Sailing in the Rain

[Dockhead]

I don't have any trouble keeping warm and dry in the rain. I just wear regular foul weather stuff, all Goretex, sea boots, overalls, jacket with hood, snowmobile gloves.

Rain is a problem for me because of visibility. I'll have new radar which should help, but I can't see forward for carp because I have a fixed windshield at about a 45 degree angle, and despite having applied Rain-X, it loses its transparency in driving rain. I do think about installing windshield wipers like power boats have.

The other bad thing about rain is getting moldy sails. I will motor in the rain rather than sail just because of this, if I am not confident that I will have a chance to dry out the sails before I have to leave the boat.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by daddle

Obviously we are at different latitudes. Hereabouts I take off my shorts to keep them dry. As a bonus a hard rain is like bathing with a sand-blaster. That said, I have put clothes ON in driving rain because the drops were just too painful.

Ski goggles sounds like a good idea. In the ITCZ a snorkel will help with breathing.

Anyway, rain is no big deal while sailing. The visibility problem does affect safety and navigation. Tacking with a reefed main sometimes surprises me with a drenching.

Yep, different lattitudes. It doesn't get really cold here in the Med at this time of year, but the OP will be sailing in temps around 60F and that is not shorts weather when it is raining during a four day passage.

A friend once resorted to putting a diving face mask on one trip made in driving rain with no dodger. Some form of eye "protection" is a good idea in these conditions so that you can keep them open.

[nigel1]

Keep a towel close to the chart table, avoids getting soggy charts, better still, cover chart with clear perspex.
I also make copies of the charts for the tricky bits of the passage and place them in plastic sleeves for use at the helm.
As my sailing area is the Irish Sea, I seldom get the chance not to sail in the rain.

[nigel1]

And look on the bright side, sailing in the rain is a lot better than sailing in snow, sleet or hail

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by nigel1

And look on the bright side, sailing in the rain is a lot better than sailing in snow, sleet or hail

Or not sailing at all .

[Pelagic]

If no Bimini and no wind…. Use an umbrella

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

If no Bimini and no wind…. Use an umbrella

Thinking Mary Poppins here!

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by carstenb

And when you change watches and go below, strip completely down and put on some fresh dry clothes, feels great. Change back when you go on watch again.

The fresh dry clothes feel great for sure. But, there's a catch...

putting the cold, wet things back on when you go back on watch on REALLY sucks!

An infinite supply of dry clothes and towels is right up there with self-filling fuel tanks and bottomless rum bottles!

Why in the world do we do this stuff?

Cheers,

Jim

[carstenb]

Well Jim,

I was assuming that you'd be wearing your foulies and they would keep the water out................

[mrohr]

Wet and warm =not too bad

Wet and cold =not so much

[GaryMayo]

Plan your trip for a nicer weekend.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by daddle

Tacking with a reefed main sometimes surprises me with a drenching.

Another great argument for in-mast furling.

[goboatingnow]

I hate rain when sailing. I have used snorkling and ski google to see into driving rain at times. Even with e best 5 dot Gill breathables I still haven't found a really good set of foulies.

Dave

[zeehag]

if you sail south, you can remove the wet clothing while sailing, but if it is raining and you are sailing here in rain, there will be a waaayyyy lot of wind....might wanna sit it out....or remove clothing so it remains dry...is warm enough here....soap up first--it rains hard and our water is warm....

[memo18111]

Originally Posted by GaryMayo

Plan your trip for a nicer weekend.

I wish I have done that. Most likely I will never sail again in rain or cloudy weather. Wind was never stable during 3 day adventure. I have seen 45 knots for 20 minutes. Another location, the wind have changed to 33 knots from 23 knots.

Probably I will never sail in cloudy weather.