Cccold!

peterk123 · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 42

What's up with this weather? April has to be the worst month of the year. It threatens to warm up and then slamms you with snow. I am actually getting to the point where I am considering sailing in forty degree weather.

Needed to rant. Nobody at work unerstands the pain I am feeiling right now.

Peter

nies · Joined: 08 Mar 2002 Posts: 40

We've been sailing for weeks up here in the FInger Lakes in 40 -45 degrees. The solution is a dry suit, hood, boots and mittens and a willingness to get by that finger numbing first 15 minutes. The trick is to take a break and give your hands a chance to warm up. Once that happens you are golden. I wear a BARE Polar dry and my friend uses an O'Neil dry suit, both work fine. As long as the ice is gone you're good to go. It's not perfect, but it does beat not sailing at all.

peterk123 · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 42

nies,

Talk to me about the mitts you wear. I never found one that worked well.

scooper · Joined: 28 May 1987 Posts: 537 Location: Massachusettes

I've been sailing every weekend since early March in New England. It's been upper thirties to upper forties. Mittens is the most important thing. I have O'Neill surfing mittens. They're thick and very warm but they cut down on the grip. I often wear them for awhile to get my hands toasty then switch to glacier gloves to get better grip for awhile and back and forth. I carry both with me on the water. Also- Bare polar drysuit with 3 layers on top, bootliners, thick booties, and I duct tape the booties to the drysuit leg to reduce water infiltration. It takes extra work but I love being out there.

JRuffus · Joined: 17 Apr 2001 Posts: 293

GLACIER GLOVES ARE THE BEST. THEY ARE NOW PRECURVED, DURABLE AND WARM AS HELL. PROVEN TO WORK WHEN ITS 18 DEGREES OUT AND 4.7, DID IT A BUNCH. INSANE.

ITS ALL IN THE HEAD- DONT BE A PUSSY, GET OUT THERE AND GET SOME.

broadreach5 · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 80

Actually, after using Glacier Gloves for years, I find that the Dakine titanium mitts serve much better in the cold for windsurfing. The Glacier gloves are too thick. The mittens have thin palms which makes holding the boom not as much a struggle. I tried going back to my Glacier Gloves after using the Mitts and wondered how I could ever sail with them. Futhermore, I can't see how sailing in this current weather can be much fun.

JRuffus · Joined: 17 Apr 2001 Posts: 293

I used the dakine mits for a while but the palm seemed wicked slippery especially if there was ice on the booms. I found the glacier glove sticks better to the ice when it builds up on the boom, which is a problem when its under 28 degrees in salt water. I guess for the warm days like 32 and up the mits would be okay, but for 15 degrees to 28 the glacier gloces have better tack.

its always fun. You would not go skiing without a hat right? no difference windsurfing, you need to dress accordingly. I dont understand what the big deal is?

Seriously why is it aceptable for people to ski in 5 degrees but windsurf in 15 degrees people scarf at the idea. Dont get it. never have. never will.

sinbad · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 166

Artic survivalists know that keeping dry serves as the best way to brave the cold. On the water you are facing the wind chill factor which is heightened when wet. Certainly, though, those who are wearing a dry suit seem to be having fun out there. Yesterday, I was down at kalmus. It was cold and windy. I had my small four line kite out and was the only one on the beach. There were no people on the water. I found it rather surprising, but since the air temps were so low, it wasn't shocking. It's a much better situation to fly trainer kites on the beach when no one is out so I do a lot of this now. Some people will fly a trainer a few times and then jump right on a board. That isn't advisable. Whatever, the Glacier Gloves served me well, I still keep them, but don't sail when the boom ices up. The rubber in the fingers, though, has been breaking up and I replaced them with the Mitts.

pueno · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 1643

"Yesterday, I was down at kalmus. It was cold and windy..."

Brucie, did you run into Broadreach there? You must have, since he's so close. He's in this thread, too. Rolling Eyes

JRuffus · Joined: 17 Apr 2001 Posts: 293

one thing I do know is i have been a member of iwindsurf since 2001 and looks like most of you are from 2005 maybe 2002.

so whatever i say is correct, cause i am the oldest member. My tenier(spelling) means, listen to me.