Hello!
I'm fairly new to posting on here, so apologies if I've posted in the wrong place.
My son completed his RYA Stage 1 and 2 courses over the summer and is now in his first term of sailing with school. For this first term, he can borrow a wetsuit/drysuit and a CE-marked 50N buoyancy aid from school, but after that I'll need to buy his own kit.
Some of his sailing friends have suggested that he might not want to continue sailing in the spring term because of the weather. However, he's told me that he plans to carry on as he really enjoys it! I suspect it also helps that sailing means he misses out on attending some of his orchestras!
I'm very happy to support him in taking up this sport. It's a useful skill to have into adulthood, and I like that it keeps him active and away from screens.
I'd really appreciate some advice on what to buy, particularly sailing boots, gloves and sunglasses. I need to get these before he returns to school in November, as they're not available through the school shop. I'd also love some advice on the following:
- Are boot socks necessary?
- What do you recommend for keeping his head and neck warm?
- What spray top is best, will he need different ones for autumn, winter and spring?
He's already taken part in a few races with school, but he doesn't sail with a club outside school. I'm not looking to spend top end prices on everything just yet, as he's still relatively new to the sport. However, I'm happy to invest in good-quality kit where safety and warmth are concerned.
I'd be really grateful for any recommendations on particular brands or items that would suit his needs, as I'm not quite sure where to start!
Thank you in advance for any advice. x