The saying goes: “there is no such thing as the weather, only the wrong clothes”.
As I write, the UK has just had its coldest March since blah blah blah, so in an effort to reinvigorate spring and induce a heat wave, here are some tips for cold weather sailing.
So try these when the need arises:
- Bring more clothes to the club than you think you might need. Wearing them should warm you up to begin with! If your sailing wardrobe is inadequate, raid the closets for an old fleece or two. And it may be time to pull out the credit card
- Basic principle: never underestimate the cold: it is much easier to take off a layer if it is too hot than to warm up if it gets cold.
- If your ship lives on land rather than moored, please dress warm in civilian clothing while rigging, including extra layers, hat, gloves, etc. It’s okay to sneak thermals under your jeans or throw on a (dry) sailing raincoat along with your coat.
- But if it’s also downpour, put on your sailing gear first
- Rig with a sense of purpose, this is no time to waste time. If someone likes a chat, save it for the locker room. Move the boat out of the wind if it is passable. Check toe stirrup strings and the like – this is not the day for equipment failure to induce swimming
- Eat well before you go afloat: This is not a time for low blood sugar. And use the toilets too. Stripping naked to answer the call of the wild while out in the elements won’t help you stay warm.
- I have a theory that your head is a good source of information about the wind. But if it hurts with cold, forget it. Put on at least a hat and, better yet, a balaclava, or both!
- Do not overheat in the locker room, sweat, and then immediately freeze while walking in the fresh air. Save yourself putting on the last two layers until you’re out of the locker room, maybe even until you’re out.
- Do not go into the water to launch yourself if you can help it. If you really have to paddle in deep water regularly, get a dry suit. Making the crew do it to save you is unacceptable.
- Take an extra layer or two afloat, but store them in a dry place, in an accessible tank, or in a dry bag.
- do not use leather Boating Gloves: Keep your hands wet, which absorbs heat. There are several alternative materials.
- To some light exercise to get the blood flowing
- don’t cast too soon
- But once afloat, get to work. Don’t sit there feeling miserable
- If you have to walk around (due to general recalls, for example), get up too and get as far out of the wind as you can. Also, if possible, navigate to somewhere sheltered but not too far from the starting point.
- If your fingers get cold, lick them, you will be surprised.
- Do a softer warm up afloat around the 5 minute gun time
- Don’t be swayed by the weather, embrace it and laugh; doing so will give you a real advantage over the wretched
- The light winds and the cold are the biggest challenge, all that to stay still.
- If you come ashore feeling very cold, warm up, shower and change before packing up the boat (but lower the sails first)