HOW NOT TO DIE OF HUNGER AND PREPARE FOR A LONG TRANSITION. PART 2

11. What is better not to freeze?

In addition to products that must be frozen in the freezer, there are those that should not be subjected to such heat treatments.

Potatoes and similar crops come to mind first. They will survive transportation well in a cool dry place. It is best to cook potatoes when there is a real need for them, and not in advance. No need to waste your freezer.

Sour cream stands out among the fermented milk products. If you decide to put it in the freezer, you will get a granular substance at the exit. Of course, if in the coming days you are not going to cook something with sour cream, then you can freeze it. But if you do not have time to completely defrost it, then it is better not to start.

It's not a good idea to freeze the water either. She already takes up a lot of space. Among other things, there are separate reservoirs for drinking water.

The cherry on the cake is meat with bones. The bones take up too much space. Remove the meat from the bones and place it in the freezer. Probably the main rule when using the freezer: do not leave anything inedible there.

12. Preparation for fishing and cooking fish

Prepare everything you need immediately upon sailing. You will need a bucket, a very sharp knife (for cutting fish), and a separate cutting board. It is advisable to have a set of cutlery separately for fish, but this is purely advisory in nature.

Don't forget about fish spices. Maybe you are a fan of homemade rolls? Then grab enough soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger right away. And don't forget the sushi roll set!

It will also be helpful to examine your swimming area for edible and inedible fish species. It is a good idea to stock up on recipes and tips for cooking fish.

13. Stock up on snacks!

The saddest and most tasteless moment will overtake you when you run out of small snacks. Therefore, do not be stingy to take them with a margin. It is better to have a whole bag of light snacks by the end of the trip than to languish in the middle of the transition about the absence of conditional snickers or bounty.

Before heading out to sea, go shopping nearby and stock up on chips, snacks, crackers, chocolate, waffles, candy bars, or any other junk food that tastes great. 

It will not be superfluous to divide the supply equally among the crew members.

14. Personal stash

Take some tasty treats that you personally like and store in a secluded corner. This way you will be your own boss and will not have to adjust to the total number of snacks.

In addition, a small stash of sneakers will serve as a great help to maintain morale even after a hard day. Imagine, the weather is not very good, all day on deck, your seventh sweat comes off. After the shower, you have already gone to bed and remember that in the cabinet under / above / next to the bed rests a bag of waffles or bars. You take one thing from the bag and life begins to play with new colors!

15. Buy vegetables that have a long shelf life.

What is stored for a long time? Cabbage, carrots, parsnips, any root vegetables. Butternut, pumpkin and apples also have a long shelf life. 

Place all long-lasting items in the back of the refrigerator or in a wire net. Prudently place all fruits and vegetables that will not last long in the front or in areas where people can easily reach them. Be sure to check out the recipes for the vegetables you brought along.

16. Remove the packaging 

So, you have already purchased but not completed stocks of products. What needs to be done next? Get rid of the packaging! 

Remove all vegetables and fruits from plastic bags or nets. Remove the wrappers from the jars (but label the contents on the lids), remove the cereal from the carton.

Why do this? There are two reasons for this. First, this way you minimize the space that the products will take up. Second, it will reduce the amount of garbage that would potentially end up overboard. Protect the boat's free space and nature!

17. Things and products that can be hidden anywhere 

Pay attention to the list of things and products that can be found anywhere on the yacht. So:

• Just Add Water Kits. Soups, instant oatmeal, dehydrated ready meals are all great snacks for late-night snackers. 
• Tortilla or pita bread. Yes, don't be surprised! Under good conditions, they can be stored for a long time. At the same time, without losing their taste! 

• Squash. Squash is a British feature, but for a long time it spread far beyond Albion. This is a super concentrated juice. You add a little to the water and you have a wonderful drink. It takes up a minimum of space and lasts for a long time. 
• Hydration drops. These drops will last for a long time. Guests and crew members can easily become dehydrated. Read my article “Diarrhea, Headaches, Muscle Cramps and More!” To understand what the signs are and how serious they are. Hydration drops can be added to water, and after a few seconds, the person who lacks hydration will feel better. 

18. Optional accessories that are good to have

A few more useful things:

• Soda for drinks. If you have a seat and love soda or soda, this is a godsend. Once you've got sparkling water, you can flavor it with juice or special syrups. 
• Slow cooker or solar cooker. For those who want to finish cooking early in the day and have dinner in the evening. A slow cooker or outdoor solar panel is a great way to let food rise slowly throughout the day. Slow cookers use very little energy, and solar cookers do not consume at all! 
• Bread maker. Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread! 
• Ready mix for cookies or cakes. If after a flurry there is not enough energy morally, just bake cookies or cakes, and “a smile will brighten the day”.

19. General tips

Advice that has been gained by bitter experience for generations of sailors. They not only should not be forgotten - they are still relevant now.

• Bedbug eggs are often found inside packages of flour, pasta, and other grain products. Yes, it's disgusting, but that's how life on a boat is. When shopping for any kind of pasta or grain, buy it in a fully sealed package. Your goal is to keep the bugs in one place.

The best way to store: Buy small packages of cereals and avoid regular boxes. 

• Ask guests to bring their own drinking cup with a resealable lid. This way, they can take care of their water needs using their personal cup. Or let them take a bottle!
• After eating, dry your plate with a tissue or paper towel. This small step can make dishwashing a lot easier!
• Get large bowls for food. This will prevent the contents of the bowls from spilling out of the plate onto the deck. 
• If you are going to bake bread, practice how you will do it before sailing. Boat ovens work differently from home ovens. In other words, don't wait until you're on the ship to learn how to bake bread. 
• Fill the boat with as many paper towels as you can. Toilet paper is good to have too ... but paper towels are always in high demand. 
• Consider throwing a halfway party where everyone brings something special to share with each other during / after meals - like pate, drink, chocolate, etc. T
• Think about the games you can bring. Maps might work, but it would be nice to have some other entertainment.

20.Finally important

Even if you have a water heater, make sure the boat has enough water for everyone on board. It is known that during a long voyage the speakers cannot withstand the load. 

Transitions can unexpectedly take much longer than expected. Make sure you have plenty of canned food and extra food in case you stay at sea for a long time.

Consider storing canned meat. Think of the worst-case scenarios - what if the freezer fails? Do you have enough canned and refrigerated food for your entire trip? What if your oven dies? Do you have alternative cooking methods? Consider having a back-up plan for every system on the boat, including cooking systems.

We hope this material will be useful in your travels. In any case, we wish you all a fair wind!

23.12.2021