Some of us go sailing in the rain in warm weather. Some go sailing in the winter. But day sailors—and that’s most of the mileage for most of us—would never choose a cold and rainy day in the winter. Just too much misery. Winter sailing is more like a treatment for cabin fever and is not intended to be a torture test. There won’t be pouring rain or flying spray. And thus, the best clothing is not foul weather gear, it’s
Balaclava. The most warmth for the dollar and for the ounce is always a head covering, and a wind resistant balaclava tops the list. It seals the neck. It fits under your favorite sailing hat or a fleece hat, and helps it stay on through increased friction. By keeping your chin and neck warm it helps warm your cheeks. For wet conditions it is hard to beat the Kokatat ($32 from Outdoorplay.com). Designed for sea kayaking, you will see them on the heads of round-the-world racers in the Southern Ocean. Bring an extra.
Gloves. The Gill Helmsman ($43.36 at Landfallnavigation.com) was redesigned in 2022 and has become our overall favorite. The company revised the cuff so that it stays in place even when handling line and hoisting sails. Gill reduced the insulation just enough so gloves are not bulky, but Gill designers kept enough to keep them toasty down to freezing. It is the only truly warm glove we can actually work in the boat. After that, any waterproof ski glove is good for sitting and steering. Vinyl gauntlet gloves are good for hauling anchor and pouring rain and we like double-coated gloves for kayaking and guests. Bring extras.
Ski Goggles. You’re going to wear sunglasses anyway, right? Goggles sound like a southern ocean thing, but they make a big difference even in the mid-Atlantic when the temperature drops about 50-degrees F and the wind picks up. By keeping your eyes and cheeks warm they increase blood flow, keeping your nose and cheeks warmer. Do not get the double lens type, loved for their ability to resist fogging and add warmth (they are less ventilated). The problem is that if it rains, water will get between the lenses. A single glazed goggle with good ventilation and a good antifog treatment is the trick. We’ve been happy with low-end models from any known maker. We found Lavolly ski goggles on Amazon for $25.99.
Waterproof Socks. We dislike clunky deck boots unless it’s pouring or we’re really wading. Otherwise, we stick with the agility of deck shoes, adding waterproof socks when the air temperature drops into the 60s. We first tried them in the 80s. They were non-stretch and murder to pull on and didn’t last. These days, for really cold weather, we like. For real cold we like Gill boot socks, which come up to the knees and go well inside boots.. Also available in regular and mid-calf height, these socks are generally more comfortable with deck shoes. We’ve worn waterproof socks from Randy Sun ($34) when it’s a little warmer. Both are warm enough and leak proof enough we can step in 40-degree F water getting out of the dinghy and not feel it. Who needs boots? They don’t breathe as well as regular socks, so your feet will get a little clammy if it’s over 60-degrees F. They’re also slow to dry, so we put them on the boot drier with shoes and gloves.
Seat Cushions. Even a yoga mat will go a long way towards saving BTUs and moderating the dreaded fiberglass ass.
