Personal protection for the winter, run out of duffle coats.

...* Pretty much all modern supermarket detergents are unsuitable for wool and will digest your expensive merino surprisingly quickly. Shop carefully! I use Nikwax TechWash but it is not cheap. Plain soap would be fine if you can get it.

Woolite, other liquid soaps, and boxes of soap flakes aren't too hard to find.
 
Having misspent my youth, twenties and early 30s clinging to wet, cold Scottish mountains I've spent a long time working out what works for me.

1) Thermal layer. I prefer cotton

2) A tea shirt, cotton

3) a thin thermal fleece jumper

4) a second thermal fleece jumper

5) a thermal fleece jacket

6) a necker, bandana or scarf (I have several including a thick thermal fleece one for night watches)

7) a pair of craghopper winter bags (lined trousers)

8) a pair of goat hair socks (they cost an arm and a leg c£20, but keep my feet warm)

9) a hat (several actually) but a thermal fleece for very cold days

10) a pair of boots

11) something that is waterproof and or windproof - I usually wear a breton smock unless it is the monsoon season.

12) some good gloves

The trick is to be flexible in what you are wearing - you can sail in waterproofs and nude underneath if it is hot and wet, as it gets colder add thin layers. concentrate on extremities feet, hands and head - keeping them warm is the key.

Sailing usually means lots of sitting round and getting cold is quite easy - the kettle is always on on my boat so easy access to empty the bladder is also essential.

Enjoy your winter sailing.

I would endorse all of the above with one or two additions;
M&S's lined trekking trousers are quite good, micro-fleeces and "Workwear" fleeces from Lidl/Aldi, I would also recommend their merino thermals, fleece gloves with 'leather' insert in palm, their thick ski gloves for helming.
I have been using the last version of offshore jacket from Lidl, coupled with Musto BR1 salopettes. When these become unserviceable I will start using my stash of Lidl's offshore salopettes bought at half price at one of their occasional clearance sales. Broad-brimmed sun hat "Slam" brand bought for €10 in Italy for sunny weather, otherwise a cheap baseball cap which has been liberally sprayed with waterproofer. The peak keeps (low velocity) rain off my glasses. If it turns cold, I pop a fleece hat on, over the baseball cap.
You by this time will have divined, from my bargain-seeking nature, that I have Scottish ancestry, even if they came to Ireland all of 500 years ago:)
 
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As I said in my book; I've had diaper rash resulting from non-waterproof foulies, and I've lost a mast. All in all, I'd rather lose a mast. Buy a good quality set of foulies and treat them like gold.
 
Modern thermal layers are great, Helly Hansen do a good line, but the one single thing that has the most difference to me has been a good neck warmer. Acts as a seal around the collar of whatever coat I’m wearing and stops the heat vanishing. I do the same on the motorbike.
 
What Karen has not really explained is the difference now in our winter sailing habits. Last winter we were saiing dinghys and small yachts with no facilities or cabin to speak of. So it was de rigour for us to wear wetsuits, and layer over those above the waist, below was mostly counter productive as we were often wet.
Now in AWB land, it is a different story.
I am OK, but Karen suffers very badly from being cold, so this is not just a comfort issue but a safety one. Of course she does not listen to me so your input is very gratefully received. Please impress upon her the importance of having spare gear in case of a dunking or soaking, NOT spare skirts and blouses, spare sailing gear!!!!
She was also asking about dry bags, we looked at some in Decathlon yesterday, so any input on that would be good too.
 
Karen

Your husband wants us to stress how important a second set of gear is...

He kind of has a point. Although you probably shouldn't be getting dunked. If you are you need some dry warm gear to get wrapped up in and head to a place of safety. A dry sleeping bag will be very helpful with that. The Clown who dunked you ;) can carry on sailing - you can be down below with hot chocolate etc. But a set of (dry) waterproofs of some form may be handy if it might've wet for the journey home.

I'd favour the entire dry gear to be in a dry sack so it is garunteed dry. It doesn't need to be pretty. It doesn't need to be layers... Just really warm. I'd favour a pair of warm PJs and some joggers and a thick jumper and a hat.

Dry bags - think clever - colour coded. Different sizes. Avoid unpacking what isn't needed into wet boat. Bags come in different qualities... But in a dry cabin you shouldn't really even need a dry bag. But if you are moving gear out in a tender you do! If gear is stowed in cockpit lockers I'd want hit in heavier dry bags.

If you have a summer rain jacket and a winter one for the boat the summer one will do nicely for emergencies. I have decathlon gear and completely agree with others on that - great VFM.

I don't know just how cold you get or what you have as a heat source on the AWB. I used to do some outdoors training that frequently involved getting people colder than they probably should. We used a survival shelter indoors with them and someone else in a sleeping bag to rewarm them. Incredibly warm very quickly. A dry spinakker over you would achieve the same result. Beware you will get cold again when it is removed!!

Now go tell him what he needs to buy you...
 
I find that mountaineering and motorcyle accessory shops have plenty of under layer gear to keep you warm in wind and rain
my choices:
merino wool base layer; 'icebreaker 200' prefered; tops long or short sleeve, bottoms with fly
'Buffalo' fleece lined salopettes; they have zip fly that starts at navel and ends at coccyx [much easier after too much coffee]
'Buffalo' fleece lined shirts
'Fladden' foul weather jacket and sallopetes. Has built-in buoyancy. Used by Norwegian fishermen and offshore workers. At £155 per set cheaper than 'boat show' brands
'Sealskinz' socks
leather seaboots
merino neck 'buff' and beanie
when needed; 'Uvex' anti fogging goggles . £12 from a safety shop or about £70 from a ski shop!
 
One of these is great (headover):
https://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz...88ZDdAhWjKsAKHQokA7EQBQgkKAA&biw=1366&bih=578

These type of things are good:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hot-Hand...hash=item3d5267ff82:m:mhqw7T5L73f8sQVeM-NPz9Q

They do last about 8 hours (would you believe it is simply the exothermic chemical reaction of rusting - but sped up- charcoal and stuff added I think)

Goretex bivvi bag - £30 new / old stock on ebay.

Although..if get wet and cold (take on a green wave or get pooped) go below and sit in an orange plastic survival bag (better than silver foul blankets). One stays wet, but warms up (no evaporation), then get out and dry off quickly and fresh warm clothes on and a brew (or take a flask).

A waistcoat that has heating elements and works via 12volts. Secondhand motor cyclist's one?

A dry suit (ebay, military surplus) such as a multifabs goretex survival suit (orange) or one made of Ventile (super tough material - green)
 
For winter dinghy sailing, we use thermals and a Fladen flotation suit on top, mostly for those clear crisp days where you have to bail the snow out of the boat first.

For yacht sailing in winter, the best way to stay dry and warm is an autopilot, good sprayhood, and a cabin heater. Using one of those £150 Chinese Eber clones and it's been brilliant so far.
 
Having misspent my youth, twenties and early 30s clinging to wet, cold Scottish mountains I've spent a long time working out what works for me.

1) Thermal layer. I prefer cotton

2) A tea shirt, cotton

3) a thin thermal fleece jumper

4) a second thermal fleece jumper

5) a thermal fleece jacket

6) a necker, bandana or scarf (I have several including a thick thermal fleece one for night watches)

7) a pair of craghopper winter bags (lined trousers)

8) a pair of goat hair socks (they cost an arm and a leg c£20, but keep my feet warm)

9) a hat (several actually) but a thermal fleece for very cold days

10) a pair of boots

11) something that is waterproof and or windproof - I usually wear a breton smock unless it is the monsoon season.

12) some good gloves

The trick is to be flexible in what you are wearing - you can sail in waterproofs and nude underneath if it is hot and wet, as it gets colder add thin layers. concentrate on extremities feet, hands and head - keeping them warm is the key.

Sailing usually means lots of sitting round and getting cold is quite easy - the kettle is always on on my boat so easy access to empty the bladder is also essential.

Enjoy your winter sailing.

I completely agree... especially with number 7. I buy men's Craghoppers and I far prefer them to Salopettes. The trouble with Salopettes is that you feel like you are trussed up like a turkey. I have found the combination of Craghoppers and a waterproof jacket far more practical and as a plus, it's a damn sight cheaper.
 
Although..if get wet and cold (take on a green wave or get pooped) go below and sit in an orange plastic survival bag (better than silver foul blankets). One stays wet, but warms up (no evaporation), then get out and dry off quickly and fresh warm clothes on and a brew (or take a flask).
I'd strip and dry off quickly with a towel before getting in the bag. Bring dry clothes in the bag and dress in the bag...
 
As a superannuated old git, I find the idea of being out there in cold wet weather very over-rated. The idea of the heated doghouse is definitely my idea of bad weather kit. An internal steering position is even better. :)My one contribution is to suggest keeping an eye open for the Aldi/Lidl dry bags. Branded Crane, they come in any colour you want as long as it's yellow, they do what it says on the tin and cost peanuts compared to the branded equivalents. Even for fair weather sailors like us, they're invaluable for take stuff out to the boat in the dinghy.
 
A note on dry bags.

We have found two sizes of roll top bags to be really useful:

A very small one - wallets, car keys, mobile phones and chargers.

A 50 litre size. Gill do a good one like a sailing bag for about fifty quid.

The back pack types around 30 litres are less useful.

Old RORC pack flare containers are also really good
 
As a superannuated old git, I find the idea of being out there in cold wet weather very over-rated. The idea of the heated doghouse is definitely my idea of bad weather kit. An internal steering position is even better. :)My one contribution is to suggest keeping an eye open for the Aldi/Lidl dry bags. Branded Crane, they come in any colour you want as long as it's yellow, they do what it says on the tin and cost peanuts compared to the branded equivalents. Even for fair weather sailors like us, they're invaluable for take stuff out to the boat in the dinghy.

+1 to all that. We’ve had Crane bags for some years and they’re still going strong. Haven’t seen them on the Aldi site for a long time though.
 
The merino thermals are brilliant. Also quite good and cheap are the thermal tops from Uniqlo. Cotton is not good. Wool is ok but fleece is best. Thin one on top of the thermals, then one or more thick ones.
Wear a neck warmer of some sort, take a spare.
Proper good sailing boots that breathe. Mine are Dubarry and they are expensive but my feet just dont get cold! Amazing and very good for morale.
I think big brand oilskins are too expensive, but lots of cheaper alternatives like Decathlon.
I'm not 100% sold on breathable, but unless you go for the fishing kit there isnt much that is not breathable...
 
No-one seems to have mentioned the Polar explorers and montainiers base layers, many swear by silk vests and longjohns.
Personally I have never felt so cold as when wearing modern breathable gear, I prefer my very unfashioable but windproof Guy Cotten’s and a variety of old woolen jumpers.
 
As a superannuated old git, I find the idea of being out there in cold wet weather very over-rated. The idea of the heated doghouse is definitely my idea of bad weather kit. An internal steering position is even better. :)My one contribution is to suggest keeping an eye open for the Aldi/Lidl dry bags. Branded Crane, they come in any colour you want as long as it's yellow, they do what it says on the tin and cost peanuts compared to the branded equivalents. Even for fair weather sailors like us, they're invaluable for take stuff out to the boat in the dinghy.

+1
 
Having sailed from maryport to essex in various stages last winter, this is what works for me.

As Sandy says, layers, but not cotton, as once damp is slow to dry. I prefer the modern thermal fabrics.

I basically used my winter climbing kit.

merino thermals, then fleece lined craghopper trousers or fleece ice climbing salopettes for my bottom half.

A technical mid layer, I use my patagonia heavyweight thermal top or similar, so thin stretchy material.

A heavy fleece pullover.

A double pile fleece jacket.

If I got cold I put on a lightweight feather duvet, if night or very cold or long watch, a heavy weight feather duvet.

A snood is one of the best items for keeping warm, combined with fleece hat and silk balaclava.

Dachstein mitts give me fingers and are warm even soaked, but I use waterproof/windproof overmitts, expensive mountaineering ones. (will still be cheaper than anything marine)

Ski/hiking socks inside seaboots.

Obviously waterproofs over the top, but mine are mountaineering ones, and the salopettes are pretty knackered. Work well enough though.

Thats night time january off landsend, I was warm and snug.
 
Meant to say, check out fladden flotation suits, I had this earmarked for winter sailing on bethfran, but ended up using my existing climbing gear. Still think it could be great, if you end up in the water, and seemed great value. It was someone else's suggestion, maybe dylan winter's, but I've always remembered it.
 
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