Winter sailing

[Rhylsailer99]

I have to move from Menai to Rhyl early Saturday morning. I'm not looking forward to the freezing conditions being a fair weather sailor.
High water is 1:30am so the plan is to move the boat to a deep water mooring at around 11:15pm. Hopefully I can sleep for 5 hours then set off around 4:15am to arrive in Rhyl at 2pm.
Winds look good being south with max gusts at around 18mph,so hopefully full sails and sit back and relax in the freezing cold.
I might buy some pocket hand warmers tomorrow as sometimes i get white finger if I'm inactive in the cold.

 

[Plum]

I have to move from Menai to Rhyl early Saturday morning. I'm not looking forward to the freezing conditions being a fair weather sailor.
High water is 1:30am so the plan is to move the boat to a deep water mooring at around 11:15pm. Hopefully I can sleep for 5 hours then set off around 4:15am to arrive in Rhyl at 2pm.
Winds look good being south with max gusts at around 18mph,so hopefully full sails and sit back and relax in the freezing cold.
I might buy some pocket hand warmers tomorrow as sometimes i get white finger if I'm inactive in the cold.

Pocket handwarmers are brilliant. Actually, they are better inside your gloves . Buy a good supply before you go and fill the vacuum flask before you set off. Enjoy!

 

[Halo]

Enjoy your trip.
Cuppa soups are a great morale booster when it’s cold
Hot water bottles and double sleeping bags when you sleep
Make sure you have every inch of skin covered except your face and really good head gear such as those faux fur Russian hats when under way.
Hand warmers are great and keep a couple of spare ones in your oily pockets
A good time of year to do a last minute weather check before committing !

 

[Mister E]

It is going to be one cold trip. If you are reading this before you go then best wishes.

 

[Sandy]

Handwarmers are brilliant. Make sure you have a thick blanket or something to cover your legs. I do think a boat cloak would be a good addition to my kit.

 

[Refueler]

On the Cuppa-Soup front ... I also like Pot Noodles .... may not be best food ... but when cold and hungry - they really are welcome ...

I have a large Pump flask of hot water - so its easy to pull back the foil ... pump hot water in ... no need for kettle etc.

Clothes ? Balaclava ... yes the dreaded bank-robbers hood ! Gloves that allow grip but are warm ... Long Johns to keep legs and bum warm .... good fleece and over top jacket .... and yes - I agree - a good scatter blanket to cover up when sitting out there ... (an unzipped sleeping bag does that well) ...

This may sound daft - but think about something for eye's .... that cold wind can play havoc with eyes ...

 

[RunAgroundHard]

May be a bit late as you will be on the way, I assume.

I sail all year round, out of Oban area. With current air temperatures and 18 its of wind, the wind chill will be very noticeable. The cold can soaks in slowly and it gets difficult to warm up. Layers are good, better to be too warm where you can cool down by opening a zip, than too cold. Tight, or close fitting layers should be avoided, loose being superior for both trapped air heating and circulation to move away any humidity under the clothes, or at least spread it around. A prefer a buff or snood around my neck rather than a scarf as scarfs come loos and need adjusted, a snood just sits there; get the ticker type. I carry a set of low cost ski googles, yellow tint. The tint is not important but I found that yellow tint is fantastic at managing glare from bright blue sky, improved definition. More importantly, googles protect the eyes from cold wind. On the glove front I wear mittens which can be removed where dexterity is required, I find the mittens to be superior to gloves. Have a few pairs of gloves and wooly hats, if you lose one, it can turn a great day into a crap experience.

A good breakfast of something that releases energy slowly is worth it: porridge, ready break, breakfast burritos and eggs (good hot air circulation generator). Bring along Lipsil or similar to keep lips moisturised.

Lifejacket / safety harness. I don't ware a lifejacket in winter, as the straps compress the clothing and lead to cold spots if fitted correctly. I do wear a safety harness, just the shoulder straps and waste belt type, fitted on the loose side of snug. I always use it, I am never disconnected when outside the cabin. Lifejacket is close by and can be grabbed and fitted if needed.

At the end of the day, there is more than one way to skin a cat, but it's great that you are going sailing in winter. Just do it, think about what could have been done better after the sail, and make better for the next winter sail.

All the best on the water.

 

[Boathook]

@Rhylsailer99 report back on how it went, etc. Good and bad are both constructive.

 

[dunedin]

The best cold weather gear for winter sailing is a good autopilot and a good sprayhood.
Keep watch from the companionway, and keep dipping below to “check the chart” and/or top up the coffee.
Stuck for long periods on the helm in negative C wind chill is a mugs game.

 

[Refueler]

The best cold weather gear for winter sailing is a good autopilot and a good sprayhood.
Keep watch from the companionway, and keep dipping below to “check the chart” and/or top up the coffee.
Stuck for long periods on the helm in negative C wind chill is a mugs game.

Agreed - but there comes a time when need to freeze nuts off !!

 

[Minerva]

On the Cuppa-Soup front ... I also like Pot Noodles .... may not be best food ... but when cold and hungry - they really are welcome ...

I have a large Pump flask of hot water - so its easy to pull back the foil ... pump hot water in ... no need for kettle etc.

Clothes ? Balaclava ... yes the dreaded bank-robbers hood ! Gloves that allow grip but are warm ... Long Johns to keep legs and bum warm .... good fleece and over top jacket .... and yes - I agree - a good scatter blanket to cover up when sitting out there ... (an unzipped sleeping bag does that well) ...

This may sound daft - but think about something for eye's .... that cold wind can play havoc with eyes ...

Just as a general point - I stumbled across “Nissin” branded pot noodles, they come in a black & orange pot - so much better than regular pot noodles.

definitely worth a try next time you’re stocking the boat up next spring.

 

[bergie]

The best cold weather gear for winter sailing is a good autopilot and a good sprayhood.
Keep watch from the companionway, and keep dipping below to “check the chart” and/or top up the coffee.
Stuck for long periods on the helm in negative C wind chill is a mugs game.

Totally agreed. Also, less traffic means easier autopilot usage.

Layers, layers, layers is the answer to the clothing question. Wool is a good idea, and foulies are a good wind breaker layer on top of everything. Tea in a thermos helps, and we also have a 12V hot blanket that can be run in the cockpit.

Keeping watches short is also a good idea. A lot easier to be out for an hour or two than four to six. We managed to keep six hour watches when we sailed to Lapland last spring, but then temperatures were more around zero than actually freezing.

Photo from yesterday. Not enough wind to go sailing, but we did a short 12NM motoring trip to enjoy the combination of snow and sunshine. Now the water is starting to freeze, so we’re likely stuck to the dock for a week or two.

 

[dunedin]

Totally agreed. Also, less traffic means easier autopilot usage.

Layers, layers, layers is the answer to the clothing question. Wool is a good idea, and foulies are a good wind breaker layer on top of everything. Tea in a thermos helps, and we also have a 12V hot blanket that can be run in the cockpit.

Keeping watches short is also a good idea. A lot easier to be out for an hour or two than four to six. We managed to keep six hour watches when we sailed to Lapland last spring, but then temperatures were more around zero than actually freezing.

Photo from yesterday. Not enough wind to go sailing, but we did a short 12NM motoring trip to enjoy the combination of snow and sunshine.
View attachment 168510

Yes was a beautiful day yesterday - cold but sunny and light winds. Ideal for a brief winter jaunt.

 

[Refueler]

All frozen here - except Port areas ... river is now iced over ... give it another day and Ice Fishing will start ...

View from my balcony.

 

[Sandy]

A handwarmer, the charcoal type that last hours not the chemical ones that are hopeless, inside your your kit works wonders. Some suggest near your kidneys, but I have always struggled to keep the thing in place.

 

[aslabend]

Toe warmers

The one thing that gets cold with me (also try alpaca wool socks) .
Oh and something foamy to sit on in case you are susceptible to the Nobby Stiles

 

[Refueler]

Toe warmers

The one thing that gets cold with me (also try alpaca wool socks) .
Oh and something foamy to sit on in case you are susceptible to the Nobby Stiles

Bum cushion !! Yes ...

I have cockpit cushions that fold so either double layer for bum - or one layer for back and other for bum .... I HATE cold plastic / GRP to sit on !!

 

[michael_w]

Dachstein mittens, the dog's danglies.

 

[Refueler]

Dachstein mittens, the dog's danglies.

I use light ski gloves ..... for real cold .... for those brisk autumn evenings when waters cold > those yellow silicon blob gloves for gripping stuff with ...

 

[Rhylsailer99]

It took a few turns of the engine to get the old Bukh going. I turned the night heater on to hopefully get he air warmer to help it to start.
I think some grit on the deck might have been a good idea. Safetty harness will be on and Im thinking to motor until the sun comes up.