Winter sailing is generally reserved for the most resilient and competitive sailors, as cold conditions can make it uncomfortable to be out on the water for long. If you’re planning on doing some winter sailing, make sure you take the necessary steps to ensure your optimum comfort, performance and safety on the water.
How to prep your boat for winter sailing
It is important to complete a few routine checks before you go sailing during winter, especially if it’s been a while since you took your boat out:
-
Cold temperatures can cause your hull, ropes and rigging to become tighter than in Summer, so before rigging and going sailing it’s important that you do a thorough check of your rig tension and adjust buoyancy caps and bungs before setting off.
-
If it’s been a long time since you last sailed, salt build-up from your last session could have corroded metal fittings, which can lead to breakages or poor performance on the water. Ensuring you thoroughly wash or replace damaged parts before sailing in winter is incredibly important.
-
If you’re sailing and storing your boat in a climate where temperatures can drop below freezing, it’s vital that you drain your boat of water before storing, and check the condition of your hull before every session. This is because water can leak into the fibreglass or carbon of your boat and expand as it freezes, causing cracks and damage to the boat's construction. If you find a crack or damage to the hull of your boat, make sure you repair it before you hit the water.
What to wear sailing in winter
The colder temperatures are a serious consideration for all sailors during winter, as poor preparation can result in discomfort on the water. Before sailing in the colder months, you must ensure you have the right gear to suit the conditions, as in many parts of the world, the air and water temperatures can drop significantly between seasons. Ensuring you have appropriate winter sailing gear, such as Vaikobi’s V-COLD collection, to layer over your normal sailing wetsuit means you can remain warm without overheating.
If you already have sufficient gear for cold weather, it’s imperative to do routine checks on the condition of your clothing to ensure there are no tears, rips or holes. In summer, a hole in your wetsuit may not be a big deal, but in winter, holes can be detrimental to your comfort during your winter sessions, especially if you’re sailing a boat where you get wet. If your current gear is in bad shape, it’s important to replace it with new gear before you go sailing. For more information on the best clothing for winter dinghy sailing, see the comprehensive winter sailing gear guide, and shop Vaikobi’s thermal clothing collection here.
Sailing boots are the ultimate safety clothing item for winter sailing. The rubber insulates feet from the cold deck or hull, while the neoprene or fabric stops wind hitting the tops of your feet, as can happen with light deck shoes or sneakers. Check out Vaikobi’s sailing boots for your next winter dinghy sailing session.
Drysuit vs wetsuit for sailing
While rain during a summer sailing session generally doesn’t really affect your body temperature on the water, a rain squall in winter can make a session seriously uncomfortable very quickly. Vaikobi’s V-DRY collection allows you to stay dry even if you are subject to winter rain or sea spray, ensuring you remain warm despite the conditions. Especially if you are yacht sailing, where you are less likely to get wet, a drysuit or sailing dry jacket during winter is incredibly useful to ensure your entire body remains dry for the whole time you’re on the water. For dinghy sailing, a bottom layer of a wetsuit combined with a smock for your torso can ensure that your core stays dry from spray and rain, keeping you warm despite adverse conditions.
The effect of winter on the weather
Winter can significantly affect the weather patterns you experience whilst sailing, with unexpected changes in the climate being more common whilst cold weather sailing. As you would in summer, you must check the weather forecast thoroughly before you decide to sail during winter, ensuring that storms or squalls don’t hit you unexpectedly during your session.
Additionally, as winter sailing is less popular than in the summer seasons, the water is generally quieter. Therefore, it is important, especially if planning on sailing by yourself, that you organise a rescue boat or inform your local sailing club of your plans, to ensure that you can return to shore safely if you get caught in a dangerous weather event.
This article was written by experienced sailor and Vaikobi content contributor Reece Johnson. Reece grew up sailing dinghy classes on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and now sails 16ft Skiffs and Cherubs in Sydney Harbour. He enjoys travelling and studying engineering.
