Antarctic, Falklands S Georgia etc

suse

suse

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Have I already mentioned this forthcoming trip next year? My 'Subject' box seems to think so.

Anyway - everyone tells me it's cold down south, and I've been sailing in layers of old clothes and castoffs for many years. So - which thermals and fleecey layers would the panel recommend? Yes, money is an object, so cheap but effective suggestions, please.

I'm only going there in order to photgraph the polar bears swimming from floe to floe.

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Have a look at the climbing, running and camping shops. They have good thermals at affordable prices.

Light fleece layers are very warm and breath.

Breathable oilies are highly recommended.

The problem is that one is cold until called upon to do something like change a sail, then one sweats because of the warm clothes and if the clothes do not wick and allow the sweat to escape, you are wet for the duration. The sweat then cools and misery is guaranteed until the next time you do work and sweat.

Lined peaked caps with folding sides are good and the peak helps keep rain and snow out.

Brendan

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Err ... which way did you say?

For polar bears, think you need to turn right at Land's End!

Take an Eberspacher.


(P.S. I imagine you'll be sailing right through this winter to get in practice. Fancy meeting up for an East Coast cruise-in-company next month?)
 
Anything to do with BAS?

Somehow, I don't think that you're going in your "little" boat!!! I undertake much through UNEP and UNESCO, so a little PM as to what you're upto, I may be able to help you in other areas.

Just returned from the Salon Nautique (Paris) and it is interesting to note that for the first time there, there are manufacturers from altitude, with some very good thermal (lightweight) goodies. I have some very light clothing for minus 20C and in a commercial fridge "it works". Do not know your schedule, but I think if you are going South, you must be going in the next 4 weeks.

Martin

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Won't discuss the polar bears issue....but in 92, when I sailed around Cape Horn (by the "service entrance" from Ushuaia) on Alex's (a French charter skipper) Endurance 35 which he took every summer to Antarctica, he strongly advised me to get the Musto thermal underwear. He wore just that under his foulies. It won't be the case in Antarctica, but I've got a photo of one of the two girls on board taking the sun in Nassau bay in her bikinbi..... In South Georgia, you might come across Jerome and Sally Poncet; if you do, give them the regards of John, CX4ACI, the former net control of the South Atlantic and Antarctic M/M net
john

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Re: Err ... which way did you say?

<<<turn right at Land's End>>>

...and turn left for penguins!

John

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Not sure you should be leaving home unaccompanied if you want to go south to see polar bears! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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You could do worse than write a letter to the clothing supplies at BAS (Madingley Road, Cambridge). Things ought to be getting a bit quieter now the season is under way. They do a fair amount of research on new clothing each year and may be willing to share their knowledge. I wore my old BAS-issue waterproof jacket for sailing for years afterwards. I won't try and advise you on the basis of recent experience - technology has moved on since the days of woollen fid shirts and dachstein gloves - but proper moleskin trousers and Canadian RBLT boots with removable linings are still in use.

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Malden Mills fleece is the one to go for - appears in various branded garments such as Berghaus. Buy thermal wicking underclothes as stated, and lots of thin layers rather than few thick. You might want to invest in those little charcoal handwarmers for keeping in your pockets - great if you have to do fiddly work on deck!

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Re: Err ... which way did you say?

Hi Andrew - yes, it would be jolly super to sail in company next month - where and when? (PS all this dependant on the jolly old gear box finally having been cured fingers crossed, but a variety of shims, pumps and hoses have been replaced and now need testing). Boat still at Neptune Marina, Ipswich.

PS the polar bears were a joke (!), and in fact I shall be on a Russian ice breaker and roaring around in ribs, or kayaking, or sleeping on the ice.

Just call me Flo!

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