When you sail alone across oceans, your medical kit isn’t a formality—it’s your safety net. Over time, mine has evolved from a neatly packed collection in boxes to a carefully managed system adapted to real-life conditions at sea.
Starting in the Netherlands: A Structured Approach
In the Netherlands, there is a comprehensive medical list for offshore sailors—now maintained and regularly updated by RS Medical Sailing in collaboration with pharmacists and in consultation with the Radio Medische Dienst KNRM. This list, still widely known as the “KNRM medical list,” is continuously revised and aligned with international standards for offshore sailing.
I worked closely with Rob Sijbers, a GP, former tropical doctor, and sailor who specializes in training and supporting offshore sailors in medical self-reliance.
Before departure, I joined one of his offshore medical training weekends. These courses are highly practical, focused on real-life scenarios at sea, and include hands-on training such as first aid procedures and life raft simulations—because offshore, you are ultimately responsible for your own medical care.
Early Assumptions: Sailing in a Cooler Climate
At the start of my journey, I was sailing from the Netherlands, where temperatures are moderate. Back then, I assumed it would be enough to store my medication low in the boat, close to the hull, where it naturally stays cooler.
It worked—at least in that climate.
But that assumption slowly lost its validity as I moved further from Europe and into the tropics.
Building the Medical Kit
Back to my preparation. Using that official list as a foundation, I sat down with my own GP. She genuinely enjoyed being part of the process, but also challenged it.
- Why so many antibiotics?
- Why multiple sedatives?
She consulted with Rob, and together they refined the selection. Some medications were removed, others adjusted. In the end, I left with a well-considered but extensive medical kit.
At that point, everything was still:
- in original packaging
- grouped in separate bags
- stored deep in the boat in a big blue IKEA bag
Functional—but not practical.
Three Years Later: Reassessment and Reality
After three years at sea, reality had reshaped my needs.
I created a full inventory spreadsheet:
- all medications
- expiration dates
- current stock levels
Based on that, Rob reviewed what needed replacement. He prescribed what required a prescription, and I sourced the rest myself—especially eye-related products, which I use frequently due to wind, sun, and salt exposure.
Eye Care at Sea: A Simple Routine That Changed Everything
Eye problems turned out to be one of the most persistent challenges on board. Wind, sun and salt are constant, and over time I often dealt with dry eyes, white mucus in the corners, excessive tearing during the day—and sometimes both eyes would be swollen and even sealed shut in the morning. It could last for weeks.
Things shifted when I asked my friend and Hannah Degeling, ophthalmologist in France, for a more structured approach. What she gave me was surprisingly simple—and very effective.
The routine starts with warmth. Ideally, a heated eye mask for about five minutes to soften the eyelids and stimulate the tiny glands along the lid margin. On a boat without a microwave, that translated into a warm cloth with water, held gently over closed eyes for a few minutes.
After that comes cleaning. Using sterile wipes such as Blephaclean sterile eyelid wipes, I clean the eyelid margins to remove buildup and keep those glands functioning properly. Then I rinse the eyes themselves with sterile saline.
This cleaning and rinsing is done twice a day.
During the day, I use artificial tears frequently—up to every couple of hours if needed. At night, or before sleep (even if it’s just a short offshore nap), I apply a gel or ointment. It temporarily blurs vision, but that’s a small trade-off for recovery.
For the warm compress, I eventually found a practical onboard solution: a reusable mask like Posiforlid heated eye mask, which can be activated without a microwave.
Within three days of following this routine, the symptoms that used to linger for weeks were gone.
It’s a small system, but at sea, small systems make a big difference.
Seasickness: Rare, but Real
In three years of sailing, I’ve only been seasick twice. Both times had one thing in common: the sea turned into a washing machine, with waves coming from all directions. It’s also a well-known phenomenon on the Indian Ocean, where cross seas and leftover swell can create a chaotic, uncomfortable motion.
I carry medication on board for when it’s needed. I use the so-called “Belgian seasickness pills” prepared by Apotheek Wymeersch. The formulation was originally developed by pharmacists who were themselves passionate sailors, after discovering that standard remedies—often based on antihistamines or ginger—don’t always hold up during longer offshore passages.
Their alternative formula is known among sailors in the Netherlands and Belgium for being more effective with less drowsiness, which matters when you still need to function on board.
From Temperate Waters to the Tropics
Spending extended time in tropical climates changed everything.
Inside the boat, temperatures regularly reach 35°C or more. That’s not a theoretical concern—it directly affects the stability and effectiveness of medication.
When I replaced expired items, I made a conscious shift:
- removed most outer packaging
- reorganized everything for access and efficiency
- and most importantly, redefined how I store it
A Dedicated Medical Cooling System
In New Zealand, I bought an electric Brass Monkey coolbox from Burnsco. At first, it was lovely to get cold drinks out of it and put some other things in it like cheese.
Now, it has become essential to keep my medication cool. So I’ve made a clear decision:
the coolbox is no longer for food—it’s for medication.
Antibiotics, ointments, strong painkillers, and injectable ampoules now go inside.
I keep it set around 18°C:
- cool enough to protect against tropical heat
- efficient enough to avoid draining my batteries too quickly
Because at sea, energy is never unlimited. Solar input fluctuates due to clouded days, and sometimes the system simply can’t keep up.
A System That Works: Categorisation
To make the system truly usable, everything is categorised and clearly structured.
Each group has its own label, making it easy to find what I need quickly—even under pressure:
- Category A – Painkillers
- Category B – Nose, throat and ear
- Category C – Gastrointestinal medication
- Category D – Sea sickness
- Category E – Allergy
- Category F – Eyes
- Category G – Skin
- Category H – Inflammation and infections
- Category I – Heart
- Category J – Sleep and sedation
- Category K – Skin and muscles
Without the original boxes, this structure is essential. It replaces visual recognition with logical organisation. I do keep the instructions with each item, so I can always check usage when needed. Everything is grouped into separate plastic bags per category, which makes it quick and easy to find exactly what I’m looking for—even under pressure. On the Dutch app FK I can check offline what the medication is for. And Rob Sijbers is standby when I need to check things.
Choices and Consequences
This is where sailing becomes very simple:
Choices and consequences.
I chose to dedicate my cooling capacity to medication rather than food.
That choice has consequences—but so would the alternative.
Letting medication sit in 35°C heat has consequences too. And those are not ones I’m willing to accept.
Reorganizing for Accessibility
I now store everything in a large orange medical bag that stays accessible, instead of hidden deep in the boat.
The system is:
- clearer
- faster to navigate
- easier to maintain
And in an emergency, that matters.
Availability at Sea: The Pacific Reality
Out in the Pacific, the situation is simple:
There is nothing.
No pharmacies, no replacements, no quick solutions.
You are entirely dependent on what you brought with you.
That realization changes how you look at every strip of tablets and every vial.
Indonesia: Availability with Nuance
In Indonesia, medication is available—but it’s not always a straightforward substitute.
Many antibiotics you can find there are:
- older generations
- with different spectra of activity
That doesn’t make them inferior.
But it does mean:
they may not match the type of infection you’re trying to treat.
So even when supplies exist, knowledge and selection matter.
Keeping It in Order
It takes time and attention to:
- track expiration dates
- replace what’s needed
- store everything properly
But once it’s done, there’s a sense of calm.
Everything is:
- reviewed
- updated
- accessible
And most importantly:
ready when it’s needed.
Final Reflection
A well-prepared onboard pharmacy is not about having everything—it’s about having the right things, in the right condition, when you need them most.
At sea, there is no backup plan.
Only preparation.
My name is Jacqueline Evers from The Netherlands. Solo sailing around the world in my 27 foot sloop. While my husband and son may have chosen a different path, their unwavering support fuels my solo pursuit of this lifelong dream.
Not confined by age or the constraints of conventional life, in my 50s, I bravely departed from the rat race, trading it for the serenity of the open sea. Through my unscripted videos and blogs, I offer a glimpse into the authentic tapestry of my sailing
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