What to Wear in Puget Sound?

What to wear when sailing a laser in Puget Sound must be one of the most asked questions. Here are some thoughs from Michael Johnson.

Life Jacket

Find a comfortable PFD that is USCG Type III Approved. Make sure it is comfortable. If you are trying them on, remember that in the winter you will have several layers underneath and in the summer you will have very few layers. Look for one with straps that allow it to expand and contract based on how much gear you are wearing under it. The Kayak Store on WestLake has a big selection so try on several and compare prices for the various models. Once you find the style you like, visit thewww.westcoastsailing.net website and choose one that is similar. Every thing on that website is targeted specifically for dinghy sailing. MJ Choice: Extrasport Yellow.

Head

In the winter it is essential to avoid heat loss from your head. Most people wear some form of a ski cap. As it gets colder the need for wind-proofness increases. Look for a cap made with Windstopper Material. In the spring, summer, and fall a ball cap or a visor is a good idea to block sun. MJ Choice: ProMotion cap in winter; CYC visor in summer.

Feet

When hiking out, your feet will be under the toe strap and this may cause a cutoff of blood flow to your feet. Therefore it is essential that you consider purchasing a wide toe strap for your boat and also a good pair of boots. I’ve always worn the boots manufactured by Aigle and found the padding to be more than adequate. Most of the vendors (Gill, Musto, Zhik, Converse Chuck Taylors,…) offer some kind of boot. If you sail a Laser in anything but summer, you will need boots or some kind of warm foot-ware. Neoprene booties are very warm but will not stand up to the wear of the hiking strap. When choosing the size, consider that you will layer socks under the boots for warmth. Beware of buying a boot that is on the smaller size for your foot because trying to put too many layers inside the boot may cut off circulation, which will make your feet very cold. MJ choice: Aigle Marmu

Thighs

To hike out at maximum capacity for an entire day of strong wind you will need to have some protection on your thighs where they meet the gunwale. If you try to cut a corner hear, be ready to watch the fleet sail away from you upwind as they hike very comfortably while you struggle to stay hiked out. There are a number of vendors (SEA, Camet, Musto, Gill, …) who manufacture a neoprene wetsuit with very stiff battens sewed into the bottom side of the thighs. When hiking out on a Laser the battens spread the load out and prevent cutting off circulation. Bottom line, if you want to be competitive in anything but light air, you must have a set of these battened shorts. westcoastsailing.net has a good selection of these products. For Puget Sound, my suggestion is to get the ¾ length, which has legs that go just below the knees and straps that go over your shoulders. MJ choice: SEA

Hands

On a Laser you are holding the mainsheet most of the time so most people like some type of glove to protect the hands. There are many fancy gloves on the market, but what the best sailors have found is that the cheap Atlas brand gloves are the best. These Atlas gloves are cloth gloves that have the palm and fingers dipped in to a rubber solution and cost about $3.50 for a pair. You can find these at any commercial fishing store (LFS, Seattle Ship, …) or hardware store (Ace, Home Depot) as gardening gloves. The light blue color gloves are the lighter weight ok for summer, and the gray rubber ones have more thermal properties and are comfy for winter. MJ recommends going for the cheap gloves and spending your money on a good set of hiking pants, boots, or spray top. Cutting the fingertips off the first two fingers and the thumb is also a good idea. MJ Choice: Atlas blue-summer; Atlas Gray-winter

Spray Top

The sleeves, shoulders, chest, and core need protection from spray and wind. The best choice here is a lightweight pull over that is a little baggy to allow for layers underneath. On Puget Sound, I can count the number of days I sail w/o a spray top on one hand. You don’t need to get an expensive garment with high tech fabric like GoreTex. Having a breathable fabric (in my opinion) is not necessary. The cheap generic spray tops from West Marine only last about a year while those from Ronstan, Gill, Musto tend to last about 2 to 3 years. If you look at the cost it is very clear that spending a few extra bucks for the name brand is well worth it, however if pinched for pennies the generic from West will do fine. See the paragraph below about layering when selecting the proper size. MJ Choice: Gill

Layering

Under the spray top you must tune how many layers you have based on the expected weather for the day. A tight fitting lycra shirt next to skin is usually adequate for late spring to early fall. After this, you should have a range of several thin poly pro shirts and several medium weight fleece shirts. Try to estimate the temperature for the day and select the proper number of layers. Remember that the spray top will keep the warmth in and you will be working pretty vigorously, so don’t be surprised if you become overheated. To get your self in tune go take a moderately brisk walk of about 1 mile with your spray top on. Do this on both warm days and cold days. After doing this several times, you should know which layers to wear for the expected conditions. In very cold conditions, I usually wear a set of long bike tights under my ¾ length hiking pants. WARNING: The tips above are for a relatively confident Laser Sailor with a chase boat near by. If you are a beginner or anticipate that you may tip over and spend time swimming or are out sailing independent of a chase boat, it is critical that you have wetsuit or dry suit in the winter, and at least a good wetsuit in the summer. Puget Sound water temp in about 45F in the winter and 55F in the summer. 15 to 20 minutes in the summer water is enough to strip almost all of your energy. 5 to 10 minutes swimming in the winter will do the same. Since I don't sail my Laser in the Winter independent of another Laser or a chase boat, I tend to not wear a dry suit or a heavy wetsuit. Speak to the guys at westcoastsailing for more details on this subject.

In conclusion, my suggestion is to visit the local businesses around Seattle (West Marine, Crows Nest/Fisheries Supply, NW Outdoor Kayak Center on West Lake Union, REI and take a look at what is available. Once you have done this check out www.westcoastsaling.com and make your selection. The westcoast sailing guys are sailors that travel all over the PACNW and are very well versed in the latest and greatest gear for Laser and dinghy sailing. They are based in Portland, Oregon and support our sport, so please give them your business when possible. I believe they ship overnight for no extra charge.