Sailing to France this w/e - how to stay warm?

Modulation

Modulation

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We're off from London to France - or at least that's the plan. Thought that by now this "blocking high" would have dissipated and let in some south westerlies and a bit of a rise in temperature. Somehow I don't think it 's going to happen.
Anyway what's YOUR approach to keeping the cold out when doing winter passages? Mine has been lots of layers from head to foot with a balaclava, but it sure does restrict movement. Anybody use some of the new miracle clothing which is supposed to dispense with the layers - or any other approach?
 
My Wife swears by Columbia thermals, they have little silver dots on the inside, but do seem to work well.

If you are not hung up on masculinity, and warmth is your focus, M&S Thermal Fleece lined tights are a very warm cheap base-layer for legs.
 
As for restricted movement - the problem I find is multiple layers of sleeves and collars, stiffening the arms and constricting the neck. I therefore have a couple of old fleeces with the arms and collars cut off, to add layers to the torso only.

Pete
 
Don't know what the OPs boat is for this intended trip but, thermos, stew, double sox, longjohns, two scarves etc ..a decent autopilot, dry sheltered cockpit and plenty of diesel if you get chilly headwinds?
Cockpit dodgers all round really keep the windchill down too
Good luck. Wind is forecast to veer !
 
Icebreaker thermals, plenty of thin-ish layers on top of that then my primaloft smock followed by waterproofs. I prefer loose-fitting stuff on my hands and feet to keep the circulation going as I suffer badly with that especially if I'm sitting still. Double glove - a pair of neoprene backed, leather palmed gloves for working with some oversized thick fleecy gloves on top for when not doing anything fiddly. Top it off with a fleecy neck tube and warm hat. Did me alright on my last sail in February when it was a F5-6 Notherly with snow flurries... brrrrr!
 
Did a 70 mile trip this Easter and kept reasonably warm with thermal long johns/t shirt,fleece,puffa jacket and offshore oilies.Thick soled boots/waterproof socks and a good hat.I did'nt actually need gloves until the wind got up after dark and temps plummeted.It was a great sail with no one else about and a real antidote to the winter blues.
 
johnalison said:
Take short watches so that no-one gets hypothermic, about one hour maximum.
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That word reminds me of a delivery trip in the Baltic in February. The boat had a stern cabin of "luxurious single, not really a double" size, with its own eberspacher outlet. In port, it was the skipper's berth, but on the night passages we closed the door, cranked up the heating in there to maximum, and named it the "hypothermia berth". Anyone looking a bit chilly (well before any actual hypothermia) was shoved into this oven and baked on a low heat until feeling better :)

On a different occasion, I came on watch at 4am to find the skipper sitting on the middle step of the companionway, eyes just above the hatch, and (no autopilots on those boats) steering with a dinghy oar lashed to the tiller :).

Pete
 
I would second the use of Icebreaker merino kit. I have been sailing , climbing and skiing since 1979, and the icebreaker merino stuff is superb. I basically top to toe in icebreaker including socks and underwear. it may seem thin when you pick it up in a shop , but it is unbelievably warm. It is robust stuff ( the tee shirts and base layers I originally bought 6 years ago are still going strong), it doesn't smell after wearing the same stuff for a week. All my other HH lifa, patagonia and berghaus fleeces and thermals now languish in the bottom of a drawer. Because of its low bulk you can layer up without restricting movement or becoming a michelin man. It seems expensive, but because it doesn't seem to wear out, its an investment item , and the comfort it provides has to be felt to be believed. Last sunday I was sailing off Arran , which was still covered in snow, in a 15-20 kt breeze. I was wearing a icebreaker 150 base layer, a 200 jumper and 260 jacket, plus 260 leggings , on top was a goretex shell. I had to take my hat off because I was too warm.

I never cease to be amazed by other sailors who wonder why they are cold , when they wear such inadequate layers sunder their oillies ( usually involving jeans , cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts).
 
Cotton kills

stevepick said:
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I never cease to be amazed by other sailors who wonder why they are cold , when they wear such inadequate layers sunder their oillies ( usually involving jeans , cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts).
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I couldn't agree more. In fact I'd go further and add that you should avoid modern fleeces - in cold conditions I've found that they don't cut it. That's an over-simplification, but the point is that not all fleeces are equal and most are useless (and how good they are doesn't seem to correlate with thickness - presumably there's a 'made in China' aspect).

Best by far is wool. Merino for the thermal base layer, then a normal shirt (cotton 'Oxford' is fine, it's only a barrier to reduce friction between layers) and then a guernsey or similar proper old-fashioned jumper. Then sailing oilies with some insulation and wind-proofing.

For the feet I like insulated wellies with really thick soles, the type made for farmers not dog-walkers and not Dubarry type sailing wellies, much as I love these in summer.

On the legs I've never been cold with 'Ron Hill' 'Trackster' leggings under my oilies or shell, even sailing for days in near freezing conditions or winter mountaineering. I've not felt the need for merino long-johns but doubtless these are really good also.

We do have Baltic 'Polar' one-piece thermal floatation suits on board, but find these too hot and 'fuggy' for sailing in.

Anyone in a rugby shirt and jeans is a land-lubber and a menace to himself and those around him...
 
jdc said:
In fact I'd go further and add that you should avoid modern fleeces - in cold conditions I've found that they don't cut it.
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I think you're right there - I've not owned a typical fleece jacket in years now after I got a primaloft jacket. Very light, very warm - less bulky and not totally useless if wet like a down layer. Also has a pertex shell so is showerproof and (most importantly) windproof. I've had both the Berghaus and Rab versions.

I do however have a couple of fairly cheap fleece crew-neck jumpers to wear as a mid layer as I prefer them to natural fibre sweatshirts because they don't hold moisture and are softer to touch. Is there something in that placebo of a cosy feel to a garment? For me there is, anyway...
 
stevepick said:
I would second the use of Icebreaker merino kit. I have been sailing , climbing and skiing since 1979, and the icebreaker merino stuff is superb. I basically top to toe in icebreaker including socks and underwear. it may seem thin when you pick it up in a shop , but it is unbelievably warm. It is robust stuff ( the tee shirts and base layers I originally bought 6 years ago are still going strong), it doesn't smell after wearing the same stuff for a week. All my other HH lifa, patagonia and berghaus fleeces and thermals now languish in the bottom of a drawer. Because of its low bulk you can layer up without restricting movement or becoming a michelin man. It seems expensive, but because it doesn't seem to wear out, its an investment item , and the comfort it provides has to be felt to be believed. Last sunday I was sailing off Arran , which was still covered in snow, in a 15-20 kt breeze. I was wearing a icebreaker 150 base layer, a 200 jumper and 260 jacket, plus 260 leggings , on top was a goretex shell. I had to take my hat off because I was too warm.

I never cease to be amazed by other sailors who wonder why they are cold , when they wear such inadequate layers sunder their oillies ( usually involving jeans , cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts).
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+1 for Icebreaker. Also, try the merino gloves under the regular sailing gloves - toasty! Swapped my woolie hat last night for a Weezle trapper hat - not waterproof, but so warm & light due to the lofting - its like a little duvet for your head!

Di
 
Quick rotation of helming duties - and proper technical clothing.

Like Stevpick we were out and about for 4 days in very cold weather (coincidentally also within sight of Arran) last weekend - and I never needed to put the oilskin jacket on, and used oilskin trousers only when going upwind in 15+ knots wind.
My recipe includes Gill base layer, Berghaus Gore Windstopper fleece, cragHopper fleece lined trousers, Berghaus wind proof gloves, Sealskinz hat and Dubarry Goretex boots. In my experience the real quality tech clothing is worth every penny.
 
Good boots and gloves are essential.

I've always gone with good thermals, normal trousers and a Musto Snug jacket underneath good offshore or ocean oilskins.

I believe you can get big fleecy onesies as mid layers these days. Not sure if they're any more effective though. With my method you can just whip off your oilskins and be presentable for the pub in under 15 seconds.
 
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