Gear
Required Gear
Life Jacket with Whistle Attached:
Life jacket must be Type-III PFD coast guard approved. "Buoyancy Aids" are not allowed. Does not need to be fancy, a simple life jacket is often more comfortable.Wetsuit
Can be the farmer john style, does not need to be full length arms or sleeves. Should be around 2-3 mm thickness.Workout Gear
We will have workout practices. Bring appropriate gear for running and cardio exercises.
Life Jacket / PFD
Recommendations:
Basic Stohlquist
Better Zhik
Best Gill
Life jacket must be Type-III PFD coast guard approved. "Buoyancy Aids" are not allowed. Does not need to be fancy, a simple life jacket is often more comfortable. Life jackets with less bulk are preferred. Sailing life jackets and kayaking life jackets are typically the same style.
Wetsuit
Recommendations:
Recommendations:
Any of these
Or these
Can be the farmer john style, does not need to be full length arms or sleeves. Should be around 2-3 mm thickness.
Recommended Gear
This is recommended gear, but if you show up to practice wearing inappropriate gear such as jeans, sweatshirt, flip flops, etc., you will not be allowed to participate.
Gloves
Recommendations:
Basic Showa
Better Gill Gloves
Best Gill Pro Gloves
Gloves are important when we sail because it is hard to grip a line when your hands are cold and wet. A cheap but very good option for gloves are the Showa Gloves. These are very grippy but will only last a season. The Gill gloves are not as grippy, but will last many seasons.
Booties
Recommendations:
Basic Ronstan Boots
Best Zhik Boots
For booties we recommend a neoprene boot that goes up past the ankle. The neoprene is nice on cold nasty days because there is a good chance your feet will get wet and once the water gets in the boot, it becomes nice and warm.
Spray Top
Recommendations:
Basic Any waterproof jacket
Better Men's Gill Top / Womens's Gill Top
Best Zhik Smock
Expensive but Good Musto Smock
Really all you need here is something waterproof to go over all your warm base layers. Any waterproof jacket will work. Sailing spray tops are designed with sailing in mind, so they don't have unnecessary pockets or hoods and they tend to be more waterproof. I personally like something that is breathable when the air is hot but the water is cold. If you can get 3 layer fabric it is more waterproof. Stay away from waterproof tops with a spray on waterproofing coating.
A good set of spray pants is worth the money. If you are just getting into sailing you don't need to go buy the best gear, and for spray pants anything waterproof will work just fine, even ski pants work great. But as you get older and stop growing it is worth the money to purchase a nice pair of Gore-tex salopettes (bibs). Stay away from waterproof pants with a spray on waterproofing coating. This coating will rub off in one season of sailing and then they are no longer waterproof. The salopettes are nice to keep your whole body warm since they go up all the way to your chest.
Base Layers
Recommendations:
No cotton!
Fleece is warm and comfortable and works great as a base layer. Long underwear and work out clothing works great also. You WILL go swimming in this outfit at some point, so always wear base layers that will dry quickly and keep you warm when they are wet. Obviously cotton sweatpants and sweatshirts are bad ideas. Jeans are also bad.
Hat
Recommendations:
Any warm hat.
Finally, get a good hat. Much of your body’s heat leaves through your head. So find a warm hat and wear it.
Where to Buy
Both West Coast Sailing and Kite Paddle Surf offer 15% discounts to high school sailors.