Find out what dinghy racers really want from a shorty wetsuit
in the essential sailpower.com test feature. In an effort to obtain
unbiased views on some of the most popular suits on the market,
we persuaded some of the country's most active racers to put them
to the test on the racecourse. read on to find out what they thought
and if the suits offered good value for money.
Despite the rather dismal British summers, shorty wetsuits are
becoming essential bits of kit, particularly as more and more dinghy
sailors travel to warmer destinations for sailing regattas. Gone
are the days when a standard longjohn wetsuit with a nylon all-in-one
sailing suit over the top were the things to have. As a result of
years of research and development by the top sailing clothing manufacturers,
there's a host of hi-tech, lightweight, flexible suits on the market,
most of them made to very high standards.
The idea of a shorty wetsuit is to keep your body at a comfortable
temperature, while out on the racecourse during the summer sailing
season. If you've ever hung around at sea on a boiling hot day,
wearing a steamer wetsuit while waiting for a race to start, you'll
know exactly why the shorty was designed.
When looking for a shorty wetsuit there are many things to take
into consideration. Because it's essentially a summer suit and you'll
probably be using it for active dinghy racing, it needs to be made
of lightweight, flexible material that has extra protection in high-stress
areas such as the seat. Obtaining a good fit is another important
factor - if it's too tight and cuts off your circulation, it will
take your mind off getting that all-important position at the finish
line. However, if its too loose it won't work properly - the neoprene
has to be close fitting in order to insulate your body effectively.
But what about the price? How much should you spend on a summer
suit? With so much research and development in the materials, there
is really very little to chose between the quality of the suits
we tested. Prices ranged from £49 to £130 depending on the material,
styling and special features. So what did our testers really think?
Douglas Gill Shortie Speedskin
£99.95
Lightweight, stretchy wetsuit designed as a result of the R&D programme
for the 1996 Olympic Games in Savannah, Georgia. Colourways: navy Sizes: Men's: S-XL; Ladies': S-L
Tested by: John Best, active Flying Dutchman sailor from
Lee-on-Solent SC, wore the suit for club racing and at the FD national
championship at Abersoch in July.
Tester's vital statistics
Height: 6ft 2in Chest: 44in Waist: 34in Size tested: Large
John's opinion
Hits
"The suit was a joy to wear - comfortable and extremely quick drying.
It is also very lightweight, even when wet, and was always warm.
It was so comfortable that I almost forgot that I was wearing it.
I think Douglas Gill are on to something good with their Speed Skin
range, particularly in warmer climates where sun protection is a
big issue."
Misses
"Because the shoulder straps were relatively thin, they tended to
roll up and rub under the buoyancy aid/trapeze harness. Although
this was not a major problem, it did cause the odd moment of frustration."
Wish list
"Extra width on the shoulder strap and possibly double thickness
to prevent the rolling-up problem I encountered."
JAG De-luxe £45
Stylish, 3mm neoprene with titanium lining, adjustable arm, thigh
and collar with reinforced seat. Colourways: black with royal blue
shoulder and neck flashes. Sizes available: Standard, unifit, kids.
Tested by: John Mursell, Scorpion national champion, during
the recent championship.
John's opinion Hits
"Thanks to the lightweight 3mm flexible neoprene, the rear-loading
zip and the long zip tape, the suit was easy to don. The Velcro
neck fastening was double action, but neat and easy to manage one-handed
and blind. The storm flap down the inside of the zip worked well
and I wasn't aware of the zip even when bent double. The benefit
of the adjustable insert on the legs became obvious during a long
day on the water, with two back-to-back races scheduled - conscientious
replacement of fluids prompted a natural break or two! Yes, with
one leg flap undone it was possible to leave my bicycle facing south
without removing the suit, and for that I was extremely grateful
- it's amazing how quickly you and your sailing gear chill when
there's a need to strip off on the water. The non-slip seat worked
very well, keeping me firmly in place when the side decks were wet.
The shorty certainly did the job in managing to keep me warm enough
on the windier and wetter days, and reasonably comfortable on the
hot, windless days, despite the high neck, which I wasn't really
conscious of once on the water."
Misses
"As I am not a particularly thickset person, I was slightly concerned
about the initial tightness of the neck. However, it did loosen
up with wear. The leg and arms, on the other hand, were almost too
loose, even when the Velcro adjustment straps were let right out.
After a solid week's racing at the Scorpion nationals the neoprene
was beginning to show signs of wear where the Velcro adjustment
tabs were lying against the material."
Wish list
"In this day and age of EEC regulations, it's probably time that
the length of legs on shorties was standardised. The length of the
leg on the JAG was 6mm shorter than my old favourite, which left
a rather uncool white band at the top of my legs - not good for
the image!"
To sum up
"A real improvement on my old suit. Even more importantly, being
mildly superstitious about some of my favourite sailing gear, the
shorty proved to be very lucky!" (ed note: John won the Scorpion
national championship wearing the suit!)
Ian's opinion Hits
"I was very impressed with this stylish design. It was easy to put
on, fits like a glove and, thanks to its lightweight Powerflex material,
is extremely flexible, which proved ideal when leaping around my
Laser on the Broads. The quality was superb and the extra stretch
panels just below the zip provided better mobility."
Misses
"I did not find the blue/black/grey a very interesting colour scheme."
Wish list
"I would like to see a Neil Pryde stockist list with the suit guarantee
literature, and also a more interesting colour range."
Typhoon Ultra Men's Shorty £59.95
Lightweight, 3mm, four-way stretch Titanium neoprene, with robust
back zip and flat butted seams. Colourways: ice blue spruce.
Sizes: Men's: S-XL; Ladies': S-ML Tested by: Brett Lewis racing his 1720 sailpower.com, a Laser
and a selection of high-performance dinghies.
Hits
"I found the suit extremely light, flexible and very comfortable
- it is perfect for trapezing on a performance dinghy. As well as
wearing the suit for club racing on my Laser, I put it through a
thorough test during a week's dinghy sailing in the Greek Islands.
It was like wearing a second skin, which proved ideal in the heat
where sun protection is of great importance."
Misses
"Because the material is lightweight, the suit started to show signs
of wear after a few days, particularly around the shoulder/outside
leg area, where the trapeze harness was in contact. The stitching
and gluing on the Velcro neck strap also began to come undone."
Wish list
"To increase the suit's longevity, I would like to see extra padding
around the seat and outside leg area, particularly if the suit is
to be used on a sitting-out boat."
Gul Dinghy Shortie £69.95
Short-sleeved, 2mm suit with mesh Titanium upper and Stomatex breathable
neoprene panel on back. Velcro adjustment on neck seal and reinforced
4mm Dura-tex seat for durability. Colourways: black/red and black/navy
Sizes available: Men's: S-XXL
Tested by: Keith Wheatley, Sunday Times Yachting correspondent,
used the suit racing his RS400 and sailing his Topper on his summer
holiday in Cornwall.
Keith's opinion Hits
"The best aspect of the suit was the front zip, which is so much
easier to use than any other wetsuit I have owned. The inside seams
and the detailing were flawless, and the red colour was the right
balance between bright and garnish. The suit also provided plenty
of warmth on the chillier summer days."
Misses
"The suit was a little too tightly cut for a Med/Large size. I am
5ft 9in and 12.5 stone, but it was still a åwriggle-fit' on me.
The zip seemed unnecessarily bulky."
Wish list
"I would like to see the suit more generously cut under the arms
and leg openings."
Value for money: 8/10. "I would have expected to pay £90 plus."
Helly-Hansen £130
Variable thickness, short-sleeved women's suit, designed for style
and comfort. Colourways: blue ribbon with grey trimming Sizes: xxxs-xxxl
Tested by: Sue Pelling during the National Twelve class
championship, open meetings and sailpower.com boat tests.
Sue's opinion Hits
"One of the most comfortable, well fitting shorty wetsuits I've
ever used. The thinner 1mm neoprene in the crotch and underarm areas
improved the suit's flexibility, which is just what's needed for
high-performance dinghy racing. I also liked the feminine high-cut
styling, the wax-like (Pu-laminate) seat area protection and the
stylish colour. The suit also has the facility to add a Helly Hansen
Batten for added reinforcement in the seat area. Also, in an effort
ensure as much comfort as possible, HH have made the high-fit, steamer-like
neck opening from a smooth skin fabric, which is fastened at the
back with Velcro.
Misses
"Erratic sizing of the women's suits - I had to go for the Large
as the Medium was far too tight in the arms and the body length
was too short."
Wish list
"More accurate sizing and slightly less expensive."
Crewsaver/Marlin Pro Mesh Shorty £59.70
3mm men's shorty with adjustable thigh straps. Colourways: red/black Sizes available: S-XL Tested by: Geoff Carveth used the suit throughout the summer
sailing his RS800 in Lake Garda, and an RS400 and 49er at the national
championship at Abersoch at the end of August. The suit was also
used for windsurfing.
Geoff's opinion Hits
"As is usual with Crewsaver equipment, the suit fitted well and
was comfortable throughout. Because I race high-performance boats,
where the need for agility is of prime importance, I particularly
liked the lightweight, unrestrictive, flexible fabric. Having used
the suit continuously throughout the summer, I was impressed with
the quality and I also liked the simple black design with its red
logo, which is eye-catching and stylish, and most importantly, complimentary
to other Crewsaver kit. The rough fabric on the seat area gave extra
grip when sitting out."
Misses
"The legs were too short, causing a bit of discomfort when sitting
out. Also, I found the thigh straps got in the way and tended to
catch on ropes etc."
Wish list
"Slightly longer legs (about 4in) to give more protection when sitting
out. Dispense with the thigh straps, which seemed to be of little
use."
