Classic yachtsman’s outfit

[DoubleEnder]

I’m bored, I need to have a boat……
But in case anyone knows, cares, has an opinion, what did mid 20th century yachtsmen and women wear on board? What was the fashionable/functional equivalent of today’s natty little breathable jackets and versatile semi mid layers? I’m not talking about doughty, bomb proof oilskins and sowesters. More the sort of jacket that can be worn on board and on a run ashore. Was it all thorn proof tweed, oiled sweaters and Breton smocks?
Suggestions please from the 1950s and 1960s. Or indeed the 1930s. All those stylish S&S yawls - what did their crews wear? How did the skipper of a big McGruer ketch, or a Philip Rhodes centreboarder dress? Not the paid hands. The owners party

Right I’m off to do some gardening

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I’m bored, I need to have a boat……
But in case anyone knows, cares, has an opinion, what did mid 20th century yachtsmen and women wear on board? What was the fashionable/functional equivalent of today’s natty little breathable jackets and versatile semi mid layers? I’m not talking about doughty, bomb proof oilskins and sowesters. More the sort of jacket that can be worn on board and on a run ashore. Was it all thorn proof tweed, oiled sweaters and Breton smocks?
Suggestions please from the 1950s and 1960s. Or indeed the 1930s. All those stylish S&S yawls - what did their crews wear? How did the skipper of a big McGruer ketch, or a Philip Rhodes centreboarder dress? Not the paid hands. The owners party

Right I’m off to do some gardening

Well, when we were sailing in the late 50s and through the 60s, sailing gear was jeans or corduroy trousers and a wooly jumper. Sometimes a duffel coat or nylon anorak (they were the latest thing then!). There simply wasn't the distinction between "sailing gear" and "everyday gear" that there is now. Even when I went to the Arctic in the 1970s, we didn't take anything that wasn't readily available in workwear shops; the only slightly unusual element was long johns! A tip I've never forgotten is that a string vest is amazingly effective! Tempus fugit - when I went to Antarctica in 2005, I had a bag stuffed with all sorts of multi-layer kit, most of which never got used!

Of course, the owner wore a jacket and white trousers!

 

[ChathamSailor]

Crisp sea island cotton White shirt; Tweed suit, tweed waistcoat and tweed flat cap of course ( in spring and autumn), cream chino’s, white tee shirt and blue chamille ( Jaques Cousteau) shirt with red cap in summer.

 

[Wansworth]

Multi layers…….vest,collar less shirt(white) waistcoat,trousers with belt or braces….ex services above brigadier cotton vest and twill shirt,long sleeved,twill good hard wearing beige color he’d up with regimental tie or old school tie

 

[Wansworth]

Multi layers…….vest,collar less shirt(white) waistcoat,trousers with belt or braces….ex services above brigadier cotton vest and twill shirt,long sleeved,twill good hard wearing beige color he’d up with regimental tie or old school tie

 

[srm]

I started sailing on cruising yachts at the end of the 60's. Everyday outdoor casual wear was the norm plus heavy weight cotton smock for a windproof and PVC waterproofs from the fishermen's co-op. Woolly hat for warmth and bump protection, especially on a boat you did not know.
Yachtie clothing started to be marketed in the 70's. Musto and Hyde used to be sailmakers, then Mr. Musto decided there was a brighter future in specialist clothing.

 

[Wansworth]

I started sailing on cruising yachts at the end of the 60's. Everyday outdoor casual wear was the norm plus heavy weight cotton smock for a windproof and PVC waterproofs from the fishermen's co-op. Woolly hat for warmth and bump protection, especially on a boat you did not know.
Yachtie clothing started to be marketed in the 70's. Musto and Hyde used to be sailmakers, then Mr. Musto decided there was a brighter future in specialist clothing.

Reminds me of Decathlon……every sport now has its own speciality clothing and footwear……..on taking friend out sailing in Spain it was weird having the bot with all those bright colours whilst my donkey jacket served me well…..we are obsessed with not getting wet going to sea

 

[DoubleEnder]

Yeah this is good. I like the tweed 3 piece suit and I like the duffel coat. I’m intrigued by ‘brigadier cotton vest’ and also the chamille shirt. But this excellent. I did have a donkey jacket once and maybe I’ll get myself another

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Yeah this is good. I like the tweed 3 piece suit and I like the duffel coat. I’m intrigued by ‘brigadier cotton vest’ and also the chamille shirt. But this excellent. I did have a donkey jacket once and maybe I’ll get myself another

Maybe a synthetic one. Animal cruelty organisations might object to a real donkey jacket.

 

[DownWest]

I remember father getting a sailing jacket in proofed canvas with a built in inflatable lifejacket. I mostly wore a canvas smock if needed. Duffles were common (50's) Lots of service surplus gear.

 

[srm]

But this excellent. I did have a donkey jacket once and maybe I’ll get myself another

The donkey jacket was building site wear. The marine version was the pilot jacket, same material but much smarter cut for the wealthy yacht owner.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The donkey jacket was building site wear. The marine version was the pilot jacket, same material but much smarter cut for the wealthy yacht owner.

The only trouble with donkey jackets is that they make you look like Harold Wilson!

 

[srm]

The only trouble with donkey jackets is that they make you look like Harold Wilson!

I thought he was a bit more up market with the Gannex raincoat. Probably a way of thanking the owner of Gannex for financial support. Remember seeing Wilson at the Cambridge Union and was surprised at just how vertically challenged he was.

 

[scottie]

Blazer with polished club buttons and flannels and matching yachting cap white shirt with collar and again matching tie
A pilot coat may be added if inclement weather
And yes I actually recall this rig being worn whilst racing

 

[MisterBaxter]

It's a bit earlier but Claud Worth gave some useful information on clothes for cruising:
"A comfortable outfit in cold weather consists of thin flax or silk undergarments next the skin, over this hand-knitted woollen underclothing, then a flannel shirt, and blue serge trousers and a blue jersey over all. One thick woollen undergarment is not nearly so warm as two thin ones of the same aggregate weight."
"In 1919 we bought Harris tweed and had it made into sea clothes. We had never before had anything so comfortable, very warm in cold weather but allowing good ventilation. A waistcoat intended for warmth should have the cloth carried round the back."
- 'Yacht Cruising', 1910
In a later book he mentions the tweed again:
"I thought I could make out the low line of the main island of Orkney, Pomona or Mainland, which was then about 15 miles to the southward. Wearing double underclothing, flannel shirt, Harris tweed suit, corduroy overalls, North Sea stockings and sea boots, I was just comfortably warm, and the keen air was as stimulating as champagne."
- 'Yacht Navigation and Voyaging' (1927)
I like the sound of the corduroy overalls, they sound very comfy and probably immensely fashionable now.

 

[wonkywinch]

I quite like the US navy pea coats Lord Cunliffe wears

 

[Aja]

The only trouble with donkey jackets is that they make you look like Harold Wilson!

Think Michael Foot was forever burdened with that look at the Cenotaph.

My dad was resplendent in full Paisley's of Glasgow gear. To my eternal shame he even had the white peaked hat....

 

[wombat88]

Viyella Shirts.

 

[jbweston]

Back in the 60s I used to sail in blue trousers my granny made for me and either a t-shirt or a blue smock also made by my granny. If cold I wore a thick blue fisherman's-type woolly jumper, knitted by - yes, you guessed it - my granny. Also I had a bright blue a Peter Storm (non-breathable) pull-on waterproof top that was like a sauna in warm weather. It was the only bit of dedicated boat clothing I had. That is if you don't count the reefer jacket and tie which was required by Club rules when visiting the bar in the evening.

Even today, quite often I wear exactly the same clothes (apart from the shoes) as I do driving my car, having a pizza at my daughter's or attending an informal business meeting. Blue corduroy trousers, an M&S long sleeve shirt with a collar (but no tie), and, if it's cool, a lightweight fleece pullover.

OK sometimes I wear my dedicated sailing trousers - a pair of Dickies' workman's blue dungarees - and save the blue corduroys for the pub or restaurant.

For shoes, a pair of blue plimsoll-type shoes completes 'the look' (or should that be 'the don't look'?). They're good for driving a fast-ish car too as they have thin soles. Also fine about the house as slipper substitutes.

I do have a set of Gill Atlantic oilies, about 15 years old, but they're usually safely stowed in a locker.

 

[ChathamSailor]

What I wear on my Fisher Motorsailor seagoing Pilothouse ketch; is a pair of plimsolls, Takkvassen wateresistant trousers (Amazon) , t shirt, checked hiking over shirt (mountain warehouse) , thick Derbyshire wool crew neck sweater (for winter) merino wool beanie, or Waterproof baseball cap and Guy Cotton Rosbras bright yellow oillie jacket for going out onto a rainy deck to adjust mainsail lines. I keep my Helly Hansen Skagen set and Helly Hansen windproof fleece for sailing the club Bavaria 36. I keep a Blazer, Shirt, Club Tie and Cords for the club bar.