Sailing gear HELP!

[r3dh3d]

I'm booking DD2 and myself on a 1w dinghy sailing course in the summer holidays. I'm not entirely at sea here (see what I did there?) because I've crewed a little bit on yachts, and we've got a very small RIB which we potter about in. But I've never learned to sail "properly" and I thought it would be a good thing for us to do together.

If you look at the course blurb, they are saying that they will provide all kit. Having done my Powerboat 2 course at the same place, I know their loan kit can be a bit manky. So I'm starting to trawl ebay to see what I can pick up BNWT or whatever. But I've no clue what I need - so for instance, we've got life jackets. But DD2's is very restrictive and mine is one of those automated ones that goes POOOF! on hitting the water and then it's useless. I imagine what we really need is buoyancy aids. DD2 owns a shortie wetsuit and both of us have waterproofs, but once wet inside the waterproofs will be useless. Do we actually need long wetsuits? Drysuits? Wetsuit shoes?

Sorry - should have said - course is in North Wales. So it will be cold as well as wet. Though DD2 doesn't seem to notice the cold until she's on the verge of hypothermia.

I can't really offer any specialist advice but DS has just returned from a half term sailing trip to Poole. All he needed was a shortie wetsuit and some kind of water suitable footwear - he took those rubber/neoprene beach shoes. No waterproofs.

Given the weather was foul, he doesn't seem to have frozen. I guess the rest of the gear (buoyancy aids) was provided by the sailing school.

I have a short-armed but long-legged wetsuit. Less chance of banged knees! Full arms never quite seem to fit me in the right places.

Mine was about £60 from wetsuitoutlet (they're very nice with dithery undecided customers on the phone).

Are you going sea sailing or is it on a lake?

Oh, and I'd borrow their buoyancy aids. They might not let you use your own if their insurance doesn't allow it.

Thanks guys - yes, I think their buoyancy aids will be OK. It's the wetsuits that were freaking me out. Eeeew.

I'm going to need an entirely waterproof bag to take it all home each night in, aren't I? The form seems to be get off the water, strip off, dunk the wetsuit in a barrel of fresh water and then get in the car.

Let it drip a bit first!

DS has a hugely expensive waterproof kitbag.

The rest us us bung everything in one of those black bags from SportsDirect which works just as well.

Let it drip a bit first! - sound advice for life.

Thanks for the steer on wetsuitoutlet, just doing the basket dance with a wetsuit. . I think shoes are something I have to try on though. (I have v wide feet which are good for watersports in that they closely resemble a duck's, but not so good for finding footwear).

I like the big blue IKEA bags for chucking wet gear into, and a few carrier bags for the shoes if they are a bit dirty to keep them separate (probably similar to the Sport Direct bag theory).
The wind chill can get you really cold. Even wet waterproofs help keep the wind off you (dry ones are nicer :) ). The centre should provide you with suitable wind tops. If you think you will get cold you can wear a thermal under your wetsuit. It is lightweight so won't hold lots of extra water. A warm hat helps too.
Shoe wise, if you have a pair of old trainers you don't mind getting wet, they'll do the job just mightn't be as warm as wet boots/shoes.