Dressed for Sailing Success
What should you wear on the seas?
As with it is with any activity, so it is with sailing – you should look the part. Whether you’re heading out to the seas with friends, or have been invited to a gathering on a boat, you should dress properly.
First, let’s talk about the weather. No matter what the forecast is, you need to be prepared for two things:
- Cold & windy rain
- Bright, hot sun
As the old Norwegian saying goes, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”
Second, you need to know that there is no specific “proper sailing attire”. There are however, some guidelines that will help you pick out clothes that are comfortable, safe and make you look great on a boat.
Proper sailing attire is always comfortable attire. Choose clothes that don’t restrict your movement. Polo shirts, t-shirts and shorts are good examples. You can also go for cotton clothing and jeans. But if you get splashed they take longer to dry. It’s strongly recommended that you take along a raincoat or jacket, except maybe on the hottest of days.
Your feet need to be happy as well. So wear comfortable shoes that have light colored soles. It’s best if you can get your hands on some boat shoes, but tennis or running shoes will do the job as well. Dark, black and leather soles are bad choices on boats as they will leave marks on the deck that won’t go away easily.
Moreover, check if your shoes need to have good traction on wet decks. If you lose footing, usually because of poor traction of your shoes, a serious injury can occur, or even an unintended swim!
Sailing can be relaxing, and it can be thrilling. Whatever your description of the perfect sailing experience is, you’ll need to dress accordingly. Now you know how to do it!
Fatima M.
Freelance Blogger
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