What to Wear Sailing in Australia

Being cold, sunburnt or uncomfortable is the most common reason someone does not come back for a second sail. It is also the easiest thing to get right, and it costs very little at the start.

The rule for a first sail is simple: borrow or improvise, and buy nothing technical until you know what kind of sailing you are doing.

For a first sail on a keelboat#

You need four things.

Soft-soled, non-marking shoes with a closed toe and a grip sole. Old trainers are fine. Black soles mark decks, and bare feet get stood on and jammed in hardware.

A spray jacket or rain jacket. Even in warm weather, spray plus wind is cold after an hour.

Sun protection. This matters more in Australia than anywhere. A hat with a retaining cord, sunglasses with a strap, and high-SPF sunscreen on your face, ears, neck and the backs of your hands. Sunscreen gets washed off — reapply.

A change of clothes in a bag to leave ashore.

Layers work better than a single thick garment, and quick-drying synthetics work far better than cotton, which stays wet and cold.

For a first sail in a dinghy#

Add the expectation that you will get wet, possibly completely.

In warm water and warm air, quick-drying clothes and a rash vest are enough. In cooler water — which in most of southern Australia means most of the year — you want a wetsuit. Ask the club before buying, because many supply them for courses and junior programs.

Lifejackets are normally supplied for training and club sailing. Confirm rather than assume.

What to buy once you know you will continue#

In roughly this order of usefulness:

1. A properly fitting lifejacket of the type your sailing requires. Comfort determines whether it gets worn.
2. A spray top for dinghies, or a decent sailing jacket for keelboats.
3. A wetsuit matched to your local water temperature, if you sail dinghies.
4. Sailing gloves, which matter more than people expect once you handle loaded ropes regularly.
5. Sailing boots or grippy shoes designed for the job.
6. Salopettes or trousers for cold-weather keelboat sailing.

Everything beyond that is refinement, and refinement is best bought after you know what annoys you about the gear you have.

Regional differences#

Tropical Queensland and the Northern Territory. Heat and sun are the concern rather than cold. Long-sleeved lightweight sun protection beats sunscreen alone, and hydration matters more than most southern sailors expect.

Southern states and Tasmania. Water temperature is the constraint. Wetsuits are standard for dinghy sailors for much of the year, and thermal layers under waterproofs are normal on keelboats.

Everywhere. Wind chill on the water is considerably greater than on land, and the sea breeze that arrives in the afternoon is usually cooler than the morning.

Things to avoid#

Cotton, which holds water and cold. Loose hoods and drawstrings that catch on hardware. Jewellery and watches that snag. Hard-soled or dark-soled shoes. Anything you would be upset to lose overboard.

For children#

Warmth is the single most important factor, and cold children stop sailing. Ask the club what it expects and what it supplies before buying anything — most junior programs have wetsuits and lifejackets available.

Bring more than you think: a second complete change of clothes, a towel, a warm top for afterwards, and a drink.

The honest summary#

For a first sail you need closed shoes you do not mind ruining, a jacket, a hat and sunscreen. Everything else can wait until you have decided this is for you.