Sailing Base Layers FAQs
What do I wear under a wetsuit for dinghy sailing?
A thin polypropylene thermal top from October to April, a rash vest the rest of the year. The thermal goes against your skin under the wetsuit or long john and keeps a layer of warmth next to your body even when the suit has filled with water. Add thermal leggings under the suit in the coldest months. Never cotton, and avoid anything with a thick weave that holds water. If the suit feels tight over the thermal, that is normal, and it loosens once wet.
Polypropylene or fleece, which base layer do I need?
Both, in different places. Polypropylene is the layer against your skin. It is thin, wicks sweat and spray away, and dries faster than almost anything else, so it works after a capsize. A hydrophobic fleece is the mid layer over it for the cold months. It sheds water rather than soaking it up and adds real warmth without the bulk of a walking fleece. In autumn wear the polypro alone. In winter wear both under a spray top.
Can I wear a running base layer for sailing?
You can, and plenty of sailors do, but check what it is made of. A synthetic running top that wicks and dries fast will do a similar job to a sailing polypro for a dry day. The sailing specific ones are cut longer in the body so they stay tucked under a long john when you hike, and they are built to drain after a full dunking rather than a sweat. A merino top is warm but slow to dry, so keep it for the dinghy park.
Do I need thermal leggings as well as a top?
In winter, yes, if you sail in a long john or skiff suit. Your legs sit in the water every time you hike, and the suit alone is not enough once the water drops below ten degrees. Thermal leggings go under the suit and make a bigger difference than most sailors expect. In spring and autumn the top is usually enough. Junior sailors feel the cold faster, so junior leggings are worth buying for anyone racing through the winter series.
How should a base layer fit?
Close to the skin, with no bagging, because it only works when it is touching you. Go for your usual size or one down if you are between sizes. The body should be long enough to tuck into a long john and stay there when you reach forward. Sleeves should reach your wrists under a spray top so there is no cold gap at the cuff. Junior sizes are cut for a child's proportions and are the right choice over a small adult size.
