Apparel to have for Sailing

All sailors know that it is absolutely essential to be prepared for all situations, and most importantly the apparel sailors wear are going to depend on the weather. It is crucial when sailing to pay heed to the weather as it will dictate every day apparel decisions. It might be sunny and warm on shore, but once out on the waters sailing, it could be breezy and chilly. Being equipped with many layers and especially the correct layers could also save a life if a sailor happens to go overboard and drift in frigid waters. 

Even if it looks sunny out on the shore, the weather can change in an instant. Also the weather out on the water might be drastically different thus take a sailing jacket to protect from cool wind or even rain. Harken jackets in particular are a sailor’s jacket of choice. This is due to its light weight which increases mobility, premiere quality, and breathable fabric. A jacket or vest by Gill is a good alternative. Any sailing jacket which is purchased should have a neoprene waistband and sleeve so that the wearer remains dry and can still breathe. 

Compliment the sailing jacket with sailing shorts and sailing rashguards. Columbia Sportswear and Gill are brand options for boat shorts. Padded shorts will lessen the effect of the sailboat's hard decks. Usually a built in SPF protection of 35+ is done in sailing shorts. Sailing rashguards will protect against chafing as a result of wearing personal flotation devices, or harnesses. The sailing rashguards are made of spandex and usually also have built in UV protection ranging up to 50+ UVP. Excellent choices for sailing rashguards are Ronstan and Harken. Sailors can choose between a short sleeve and long sleeve sailing rashguards. Long sleeve rashguards are designed with a thumb hole to keep it in place while sailors are moving. 

The whole body will be protected and insulated with a wetsuit designed for sailing. Made from the latest in neoprene technology available today, Ronstan offers a great selection of sailing wetsuits. Neoprene allows the body to breathe, while providing thermal insulation and even buoyancy. The wetsuit will stretch and contour to each sailor’s body. The knees of the wetsuits are reinforced for durability and protection. There is no decrease in mobility with these wetsuits as they are designed for sailors specifically. There is a choice between a full body sailing wetsuit or half-body sailing wetsuit depending on the situation and need.

A sailor will need the correct sailing apparel to protect the body when sailing on the water. Being prepared for the change of weather in an instant is usually half the battle. Be ready to adapt to any variations encountered, and help make it easier to sail by wearing the right sailing apparel for all weather conditions. As much as the spray will allow while sailing, sailors can stay as dry as possible with the best foul weather gear and sailing apparel.