Dinghy sailing is not just popular among children and adults alike, it’s also highly addictive, with many sailors getting on the water all year round. Participating or competing in all weathers, dinghy sailors need an extensive wardrobe to be able to match their attire to the conditions, making sure they stay warm and comfortable throughout.
Here’s our quick guide to the staples we think every dinghy sailor should have:
Wetsuits
Being out on the water, you’re likely to get wet – even if you don’t capsize or fall in, there’s often waves and spray. Even in the height of summer, you’re likely to feel the cold. This is where a wetsuit comes in. Working on the premise that your body is the best source of heat, a wetsuit works by trapping a thin layer of water between your body and the suit. This veneer of water is then heated by your body temperature to keep you warm.
As dinghy sailing requires you to move around, and often at speed, a wetsuit that allows flexibility and manoeuvrability is a must. There are dinghy sailing specific wetsuits available, made using super soft and ultra-stretch fabrics offering unrestricted movement and featuring reinforcement in high usages areas, such as the knees and seat.
Drysuits
In the depths of winter, even the hardiest dinghy sailors will opt for a drysuit to protect them from the cold, wind and rain. Keeping you completely dry by ensuring no water gets in, a drysuit fits more loosely and allows you to layer up with insulating base layers. More restrictive than a wetsuit, you need to balance manoeuvrability with warmth, but the surface drysuits designed specifically with dinghy sailors in mind take this into account, offering both comfort and mobility, in both male and female fits.
Tops and Smocks
When dinghy sailing, tops and smocks are useful at any time of the year. In the summer, a top made from waterproof, windproof and breathable fabric is ideal over a t-shirt to keep the spray off or reduce the wind chill, but it’s equally as useful worn over a wetsuit on colder days as an added layer of protection.
It’s easy to forget you’re still exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays when the wind is keeping you cool out on the water. So, when it’s really hot and sunny, the dinghy sailor’s outwear of choice is often a lightweight UV top or rash vest.
Gloves
Sailing, dinghy or otherwise, is particularly tough going on your hands. Think rope burns and blisters – and that’s before you even think about how the cold will affect your digits. Ideally, you need a glove that is durable and insulating enough to protects your hands while you’re out on the water, but lightweight enough not to restrict range of movement for those tasks that need slightly more dexterity.
Neoprene Boots
Neoprene boots have a dual purpose when dinghy sailing. They keep your toes toasty when needed, as well as offering grip on a slippery deck and protection against the multitude of things to stub your toes on!
Boots designed for dinghy sailing come in varying thicknesses. For the summer, 2-3mm neoprene boots would suffice, while the winter months would call for thicker and warmer 5mm plus neoprene boots.
The demands of top performance dinghy sailing often call for a more hardwearing boot – so if you’re on the water competing on a regular basis, you might want to think about getting something a little more substantial. Some boots offer rubber soles, toes and heels for added durability, and protective a rubber upper for increased grip on the toe straps when hiking.
Buoyancy Aids
A buoyancy aid is non-negotiable at all levels of dinghy sailing, no matter what your experience. Designed for one purpose, to keep you buoyant and afloat should you end up in the water, not all buoyancy aids are created equal.
Greater freedom of movement, adjustability and useful pockets tend to come with a higher price tag, but for the more serious dinghy sailor it’s worth it from a comfort perspective when spending extended periods out on the water while racing.
Sunglasses
Brightness from the sun, coupled with the glare reflected off the water can be detrimental to your eyes, not to mention making it difficult to see the next mark(!), so a decent pair of sunnies should always be on a sailor’s packing list. And, if the sun fails to shine, they’re just perfect for keeping your hair out your eyes too!
Hats and caps
With studies showing you lose around 10% of your body heat through your head, on a cold and windy day, there’s nothing better than a fleece-lined beanie to protect your noggin from the elements – easy to squash into even the fullest kit bag, no dinghy sailor should leave home without one.
Protection from the sun, and shade for your eyes, a decent cap is also a sailing staple – just don’t forget a cap retaining clip as the wind does have a habit of blowing them away at the most inconvenient moment.
Bags
With all this kit to take with you, one of the most important items for any dinghy sailor is a kit bag! Ideally waterproof or splashproof, it needs to be big enough to carry everything you need, while being manageable. Waterproof backpacks, or large wheelie bags are ideal.
Sunblock
Essential. Need we say more?