There are many aspects to chartering a yacht that make it extra special, but the ultimate guest pleaser has to be the ‘beach setup’ – words that can strike fear into the hearts of all departments!

Love them or loathe them, there’s no getting around the fact that they are a standard part of charter life, so how can we make them a little easier on the interior?

First of all, a good checklist is essential. Include everything, even if you think it’s obvious. Ever turned up to the beach with no serving tongs/napkins/ water jugs (insert any basic item as appropriate!)?

Also, there may be times when you start to pack everything and get called away, if you’ve ticked off what you’ve already done, it makes it much easier for someone to come and take over.

This list will evolve over time, and you may have different versions for different types of setup – BBQ lunch, afternoon drinks and games, evening bonfire, etc.

Another time saver is to have everything ready to go in dedicated waterproof tubs that are labelled and easy to grab, this means even if the decision to do lunch on the beach is a last minute one, you won’t have quite the same feeling of dread. Waterproof bags with the yacht logo or colours that are always ready to go will make your setup look more polished and saves the Carrefour shopping bags for the provisioning run!

Having dedicated beach gear such as oil and vinegar servers, cutlery, corkscrews, etc will save your best pieces from being damaged. There are so many great ‘unbreakable’ options for plates and glasses now that the element of luxury will not be lost.

As is the norm with everyday life on board, communication within departments will make or break the success of the beach setup. Liaise with the chef to see exactly what they plan to serve and whether you’ll need anything special that’s not on your standard list – crackers and picks for lobster, for example, or extra cold towels and finger bowls. Talk to the deck crew to make sure you have enough time to get your gear and a crew member over to the beach – there may be unforeseen circumstances ashore that require extra thought and effort. 

Also, define who is responsible for things like entertainment. Which department looks after the speakers and music? Is there a dedicated beach first aid kit and who takes care of remembering it?! If you have kids on board, it’s important to have something to amuse them while they’re waiting for lunch to be served, beach toys and water toys, and someone to supervise!

With some organisation and prior thought your beach setups will be on point. Who knows, the captain may even be so impressed that they declare, “let’s do this more often!”.

But, at the end of the sand filled, salt water-soaked day, most crew agree that despite the extra work, beach setups will often be the highlight of the trip for many guests, and that makes it all worthwhile.