Does anyone have any experience with this kind of technology? Do you have a favourite layering system? or do you still use drysuits? 

About to invest in some new kit so interested to see where technology is going

Come September 2015 most of my sailing will be in fireflys on the uni team racing circuit and a Grafham.

I hear the Rooster stuff is really good, people also speak highly of Neil Pryde.

I like them because they always seem to have nice thick leg material which helps for wading and knock protection and thinner flexible shoulders (surfers like this for paddling out) for easy reaching around the boat but a bit more warmth and flush protection than a LongJohn. I do always massacre them though, even the expensive one by cutting the arms off and refinishing just above the elbow. Losing the forearm makes getting on and off a lot easier, feels freer and eliminates risk of a tight sleeve restricting blood circulation leading to cramp or cold hands. Fleece lined stretchy spray top over if wet n windy.

If i was team racing then i'd go for a dry suit.  too much standing around between races and flights etc to be damp especially as you'll probably be stood around outside.

For all other sailing i'm not sure you can top a good layered wetsuit system - even a full suit with something under will get you through learning to sail something like a musto skiff without too much heartache

yes - get a drysuit for uni team racing for sure.  There's not only standing around, there's sitting around on changeover boats freezing your ass off.  If sailing in light winds, the boats don't generate the work rate you might be used to from a fleet race in say a laser or 29er... so don't expect exercise to heat you up like it would feeling a bit chilly before the start of winter champs etc.  Your body is also doing funny things with regards temperature - that's the side effect of processing all the alcohol the night before- it's best to sweat it out in a personal sauna.  

As you get more involved you'll find you're spending time on the water taking results, manning start boats etc.  If you're any good, you might also find you're coaching team mates.... and ribs are cold that time of year- I used to wear a yachtie jacket over my drysuit and ditch it for when my races started.  

A drysuit is fundamental imho.....  and good layering underneath is essential, go to Sports Direct or TK Maxx and find some fleecy ski thermals going cheap, no need to pay chandlery prices.  

If you want something awesomely warm under your deathbag, look for Lavacore thermal base layer tops and tights, which are sold by Diving shops.  It's relatively thin but incredibly warm (I use it for diving year round in the UK) and sticks two fingers up to the 'dinghy market' thermal base layers you can buy.   Under that, I tend to wear HH Lifa (bought yonks ago) or, more recently purchased and just as good, Decathlon thermal base stuff.

It also seals in the aromas and gasses you might generate the day after a session on the ale, always find a good friend to unzip your back zip drysuit at the end of the day!

So many things to consider other than just comfort whilst sailing!

rglew - just something to think about-  the rooster/zhik/pryde layering technology has been developed around regatta sailing programmes.  They are very effective at regulating heat when working in a boat around the course for sure- even in the depths of winter.  

Team racing is very different, staying dry could well be the primary key to staying warm.  As moomin's alluded to, there's rarely anywhere to dry your kit off Saturday night at a student sailing event.  At best it gets left in the changing room overnight, although most of the time you will packing it wet and getting it out wet after it's frozen overnight in the back of car.....

 

Some guys even wore their BA inside their drysuits to act as an extra layer of dry, insulating kit.  

And buy two hats... a dry hat for Sunday is essential.

Kneewrecker -I'm headed to Cambridge, really good history of team racing just too bad the training's at Grafham.

I'm fairly sure they're racing in the southern leagues these days, although back in my day they were part of ANUSC, so you should find you're warmer than you would have been 10 years ago! 

 

It has an exceptional history within BUSA and were running 4 teams back when most of us were fielding two.  Their blues were/are sh*t hot.. In fact I'm fairly sure they took the trophy off of Oxford in my final year BUSA finals.  (IMO, it was the semi's with Southampton First which was the real final though.) 

Plus there's a lot of sailing that goes on which isn't for general consumption- so loads of opportunities. 

LOL what magic power  does   their being stolen property  and a certain colour have over  ordinary bin liners ... 

It wasn't the on the water stuff that was extreme or dangerous!

I think this is a really difficult one.  The issue is the intensity of team racing and the gaps in between.  So as someone has pointed out the layered systems are kind of optimised for regatta type sailing where activity is constant.  So they don't keep necesarily keep you warm in between.

Now drysuits should/could.  But I've found that, even in good, hi-spec breathable ones, the intensity levels are enough to make me sweat heavily.  And that the sweat does reduce the thermal properties of the thermals (especially the wooly bear type).  And once soggy they still don't keep you warm between races anyway.

(BTW ever thought about how much moisture manages to get out of a drybag which is running with rain?)

So my answer is a normal coat (fleece lined shell) in a waterproof bag to put on when the actions off.  And a thick hat to replace my cap.  Maybe even a balaclava.  That works with whatever current gear you have, so not much extra expense.