Sailing Apparel Must Haves

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. On shore, the weather might be warm and sunny, but out on the water it could very well be chilly and breezy. 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. Jackets by Harken are usually a sailor's jacket of preference. This is usually due to its light weight which increases mobility, breathable fabric, and its premiere quality. A Gill jacket or vest is an excellent 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. Options for boat shorts include Columbia Sportswear and Gill. 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. Both Harken and Ronstan are excellent choices for sailing rashguards. 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. A great selection of sailing wetsuits is available from Ronstant, all made with the latest neoprene technology. Neoprene allows the body to breathe, while providing thermal insulation and even buoyancy. Each sailor's body is contoured by the stretchable fabric of a wetsuit. 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. Weather is well known to change in an instant, and being prepared for that change is half the battle usually. Help to make it easier by being wearing the right sailing apparel for all weather conditions and be ready to adapt to any variations encountered. 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.