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When it comes to what to wear for dinghy sailing it’s important to understand what items you need to make sure you’re safe, protected and comfortable – that way you can really get the most out of your time on the water…
For grown-ups and adults alike, the kit list is largely the same. Remember that as soon as they’re wet, kids tend to feel the cold more quickly than adults, so it’s important to get them kitted out correctly with the best kind of clothing for sailing.
Can you go sailing in just shorts and t-shirts? Well, yes, there are times – in very warm weather and if you are with very experienced sailors sailing big stable boats that have a very low chance of capsizing – and there are times when we’re sailing our big 2000 family dinghy when we let the kids do that. But unless you want to restrict your sailing to the sunniest of sunny days, you’ll need to invest in some specific items, particularly when you are just starting out or sailing something tippy like a Topper or Pico when there’s a greater chance of getting wet!
The good news is there are plenty of options on the market, and you can find many designed for ‘entry level’ at reasonable cost, or even second hand if you know what to look for and what to avoid.
The list below may seem a bit much on a bright sunny day – (and there are times when you may well feel over-dressed – be prepared for this if it’s something your child – like mine – is likely to complain about) but also be aware that the conditions on shore may well feel very different once you’re out on the water. Once you add in breeze and a bit of spray – whether that’s from waves or an impromptu water fight – you will quickly realise that it’s important to invest in the right clothing, particularly for children as they are susceptible to suddenly feeling cold.
And although sailing is a sport done on – rather than in – the water, at a minimum you can expect to get your feet and legs wet when launching – and with kids especially there’s always the inevitable fun of jumping in at the first chance they get!
New to sailing?
If you are only just trying out dinghy sailing for the first time, don’t feel you need to rush and buy every item immediately. Particularly if you book a taster course, activity day or one-off experience through a sailing club or centre, you will usually be able to borrow most of the necessary clothing – certainly a buoyancy aid or lifejacket, and usually a wetsuit and waterproofs too. In that case, generally all you will need to take along are your swimming things to wear underneath and suitable footwear (more on what constitutes suitable footwear below).
However, if you’re signing up for a longer learn to sail course, planning on spending a lot of time out on your boat or perhaps have access to boats to borrow from your club or centre, you may be wondering – what should I wear?
It’s a great question!
Here’s our handy guide to the essential clothing for dinghy sailing…
Wetsuits – do I need one?
Generally speaking, a wetsuit is a must, particularly if you are starting out and there is a greater risk of capsizing your dinghy. Even if you have a little more experience, dressing for in the water not on the water is a good philosophy where there is any risk of ending up in the water.
But what about those super-sunny days? Well, with kids especially, even on a lovely warm day, they are likely to end up in the water at some point – even if it’s just jumping in at the end. And while the air temperature may feel warm, the water temperature can be much lower, particularly at the start of the year in spring and early summer.
That’s why a full length wetsuit is a good place to start, particularly if you want to sail throughout the season, as it keeps your extremities warmer for longer. It also provides protection from the sun (with little ones, think of it as less surface area to sun cream!) as well as from general bumps and scrapes. If you are looking to sail in the height of summer only, you may find a shortie is ok.
Start shopping around and you will quickly notice that the thickness of neoprene varies – this makes a difference as to how warm the wetsuit will be. Consider the time of year you want to be on the water and look up the sea temperature (not the air temperature!) to help you understand what thickness to go for. You can find charts online but as a rough guide, a 3/2mm is a good all-rounder for the UK summer where the sea temperature averages 15-20°C. (‘X/X’ indicates two different thicknesses of neoprene used on eg the torso and limbs.)
The main thing to consider when buying a wetsuit is that it fits well – particularly important to take note of this when buying a wetsuit for your child. As a parent it’s an automatic thing to buy kids’ clothing with ‘room to grow’ so this is going to feel completely at odds! However – much like buying a lifejacket/buoyancy aid – you should never buy a wetsuit for kids to grow into; if you can, try before you buy to be sure of a good, close fit.
Why is a good fitting wetsuit so important? It’s to do with how wetsuits work…
Wetsuits work by trapping a very thin layer of water between the neoprene material and your skin; you body heat then warms up that layer. If the wetsuit is too big, then when you enter the water that heat gets flushed away, obviously your body then has to start heating that water all over again until the next flush, and that’s when you start to feel cold.
You may find some have adjustment tabs around the neck as well as the wrists and ankles, which are super useful as not only do they ensure a tighter seal, it also makes getting them on and off that little bit easier – always a bonus for children.
More expensive wetsuits tend to use softer, stretchier neoprene, and it can be worth budgeting a little more if your child is sensitive to tight garments, as stretchy neoprene definitely feels (and is!) more comfortable and flexible.
Features to look for when buying a wetsuit
On the subject of comfort, flatlock seams will also generally feel more comfortable against the skin compared to raised overlock seams – a more basic stitch which can ruck up inside the wetsuit and feel bulky, restrict flexibility and causing chafe (wearing a rash top under can go some way to alleviating chafe). There are other types of seams such as glued-and-blind-stitched used for wetsuits, but these tend to appear on much more expensive winter wetsuits, which if you are just starting out you probably won’t be looking at just yet, so we will save that for another article!
Back to the warm-weather wetsuits, and again, as you go up the price brackets, you’ll naturally find more features – such as knee or seat reinforcing, particularly with sailing-focussed brands. These are not essential but are certainly nice to have and help to increase the longevity of your wetsuit. Other features you may want to look out for are such as chunky, good quality zips that run the full length of your back for ease of getting on/off, and robust reinforcements around the fastenings for durability.
Girl Afloat loves her 2mm Full Length Wetsuit from Rooster’s Junior Essentials range, which includes all these features. She only just about fits the junior small sizing, but for someone who a few months ago would have kicked up some serious fuss about wearing a wetsuit at all, it’s great testament that she literally can’t wait to get changed whenever we arrive for sailing!
Golden rule for buying a wetsuit
If you take one thing away about buying a wetsuit, just remember the golden rule – the tighter the fit the better. If there is a tiny bit of room in places, ok – they are kids and they will grow – but not loose or baggy all over. It needs to fit them this year, not next! You can always sell or pass on and buy again when they’ve outgrown it. Additional admin perhaps (I know, groan!), but ultimately worth it for comfort and enjoyment.
Footwear
In theory, a pair of old trainers you don’t mind getting wet will suffice. But if you’re planning on spending much time on and around the water, it’s worthwhile buying a pair of neoprene water shoes. They’re readily available and inexpensive, which is great with kids as their feet grow so quickly!
You can get sailing-specific boots from sailing brands, which may offer thicker neoprene (good if you’re sailing in the colder weather or suffer from cold feet), however generally there is plenty of choice available at entry level from all sorts of brands. Look for ones with good grip and adjustable toggles or straps so you can ensure a good fit.
Please don’t go afloat in Crocs or flip-flops! Doing so will invariably result in slips and/or trips and/or errant shoes floating off downwind!
People do go barefoot – and our kids often ask to – but in my experience, going barefoot is not ideal when dinghy sailing, especially not for launching or recovery – again not only is it more likely you’ll lose your footing and slip, you also run the risk of cuts and grazes, so best to buy a pair of water shoes or sailing boots if you can.
Buoyancy aid or lifejacket
Number one essential!
Even if you ignore everything else on this list (although please don’t!) you should always always wear a buoyancy aid or lifejacket for dinghy sailing. Check out our FULL ARTICLE HERE – where we explain more about how to choose which type, essentially a decision based on the wearer’s swimming ability and confidence in the water.
We’d recommend choosing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid with plenty of adjustable straps, ideally including crotch straps, which can be tightened to prevent it floating up over your face when you’re in the water.
As your child gets older and more confident and less likely to spend so much time in the water, you may like to move onto a racier style of buoyancy aid – such as Rooster’s Side Zip Buoyancy Aid, that’s designed to be super ergonomic but still with plenty of adjustments to ensure a close fit.
Hat, headband or visor
Whether it’s a peak cap to keep the sun out off, or a fleecey beanie for extra warmth, a hat is always a good idea for on the water!
If your child has an issue with hats, you could try a visor, or Girl Afloat who, as I’ve explained before, can be very particular with clothing, loves her Rooster Aquafleece Headband especially when if there’s a bit of breeze as it keeps her hair out of her eyes.
If it’s a hat that’s prone to fly off, consider using a very short bit of string or a lanyard to attach it to your buoyancy aid so you don’t risk losing it.
Waterproofs
If it’s early or late on in the season, adding a waterproof layer can be a good idea, to help keep the wind off and keep you dry (therefore warm!).
Girl Afloat loves her Rooster Junior Pro Lite Aquafleece, as not only is it fleecey-cosy inside, it’s fully adjustable on the cuffs and waist (with non-slip glideskin/velcro fastenings), so she can have it just how she likes it. I think it also really helps that the fabric is actually stretchy too. It’s also wind and waterproof and dries super quickly too – perfect for those busy eat, sleep, sail, repeat kind of weekends where they are constantly on and off the water.
Lighter weight spray tops are also available from various sailing clothing manufacturers, which provide a thinner water resistant layer; things like breathability, waterproofing, etc will vary with price bands so shop around. In a pinch, for entry level users, a single-layer cag would do, but these are rarely properly waterproof and so it’s worthwhile checking out established sailing brands for an alternative as the garments will have been designed for and tested in the marine environment with useful features such as taped seams, etc.
The same goes for sailing trousers – sometimes called hi-fits or salopettes. As a make-do we have popped a pair of Decathlon’s best cheap-and-cheerful walking waterproofs on over the top to keep little legs warm on a brisk spring day, but longer term will go for sailing specific option, which typically has over-the-shoulder braces to hold them up, as well as reinforcement on the seat area to prevent wear from abraision on the deck.
If you want to extend your sailing season, then investing in sailing waterproofs is a great idea.
Sun cream
We’ve all been there – brandishing a sun cream bottle at wriggling children who cannot wait to get afloat and are desperately trying to evade a sun cream dousing at all costs… but persevere!
Even when it’s not sunny, we always make sure the kids have plenty of sun cream on! The sun’s rays can really bounce around on the water; in fact, water can reflect up to an additional 10% of the sun’s UV rays. In any case, just being out in the elements can affect young, sensitive skin, so as much as wearing a buoyancy aid is a non-negotiable essential, so too is sun cream!
Partnership feature disclaimer – Some of the items mentioned in this article have been gifted by Rooster Sailing for review; however AfloatWiththeKids.com does not receive commission on purchases made via these links.
