GEAR

Drysuits

The cooler air and water of October and then the extreme cold of spring present clothing challenges that all sailors must meet.

This page explains the need for proper clothing, tells you how to use layering, talks a little about fabrics, and suggests footwear, gloves, and helmets and hats for sailing in all types of weather.

Finally, the page provides information on vendors and good brands of gear along with the approximate costs. However, do not buy gear, especially expensive drysuits, until tryouts are over and team membership is assured.

Please note: Under certain conditions that are described below, sailors without proper clothing will not be allowed to sail.

Dress For Safety And Performance

Our foremost concern with cooler temperatures is safety. Hypothermia is a real possibility in sailing – even in summer. The body loses heat in the water many times faster than in air, and hypothermia can result in very surprising and significant loss of strength, impaired judgment, and even unconsciousness. We all wear life jackets and there is always a rescue boat present, but a sailor’s clothing is a critical part of hypothermia prevention.

The second concern with cooler temperatures is comfort and performance. The sailor should be comfortable, and greater comfort leads to better performance.

The best way to think about dressing for sailing is to think in terms of layers. In summer, one layer is sufficient; in March, many sailors wear four layers. Each layer performs a specific function(s), and the various layers are made from different fabrics designed specifically to perform these functions. Each layer adds a degree of protection from cold air and/or cold water. It may sound complicated, but the available array of technical fabrics make sailing comfortable and safe in what many would think are very unpleasant conditions.

In warmer conditions (both water and air are considerations) sailors do a lot of mixing and matching of layers to stay comfortable. Sailing in March has the most extreme conditions we face.  Both water and air are extremely cold, and we need the maximum protection.  A “drysuit” is needed at this time of year.  Drysuits are waterproof and water tight with seals at wrists and neck.  The sailors stay dry, even when immersed.  But drysuits have no insulating value so additional layers are needed. An insulating layer (or two) is required to keep the sailor warm, and a base layer is required to wick moisture away from the body and prevent chaffing.

All items of clothing in all of the layers need to allow the sailors to move freely and easily.

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Layering

Base Layer

The purpose of the base layer, AKA the wicking layer or the rashguard, is to wick moisture away from the skin and protect the skin from rubbing against the next layer.

Insulation Layer

Fleece or wool approach for warmth

Wetsuit approach

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Weather protection Layer

Drysuit - complete external protection against water and wind

Sample Dry Suit

Drysuits solve the problem of being cold because of being wet or wind chilled, but by themselves provide virtually no temperature insulation. Therefore, sailors usually add one to many layers when wearing a drysuit. On cold water / warm air days, a single wicking layer or a single fleece layer may be added. On most days, both wicking and fleece layers will be worn. Different thickness of fleece items provide more options for temperature control. Layers should be chosen to accommodate the colder of the water or air temperatures.

Note from the coach: A drysuit makes it possible to go full tilt in the worst of conditions without fear of capsize – you really stay dry and comfortable. If sailors capsize in a wetsuit in March, it means the end of their day (they will have to return to shore) making for very conservative sailing in those conditions.

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Spray gear –drysuit alternative offering external water and wind protection for less severe temperatures

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Fabric Considerations

All items of clothing in all of the layers need to allow the sailors to move freely and easily. Wetsuits must be reasonably tight to trap water properly. Wicking clothing may be skin tight or a little loose, but it will be compressed under a wetsuit. Fleece, spray gear, and drysuits are usually quite loose.

Cotton versus Synthetics

Cotton is a wonderful fabric when dry, but when wet, it absorbs and retains water, gets very heavy and cumbersome, and rapidly removes body heat from the sailor. Wearing it can become dangerous in many situations; it is always part of the problem, and never part of the solution. A simple and universal rule in sailing is NEVER WEAR COTTON. In high school sailing, we are either wet or at risk of becoming wet, so we must dress accordingly.

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Footwear

Protective shoes that cover the toes should always be worn when sailing, regardless of the weather. Protection against cuts and bruises is always necessary. Shoes should have some form of non-slip sole which works wet or dry. Sandals are okay so long as the toes are covered. Sneakers are acceptable, but they will never dry, and the smell can become unbearable.

Sailing boots are the best choice. Dinghy boots use a combination of rubber and neoprene to provide protection and some degree of warmth.  They are designed to be wet all the time.  When worn over a drysuit that has booties, the sailor’s foot will remain dry.

Layering is again important to stay dry and or warm.  Wool or neoprene socks will provide considerable warmth – wet or dry.  Gore-tex, “sealskin” or other waterproof socks will keep the feet dry if the drysuit booties are not perfect.    Any or all of these inner layers produce enormous benefits in comfort.

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Gloves

Many sailors like to wear sailing gloves to protect their hands from blisters, abrasions, or rope burns.  Sailing gloves are fairly lightweight, usually have leather at the wear points, and usually have fingertips cut off to facilitate knot tying and other fine motor tasks.  However, some sailors are finding that $5 grippy work gloves from Home Depot work just as well.

When the weather turns colder, most sailors are concerned with staying warm while maintaining dexterity.  There are several choices.  The first is a full fingered version of summer sailing gloves. This is fine for fall sailing, but not enough for early spring.  Another option is a “winter” sailing glove with some neoprene added for more insulation.  Many sailors use these.   Some find these are still not warm enough or compromise dexterity too much.  Another option is a combination of ordinary cloth gloves and waterproof rubber dishwashing gloves or latex medical gloves.  Despite the unprofessional look of this arrangement, many sailors prefer this option.

Experimentation and personal preferences determine which option is best for each individual sailor.
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HELMETS and Hats

Our team members are required to wear helmets at all times.  They are provided for those who want them, but sailors may want to acquire their own helmets to get a more customized fit and style.  “Sailing” helmets are available, but other water sports helmets can be suitable too. Kayak helmets are the most common choice.

Helmets provide some warmth in cold weather, but sailors should consider wearing a wool or fleece beanie under the helmet.  Our helmets are adjustable enough to make that work. 

MISCELLANEOUS

Sailors also find polarized sunglasses and watches with a countdown timer very useful. Sunglasses are worn by most sailors on sunny days, and a countdown watch can be very helpful in timing a sailor's starting strategy in a race.

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Vendors and Good Brands

Vendors for sailing gear:

  1. Zim Sailing (Bristol, RI)
  2. US One-Design (West Yarmouth, MA)
  3. West Coast Sailing (Portland, OR)
  4. Gear manufacturers' websites may offer greater selections and sales not found at distributor sites.

Good gear brands and approximate prices:

(Per Zim as of August 2023)

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