Winter is here, it’s very cold, wet and windy. I guess you won’t be sailing now until the spring?

No way . . . this is my busiest time of the year!

Training, training, training is the key to success and all of my weekends are taken up with time on the water. With a full calendar, I will be travelling around the country taking every opportunity to improve my skills.

The UK Laser Association winter training programme for Laser 4.7’s is excellent and I’m looking forward to sailing with the UKLA at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in December, January and March. I’ll be braving the Solent Chop whilst training with the Royal Lymington Yacht club and breaking the ice whilst getting in some reservoir practice at Grafham, Rutland and Banbury sailing clubs.

Winter training wouldn’t be possible for me without my Hammond Drysuit!

Last winter I sailed at sea in temperatures of -5 and below and after a full day’s training I came in red cheeked and comfortably warm. When I unzipped my Hammond drysuit, the steam came rising out from it! I was dry and warm which meant all my energy and concentration went on improving my sailing techniques and skills, rather than on how cold I was.

Many people ask me why I wear a drysuit dinghy sailing and my answer is simple; why wouldn’t you wear one?

My drysuit isn’t ‘off the peg’, it’s hand made-to-measure by Hammond Drysuits and therefore it fits me perfectly!

I have worked closely with them to develop the suit I wear especially for dinghy sailing.

Hammond drysuits are now made with a new N100 fabric which has a polyester backing, making the fabric more flexible whilst keeping it robust.

My drysuit is made to my exact requirements, unlike other drysuits that are heavy, bulky and restrict movement. It’s extremely important when dinghy sailing to be able to move freely and quickly and my new Hammond drysuit allows me to do just that!

My drysuit has been designed, cut and made especially to give me full movement range, essential for Laser sailors when pulling in armfuls of main sheet, hiking and gybing in strong winds and tricky conditions.

Coupled with their newly developed CoreTek X Thermals which are made from dual-core fleece, these give me an extra layer of warmth underneath my drysuit. It keeps me warm and my skin dry. Because of it’s technical stretch construction it allows the lateral movement of the fabric, so like the drysuit, it does not restrict my movements.

Hammond Drysuits are hand made to your exact requirements at their premises in Dartford. The quality of each suit means that I can wear it every weekend and it shows no signs of wear and tear.

As a Junior sailor, my Hammond drysuit can be altered and repaired by them, making it an extremely cost effective choice.

I say, “Roll on winter training, I’m ready for you!”