I have signed my wife and myself up for the ASA 101 class. I have a very small sailing knowledge and she has non so i thought it would be a great idea to learn this together. Th lass states we need non marking white sole shoes...easy enough to find. But what about rain or wet gear? what should we get as we are just starting out.
ASA 101 class...
- Thread starter kendyoozed
- Start date
It is easy to over buy when starting out. Start simple and less expensive. And ask the school.
Foul weather gear is good to have, if you are comfortable you'll be happier. As the saying goes, there is no bad weather, just poor clothing.
Foul weather gear is generally marketed as near shore, coastal, and offshore, with near shore being light weight and designed for occasional rain and spray. The offshore stuff is heavy duty. Go with the near shore equipment.
You don't have to buy "marine gear." Good quality hiking and camping gear works too. A pair of rain pants and rain jacket from LL Bean, REI, or EMS will do just fine.
Foul weather gear is good to have, if you are comfortable you'll be happier. As the saying goes, there is no bad weather, just poor clothing.
Foul weather gear is generally marketed as near shore, coastal, and offshore, with near shore being light weight and designed for occasional rain and spray. The offshore stuff is heavy duty. Go with the near shore equipment.
You don't have to buy "marine gear." Good quality hiking and camping gear works too. A pair of rain pants and rain jacket from LL Bean, REI, or EMS will do just fine.
If you're starting lessons in warmer weather, look to Walmart for vinyl, rain and pants suits. All I wear under them in the summer are shorts and a T shirt. If we're headed into exposed water, I pull out the foulies which are stored waaaaaaay at the back of the locker.
Boots should be traditional knee high rubber boots which are black but non marking. See a reputable marine store for those. Those, you'll always keep so expect to pay a little more, but only once.
Boots should be traditional knee high rubber boots which are black but non marking. See a reputable marine store for those. Those, you'll always keep so expect to pay a little more, but only once.
Great way to start out!
As Dave recommended, light rain pants & jacket are good for the Gulf Coast most of the time. In addition to rain gear, I would recommend a wide brim hat, UV long sleeve shirt, sunscreen, sunglasses, and sailing gloves. May want to bring some favorite beverages to stay hydrated and sandwiches / snacks. If at all possible, do get copies of the ASA 101 book and read/study it thoroughly; the classes and on water sessions will be much more meaningful & you will get more out of the course. And, you have to pass the written test! Good luck & have fun.
BTW, what sailing school are you using?
We have our books and study materials. I have finished my book and the wife is about halfway. She's slower due to her actually searching key words and then going out to our boat and seeing where those things are located. We are using Sailtime Alabama out of Fly Creek Marina, in Fairhope, AL. I have my two boys, 17&15 enrolled in a sailing day camp at Mobile Yacht Club this summer. We boat a lot, either paddle spots with the canoes, fishing from the center console or cruising/tubing with the pontoon. I feel more at home on the water than I do on land.
I hear you there! I to date have never been sea sick, but I get land sick when I have been out for an hour or more.
The worst seas I have been in was a typhoon in the Pacific while onboard the USS Stennis. We had water breaking over the bow of the ship and the flight deck is about 80’ above the water line. Fun times, I will admit I didn’t feel good until I went to bed (my rack was in a way that is was rocked to sleep by the storm), but I didn’t loose my chow.
I plan on taking an ASA course here soon so I can learn how to sail Lilly and Luna better.
An afterthought that I should have mentioned, first thing, I am sure that a sailing school would have USCG approved life vests onboard; however, it has become a routine for me to wear an inflatable life jacket whenever I am sailing or boating. They are lightweight & comfortable; better to be safe....
As advised, you don't need the MARINE tag on the togs... But I would strongly suggest that the bottoms be suspendered.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,913
Talk to the class trainer about the conditions usually experienced. They should be able to share info on clothing most needed.
You probably have gear you wear for your other boating activities, that will be fine. A whole new wardrobe is not necessary. I had rain pants I used for golfing that work fine over jeans in coastal waters. When you start sailing long passages then consider the more expensive clothing.
By the way I thought all boaters sailing in the gulf go out in shorts or bikinis.
Sunscreen is important if you want to avoid skin cancer damage. My favorite comes from Harken Derm. Since using it these past couple of years, the fiend with the nitrogen bottle (Dermatologist) complains he has few squirt opportunities.
Working together you guy’s should have a great time.
You probably have gear you wear for your other boating activities, that will be fine. A whole new wardrobe is not necessary. I had rain pants I used for golfing that work fine over jeans in coastal waters. When you start sailing long passages then consider the more expensive clothing.
By the way I thought all boaters sailing in the gulf go out in shorts or bikinis.
Sunscreen is important if you want to avoid skin cancer damage. My favorite comes from Harken Derm. Since using it these past couple of years, the fiend with the nitrogen bottle (Dermatologist) complains he has few squirt opportunities.
Working together you guy’s should have a great time.
Is it not pretty much the dry season in the Gulf? How many days or afternoons outside will you be while taking the course? What’s the actual chance of wet conditions?
My wife and I sailed for 11 yr in southwest Florida averaging about 40 days out each year after we bought our cruising boat, a Pearson 30. We had “rain” gear aboard that was very rarely used for rain. Most of the time it’s donned for wet (rough) sea conditions rather than for rain. (Sometimes they arrive together, of course.) Folks generally avoid inclement weather and rough sea conditions. So, take the advice of moving slowly into purchasing gear for a new outdoor activity. People, b/c of excitement, often end up with a load of stuff they didn’t need and won’t use much if at all!
Another thing—“sailing” gloves. Look great, seem great, of course. We’ve run through a few sets each and wife still uses hers at the wheel. But—you don’t really need the fancy ones, they don’t last, especially the ones with open fingers. Picking up wet lines (mooring pennants) you may want rubber gloves. When it’s cold, you want warm gloves. Otherwise when handling wet lines you want a type of honeycomb glove, as sometimes called. They’re indestructible, and cheap! Those work for handling sheets as well. I don’t buy sailing gloves now.
My wife and I sailed for 11 yr in southwest Florida averaging about 40 days out each year after we bought our cruising boat, a Pearson 30. We had “rain” gear aboard that was very rarely used for rain. Most of the time it’s donned for wet (rough) sea conditions rather than for rain. (Sometimes they arrive together, of course.) Folks generally avoid inclement weather and rough sea conditions. So, take the advice of moving slowly into purchasing gear for a new outdoor activity. People, b/c of excitement, often end up with a load of stuff they didn’t need and won’t use much if at all!
Another thing—“sailing” gloves. Look great, seem great, of course. We’ve run through a few sets each and wife still uses hers at the wheel. But—you don’t really need the fancy ones, they don’t last, especially the ones with open fingers. Picking up wet lines (mooring pennants) you may want rubber gloves. When it’s cold, you want warm gloves. Otherwise when handling wet lines you want a type of honeycomb glove, as sometimes called. They’re indestructible, and cheap! Those work for handling sheets as well. I don’t buy sailing gloves now.
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Over the years, I've learned that staying comfortable, warm, and dry leads to safer and better sailing experiences. When someone becomes cold and wet good judgement tends to wane and mistakes are more likely to happen. Good sunglasses and cleaning solution help to keep the eyes working well.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,913
I have sailed around California for 30+ years. Owned 2 sets of expensive foul weather gear. Wore each maybe once. I now have several "Frog Toggs" inexpensive rainsuits in the locker. They work just fine. ASA 101 isn't going to be taught in really crappy weather because then you may not return for 102,103 etc.
Layers for temp control. Upwind can get cold whereas downwind can get warm. I wouldn't worry about boots unless its cold enough out that wet feet would be hazardous. 101 is a daysail, usually on pretty dry boats.
Layers for temp control. Upwind can get cold whereas downwind can get warm. I wouldn't worry about boots unless its cold enough out that wet feet would be hazardous. 101 is a daysail, usually on pretty dry boats.
And so the truth comes out! The Emperor has no clothes!!
I'd find a lightweight wind breaker with a zippered hood in the collar. Rain gear can get hot/steamy. You'll have more occasions to wear the wind breaker. Pants? for god's sake, you on the gulf coast. I'd opt for a pair of quick dry cargo shorts. Sun protection is paramount. A small towel to wrap around your neck if it does start raining will help you stay dry.. very handy. A medium brimmed hat is also nice, make sure it has a chin strap. The problem with those super wide brimmed straw hats, like the life guards wear, is visibility when looking up.. and you will be doing a lot of looking up if you want to learn to trim the sails. Gloves.... that would be pretty low on my list, but since you're getting into sailing for sure, go ahead and bite the bullet. My favorite pair (and I PREFER the 3/4 finger style) is made by Ronstan who, btw, has a lot of cool stuff and their prices seem more reasonable than others. I will tell you that the gloves were more important when I was dinghy and beach cat sailing...i.e. no winches.
But heck........ it doesn't really matter. Foregoing a piece of equipment isn't going to spoil the fun. All sailors are excellent improvisors.... once they've been at it for a while.
But heck........ it doesn't really matter. Foregoing a piece of equipment isn't going to spoil the fun. All sailors are excellent improvisors.... once they've been at it for a while.
Reason for recommending gloves is that you're not going to be on a leisurely day sail taking a course; constantly tacking, reefing, doing drills, etc. No fun getting blisters or worse, rope burns on your first day of sailing and having to deal with that for the remainder of the course.