Winter sailing

morgandlm

morgandlm

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I have decided to leave my Sadler 26 in the water through this winter in the hope of some good sailing days. This decision is already feeling right after a fantastic day on the Blackwater yesterday. But .... winter has not started yet, so I wonder what advice is out there about how to best enjoy sailing when it's cold and damp instead of the balmy summer days we always get in Essex! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Grateful for any advice beyond recommendations for thermal underwear.
Morgan
 
It sounds obvious, but it's far easier to keep warm than get warm. Dress for the worst and you won't go far wrong. Like you I had a cracking days sail yesterday in light airs and bright sunshibe, while today it's been blowing a hoolie and coming down in lumps. From that you can see it pays to be opportunistic and just grab the chance for a quick sail between weather systems.
 
Remarks about thermal underwear might be flippant, but the serious side is wearing the right gear and as Mariposa says - it’s easier to stay warm than get warm.

We keep our boat in the water all year and have had some really good sails on cold but sunny January & February days. Having moved the boat to The Netherlands where every “sail” involves at least one night and usually two nights onboard, the problem becomes one of keeping warm when “not sailing”. It’s alright when you’re in a marina with shore power and electric fan heaters, but overnight on an anchorage with no heating is a bit cold.

Helps if you have a large double berth, sleeping bags that zip together and a suitable partner to provide some warmth! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
There's several elements to my thoughts

1) Keeping warm on deck.

Most of the oily manufacturers operate their own three layer systems. I've used the Henry LLoyd and the Musto - I chose the Musto. Inner layer is standard undies, then thermal vest and thermal longjohns, socks are Arctic socks from the outdoor centre, middle layer is variable can be jeans if not too cold tracksuit bottoms or the pukka Musto thermal lined salopette if really cold, top is a musto snug smock or a Musto snug jacket , if really cold I use both the smock and the snug jacket together, also add a further pair of socks plus the Musto Ocean oilies jacket and trousers, gloves can be varied depending what you are doing , from standard sailing short fingered ones to full musto gloves, or even thermal glove linings inside heavy duty marigolds. Can also add the flotation lining jacket (foam).

Never forget the hat i have various thicknesses plus balaclavas and if really cold and wet wear musto thermal hat plus , ontop of that , musto balaclava, plus musto sou'wester..

have a thermal scarf - fleece not towelling, and a pair of well ventilated clear welders eyeprotections .

And remember to keep changeing the layers as you get period sof activity and inactivity

2) Keep warm below decks, I use the latex patterned sock thingys instead of shoes, a smock top and tracky bottoms- does well down to about -5 then add a bodywarmer

In berth One duvet and a t shirt has always been more than sufficient even if the shore power fails.

3 ) If no shore power sit with your feet up on the berths out of the cold well and light a hurricane lamp, puts out a lot of heat but heat a hatch opern for ventilation - its amazing how much heat stays below even with the dorades and two hatches open.

Come on in. the East coast in winter is a magical place
 
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Never forget the hat i have various thicknesses plus balaclavas and if really cold and wet wear musto thermal hat plus , ontop of that , musto balaclava, plus musto sou'wester..

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I lived many years in cold countries, and this is the one single most important piece of advice - have a really, really warm hat. One that is not only really warm, but that is wind proof, and that covers the ears and neck. It's hard to find one that really comes up to spec - Russian ushankas are excellent tho' make sure you can pull your oilies hood over the top when spray's flying.

Also, oilies should be a good couple of sizes bigger than in summer, to allow you to put many extra layers on. The main limitation is how many jackets/jumpers you can fit in the sleeves, so sleeveless bodywarmers are excellent.
 
Couldn't agree more with your choice of Musto.

I use Helly Hansen base layer (sort of synthetic silk undies), Musto Wind Stopper and Musto Coastal. My biggest problem is overheating.

However, all humans are different and individual metabilism plays a big part. When I'm in mid-layer gear and over heating, SWiMBO is in full 3-layer gear and complaining it's cold!
Probably why she want's to bareboat in the Med all the time!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Should also have said: a good down jacket will beat all of the high tech ones for warmth hands down. IMHO that plus woollen jumper(s) and goretex outers, is the ultimate for really cold mid-winter weather. The problem is they don't like damp and after a few days sailing s down jacket will soak up a lot of dampness from the atmosphere. But if you're sailing for just a long weekend in really cold weather then dump the high tech stuff (oilies excepted) and wear what alpine mountaineers go for...

But don't keep a down jacket on the boat while you're away.
 
Get a 1 ltr s/s thermos - put 2, yes 2 cup-a-soups in it and fill with boiling water. Give it regular shakes. Keep it in cockpit for immediate inside warmth. Don't forget the hot water bottles!. Warm slippers make a difference too.
 
I do lots of winter sailing .I try to limit it to half day passages. In cold/wet allday is a long time.Also I try to avoid early starts .The worlds a better place after a lie in and a big breakfast.
 
I agree with most of the comments above. I don't have (can't afford!) the three layer stuff! I just wear lots of what I have. I sleep in socks and hat along with normal clothes. I also have two cheap sleeping bags, one inside the other. The fluffy hotwater bottle I stole from my daughter is just the final touch! I have spent loads of happy, warm nights on my boat like this.
Allan
 
If you hunt around the sales in outdoor shops you can often get bargins that are 'last years colour' and a lot cheaper than the sailing equivelent 'cause the dont have 'yacht' in the description which adds 50% to all costs. Also if you have a branch of Second Ahead or similar the usually do medium quality fleece tops etc for bargin prices. The other good sorce of cheap warmth is a divers one peice fleece/pile undersuit - stunning all over insulation for half the price of a Musto fleese!

The best bits of gear I have found are a couple of very thin breathable windproof shirts, wear one over the base layer and one over mid layer its amazing how much more warmth the trap plus means if you shed your oilies you are still windproof and it makes oilies slide on easier.

If you do any passage making you will have verly long and cold night watches and even 3/4 hours during the day can be an endurence test if you are sat still in the cockpit. I use a fiberpile sleeping bag with a light waterproof cover (mainly to keep out wind rather than spay) Works a treat pulled up over legs and lower back and because its fiber pile you can climb in with boots on without effecting it then just sling it in the washer. When you need to move just stand up and let it drom in the cockpit. You really can dunk this stuff in water, put it on and withing 10min be warm and dry again.

Nobody mentioned the real plus to winter sailing - you get the place to yourself - but dont tell everyone they will all want to come

If you go for the duvet option (and ther are exellent) then go for a sinthetic not down one. Almost as warm, not alergic to water but heavier and twice the pack size, which matters in the mountains but not on the boat.
 
Excellent advice above, especially about hats and hot water bottles.

Hands are also important. If you are steering for any length of time, especially in the rain, it can be really difficult. You can spend a lot of money on gloves of dubious qualtiy. Best answer - latex gloves (like the ones you get in packs of 100 for fine, dirty work) under fleece gloves
under the heavy plastic gardening gloves you buy in the range or B&Q. We have some very experienced cruisng friends who replace the fleece with marigolds and find that works for them

This combination is (i) v cheap (ii) v flexible (iii) makes you still able to use your hands (honest)
In lots of sailing around the east coast in every month of the year we have adopted this solution and find it works.
 
As recommended by Lake sailor that well known cold weather pioneer,I'm trying sealskinz gloves and hat at the moment,early indications are that they are extremely good ,water proof,warm,only time will tell if they are durable and the hat has the benefit of making a chap look ridiculous.
http://www.sealskinz.com/
Nauticalia stock them.
On the base and middle layers I'm not convinced that the big names(big prices) have any warmth benefits over the very cheap fleeces.
This does not apply to the outer layer where a good breathable is required.
When sitting about not doing a lot in the cold make sure that all draw cords are pulled tight and have a fleece scarf to seal neck .
Leather wellies are good.
Those little charcoal powered hand warmers sold in shooting shops give a nice warming feel(one down each boot).
Keep well fed,body uses lots of energy just to keep warm.
Avoid alcohol,it doesn't help.
 
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