Finding a comfortable boat day outfit for women over 50 can be tricky, but this simple combination of a tankini, sport skirt and lightweight layers ended up being one of my favorite looks in Italy.
One of the smartest pieces I packed for Italy turned out to be my little black-and-white sport skirt.
I originally brought it because I wanted something easy to wear over my tankini for beach and boat days, but it ended up being even more useful than I expected.
It gave me just enough coverage to walk around town, stop for lunch, climb on and off boats, and still be ready to jump in the water whenever the opportunity came along.
And on this trip, there were plenty of opportunities!
Boat Day on Lake Maggiore
Our first boat excursion was on beautiful Lake Maggiore.
We rented a boat with friends and headed north toward the part of the lake near Switzerland. One of our friends captained the boat, which made the whole day feel even more relaxed and fun.
It took us about an hour to reach the little town where we stopped for lunch and walked around for a bit. You could definitely feel the Swiss influence in the buildings and architecture as we got farther north on the lake.
The weather was lovely when we started out, but on the way back it became windy and we even had a little rain.
I was so glad I had packed my lightweight white sweatshirt and also brought along my pink Coldwater Creek tunic sweatshirt for extra warmth.
My friend Debbie ended up wrapped in a towel because she was so cold!
That is the thing about traveling in Italy in October — the weather can change quickly, especially when you are out on the water.
Layers were definitely my friend.
Why the Sport Skirt Worked So Well
For boat days, I wore my black-and-white sport skirt right over my tankini bottoms.
It was so easy.
I could walk around town without feeling like I was wandering through lunch in a swimsuit, but I was still completely ready if we decided to swim.
That combination became one of my favorite little travel tricks:
tankini + sport skirt + lightweight sweatshirt + comfortable sandals or water-friendly shoes
Simple, practical and cute.
Exploring the Caves of Polignano a Mare
Our next boat excursion was in Polignano a Mare, and this one was completely different.
The coastline there is dramatic — sheer cliffs, rocky edges, sea caves and unbelievably clear water. The caves are one of the area’s best-known natural features, and many can be reached only from the water or by swimming.
We were able to go right up near several caves and see the coastline from a completely different perspective.
The water was absolutely gorgeous.
It was so clear that you could see down through it, and along parts of the rocky coastline there were these beautiful purple tones that I couldn’t stop looking at.
From the boat, we could also see the famous Grotta Palazzese, the restaurant built into a natural sea cave overlooking the Adriatic. The cave has been used for gatherings and banquets for centuries, and seeing it from the water was such a fun perspective.
Our young boat captain was wonderful.
He grew up in the area and shared little stories and bits of history as we cruised along the coast. He also brought us focaccia to enjoy on the boat, which of course made the experience even better.
There is something about eating simple Italian food with the sea all around you that makes it taste even more delicious.
And Yes… I Got in the Water!
My black-and-white tankini and sport skirt were perfect for this day.
Did I get in?
Of course I did!
One of my favorite things about being on a boat is knowing I can just jump in when the moment feels right.
And I’ve learned something else about myself on this trip:
Boat hair is perfectly acceptable as long as I have a baseball cap waiting for me afterward.
My hair is finally getting long enough that I can pull it into the tiniest little ponytail, which actually makes swimming and boat days much easier.
I’ll take a tiny ponytail and salty hair over missing a swim in that water any day.
Sailing in Sicily
Our third boat excursion may have been the most magical of all.
This time we were in Ortigia, the historic heart of Syracuse in Sicily. Ortigia is a small island connected to the rest of Syracuse by bridges and is filled with layers of Greek history, beautiful architecture and views of the sea.
And this time, instead of a motorboat, we were on a sailboat.
Our captain was hysterical.
He had such a great personality, spoke wonderful English, and made the whole afternoon feel like we were out sailing with an old friend.
Before we left, he asked whether we minded if the trip ran a little longer than planned.
Of course we said yes.
What we didn’t realize was that the final half hour would be spent actually sailing — engine off, sails up, moving only with the wind.
It was incredible.
There was something so peaceful about suddenly hearing nothing but the water and the wind in the sails as we crossed the Mediterranean.
At one point we stopped to swim.
We swam over toward some rocky areas, and I even jumped off into the water.
Mike did too, and I managed to snap a picture of him.
We also got a photo of the two of us swimming together.
I can’t really explain it except to say that being in the water like that speaks to my soul.
Lunch on the Sailboat
After our swim, our captain made lunch for us right there on the boat.
Nothing fancy.
And absolutely perfect.
We had olives, chips, bruschetta with olive oil, seasonings and salt, and little sandwiches with meat and cheese.
That kind of simple meal somehow tastes extraordinary when you’re sitting on a sailboat in Sicily.
Later the wind picked up, which meant it was finally time to really sail.
In the distance, we could see a large ship with its sails slowly unfolding.
It felt almost unreal.
One of those moments when you stop talking for a minute because you just want to take it all in.
Celebrating Two Years Cancer Free
This day was especially meaningful for me because it was also such an incredible way to celebrate being two years cancer free.
There was something about being out there in the Mediterranean — swimming, laughing, eating lunch on the boat and then sailing with the wind — that made me feel especially grateful.
Travel has a funny way of giving you those moments.
You think you’re just booking a boat tour.
And suddenly you find yourself sitting quietly thinking, I can’t believe I get to be here.
I felt incredibly blessed.
Would I Pack the Sport Skirt Again?
Absolutely.
It was one of those simple little pieces that earned its place in my carry-on over and over again.
It worked as a swimsuit cover-up.
It worked for walking around little towns.
It worked for lunch.
It dried quickly.
It was comfortable on the boat.
And I could go straight from sightseeing to swimming without needing to completely change clothes.
For women who like a little more coverage over a swimsuit, especially while traveling, I think this kind of skirt is such a good option.
And paired with a tankini, lightweight sweatshirt and baseball cap?
That may officially be my boat-day uniform.
Italy gave us three completely different experiences on the water — Lake Maggiore, the incredible caves of Polignano a Mare, and finally sailing off Sicily.
And every one of them reminded me why I love being near the water so much.
The views were spectacular.
The water was beautiful.
The food was delicious.
But more than anything, I’ll remember the feeling of being out there with people I love, wind in my hair, probably slightly wet, and very, very happy.
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