Gloves, isn't it about time....

Somebody came up with a solution?

Today, for the first time in I can't remember how long, I broke the ice on the boat cover and it came off as a solid sheet, we had that much frost last night, but the Golden Ball was in the sky with a fresh 16mph from a tad West of North, after a crap start, a half decent shift had me rounding third then a couple of decent puffs and an inside line on a gybe, by the time we hit the bottom mark I'm in the position I should be in by right.

However as I tried to crank on the sheet for the upwind leg it kept slipping through my grip, I'd got some Neoprene gloves with extra grip, that supposedly work fine windsurfing (never used gloves successfully ever), try as I may I can't hold it, by the windward mark, I'm back to third, by the next lap I'm behind a Supernova I really have no place being behind, then I'm in irons because I'm freaking out with these gloves, what's worse, there were Wimmen present, in a Miracle and by now half a leg in the lead, I'm contemplatng opening my wrists. Finally with the race half over going down a back leg I manage to pull them off with my teeth and spat them into the back of the boat..

This can never happen again, so what's the answer folks? Gloves what are the absolute best on the market, it was a close call today, I managed eventually to salvage my male honour over the water but am slaughtered on handicap, someone recommend me to the don of gloves. I want warm, dry, grip and of course freedom and sufficient dexterity to use my middle index finger to communicate with the Miracle fleet.


Edited by iGRF - 02 Dec 12 at 5:26pm

Ps were you using a new sheet? That never helps.
Or are you using gloves for the first time?
Cold in extremis does very bad things to ones grip strength. Last Bloody Mary I did, the one where the feeling didn't return fully to a few fingers for 3 months, I pretty much couldn't sheet the last hour - just wrapped the sheet around my withered w@nking claws and tried to steer around as best I could.

I'm using Gloves for the 1st time, I thought sailing in gloves how nice this is going to be, could never contemplate racing in gloves windsurfing.

I had to change my sheet to some thinner stuff up at Broxbourne, I couldn't hold it even wrapping it once round, I ended up having to try and cleat it, and I'm not set up to cleat, I don't like it, I don't get any feeling and can't react quick enough.

I've been googling since I started this, what are these Musto's like?



Anyone use them?

Edited by iGRF - 02 Dec 12 at 5:56pm

I always think full gloves are going to be a nightmare and then I rediscover my Lomo winter gloves are actually not bad at all.  Almost toasty warm today; no problem with grip (but then I do usually take a turn round my hand just in case.)  http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/winter-sailing-gloves.html  

I use extra thick, flock lined washing up gloves, two sizes to big. they keep you hands warm and are really grippy, plus they only cost a couple of pounds a pair.