Kitbag Adjustments for the Autumn/Winter Season

This time of the year is my favourite and although the air temperature starts to drop, the water is still warm. Sea breezes and sea breeze effects have pretty much ended and sailing is on gradient winds.

The first thing I do with my weekend kit bag is take out any spandex base layers as these function as cooling layers. Polypro on the other hand is naturally hydrophobic, comfortable and warming, ideal for cooler conditions. Prolong your favourite summer neoprene garments by wearing these hydrophobic base layers next to your skin. Get a technical explanation of this here.

My favourite kit combination during the UK's normally inclement summer is the SuperTherm® Long John (v2) paired with a ThermaFlex® Top; the ThermaFlex® moderating my body temperature and enabling me to comfortably overdress with a Pro Aqualfeece® in warmer conditions. By adding the aforementioned PolyPro Top to this combo, I feel pretty invincible down to about 8 degrees C.

My favoured choice for inclement summer sailing, ideal for Autumn/Winter sailing - the Supertherm® V2 has now super durable knees and bum and better hiking pad location.

The one cold weather accessory I couldn't live without is the Pro Aquafleece® Beanie.

When I am working hard and feeling warm I take my beanie off and stuff it under my buoyancy aid, then when waiting around between races or when it is getting colder, its straight on my head for instant relief from the biting cold. Its also great at keeping your hair dry – even when the conditions are extreme.

I tend to know winter is here when I swap my ThermaFlex Top for the SuperTherm® Top and polypro leggings make an appearance.

Now I am sailing the 4000 more I simply cannot cope without my gloves. Last year I tested our PolyPro Glove Liners paired with the Rooster Pro Race 2 Glove. This was an amazing combination in all but the worst conditions where the AquaPro and NeoPro paired with liners fit the bill perfectly.

(Note that if you want to take the liners - then add a size to the gloves.)

For the hiking dinghy sailor who favours the Classic or Pro Hiker approach to layering, the same adjustment to your summer tops is perfectly relevant. However the best tool in your armoury should be the Rooster Hot-Legs. Worn over our PolyPro Leggings, this combo is almost as effective as the SuperTherm Long John/Poly Pro Legging duo.

Personally I choose to use Race Armour Lite Shorts to take my hiking pads over my SuperTherm long john, but you can opt to wear your pads inside the long john; the hiking pads are secured by velcro onto the seat fabric - and they do not move once placed, just as effective as the pro hiker pad location.

The SuperTherm Top typically takes me down to +5 degrees C. Combined with appropriate accessories (Balaclava, Pro Aquafleece® Beanie, Neck gaiter and Socks), I need never reach for a drysuit.

Top Tip: Some sailors also choose to wear the PolyPro Top in warmer climes as a super lightweight long sleeve sailing top, a more comfortable alternative with added benefit to a traditional Rash Vest.