Hello
I know it will be obvious to you seasoned dinghy sailors but I'm new to the sport, could someone advise what basic kit I need for sailing Merlins please i.e. which type of wetsuit would be best (short sleeve, no sleeves?)gloves, booties etc.
I know the answers will be based on your personal choice but I would rather get some good advice to base my final choice, than spend a lot of money on unnecessary or incorrect kit.
I will be crewing both on the river Thames and in the sea.
If anyone can recommend a good outlet with plenty of choice to buy from on the south coast, that would be most helpful.
Many thanks
Mark

My crew would reccomend ear plugs as being essential - can't think why.....

Well my kit consists of race skins, a 3mm wetsuit, waterproofs and a drysuit with associated thermals. If i had to lose one of the above it would be the 3mm wetsuit. Modern breathable drysuits are wearable all year round and the race skins are excellent.

Yachts and Yachting did a really good article on this very subject around Sept/Oct 2007, which Mags may be able to assist you with.
The article spoke about the above and layering systems to assist thermal balance and "Wick" away moisture from the body at times when you need clothing to perform well.
My preference during winter is a good wet suit, with a breathable/waterproof/windproof Gill Thermal Spray Top. During spring and summer, I replace these with a Gill Speedskin/Rooster Race Skin,Rash vest and breathable/windproof/waterproof spray top.
The key thing here is to do the research and buy what suits your preference, but make sure you spend that bit extra on clothing that performs well. Ther's nothing worse than overheating in non breathable top when your body warms up during a race, which my crew realised!!!!!!!!!

Mark,

My preferred wear (inland waters/river/warmer weather) is shorts, t-shirt, fibre pile top (if needed). I prefer the open waterproof (plastic) sandals to "deck shoes".
The benefit is that bare legs dry quicker than cloth, so I'm usually warmer and dryer. if it rains (or I'm sailing the Solo - it can generate lots of spray), add a spray top over.

Again, I prefer sailing gloves - some don't.

For the colder weather and open water, 3mm longjohns with the option of a jacket. Spraytop, gloves, thermal hood, wark socks etc.
Always include a buoyancy aid - though some river clubs used to have these as optional (well they didi when i started sailing on the Thames!).
You'll find a trip to Millets or Blacks quite a cost saver!

Colin (MR3387, Solo 3400)

If you are a Y&Y subscriber you can get back issue articles via their website - see 'sub club'.

Smashing, I have now subscribed to Y&Y and ordered the back issue, thanks for all your help. Mark

Dry suit for winter, with variable layers (ski under wear, one piece fleeces etc). Rooster Race skin and neoprene hiking pants and spray top if necessary for summer.

Rooster for the neoprene / lyrca (on the south coast)

Trident for made to measure dry suits

In my opinion

And neoprene zip boots. You will have to try them on to find a brand that fits your feet and the size  / shape varies.

This place seems to have a good stock at good prices http://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/

No need to over-do things to start with. try:

LongJohn wetsuit, rather than anything with a high neck: much more comfortable. 3 mm is about right for the flexibility vs warmth.
Under it: rash vest or thermal top (can be long or short sleeve).
Over the top, if more warmth is needed: either an old wooly jumper, or rugby shirt.
Over that: breathable spray top.
Plus a buoancy aid.
And a good pair of wet-suit boots from Crewsaver or LDC or similar.

Gives lots of flexibility during the summer, with shorts and T-shirts on the Thames later!
Then in the winter, when you will have more experience by then, you can add a dry-suit later if it is needed.

Zhik race skins are better than Rooster, they last longer and have reinforced knee bits.  Musto aqua fleeces are brilliant aswell, good in the summer and winter.  I don't think anyone has mentioned "wet socks" which are a must inside your sailing boots and keep your feet nice and warm if not a little smelly.

Shin pads!!  As a diabetic I suffer damage at the drop of a hat, take a long time to heal and have decided that a pair is essential from now on.

Wetsocks are the best £10 you can spend.

I used to have a shortie wetsuit but found that the big advantage of the long john version was shin protection, vital if it's at all breezy either helming or crewing.  Being a cheapskate I just have a series of old t-shirts to wear under + spray top if needed on top.  A big enough spray top will go over the top of the buoyancy aid otherwise it's a pain getting it on and off on the water.

In the winter its thermals and a dry suit. In the summer its Bikini time. Underneath my Rooster Hikers.

I use the Gill Pro gloves for a while, they last well but are quite expensive and still working . A picture of Ben Ainslie at one of the olympics shows him sporting some very fetching builder type gloves and on the strength of that i've recently bought some Showa Thermo gloves at £2.60 (as used by my mum)
http://www.bexpress.co.uk/pageview.php?page=show_product&ecommerce_stockcode=SHOWA451
not ultra hard wearing so you may only get two seasons use, they'll work for the spring- autumn and save a few quid for the other million things you'll need.

In the old days we wore woollen sweaters and baggy "Empire" shorts (to allow the air to circulate around the swonnicles) whatever the weather. A pipe was also de rigeur for the fashionable sailor

I'm not a smoker but somehow I like the picture that paints!!

I am not sure what is the more attractive picture.....well ventilated swonnicles or the fine silouette of a man with a pipe

Woollen sweaters are now illegal under the class rules - they act as a 'weight jacket' giving an unfair increase in righting moment (assuming you can climb back into the cockpit that is).

I haven't even started sailing Merlins yet but you already bring a big grin to my face!!!

Wetsocks are amazing for comfort
Tight-fitting boots for grip and feel around the boat
Rash vest under your wetsuit so that the neck seal doesnt aggravate your neck
I prefer a wetsuit to speedskins for the fact that hiking is more comfortable due to the thicker material and therefore you can concentrate more on sailing the boat
Pair of board shorts or waterproof trousers so that you can slide on the decks. (if you cant move then you are slow)
Spray top or rash vest over your bouyancy aid to reduce the likelihood that you will catch yourself on shroud pin/rings.
No gloves if you can help it as your hands are designed to provide the best grip. Also, feel is important. If you can feel around the controls you can multitask a little better.

Gloves every time for me, with my office-soft hands. Those that sail twice a week are probably hardened. A popular trend is to use 'builders' gloves (with the yellow dots all over?) from Wickes/B&Q and treat them as disposable, they are so cheap.