Little Peaked Skippers' Caps Poll

Those little blue skipper's caps are

  • Hysterically funny

    Votes: 31 24.2%

  • Just ludicrous

    Votes: 70 54.7%

  • I wear one whenever close to water

    Votes: 27 21.1%
  • Total voters
    128
Guapa said:
Little Peaked Skippers' Caps are old hat (pun intended).

What you need is...

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I have one of them in Fox Fur, bought in Minsk, very fetching it is too - & warm.


When we have navigation difficulties, my crew will always shout "Wear the Fox Hat" :p
 
What really amuses are the people who roll up to the LBS wearing Breton caps and yachting trousers - not to mention the occasional one in oilies.

We British just love as uniform. You get exactly the same thing if you go to country fairs, or bike racing.
 
Searush said:
But Phil IS an Ossifer not a pretentiuos prick.
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I say, Old Chap! I'm not an officer, so that makes me a pretentious prick.

I've worn and lost at least a dozen Breton caps over the last forty-odd years. Yes, OK, I do like the obvious nautical association, but the pleasure of that must be offset against guffaws, especially when wearing a newish one, of excessively fashion-conscious young men trying to hide their own uncertainty under a veneer of brash, cocksure scorn. I've lost several overboard, usually in situations were the skipper was unwilling to turn back, and most of the remainder owe their loss to the quaint British tradition of removing headwear in enclosed spaces like pubs and trains. One is probably still mouldering in Sherwood forest, having been removed there so that the wearer could better demonstrate his affection for his companion.

For those who don't have sufficient natural resistance to UV light (AKA baldies), there is really nothing to beat the Breton as the general purpose sailing cap. It's not as good as a broad-brimmed hat for keeping the sun off, but it can be made to stay on in anything up to a force 7. It keeps the sun out of your eyes almost as effectively as a baseball cap, and does not suffer from the latter's irritating void at the back.

One of the nicest things about growing old (trumped, perhaps, only by the discovery that the age-range that appears attractive in the other sex grows at the same rate), is the freedom one gains as one cares less and less what others think. If there are cares, they are not of embarrassment but rather perhaps of guilt at one's good fortune or concern that others should have such a shallow existence that they must, er, . . . shucks, forget it.
 
Freestyle said:
the pleasure of that must be offset against guffaws, especially when wearing a newish one, of excessively fashion-conscious young men trying to hide their own uncertainty under a veneer of brash, cocksure scorn... I've lost several overboard, usually in situations were the skipper was unwilling to turn back.
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I dont blame him... especially as they have been taking the piss out of your hat!
 
Freestyle, I too have an old, faded & battered denim Breton cap (see early post). And I agree that it is entirely practical for yotties. But Phil is wearing a Grey Funnel line "white top" cap. My point was that THAT would be pretentious for a non-ossifer.
 
While on the subject, I am getting bored with the Tammies that I usually wear and would like one of those black cotton/canvas berret type caps that are usually worn by older (sorry, a stereo tpye) Portaguise or Greek fishermen, they have a very short peak and a sort of design on the peak which is black and embroidered or a narrow black band running around them but dont look like some of those shiny ****e caps that the navy wear.
Anyone know what the right name for these caps are and where I could get one? Appreciate any info on them.
C_W
 
Well, I wear a cap. In winter if I ever go out its a thick "breton" cap 'cos it keeps me 'ead warm, see?

In summer the sun is too hot on my bald spot so as SWMBO retired my (mostly) blue faded and paint/grease bespattered denim yachting cap, veteran of many years, the only lightweight cap I've found that does the same job without causing eye-blinding perspiration is my White (ish now) Nauticalia "Captain's" cap at under a fiver. The peak keeps the sun out of my eyes as well plus I can still see where I'm going!

Yes, I get ribald comments from passing boaters, some of them on hire boats who are wearing identical but pristine white identical hats and who think we have something in common and get too familiar, dopy sods!

I've hunted high and low for a blue denim yachting cap, not one of those with "orange" segments sewn together forming the top, nor a baseball cap, but a "proper" cap, all to no avail.

So, if anyone knows where I can buy another one, please, please, post the link!
 
Cliveshep said:
Well, I wear a cap. In winter if I ever go out its a thick "breton" cap 'cos it keeps me 'ead warm, see?

(cut)
I've hunted high and low for a blue denim yachting cap, not one of those with "orange" segments sewn together forming the top, nor a baseball cap, but a "proper" cap, all to no avail.

So, if anyone knows where I can buy another one, please, please, post the link!
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Try an e-bay search;
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=breton+cap&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=
 
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You're welcom Clive. My "Number 2" fave cap is off e-bay, a little paler than I expected when it arrived, but sound quality & decent fit, if a the fabric is a little thin. It ain't a lot of loot to risk, but you are buying blind.
 
I can see what you're trying to do as a winter's day boredom remedy* but....

(* & possibly a mickey-take)

...have you considered that:-

1. Some of us sail where a hat is a vital piece of health equipment?

2. That a "proper" Breton cap has a braid across the front which , due to a couple of monkey's fist slip-knots being incorporated, allows the braid to be extended and used as a chin strap thus preventing the loss of the cap the first time one looks to the masthead in a breeze without first grabbing the hat?

Personally, I wear a Gunn & Moore plain dark blue cricket cap (better quality good fit baseball cap) but I always sew a chin strap on before use. I have lost count of how many unprotected baseball caps have gone over the side.

Chas
 
Searush said:
You're welcom Clive. My "Number 2" fave cap is off e-bay, a little paler than I expected when it arrived, but sound quality & decent fit, if a the fabric is a little thin. It ain't a lot of loot to risk, but you are buying blind.
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You have no idea how long I have looked for one, Searush, now ordered a denim one and it's on it's way at £6.99 incl postage.

I'll probably still wear my battered and grubby "Captain's" hat though from time to time, it impresses the hell out of those who don't know any better. It's probably the patina of mildew, grease and other filth it's acquired over the years that gives the ignorant the impression that it's wearer has the huge wealth of years of experience and knowledge and therefore great respect is paid to the most outrageous and otherwise unbelievable statements. This can be quite amusing at times. However, it only works with the cruiser of course, itself over 40 years old. On the 4.5m inflatable it's simply pretentious so that's where the denim will come into it's own as it makes no particular statement I cannot live up to.
 
Important to keep the sun out of your eyes, and I know a few fishermen who have suffered eye damage from years of sunlight reflected off the water. The advantage of a denim cap is that after several weeks adjusting it while wearing fish soaked gloves it can be used to make soup.
 
fisherman said:
Important to keep the sun out of your eyes, and I know a few fishermen who have suffered eye damage from years of sunlight reflected off the water. The advantage of a denim cap is that after several weeks adjusting it while wearing fish soaked gloves it can be used to make soup.
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Oh, absolutely. My old one along with the smock, also now mysteriously vanished, came from a friend of a trawler skipper friend of mine, John Gundry of Bridport-Gundry fame. Now I've lost touch I've lost my access to such things.
 
It doesn't matter what sort of hat you wear as long as you wear it for long enough. after a while the only comments are when you are seen without it. Also most people fail to reconise you without the hat.
Both my grandfathers always wore hats one a professional yachtsman who sailed on the J class and for lipton and Sopwith, and also went oyster dredging on sailing smacks always wore a trilby. The other one who was a boat builder, oyster fisherman and dingy sailor always wore a flat hat.
Suspect both of them put thir hat on before leaving the house, the trilby is still sitting on top of the grandfather clock in the hall, nearly 30 years after he passed away.
 
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