It is said that a good craftsman necessarily has good tools. This is especially true when these tools are safety and comfort equipment.
According to the practice ( light sailing or cruising ), some accessories will be more or less useful.
They must in all cases protect the navigator against :
- The cold
- Humidity
- The sun
- Friction and shocks
If there are many brands on the market, we decided to illustrate this article with Decathlon products, widely distributed at prices often well placed for a beginner's budget wishing to discover navigation before investing.
In light sailing, efficient equipment is a must
The practice of light sailing is usually done for a few hours. But hours often very wet (even in the water...). Period during which it is necessary not to be cold to take advantage at best of its transfer.
Without diminishing the protection they provide, clothing and accessories for starting out in light sailing must be worn with confidence and without fear of deteriorating too quickly. One is often on all fours on a trampoline of a catamaran or the deck of a dinghy.
A neoprene wetsuit is useful to stay warm even if you are freezing. Not always comfortable, especially when the temperature rises, it allows you to regulate your body temperature while not being afraid of humidity.
To be taken with long or short sleeves according to the season of navigation, it must have reinforcements at the level of the knees and the buttocks.
Ideal complement to the neoprene suit, the windproof jacket will protect the upper body against the wind that creates the sensation of cold. To be efficient, it will have a wide elastic at the waist to avoid going up during maneuvers and to let the air in.
Neoprene boots complete the waterproof outfit. Their sole must be designed to avoid slipping on the deck or the board. Without laces, they are easy and quick to put on and they should not let odors develop too quickly. If they are equipped with a zip, it must be equipped with a waterproof flap.
On a cruise, comfortable clothes for the long term
When you go on a cruise for several days, it is important to have clothes that are both comfortable - you will have to wear them for hours on end - reliable and effective. They must dry quickly, not develop odors, and be strong. Finally, they must provide the right level of protection while being easily forgotten.
An overpants will keep your clothes dry - as much as possible - avoiding the sauna effect. An overall will better protect the crew member, but will be a little more expensive.
A windproof jacket, short or long, will be necessary to stay warm during the watches. In the short version, it will limit less the movements ( bending down to pick up a piece for example ) than the long one which will have the advantage of better protecting the lower back (but which is also more expensive).
We lose 80% of our body temperature through the top of the head. The cap is a vital accessory on board. It is used to protect against the cold and even against the rain.
In all cases, safety equipment is essential
The mittens provide protection against cuts and burns from rubbing against the ropes. With the fingers cut off, dexterity is preserved and allows to handle with a little more precision certain accessories (GPS, phoneeuros) and especially to make knots. For winter, we will opt for gloves with just 2 fingers cut (thumb and index).
Sunglasses are real active safety accessories. They protect the eyes from the damage caused by ultraviolet rays and glare. Both are always present at sea and damage the eyes in the long run. The polarized models are really more relaxing by removing the reflections that shine on the water.
Finally, the life jacket is an absolutely mandatory accessory to wear as soon as you leave the saloon. With a minimum buoyancy of 150 newtons when cruising (to be used in all contexts), it will simply save your life if you fall overboard.
Keep it simple to start
The accessories and outfits offered here make for a simple and effective start. Many other accessories can be added, from a cap to deck boots.
Each one of them represents a cost and a space on board. It will be necessary to arbitrate according to the passion, which will take or not, the zone of navigation and its weather conditions, and especially the budget devoted to this passion.
