What to wear for sailing?

[AnaViaSalamanca]

Just the above really. Should I wear jeans? What top? Jacket? Layers? Shoes?

This is not a yacht but normal sailboat, going with some experienced people (work) and dont want to ask them what to wear!

Don’t wear jeans!!

I actually wear these polyester skort types things now. Great for ungainly incidents when your leaping around with people stood on docks watching and more comfortable than any shorts.

I practically grew up on a boat, and the majority of my tops are stripey. I'm not going to buy new, non stripey ones just for sailing. 😂

OP much depends on if this is a dinghy, a keelboat or a yacht. If one of the two latter I would wear some comfortable but sturdy trousers or shorts, some flat grippy shoes, a top and then some layers. A light jumper and a jacket for example.

Bloody good sunglasses, good suntan lotion,and a cap or similar perhaps. I never wear a hat that said, but I know a lot like to

What a load of crap about stripes! My parents take their sailing yacht up and down the south coast, across the channel and up and down the French coast and are hugely experienced but my mother has always worn stripes and probably always will. She certainly isn’t the type to buy new stuff specially for sailing.

So OP whatever you wear someone will probably have an opinion but ignore them and wear something warm and comfortable you feel good in. If that is stripes so be it.

Mind you I’m still none the wiser as to what is a normal sailboat but not a yacht.

@AnaViaSalamanca broadly speaking a yacht is anything with a sail. The length gives more of an idea of what kind of yacht. You can have 22ft yachts or 100ft+ yachts.
Whatever yacht you're going on, wear something practical and take a set of waterproofs. And something to change into after in case you get wet.

A change of clothes is a good idea; people have been known to fall in. If you're dinghy sailing, a wetsuit is essential a good call. I almost never wore shoes sailing, just bare feet but I was hardy then. Warm, weatherproof and polarised lenses.

It completely depends where you are going to sail and what the conditions are likely to be. If you would give more detail, then people will be able to give you more useful advice.

In general, I would reinforce what a PP said: it's often MUCH colder than on land. For sailing off the South Coast of England, I usually add 2 extra layers to whatever is comfortable on land. It's well worthwhile to carry any spare cloths and other personal items inside a waterproof bag (could be a big plastic bag inside a normal cloth backpack or bag if you've nothing else). For electronics, if you've nothing else then you can put it into a Ziploc bag.

Also if there is any decent amount of wind, or any chance of rain, it's best to assume you will get wet, including your shoes.

I know nothing about sailing but am holidaying near a marina - sitting outside a pub watching people getting on and off their boats yesterday I remembered seeing this thread so observed their clothing for a while. Male and female wore shorts / tracksuit bottoms / jeans / leggings. Mainly wore T shirts, some had close fitting hoody type jackets on (may have been waterproof). A couple looked as if they had wetsuit type things. All wore sunglasses, flat shoes, mainly deck shoe styles. Therefore a whole range of clothing.

In the interests of research I shall return to the pub tomorrow

What kind of size is it?
It could be anything from a wetsuit to normal day clothes depending on the size and plans.

I expect they will be glad for you to ask rather than turn up in something unsuitable. Presumably they know you haven't sailed before so won't be surprised by the question.

As someone who grew up around boats and in a famous yachting town I have to agree with others - avoid stripes! So naff