Wetsuit layering

This is the first winter I'll have been sailing and up until now it has been pretty mild.  With the temperature expecting to head south this week and the next race on Sunday I'm thinking I should take another look at what I wear.

I think a lot depends on where you are sailing and what your aims are...

I sail a reasonably energetic boat and am not that bothered about getting a result in every race and competing for the series glassware. Thus I prefer to wear a lightish westuit for freedom of movement and accept that if I stuff it in a second time I'll have to give up and go and get warm and have a shower because I'll have run out of energy.

That's fine on my middle sized reservoir where we run shortish races and are rarely out for much more than an hour at a time, but not sensible on the sea or if you are on one of the really big reservoirs and lakes where you might be miles away from warmth and stuff it in another three times by the time you get back.

Edited by JimC - 30 Jan 12 at 11:50am

I use the layering systems for winter sailing.  At this time of year I tend to be in Rooster Polypro legs and top, SEA Winter Hot top, Hikers, Gill Winter Thermal Top, Neoprene socks, polypro socks and a hat.  For when it gets really cold I have a Neil Pryde Race Skin to add to the layers.

remember that because you is a dinghy sailor, you're like well loaded.  So you'll pay more through sailing retail channels than others for very similar, and quite often, inferior kit.  I've owned two singlelined wetsuits now - one by Pryde (an Elite) and another by Ion - they are SO much warmer than any other suit I've used, but I guess you'd need to be careful of snagging.  UK built Spartan are also supposed to be very good- although I'd have thought you'd be too hot, even in the most brutal inland temps. 

Edited by rogue - 30 Jan 12 at 4:02pm

It really is very flexible kit.  Make sure you get it all fitting well, needs to be fairly snug so prevent any lower layers creasing up and annoying you.  I really don't find it movement limiting (whereas I hated my drysuit for preventing me moving around in the laser when I had one years ago).