how do you keep warm in winter

could some one from the Southern state or people that sail in winter share some idea to keep warm in winter

i have a 3 mm wetsuit( dive, long sleeve) but still fine it cold today, were not even winter yet but i don't want to stop for next summer as i am still learning

Piss in ya wetsuit works well.

Sorry

I wear a 3/2 long suit right through winter and survive, I think one with a smooth surface is best as the water gets away a lot quicker. On the colder days I wear a shark skin under the wetsuit, no booties though as it make you look like a ninja and not a windsurfer

A hood makes a big difference as most of your body heat will be lost through your head, When you take a dip into could water in the middle of writer and you get a instant headache from the the cold you'll know what i'm talking about.

Forget about gloves, I've not come across a pair that work without giving you cramps, maybe the open palm ones might be the go.

A heated vest is also an option, battery or chemical powered offer an hour or so of heat to keep you going.

But yes you must sail through winter, you'll emerge into summer with TOW and be ready for next season.

Cheers jase.

I wear a rashy over the long wetsuit, it helps with the chill factor after a dive, and a pfd is more protection, but apparently the thing to go is to wear a polypropilene vest under the wetsuit, I want to try this winter. Also when it's really cold I carry a small gas stove in the car and after 1-2 hours have a hot cup of tea and a couple of crackers, it changes you from shivering to feeling ready to go again. Good tip about the hood, i think I 'll get one for this winter.

Hi Billyboy,

I was windsurfing today at Canton Beach. The cold wasn't an issue for me, the strong wind was. I bought a Neil Pryde wetsuit last year and I really like it. I've used it in winter and it keeps me warm on the coldest days we have around here.

If you do buy a new wetsuit I'd recommend saving up for one that is designed for windsurfing rather than surfing as windsurfing suits are designed not to hinder the movement that windsurfers have.

I also wore a Gath helmet. Having you head covered helps too in cold weather.

How did you go today?

i just tend to wear a 3/2 steamer but alsoe wear boots and a pryde life preserver.

the life jacket in combo with a seat harness gives you a really solid core tempratue. on super cold days ill wear a long sleave rashie over the top of the stemaer. as well.

+1 on thermos of hot drink.

Ive also seen a number of people lot of the formulae racers wearing rashies over the top of the life jackets / boyancy vests to keep it all nice and tight.

^^^You cant tell me you have never pissed in your wetty on a freezing winters morning?????
You havent lived till you have experienced the warmth of your own urine in your wetsuit.

I have sailed for a couple of winters now and keep making progress in the warmth department. I don't have much fat coverage and feel the cold readily. I also fall in a lot.
I started with a 3/2 steamer. Not enough. Would have to stop after half an hour when I started to cramp up.
A PFD over the top insulates the body and stops windchill on the upper torso but still wasn't enough.
A longsleeved polypro rashie made a big difference. It stays dry next to your body and helps preserve your body heat, but still wasn't enough.
I tried a belt type chemical wetsuit heater but it didn't work for long enough.
I do find it very useful to put on AFTER sailing to warm me up quickly.
All the above didn't stop my feet from going numb after a short time. A pair of neoprene booties keeps the feeling in the feet. Footstraps need to be loosened to accommodate them though.
Fingerless sailing gloves help keep the hands warm and stop blisters and calluses,
and a windproof jacket over the top stops the windchill from evaporation off the wetsuit (which has the lycra coating as per surf wetties not windsurf wetties).
That all worked pretty well but it would take me longer to get dressed than to rig the sail!
So at the end of last winter I invested in a 5/3 windsurfing wetsuit (they were on sale). I have yet to try it in really cold conditions but the once I did try it it was really toasty, and so bouyant I could float standing up!

If you are on a budget I would start with a polypro rashie and a windproof jacket.

A thermal top under the wetsuit is best. I have a Katmandu thermal top I use for Skiing that makes a huge difference under the steamer.
That said I just got a 5/4/3 Steamer, will never be cold again, I was cooking on Monday when everyone else was complaining about the temperature.

After years of experimenting I think that winter-winter wet suits start at about 4/3. Expect to have all joints watertight plus good seals at wrists, ankles and neck. Front loading models or similar are most likely to keep things dry inside even if a bit difficult to get into. Quality stretch material is essential to stop arms etc cramping up and of course makes it a bit easier to get into the suit.

Some of the newer double lined suits are just as warm as the smooth skin single lined - the simmer one is brilliant. You lot dont know what a cold winter is!
If you have to wear gloves then the open palm ones by ion are the best, brilliant, comfy and after a short while you dont realise you are wearing them, no cramp/grip issues.

Again some of the newer suits dont need to be as thick. If you only have a 3/2 then get a polypro (like a fleece lined rashy) rash vest. I managed to use a summer suit in the winter with one of these as packed the wrong suit in my kit bag and it was okay (I am not saying it was good as the air temp was about 6deg and the water was about 8 at most)

A neoprene beany is fine, a full hood is too much I think, and I have just sailed all winter in the UK, its meant to be spring now but we had a hail storm just as I got off the water today!

Coming from sailing in Melted snow+snow a beanie is a must!!+booties and a impact vest. so i can get away with a 4/3mm wetsuit.

I wear one of those NP vests over the top and it stops the ballooning from the wind but still allows to drain.

what is a 5/4/3
5 chest , 4 arm , 3 leg ?

Wear your rashie underneath. Even if it is lycra and not polypro it will help a bit.
Windsurf wetsuits have a looser cut around the chest and upper arms so you have more freedom of movement where we need it, and they have no lycra on the outside of the neoprene. The lycra makes the suit more durable but holds water which cools the suit when you are standing up in the wind. A lot also have a polypro lining to keep that inner layer dry.
Surfing and diving wetties can use lycra because they don't have to counter wind chill.

Or move to WA and don't sail in a lake....?