WHAT CRUISERS WEAR | BWS contributors dish on what holds up,

                                                            mile after mile (after mile) BWSailing • April 2011

Over the years, Blue Water Sailing’s authors and columnists have logged thousands of hours at the helm. Rain or shine, wet or dry, they know that when it comes to clothing, proper protection and comfort are key. We asked a few of them to share their preferred cruising wear with our readers so you can benefit from their trial and error. Here are some of our favorite responses.

LINDA AMSTUTZ

I have had the same set of West Marine foulies for the 10 years I have been cruising. I thought they were getting a little tired and mildewy, and then they began to “leak” little pieces of white rubber lining. I spent a good bit of time on various websites comparing features and prices and ended up buying (again) West Marine’s Third Reef brand jacket (my old pants were less worn-out).

I chose the jacket because it matched my usage—mostly coastal cruising with a bit of offshore passagemaking in relatively warm conditions. It also had the features I needed: hand warmer pockets, an inside pocket for cell phone/iPod, soft-lined tall collar for chilly days with a highly visible hood for wet weather, breathable material for the jacket, cuffs that keep water out, and—probably least important, but still an issue—a nice looking style. "

About three days after I made my monumental purchase for $129, West Marine put the jacket on sale for 25% off! I barely had to whine and they said they would give me back the difference. Now, my only problem is that my old pants are a different color yellow than my new jacket.

Other than this essential jacket, I rely upon a fleece vest for chilly weather, a ragg-wool heavy sweater for really chilly weather and jeans—both long and hacked-off above the knee. I mostly wear no shoes, but if I have to, I’ll wear Sperry thong sandals. The soles must be “grippy,” but they don’t last too long (a year or so). When they get hard/slick on the deck, I replace them.

On my wish list is a lightweight, mid-thigh-length Gore-Tex rain jacket with a hood for forays to shore in warm, rainy weather...but that will have to wait. At right is a photo of my new foul weather jacket, on a day when I certainly did not need it!

RANDY BAKER

Almost all of our sailing is in the tropics, so we don’t use too much foul weather clothing. I do have a Henry Lloyd medium-weight jacket that I’m fond of, and I have used it for about 10 years in rainy weather. The quality and design of this jacket are very good. We also use some basic West Marine standard lightweight pants and jackets for tropical rain showers.

BERNIE BLUM
(www.containeryachts.com)

Sea boots are clumsy. I’ve found that dinghy boots (like Ronstan Sailing Boots) keep you agile, are easy and quick on and off, keep your feet warm, and don’t take up as much locker space.

PATRICK CHILDRESS
(BWS contributing editor; www.whereisbrickhouse.com)

In the warm equatorial Pacific, where we have been exploring for the past two years, my foul weather gear consists more often of swim shorts and a bar of soap. We take full advantage of the warm rain showers. If anything, a light and inexpensive rain jacket or umbrella is all that is needed. Somewhere buried in the hanging locker is my West Marine Explorer Offshore foul weather gear. That equipment was last used in cold New Zealand and is not expected to be seen again until we round South Africa in a few years.

Of far more importance is our footwear. Over the years, the soles of my Teva Terradactyl sandals have been re-glued and sewn together a number of times, but Teva is the only brand that endures. Chinese knockoffs that looked good in the store have fallen apart in a day. But my Teva sandals do not have sufficient strapping to secure the foot properly on rough terrain. When wet, the rubber soles are slick, adding to the lack of foot-to-sandal gripping.

My next most important footwear are very basic, inexpensive canvas sneakers. They are used for reef walking in search of lobsters after dark or hiking across rugged coral coasts during the day. The high canvas gives protection to the ankles and down around the rest of the foot. The strong flexibility of the soles lets the feet feel the contours of the coral without being punctured. When finished, the sneakers dry out quickly. These same canvas shoes can double as deck shoes, although they are time-consuming to lace up.

For more serious hiking on trails or in the city, I have well-cushioned sneakers. It has taken some looking, but I have found quality sneakers in wide widths. I add another thick “workboot” insole to my new shoes for better comfort. With the variety of footwear I have to choose from, I feel a little spoiled as I watch our native friends scramble ahead, barefoot, over the most impossible terrain.

PETE DUBLER
(author of BWS’s Regina Oceani series)

When it comes to staying comfortable, there are three considerations: wet, cold, or wet and cold. For me, this comes down to proper care and feeding of my bum and dome. Sitting in the cockpit can lead to a wet bottom and—by and by—an uncomfortable rash. When it is warm, fast-drying nylon shorts with polypropylene underwear beneath keep you dry and comfortable, or at least help you dry out very quickly.

Lacking insulation on the top of my head, a comfortable and reliably warm watch cap system is critical for comfort and for conserving body heat. Again, polypropylene is my material of choice for the base layer in the form of a watch cap such as those from REI. As temperatures drop, an added layer or two of worsted wool caps atop the polypropylene liner provides perfect comfort. New Zealanders have figured out how to make really warm wool and I love the hats I found there.

When it comes to rain, I love my Southwestern rain hat, as it channels the rain away from my body and not into my foulies and stays in place on my bare head or over my system of watch caps. Besides, having a crew wearing these funny-looking yellow hats keeps the spirit and humor up while the rain is falling.

I also feel that tall boots with wool socks are important. The legs of the foulies going over the boot keeps your feet dry and the added footing the boots provide makes deck work safer. For foulies, I am still seeking some for men with a Doctor Denton-type bottom, because I believe everyone should sit when using the head and the exercise of removing foulies can lead to shortcuts here.

BRANDY AND MARK FOX

We bought the top-of-the-line Musto MPX gear when we left Seattle five years ago. From 50 degrees north-north and 50 degrees south-south, it’s great. The other 100 degrees of latitude, we feel like the Pillsbury Dough People and rarely pull it out.

It’s extremely well made, has cozy fleece-lined pockets, and provides almost total protection, but it’s really too much for even an adventurous cruising itinerary. It’s important to note that we are on a 38-foot boat, so we don’t have the luxury of several versions of foul weather gear. We need one set that works in a variety of conditions.

In hindsight, we should have bought something as well made but lighter and easier to move around in. Musto has such a thing, but we made such an investment in our current gear that we haven’t been able to bring ourselves to let it go and buy what we should have bought in the first place. We end up wearing hi-tech climbing gear, construction gear and other clothing that feels a lot better but doesn’t hold up long-term in saltwater.

BILL KUND
(author and photographer; www.billkund.com)

Having previously been involved in the high-fashion business of ski and cycling apparel, it has been an interesting transition for me to get a handle on true sailing fashion in the 12 years I have been involved in this sport. As a professional cyclist, I was expected to show up on the starting line or on a training ride wearing clean, well-maintained apparel, face and legs shaved, riding a clean, well-maintained bicycle. Sailors, on the other hand—from the Kennedys down to local sailing club members—leave the razor at home and seem to take pride in appearing as “unpretentious” as possible.

When accepted apparel ranges from a good coating of SPF 30 to foul weather gear designed for arctic expeditions, what is it, then, that makes one piece of clothing stand out over another? For me, a single, well thought out detail makes the difference.

Three years ago, following the Annapolis Boat Show, I was having lunch at the Wet Dog Café in Port Annapolis. A sailor asking if I needed a set of West Marine coastal foulies approached me. “You can have them, no charge,” he said. “They’re too big for me.” I already had a similar set, same color, also West Marine, but accepted the gift thinking they would make a good spare.

They were virtually unused. Trying them out during my sail back to North Carolina the following day, I soon discovered their most important feature. The zipper on the front of the salopette can be zipped from the bottom up as well as the top down. I’m aware that women have their own set of issues dealing with similar items of apparel, but for a guy this is a big thing.

Since then, I’ve been hard at work getting them to look unpretentious enough to keep me from looking too much like a newbie yachtie.

CONNIE MCBRIDE
(author of Simply Sailing: A Different Approach to a Life of Adventure, available at Amazon)

Rain or shine, I haven’t sailed a daylight hour in the past 15 years without my Tilley hat. I’m not even sure if I’d know how to sail without it anymore. True to their word, the company replaced my original hat a few years ago when it was more hole than hat. A lifetime warranty that actually works: well worth the initial investment.

JOHN NEAL AND AMANDA SWAN NEAL
(BWS contributing editors and owners of Mahina Expeditions; www.mahina.com)



Here are descriptions of some of our favorite clothing and gear:

1. Teva Omnium sandals. These have great non-slip soles for slippery decks and are my all-time favorite footwear for hiking, trail running or going to town in the tropics. They don’t seem to give blisters, they dry out quickly and they don’t get stinky.





2. West Marine Traveler Jacket. This jacket is warmer, but much less bulky than typical fleece tops, is windproof, and although not waterproof, is water repellent.

It is really versatile—warm enough to wear by itself on cool evenings on deck and ashore—and I’ve found it works great as a middle layer under my foul weather jacket in cold conditions.

Since it is only a single layer, it isn’t bulky and dries quickly after washing.






3. Third Reef Foulie Jacket by West Marine (Amanda). For a coastal sailing jacket, I find this hard to beat; stylish yet functional.

The features that most appeal to me are the high brushed-mesh collar with stowaway hood and the supple outer nylon fabric and lining that is breathable while being waterproof and windproof.

Included in the design are internal storm cuffs, handwarmer pockets with zips, large cargo pockets and a two-way front zipper that make for practical wearing.





4. Captain’s Polo Shirt by West Marine. This looks and feels like a cotton polo shirt, but is made out of some type of super fast-drying polyester. I’ve worn it for several days at a time while on passage in the South Pacific and it just doesn’t seem to ever get sweaty or stinky.




TOR PINNEY
(author of Ready for Sea!; www.tor.cc)

I was just discussing favorite sailing apparel with my buddy, Ray Jason (author of Tales of a Sea Gypsy, Paradise Cay Publishing) over lunch in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We both singlehand much of the time. Ray, who has logged many offshore miles—including a couple of singlehanded Trans Pacs—said he prefers sailing in pajamas. They’re light, comfortable and inexpensive. Personally, I’m happiest in cotton briefs in the tropics, underway and at anchor. When it’s hot, why wear more?


CHLOE SALDER

One must, as far as I’m concerned, is a pair of earmuffs!

Admittedly, they’re far from flattering; however, not only do they keep your ears nice and toasty, but they actually help you hear better when you’re working on deck because they only block out the wind.




NADINE SLAVINSKI
(author of Lesson Plans Ahoy!; www.sailkidsed.net)

One thing I would not leave home without is my feather light sun hat, the “W’s Solar Roller” by Outdoor Research. I am normally tightfisted, so splurging for a $32 hat is not normal for me—but it was worth it! I knew I needed a wide-brimmed hat for sailing in the tropics, so the SPF 30 was one selling point. Even in the scorching summer heat of Malta, I found that “the brim offers an oasis of shade,” as the manufacturer so poetically puts it. The hat cinches under the chin or can be thrown back without flying off. It can also be tightened around the crown of the head; both features help it stay put. The fact that I didn’t lose my hat in a year of everyday use says a lot! The hat will recover after begin crushed, and the wicking headband does its job well, too. I’ve used this hat since I returned to land nearly as often: in the garden, on hikes or at the soccer field. So far, my investment has cost me $8 per year of ownership. Not bad for this penny pincher! Now onto FWG.

First things first: the Parasail Offshore Sail Suit is not for everyone. When my husband gave me one for Christmas (in red, appropriately), it weighed me down like a lead X-ray blanket and I had to regretfully decline the gift. But he tried it on and loved it, so we made a trade—I got his old suit, which was perfectly fine with me, and he got his dream suit. On his frame, the weight was not an issue, and he sang its praises in ugly fall conditions in the Med, in the squally mid-Atlantic and in the chill of Maine. Sturdy and well thought out, it has all the features of the top name brands, but at a fraction of the price thanks to the company’s practice of selling directly to customers. Parasail is principally in the sailmaking business, so I suspect that wearing the suit brings my husband closer to his dream of buying one of the company’s other products to “dress up” our sloop. Maybe next Christmas...