Sailing gear essentials for the Pacific Northwest

Most programs start in the Fall, so we will focus on what to get for your Fall season in the Pacific Northwest, as the rain comes, it gets colder and windier. First, remember we have this article about Where to buy your sailing gear, which will guide you through the various available retailers.

Some things are particular to sailing that you will need to get from a sailing gear maker like Zhik, Rooster, Gill Marine, Musto, or Gul Watersports (in order of cost). Other things are much more generic and easier to find. We bought a lot of Gul gear early on. It’s durable, well-built, sailing-specific, and significantly less expensive. As our sailor got better, we started to buy more Zhik gear, which has more technical and specialized gear (e.g., boots that grip into hiking straps like velcro).

The beauty of sailing gear is that as long as it's not full of holes, you can always sell it. There are a ton of sailors always looking for used sailing gear. You can take a look at our gear swap marketplace.

Gear for all sailors

Most of these items are required by any single-handed or double-handed program. We recommend you get all the items on this first list.

1. PFD [Required, not sailing specific]: There are plenty of fine Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs). Get a PFD/Life jacket that has a high neck (the higher, the better), is high-mobility, and has pockets. Here is a generic example, and if you can, there is no better junior sailing PDF than the Zhik PFD. They are built for sailing, last forever, and will not tangle with anything on the boat. The front pocket is a lifesaver to not lose gloves or racing watches. West Marine carries them in stock so you can try different sizes. It should be snug and not slip up when the sailor goes in the water.
2. Helmet [Optional, sailing specific]: Recommended for our younger sailors to make them feel more comfortable in the water and keep their heads and ears warm. There are only two options, and they need to be ordered online. You can choose from the following: Gul EVO or a generic EVO, such as the one available on Amazon.
3. Gloves [Required, not sailing specific]: The main sheet is rough on anything when the wind picks up. Non-sailing gloves do not have extra cover on the palms, so they will not last long. At the same time, young kids tend to lose them a lot. So, while they are learning to keep their gear together, go with a less expensive neoprene glove that fits snugly. If your sailor is older, I would get a sailing-specific glove, which will last much longer. They cost approximately $40-$45. Most of our sailors use Gill or Zhik gloves. The Seattle Sailing Club has a retail store a block away from the Corinthian Yacht Club, and they carry Gill gloves. West Marine is also a mile away and they sell Zhik gear. Don’t worry about buying super warm gloves. We have tried them all, and nothing will last more than 30 minutes.
4. Spraytop or Smock [Optional, sailing specific]: They keep the wind and water away from your body. They go on top of a wetsuit or salopettes, and can keep you very warm. Many of our sailors wear the Rooster Jr. Aquafleece Top (which is nicely fleeced inside) or the Gul Jr. Gamma, which is a lighter spray top. This particular color from Rooster was on sale when we wrote this article.
5. Beanie [Optional, not sailing specific]: Beanies are a great way to keep your sailor warm. You can use any beanie you have, as long as it’s made of either wool or fleece, which retain heat even when wet. There are some specialized beanies. Here is the Rooster Aquafleece Beanie, probably the coolest beanie ever made.

Single-handed gear (Optimist and ILCA/Laser)

These items are used by sailors in ‘wet’ dinghies when there will be water in the boat at all times. In other words, sailors will never be dry and are very likely to swim more than once per practice.

6. Wetsuit [Required, but not sailing specific]: We recommend a full-body 4/3mm thickness suit. The most important thing is that the suit fits snug enough that no water runs between the suit and the skin. So, if you can try it on it’s always better. Here is a good example of a wetsuit from Gul.
7. Drysuit. [Optional and sailing specific]: An alternative to a wetsuit is a dry suit. It is more comfortable and always warmer than a wetsuit (and more expensive). It keeps the kids dry at all times, and they can wear as many layers under as they want. If your kid gets cold easil,y this is the way to go. Our son sailed with a dry suit for his first 3 years. The key with dry suits is making sure the kids are not uncomfortable with the fit around their necks. If you are heading this direction, the least expensive and most comfortable suit you will find is this one from this retailer. Anything else will be over $500.
8. Booties [Required, not sailing specific]: In general, they need neoprene high-cut (above the ankle) with a good rubber sole and over 3mm thickness. Similar to the dry suit, just make sure they fit snug enough that water will not flow through. Here are some sailing-specific gear examples: Gill, Zhik. Don’t buy open-top boots; if they capsize, they will fill with water and become an underwater feature.

Double-handed gear (FJs, 420s, Keel boats)

These items are used by sailors in ‘mostly dry’ boats, where you don’t expect to be capsizing frequently, but you will be constantly sprayed.

9. Salopettes [Optional, sailing specific]: These replace a wetsuit or drysuit. They are spray pants that go on top of something else. That said, they are not super warm; they just keep you dry (unless you capsize) and shelter you from the wind. They usually require some kind of thermal underclothes. They have them in stock at the Seattle Sailing Club and West Marine. Here is a woman's example. This is sailing-specific gear and can get expensive. Especially the warmer models. 

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