Winter is approaching and it feels like it is already here on some days. Wearing the right kit will allow you to stay warm and comfortable while enjoying your winter sailing.
How much to wear to keep you warm depends on a number of factors; - How cold it is. - To what extend you feel the cold (Some people feel the cold more than others). - How active your sailing is going to be (If you are going to be working hard then you will need less to keep you warm, similar to go for a run or a walk in the winter). - Whether you are likely to be getting wet (Spray or submersion). - What the wind strength is (Wind chill can have a big effect on your warmth and comfort).
In the Real World - Only with experience will you understand just how much to wear, but even then you will struggle to get it right. As a general rule it is more sensible to overdo it when it comes to putting on warm clothes. On a cold winters day it is much easier to cool yourself down, whether it be by removing a hat or splashing yourself with the cold water. On the other hand warming yourself up can be somewhat more difficult once you are cold. In these tabs I will offer some advice on staying warm when dressing for winter sailing. If you have any question though please give our sales team a call.
Base Layers
This is where your comfort starts, it is important to wear items that don't retain moisture. This generally means avoiding cotton based fabrics, be careful since if it's cold outside it can be tempting to add an extra layer like a tee-shirt, but if this is cotton based this could actually have a negative effect. If the tee shirt retains your perspiration, then it will cool you, similar to wearing damp clothes.
We have some excellent quick drying thermal tops and bottoms that we recommend at a great price of £19.95 each.
Here at TridentUK we recommend using our Mid-Layer Fleece, which we offer at a special price with all the Drysuits we sell, that is how important we consider this layer.
When it's warmer you will often not bother with the Base Layers and just wear this thermal layer. And in the Summer when it's really warm you can leave this layer in your kit bag and just wear the Base Layers.
The drysuit is the key to the base and mid layers keeping you warm. The drysuit has little thermal properties on its own, but by keeping you and your thermals dry it gives you much more control over your temperature.
Most drysuits have latex socks, this is important because your feet are the first thing that gets wet and cold, so it makes a lot of sense to keep them dry. We only recommend going for ankle seals if your sport requires it.
If you haven't used your suit for a while give it a check over to make sure all the seals are OK, you don't want them failing as you get ready on the coldest day of the season. Click Here for Drysuit Repairs
Keeping your head, hands and feet warm can make or break your enjoyment of winter sailing.
The Head - This is easily protected with a hat, but don't forget that if you are sailing in the morning and afternoon it can be worth taking two hats in case the first gets wet. You may also wish to consider a scarf to keep your neck warm. Look at Hats and Scarfs
The Hands - Most of us normally wear gloves on our hands when sailing anyway, but in the cold consider getting some winter gloves. There are two options available, first a typical sailing glove where the material on the back of the hand has been replaced with neoprene to increase it thermal properties and secondly an all neoprene glove. The first option gives you the normal durability of a sailing glove, while the second option sacrifices durability for extra warmth and therefore only suitable if you aren't aggressive with your hands. Look at our range of Gloves
Keep your Feet Warm, but don't overdo it! - Wearing a thick pair of thermal socks is recommended, but be-warned make sure your feet aren't tight in your sailing boots/shoe once on. As the extra size of the socks can make your boots seam smaller and if your feet are tight you will reduce the circulation in them, this will make them colder. Look at our Boots and Socks
