“What do I tell people to wear?”
The question we get asked the most in the run up to any sailing event – whether it is a luxurious hospitality day or company regatta.
Obviously, sailing apparel is totally dependent on the type of sailing you are looking to do – and when and where you are going to sail.
The one item that will always be a must, is a life jacket – the most important piece of gear for anyone spending time on the water – which is why we provide them on all our events.
For the rest of the outfit, for the purpose of this blog, we will limit ourselves to the sailing on most of our events: one day yacht sailing, from May to October, on the Solent, UK.
Needless to say, it would be very easy to provide a list of acknowledged and popular water sports apparel suppliers, but the purpose of this blog is to find the kit for your water event, in your wardrobe.
Sailing can be a dynamic activity, so comfortable clothes and shoes are a must. Also, wind chill factors increase when sailing, so what seems right in the morning sunshine onshore, might not be sufficient out on the water. As a general rule, several thin layers are better than one thick one.
Start with a t-shirt or long-sleeved shirt, then a warm layer – maybe a thin fleece (always dries nice and quickly) or a jumper – finishing ideally with a windproof and waterproof outer layer.
Trousers – as comfortable as jeans are, they don’t dry very quickly when wet, so if possible try and avoid them. Make sure you can move around easily in your trousers – clambering over a deck in tighter clothing can be restricting!
For a general day’s sailing in the UK, we would always recommend proper wet weather gear or “oilskins”, however, we provide these on all our sailing events, so no need to worry.
On board there are lots of things to stand on, and uneven bits of deck – which all get slippery when wet. Wear shoes that encase your feet – flipflops or open-toed sandals could leave you with very hurt toes. Deck shoes are perfect, but lots of trainers are good to – they will provide some grip and (most) will have non-marking soles, meaning decks won’t get scuffed.
Head – hats – in May and October we have been known to wear warm “beanies”, which stay on without any problems. Sun hats can be more of a challenge but very necessary – you might not feel the heat of the sun in the breeze on the water, but its rays are just as damaging. Chin straps might not feel like the obvious “cool” choice on a corporate day out, so maybe opt for a firm-fitting baseball cap – one that you are not overly fond of… just in case.
If you are a glasses wearer – bring a strap or lanyard – losing prescription glasses (or expensive sunglasses) to the sea is a painful experience. Do bring sunglasses – the shimmer of the sun on the water can be intense!
Last, but definitely not least – sun cream!
There you have it – our “sailing kit list, from your wardrobe” – hopefully proving that anyone can come out on the water with us!
If you’d like to book or discuss in more detail, please call the team on 01590 674900.
