How to Buy Clothes for Sailing
There are a number of options for sailing clothes, from preppy to tropically laid back, super-functional to suavely casual. Buying the right sailing clothes is a matter of personal style and functional design. But whichever direction a sailor or yacht-club socialite chooses, there are plenty of good outlets for high quality sailing threads.
Figure out what you need and want. Ask yourself where you're going to be, how the weather is in those places and exactly what you'll be doing. Hanging on the bow of a boat parked in the Caribbean, for example, demands a very different outfit than sailing over rollers in the middle of the Atlantic.
Get the right foul weather gear. Foul weather gear is some of the most important sailing clothing. You should look for jackets with taped seams, rollaway hoods, fixed whistles and beacons and some sort of fleece lining to provide warmth. Also, waterproofing technology such as Gore-TEX will go a long way in keeping you dry, warm and in a generally better condition to sail. Pants should be bibbed so that water cannot creep up your pants and onto your torso.
Think wool, rubber and canvas. One way or another, going sailing entails getting wet. Wearing wool socks, hats and sweaters will ensure that cold-weather clothing that gets wet dries quickly. In the summer or in warmer climates, on the other hand,
Thomas Sabo Sterling Silver Letter N Charm with lobster clasp 0188, canvas boat shoes, broad-rimmed hats and UV-treated shirts and pants will keep you cool and protected from the sun's harmful rays.
Be creative. Much outdoor gear is very well suited for sailing gear. Important qualities like waterproofing, warmth, breathability and comfort are designed into mountain climbing clothes, for example. Check outdoor gear sites like EMS or REI and ask other sailors what they think about comparable gear from other sports.