Keeping kids warm and comfortable on a dinghy

[trswem]

Howdy folks. My daughter (11) is taking a youth sailing course next week where they will be sailing small dinghies. The forecast is currently looking like it will be unseasonably cool, in the high 50s to low 60s. Does anyone have any advice on keeping her comfortable? I'll be keeping her out of cotton clothes, with quick drying shorts and longsleeves. But if there's any great kids gear that would help her have a good experience I'd be happy to make that investment, my son can use it down the road too. Thanks!

[Stu Jackson]

Have you considered asking the Youth Sailing course what they recommend? Each person, including kids, have differing responses to cold. Some can ski in shorts at those temps, others are still bundled up.

[trswem]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Have you considered asking the Youth Sailing course what they recommend? Each person, including kids, have differing responses to cold. Some can ski in shorts at those temps, others are still bundled up.

I have sent them an email asking, but this is a small municipal program where response times are somewhere between next day and never .

[Kettlewell]

A shorty wetsuit can make all the difference.

[JPA Cate]

I'd certainly consider a wetsuit for her, help keep her core warm. I'm a member of a sailing club here in Tasmania (the island just south of the SE corner of Australia), and our children's sailing program recommends a full light suit, not a shorty. The water's pretty cold here, and they practice capsizing the dinghies and then sailing them, so the kids are in the water A LOT. Don't know what your program is, but assume wet & cold till it gets warm.

Ann

[NorthCoastJoe]

I don't know if they still sell them. Costco had 3mm kids wetsuits cheap around $30 a few years ago.

[psk125]

A good wool cap can help a lot too. That's why Navy crew have watch caps.