Necessary clothing

Cardo

Cardo

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Oct 2005
Messages
4,231
Location
In a plastic tub!
www.yacht-tinkerbell.co.uk
So I have my first sailing course booked up.
What clothing would you guys say is necessary to go sailing? I have thermals and middle layer type clothing, but no waterproofs like those from Musto, etc. What would you guys suggest? Buy some waterproof overall type clothing?
What else might I need?
Also, what about shoes? What's special about "deck shoes", apart from the price?

Cheers for any info!
 
It's possible the school may provide protective clothing. The school run by John Goode [Southern Sailing?] used to do so. In which case it might be worth seeing how you like sailing before before you pay out a lot of money.
 
This school doesn't provide clothing, so I need to provide it myself. I've been on boats before, it's just the first course I'm doing to make sure I know what I'm doing.
So, I'm looking for recommended stuff, what do you guys suggest?
 
If you're on a limited budget, then I would say that first would be long pair of sailing wellies (just the simple supple rubber ones) then closely followed by a tough pair of over trsousers with high bib and braces. The reason why the trousers are important I feel is that you will often be sat on wet seats.

Deck shoes are not a priority, as, if its warm/dry enough then simple plimsols are good enough. Most of the time apart from in the tropics I've worn wellies.

Coat wise, any outdoor water proof is good enough, as long as it has a high collar to keep out the drafts, a lot of the time your sat still so you can get cold quickly if your not wrapped up well. Tube type scarf, are good and often useful to have more than one as you may get some some water down your neck at some point.

If budgets no issue then full Henri lloyds, Mustos or Splashdown are very nice.
 
I do have a budget, but it's not very restrictive. I can get Musto gear at a good discount through my sailing club, so some of their gear would be good if recommended. I have a set of thermals and mid layer fleece stuff from them already. Was looking at the Gore-Tex coastal smock and trousers, are they decent? Or would the jacket be better than the smock? Or none of these at all?

So, some sort of wellies would be good? Standard wellies, or sailing ones? Do sailing ones have a more suited sole for the deck?
 
Definately sailing wellies!
They are very supple so that when your on your kness on the foredeck they bend! and they have good non slip soles.
I would say that goretex is not such an issue unless your full on racing as its kind of rare that you're sweating. Biggest need for clothing... imagine sitting in a fridge with a huge fan and somone thrwoing buckets of water at you. Warm and well sealed at all entrances.

Have fun.... it can be.....
 
Someone a couple of days ago suggested a web based outfit called 'wild day' (probabaly wild-day.com or something). I havent looked myself but they reckon the outdoor / wet weather gear prices were pretty good - especially important if you find its not really for you!

I'd second (or is it third?) the razor cut sole wellies - essential kit and amazing grip on a wet deck.

Mark
 
Lynn and I have the JAG Coastal kit, and its proved to work over the last 2 seasons.
Got mine from Norman at Spindrift Marine, was a real bargain, around 150 quid for the suit I think.
I have had the Offshore stuff before, and its great, but heavy and more restrictive, as I dont go into the Arctic with it...
 
[ QUOTE ]
You chaps worry me. If I cannot wear shorts and a T shirt I think it is too cold to go sailing.

Ray

[/ QUOTE ]

We only feed you all this "thermal"......... "multi-layer" crap to make sure you don't all invade these English tropical climes /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Up to you but if this is something like a comp crewman course you are not going to be battling 20m seas, you will be pottering along in light airs in an estuary somewhere I would think.
As such, and if you don't know if you will be doing much more sailing I would simply get yourself a decent waterproof coat that you can wear later on if you don't like sailing and a pair of the cheap vinyl motorbike overtrousers, cost you about 5 quid. They are not that comfortable for prolonged use, but they will keep you dry if it lashs down. As for getting a wet bum when you sit down, I found a beer mat great for wiping down. Also no jeans, I bought myself a pair of boat trousers from Compass, the ones with the blue knee patches, best thing I ever did, warm comfortable and dry easy. If you aren't used to it, bring a cheap pair of leather gloves too, saltwater and rope is hell on hands that are not tough.
Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of bringing tons and tons of gear. You normally overnight in a marina so its easy to dry stuff, just be sensible, its day sailing, not rounding the horn.
You need function rather than style, so I still use an ankle length Dryzabone as one of my main onboard coats, and I have a set of camoflage bibs that are Gortex and warm enough for the Artic. You get funny looks in marinas and your legs disappear if you walk past a bush, but it cost me about 1/3 the price of equivalent "sailing" gear.
 
I don' care where you are Sailing, in the UK between October and March it can be blisteringly cold, and pouring with rain. If you can afford Musto/Henri Lloyd gear and you think this won't be a five minute wonder, buy the best you can.

Even if you are in an Estuary, with the wind chill from 10 Knots over the deck, a sprinkling of rain and the fact you will probably be sat on your butt for most of the time - you will get wet and cold!
 
You can get some absolute bargains on eBay. I got a full set of Gill Key West oilies for less than £150 (RRP £270) and they were brand new - never been out of the packet with all the labels attached. The seller (Shuttheduckup) used to have a constant supply of these... If you don't want to wait for an auction to end, or you miss out, the seller will consider a sensible offer.

HTH,

Natalie
 
My ten penny worth;

Cheap tracky trousers/joggers from the market are great under oilies as they're warm and wick moisture away. Cheap ski gloves are handy for the times you're not hauling on ropes.

A decent warm hat is essential.

A body warmer is handy as you get extra warmth on the body without bulking the arms out.

The other thing to remember is that oilskins are just waterproof overalls, nothing more.
 
I would second Jim with the Jag suit. My cheapo first suit from Compass gave up the ghost last year and I bought a Jag suit.

Well pleased with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top