When sailing in warm places...

[Guest]

Hi Guys,
when sailing in warm places do you wear a shorty underneath your shorts and lycra, or is that enough (shorts and lycra)? Thanks.
Tam

[Ola_H]

I personally never wear a shorty under lycra and shorts, but I often use a long arm lycra with neoprene body and sometimes some neoprene shorts under my regular shorts. It all depends on how warm it is, but even on Maui, the neo-lycra is often on since sailing in a lycra only can make the wind chill me a bit too much, Then a rather sail without, but that is not so good wrt the sun.

[Guest]

long UV pants, kayak top with long sleeves and long neck. warm, wind resisten and tries to keep skin cancer at bay

[Ken]

Depends on what you mean by warm. Above 30 degrees C, lycra keeps you cool.

Water temp. and how often you fall in makes a difference too.

I have several tops, with various amounts of neoprene, one shorty, one 3mm farmer john pant (great for formula) and one full 3/5 semi-dry wet suit.

Easy to fine tune for comfort.

Stay out of the sun unless you have good insurance to pay the dermatologist. I have had about 15 skin cancers removed and probably over 500 pre-cancerous rough patches (karatosis) frozen off.

Everyone under 35 thinks they are bullet proof, but wait until you are over 50. Don't forget the hat and sunscreen

Ken

[Duracell]

you mean helmet...

[steveC]

I second Ken's comment concerning skin cancer and a proactive and sensible approach to its prevention. Last year, a skin cancer surgury wiped out my summer vacation traveling. At minimum, I lost a good 6 weeks of windsurfing, even at home. Age has a way of haunting you late in life. Without question, most would be well served by wearing a hat when out and about. Sunscreen products can really make a difference. When I was younger, I wish they had existed.

[Guest]

Thank you very much Steve C and Ken, and I'm sorry to hear that...

I will by some sunscreen when I come to the spot (to make sure the factor is high enough.) and then I plan to wear shorts and lycra. There is like 25-30 degrees at the spot - will this be all right for shorts and lycra? I fall in water most of the time because I practise manouvres...

When you recommend a hat - will a cap do fine?

Thank you, any advice such as Ken and SteveC's will be appreciated too...
Tam

[Guest]

sun screen prevents sun burns. It is NOT conclusive that it protects against skin cancer. check out the web!

[Guest]

1 more thing, most people forget to protect their lips, don't join them. I've met people who had cancer on their lips too.

[Ken]

Guest,

I wear an Ultimate Hat, made in Florida. You can find them on the web. Heavy cotton, pretty stiff brim, chin strap, they float and they last almost forever. Lifetime warrantee, and I actually replaced one just recently (free hat after sending in the old one).

I put on the sun screen (SPF 40) on all exposed skin before leaving home, which seems to work best.

All my cancers have been basel or squamous cell and have been small, plus they generally don't spread. The bad stuff is melanoma and they take A LOT of tissue with any removal. They can kill you.

If you get them when they are small, there is no time out of the water after removal, but I go in at least 3 times a year for check ups.

I see all these young guys with no shirts and no sun screen - one day they will wish they hadn't been so dumb.