperry, Sebago), Tevas with heel straps, and old sneakers with light-colored soles all work. Skip flip-flops because they fly off during tacks. Skip stilettos, cowboy boots, hiking boots, or anything with a black rubber sole; they mark the deck or become tripping hazards when the boat heels. If you show up in the wrong shoes, going barefoot on the smooth fiberglass deck is safe. US Sailing safety guidance ranks footwear among the top factors in deck injuries.
Is there a printable checklist of what to bring on a sailing charter lake lanier?
The article above is the working checklist I share with every new guest, organized by clothing and footwear, sun protection, food and drinks, personal items and motion-sickness kit, and the don't-bring list. Print or save this page, add your own household items (medications, camera, kids' snacks), and pack the night before your booking. If you want it condensed into a single-page PDF, email me through the contact form after you book and I will send the current version.