Transatlantic clothing

[bdh198]

This appears to be a straightforward questions, but I must admit the more I think about it the more unsure I get.

I'm doing my first transatlantic passage in January as crew aboard a 40+ foot catamaran and we're going the trade winds route East to West. The issue that's been bugging me is what clothing to take for the passage. I want to pack as lightly as possible, but want to have suitable clothing for any weather we could encounter. I know it'll be warm during the day, and cold at night so need to take a few layers, but am I likely to need my waterproofs; Musto salopettes and Gill inshore/coastal sailing jacket? These take a lot of space and I'm certainly not going to need them on my arrival, but don't want to get caught out mid-Atlantic if we get a bit of a blow. Also, am I likely to need my Dubarry Ultima sailing boots?

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions from those who have done this passage and can enlighten me as to what is necessary. Thanks

 

[RupertW]

This appears to be a straightforward questions, but I must admit the more I think about it the more unsure I get.

I'm doing my first transatlantic passage in January as crew aboard a 40+ foot catamaran and we're going the trade winds route East to West. The issue that's been bugging me is what clothing to take for the passage. I want to pack as lightly as possible, but want to have suitable clothing for any weather we could encounter. I know it'll be warm during the day, and cold at night so need to take a few layers, but am I likely to need my waterproofs; Musto salopettes and Gill inshore/coastal sailing jacket? These take a lot of space and I'm certainly not going to need them on my arrival, but don't want to get caught out mid-Atlantic if we get a bit of a blow. Also, am I likely to need my Dubarry Ultima sailing boots?

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions from those who have done this passage and can enlighten me as to what is necessary. Thanks

For an early April trip I needed my full normal Channel gear until 5 days away from the Canaries. After that on night watches it was jacket and tracksuit bottoms, then jacket and shorts and finally just shorts and T shirt for most of the way across. And the Dubarrys were great for the early days. January will be a fair bit colder so if you are settting off from the UK then I wouldn't leave gear behind.

 

[laika]

Possibly depends on where you're going from. I did a transatlantic delivery as mate out of la rochelle a few winters back on a big cat where the skipper advised everyone to pack light as we'd be spending most of the passage in the sunshine. I ignored the advice and took full kit. So did the skipper. Of the two crew who spent several days soaked through, cold and miserable after a hammering coming out of Biscay, one jumped ship in Portugal.

If going from Atlantic France or further north in January I wouldn't consider going without my kit. From canaries etc? Well personally I'd still take my kit but I'd probably take a milder line than "you're completely insane aren't you?" when regarding a crew mate who had made a different choice

 

[tcm]

This appears to be a straightforward questions, but I must admit the more I think about it the more unsure I get.

I'm doing my first transatlantic passage in January as crew aboard a 40+ foot catamaran and we're going the trade winds route East to West. The issue that's been bugging me is what clothing to take for the passage. I want to pack as lightly as possible, but want to have suitable clothing for any weather we could encounter. I know it'll be warm during the day, and cold at night so need to take a few layers, but am I likely to need my waterproofs; Musto salopettes and Gill inshore/coastal sailing jacket? These take a lot of space and I'm certainly not going to need them on my arrival, but don't want to get caught out mid-Atlantic if we get a bit of a blow. Also, am I likely to need my Dubarry Ultima sailing boots?

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions from those who have done this passage and can enlighten me as to what is necessary. Thanks

I’ve done it several times. I’m assuming you go from Canaries? If so ... some do the whole trip naked! definitely no salopettes or boots needed!

A jacket or fleece for the first to or three night-time periods. After that, clothing fairly irrelevant and optional.

From further north than the Canaries ... you are subject to winter storms so yeah, whatever, more gear.

 

[BobnLesley]

Another assuming you're going from the Canaries/Cape Verdes to the Antillies:
Based on our crossing - also Jan/Feb - we found it cool rather than cold at night for the first 1/2 - 2/3 of the passage, also we got some prolonged rain storms. Lightweight/Coastal jacket got used - definitely don't need a heavy/Offshore jacket, or the salopettes and Dubarrys. It will not be shorts and tee-shirts the whole way though, so if you want to pack 'light', i'd include a couple of pairs of longer lightweight trousers that'll dry quickly along with one set of lightweight thermals, just in case - think 'English Channel in good weather/July'.

 

[bdh198]

Another assuming you're going from the Canaries/Cape Verdes to the Antillies

Yep, going from the Canaries

 

[RupertW]

Yep, going from the Canaries

Then you'll be fine with light wet weather jacket and sandals/trainers not boots - as per me previoius post once we got within 5 days of the Canaries we were fine withouth all the heavy stuff.

 

[glynd]

There will be squalls.... and initially leaving Canaries you'll be glad of an extra layer.

I'm just back from the Arc, and took boots 'just in case'
Used them for the first few days (or rather nights) but after that resorted to shorts & trusty Keen sandals!

Biggest win was a pair of waterproof shorts, but you might be less exposed on a big cat than a more open boat?!

 

[tcm]

all optional from the canaries - as numerous naked transatlantic crossers prove every year....

For a transat you only actually NEED about 40litres of water per crew, in bottles and a liferaft. Fill the bottles 90% and they’ll also float, long line through them all. You’ll definitely find dry land within a few weeks without any rig, nav, clothes or food. I might still be doing the crossing in a bouncy castle, some day...

 

[capnsensible]

Wouldn't take any more than you can fit in hand baggage, no need for a wait at the carousel.

Wear your fleece and long trousers, useful as mentioned for the first few nights.

You can visit Decathlon in most islands and get a saily jacket and saloppetes for about thirty euros each. Saves carrying it to Canaries.

No need to wash socks, after a couple of days, bin them.

I'm sailing round the Canaries now. Getting layered up a bit for night watches but once a few days out at about 25 North, let It all hang out.......

 

[geem]

Shorts and tee short were the most used gear when we do it. Maybe a long sleeve shirt at night. Kagool type waterproofs are fine. Cabin temperature most of the time across for us was about 28-30 degC

 

[zoidberg]

all optional from the canaries - as numerous naked transatlantic crossers prove every year....
...I might still be doing the crossing in a bouncy castle, some day...

The image of the Mad Matthew prancing about the darkened foredeck, clad only in neck beads, wristbands and flip-flops fills me with a mix of dread and muffled hysteria.

 

[capnsensible]

The image of the Mad Matthew prancing about the darkened foredeck, clad only in neck beads, wristbands and flip-flops fills me with a mix of dread and muffled hysteria.

Mind bleach now! :ambivalence:

 

[Monique]

We just crossed from Lanzarote to Guadeloupe; I had shorts and Tshirt!! But we have a center cockpit cruiser with hard dodger and plenty of other covers.

Don't over do it! ENJOY!!!

 

[BobPrell]

Gee Whilikers!

What happened to the old guideline "Always take one more sweater than you think you might need"

Laika seems the only member to think thus. I have been making it a rule after a few early disasters, and have been sailing about 40 years in latitudes of 30 or less.

I am looking forward to Olewill's response.

 

[tcm]

Gee Whilikers!

What happened to the old guideline "Always take one more sweater than you think you might need"

Laika seems the only member to think thus. I have been making it a rule after a few early disasters, and have been sailing about 40 years in latitudes of 30 or less.

I am looking forward to Olewill's response.

Ah yes but your sea and hence air temps less in Aus E Coast, open to the the Antarctic .... The winds behind on an E to W transatlantic come off the Sahara, “coldest" and least volatile in winter, powering a dozen or so tropical storms to hurricanees late summer. That warmer sea temp most noticeable at night towards the carib end of the trip, with night temperatures only a degree or so less than daytime wind-blown temperatures. Only bummer is that if you go fast, it feels blimmin hot. So, extra warning to newbies - beware sunburn on the top of your feet if you normally wear shoes, which i hear some people do. I wear flip flops round Europe these days, somehow still fine in winter, bit weird, look like some escaped mental nit in carib clothes plus large coat....

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

I know it'll be warm during the day, and cold at night so need to take a few layers, but am I likely to need my waterproofs; Musto salopettes and Gill inshore/coastal sailing jacket?

I always take full waterproofs when on a yacht delivery across the Atlantic. From the Canaries onwards you are not likely to need them that much, but I'd rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them!

Also, am I likely to need my Dubarry Ultima sailing boots?

No, from the Canaries I would leave them at home...

It would be worth asking if anyone else on the yacht has similar size waterproofs that you could borrow, just in case you need something for your night watches.

Pete

 

[BobPrell]

I always take full waterproofs when on a yacht delivery <<Anywhere!!>> I'd rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them!

That would be my practice and principle.

Also, am I likely to need my Dubarry Ultima sailing boots?

From the less practical point of view, Dube Ultimas look so cool, I would be wearing them at the slightest excuse!

 

[capnsensible]

That would be my practice and principle.




From the less practical point of view, Dube Ultimas look so cool, I would be wearing them at the slightest excuse!

Ah, Im getting the idea now. Despite several posters giving good advice, having done exactly the trip the OP asks about, in some cases many times, he should consider 'just in case'.

OK then best you take Arctic foulies, three umbrellas, a barbeque, two hamsters complete with thirty days food, a snooker cue, bagpipes and a reindeer. Dont forget boots coz you wont need them either.

 

[Scillypete]

I'm sitting in departures at gatwick heading to Lanzarote to do exactly the same thing not by large cat though, my packing priorities were sme fishing tackle and snorkel mask and fins for the Caribbean other than that I plumped for a couple of fleeces a pair of tracky bottoms swimming trunks and shorts n t shirts, oh and sun hat no boots as I prefer to sail barefoot unless it's winter in the channel. At check in my bag was 13.5 kg thats heavy enough to be lugging around the underworld when passing through landaan