Winter sailing toclothes

[srah1953]

I'm one of those people who really feel the cold, a slight case of Reynaud's syndrome. I'm looking for recommendations for a base and mid layer for sailing in the cold, when you are not physically doing much, once the sails are raised.

 

[Jamesuk]

No Garment can be cotton, with that in mind start with a base layer, mid layer then outer layer.
Now in winter I was still cold with 5 layers but happy cold (I could still function) so 3 layers just would not do.

So boxer shorts were like a loose Lycra, my base layer was Odlo top and bottoms.

Then a trouser and thin fleece or dare say it hoody ok for the pub ;-)

Then my main kit, heavy mid layer fleece salopette and jacket.

Then I had my main outer protection: salopette and jacket

Accessories :down filled The north Face gloves, neck gaiter, double up on thin M&S socks. Good boots.

Recently I just bought a dry suit not tried it yet

 

[dunedin]

I will be wearing Gill i2 Base layer tshirt, Crag Hopper fleece lined trousers and proper Gore Windstopper fleece, amongst other things, when we go on the boat tomorrow - expecting temperature to be near zero ! Won't need oilskins though, I hope.

SWMBO will add Dubarry Boats to her list of essential gear. And cycling gloves for helming

 

[Caer Urfa]

One of the best things and cheapest I ever bought for £3 was my Ninja Hat!

Keeps your head and neck warm a treat.

Mike

View attachment 37346

 

[Scillypete]

I sailed all through last winter and I hate the cold and last winter was cold. most days particularly the colder ones I managed with three layers starting with gill thermal vest and long johns mid layer being Northern diver Arctic base fleece suit, see here: http://www.ndiver.com/products/Arctic-Base-Undersuit.html over that I wore my Musto mpx suit, a fleece balaclava came in very handy and Musto gloves kept the feeling in my fingers with Dubarry boots keeping my tootsies dry and warm. I found that even on freezing days I would be glowing after hoisting the sails but comfortably warm when just sailing along.

 

[srah1953]

Excellent. Thank you all.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I'm looking for recommendations for a base and mid layer for sailing in the cold, when you are not physically doing much, once the sails are raised.

I recommend normal clothes, but sit in front of the log burning fire in the bar of the Ship between November and late March...

 

[Sandy]

I'm one of those people who really feel the cold, a slight case of Reynaud's syndrome. I'm looking for recommendations for a base and mid layer for sailing in the cold, when you are not physically doing much, once the sails are raised.

I too suffer from Reynaud's and my two passions are sailing and winter mountaineering!

I find that the following works for me when sailing

A cotton base layer - longjohns and a long sleeved vest

A cotton tee shirt and double layered winter mountaineering trousers - currently Craghopper winter bags.

A cotton sweatshirt or two

A gilet or fleece

Choice of hats - current favorites are thermafleece that cover the ears well

A good snood or scarf in thermafleece material

The best oilies you can afford, then get them altered so they fit correctly! Goretex needs to be close to the body to work correctly

Now the difficult bits - Gloves and socks

I wear a pair of reinforced "sailing gloves" for rope and helming work and have a pair of heavy Gortex mittens that I can put over the top when not active and keep a small bar towel handy to dry my hands.

I find that the feet especially need to be kept warm and find that one layer of good winter loop stitch mountaineering socks works for me - some use two layers one thick one thin.

Boots - buy the best leather boots you can, take your socks and make sure they are not too tight as this will further restrict the blood flow.

If you work on keeping the the feet, hands and head warm you can't go wrong.

 

[Iliade]

I too suffer from Reynaud's and my two passions are sailing and winter mountaineering!

I find that the following works for me when sailing

A cotton base layer - longjohns and a long sleeved vest

A cotton tee shirt and double layered winter mountaineering trousers - currently Craghopper winter bags.

A cotton sweatshirt or two

... snip ...

Personally I'd advocate coolmax base and mid layers. They keep you dryer and don't stretch or fall apart like merino. They are also easy to wash and dry quickly.

I would not wear cotton unless it was too hot and sunny.

For real cold I love my down jacket, but it is useless when wet, so I also still have a Javelin (fleece) jacket onboard for wetter sailing conditions. Modern cheap fleeces are really very good: light, quick drying, warm, easy to move in, cheap enough to have ten for layering or quick changes when wet. See primark or similar. Several thin ones are better than one thick one.

Overmittens are fantastic for the hands. I also use 'tea bag' hand warmers on the boat (I have electrically heated gloves for dryer activities)
P.S. Don't use biological washing powder nor any powder that does not state specifically that it is good for woollens as the enzymes eat the wool shortening the life significantly! I only just realised how bad this effect was. Doh!

 

[TonyBuckley]

Motorbike stuff is very good - there are lots of things (at non boaty prices) that slip around your neck and face that make a world of difference. Also heated gloves that run of a small battery pack that are thin enough to do most things you need to do on a boat.

 

[winsbury]

Cotton should be avoided at all costs... once wet or even slighly damp it takes ages to dry and feels cool or cold speeding up hypothermia...fast drying synthetics that trap air or have tubular fibers like duponts thermolite, quality down, or natural wool or even fur if its super cold are the best fabrics for cold survival.

 

[Sailfree]

Cotton should be avoided at all costs... once wet or even slighly damp it takes ages to dry and feels cool or cold speeding up hypothermia...fast drying synthetics that trap air or have tubular fibers like duponts thermolite, quality down, or natural wool or even fur if its super cold are the best fabrics for cold survival.

Agree - need synthetic material and breathable. go for any ski type thermal base layer. Marine names mean Marine prices. personally I think plenty of others are equally as good eg Tog 24 or many other climbing/outdoor shops.

Mid layer and top layer I go for Musto but sure Gill or Henry Lloyd are equally good. Keeping warm its important to use a hat and neck gator and gloves if activities permit. If gloves are to be taken off for certain jobs get a bigger size than you need as cold damp hands do not fit into gloves that fit in a dry warm shop.

 

[simonfraser]

I bought a thermal suit with alluminium fibres in years ago, too hot unless I sit still.
Can't seem to find it on google at the mo.
If you pm me I will check the label out on the boat.

 

[Sailingsaves]

A fleece jacket that is heated with AA batteries and internal wiring does work. I've had one for years and use rechargeable batteries. It warms up quickly and then I turn it off until I need it again. Get large capacity rechargeable batteries though such as 3000mAh capacity.

Just Google "heated jacket".

 

[lenten]

i work outside----woolpower swedish base/midlayers are the warmist i have ever used----expensive ----regards lenten

 

[Sandy]

Personally I'd advocate coolmax base and mid layers. They keep you dryer and don't stretch or fall apart like merino. They are also easy to wash and dry quickly.

I would not wear cotton unless it was too hot and sunny.

We are all different, with 35 years mountaineering and sailing experience I have tried everything and still keep coming back to cotton. It works for me and I am sticking with it.

 

[Forest Girl]

No cotton! For the best base layer try merino wool. Snow and Rock do them. Pricey but what price comfort? Then layer up with micro fleece, winds topper layer then top suit. If the weather is dry ski gear is excellent for warmth. Also, keep moving but not enough to get a sweat up.
Then hands! Really good ski gloves with liners. And a good hat.
Good luck.

 

[bikerbill]

Motorbike stuff is very good - there are lots of things (at non boaty prices) that slip around your neck and face that make a world of difference.

+1 on motorbike gear. Buffs are good to keep your neck warm and another as a bandana. I have used my textiles and a one piece waterproof suit which kept me dry and warm, maybe too warm at times Have also wore my dry suit (diving). Mostly use the same gear I use for hillwalking

 

[winsbury]

A huge amount of heat is lost through head and thighs so keeping these wrapped will help maintain core temperature in addition to a good layering system and jacket so you can vent or take off layers if you overheat. I find if my feet are cold the rest of me feels it too, same with hands. Feet sweat even in the cold so wicking fabrics are important to avoid the extra cooling of damp feet. In fact keeping dry is half the battle, damp is your enemy as far as keeping warm is concerned. Electrically heated clothing is okay but reliance on a battery always seems counter intuitive to me - we generate a lot of heat from our bodies - simply trapping it so that its not wasted is cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and there's very little to go wrong.

No mountain rescue service would advocate wearing cotton - it is positively dangerous in a mountain environment for the reasons previously stated. I run a mountaineering business and although we sell fashion cotton tees, they are not intended as technical clothing while on the hill; summer rock climbers will wear them but that's a different sport entirely. But as others have said, ski, mountaineering or motorcycling clothing will be much cheaper for 90% of the performance compared to dedicated sailing gear, although bear in mind your activity levels - mountaineering and ski clothing is often designed to be used while highly active so will be vented or can be overly cool when at rest; look for products designed not so much for highly active wear but for use in base camp where resting at cold temperatures are much more akin to sailing.