Tee shirt sailing

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Quandary

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We spent last weeks hot dry easterly weather on a circuit of Mull getting to explore anchorages that we would never consider normally, our wet weather gear stayed in the locker, it was just such an exceptional experience for Scotland. What puzzled me was the number of sailors we encountered fully Musto'd up, even ashore, whyyyyyy?????
This morning on the Crinan canal, hot sunshine and a guy ashore in his all black offshore kit and boots trotting along between the locks, is it just a habit folk get in to?
No wonder the locals here regard us yachties as daft.
 
There is nothing that some pople like more than a "uniform" which proclaims something about them. Had a huntin and shootin type worked for me as an engineer in heavy industry - came to work every day in lovatt green with leather patches. Ever been to the old LBS and seen yotties there in mid Jan miles from sea water but wearing yottie gear and breton caps. Or the Harley lot in leather gear, bandanas and scowl? Or the endless security staff in unnecessary high vis? Or the "alternative sexual lifestyle lot" in clothes that proclaim "gay".

Mind you the last ones might just be advertising! :D
 
It is the same mentality that has "Yotties" walking into Cowes in full gear including seaboots so everyone knows they are off a boat.

Years and years ago, when I was a young man and used to turn out on a Saturday afternoon for the Old Vasectomists extra B IV, the best player by far used to turn up with a pair of antique boots, an old Varsity shirt and a pair of ex army shorts in a Woolworths paper carrier bag, scrounge a pair of socks, and perhaps a club shirt and then go out looking like a bundle of $H1t tied up with a bit of string and score a couple of wonderfull individual tries. He had exeptional talent and cared not a jot what he looked like.

Unlike others I know...............................

First Mate and I now have permanent Tee Shirt sailing with our Island Packet SP Cruiser. Our expensive sailing gear and boots languish in a locker, only bought out twice during the time we have owned her for berthing in the pi$$ing rain.

I dont think we would go back to an aft cockpit yacht now!
 
Quandary said:
This morning on the Crinan canal, hot sunshine and a guy ashore in his all black offshore kit and boots trotting along between the locks, is it just a habit folk get in to?
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Click to expand...

Border Force looking for people traffickers on a reccy of a new route in via Ireland and Loch Fyne?
 
Quandary said:
This morning on the Crinan canal, hot sunshine and a guy ashore in his all black offshore kit and boots trotting along between the locks, is it just a habit folk get in to?
Click to expand...

A bit of sympathy wouldn't go amiss. The poor soul, possibly having read some of the reports on here, may not have clothes other than quilted trousers, heavy jumpers and thick socks. He may have been starkers under his oilies hoping the much vaunted qualities of Gore-tex would keep him cool.
Sea temperature is now in double figures and rising - I got 14C in Loch Fyne last Monday.
 
Yes I've noticed that as well. I've been out with shorts and tee shirt, barely a ripple on the water and there they are with full wet weather gear on.
 
People vary a lot in their tolerance of cold. I might be reluctant to go out of the house when my postman arrives in shorts. It is quite possible that sailing with a sea temperature of 15 or less that I would be wearing some protection, and maybe even Mustoed a bit, but then, I don't have a lot of blubber.
 
Unless we're dinghy-ing it in foul weather, I prefer to wear normal clothes and street shoes when going ashore. If nothing else, it'll mean the soles of my deck-shoes/boots might last more than one season!
 
Quandary said:
What puzzled me was the number of sailors we encountered fully Musto'd up, even ashore, whyyyyyy?????
Click to expand...

Seen in the Solent too, where presumably the proportion of warm, dry weather is higher than Argyll. I've gone past crews in full oilies and harnesses while wearing only a pair of shorts myself.

Sometimes the oilies are all matching, and I assume it's a school boat whose novice crew were all issued the kit at the start of the week and, knowing no better, assume they're therefore supposed to wear it regardless of conditions.

Personally I dislike wearing "sailing" clothing unless it's oilies in conditions that warrant them, and tend towards ordinary everyday casual clothes. That said, I got a Musto top (sort of like a fleece with a showerproof shell outside it) as a birthday present earlier this year and have to admit it's surprisingly good for coldish, windy, spots-of-rain type conditions.

Pete
 
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