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Keeping Warm for Winter Training!

28/10/2021

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As we approach the UK's winter, it's worth noting that Clipper Yachts are not heated! Some will have a small oil-filled heater & dehumidifier which is aimed, largely, at trying to keep the crew area and sail bags (in the same place on a Clipper 68 training yacht) as dry as possible when alongside and between courses.

However, overnight and when at sea, Winter on a Clipper Training Yacht is cold. When there are lots of people below, it can also get wet, with lots of warm breath and a cold deck making for a chilly rainforest in some conditions.

​The best way to plan for this is to invest in a specialist marine sleeping bag. Ocean Sleepwear do one which is Goretex ™  lined and has dual fleece interiors. These are great bags, but not cheap. The basic mummy-shaped bag comes in at over £250 and the square 'Volvo' bag is over £300. Our pre-used classified ads also have Ocean Bags from time to time.
Sutherland Sleeping Bag
Sutherland Sleeping Bag
Sutherland Sleeping Bag
An alternative to this has been sourced by me and is available online for about £50. It's the Mountain Warehouse Sutherland sleeping bag. 

We did a quick review of the Sutherland Bag here. And the Ocean Bag here.

Amazon Reviews | Click to View All Amazon Reviews

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The Sutherland Sleeping Bag is perfect for fishing trips into the wild. Designed in durable ripstop polyester fabric, it is fleece lined for better insulation and extra warmth when out camping on cold winter evenings.

SPECIFICATION

  • 3/4 Season - Cold nights early Winter
  • Left Hand Zip - The zip is located on the left hand side, perfect for right handed people
  • Two Way Zip - A two-way zip is useful for easy opening when ventilation is required. Zips can be full length or just half way.
  • Envelope Shape - Envelope shaped bags are essentially rectangular, offering you more space to move around in your sleep
  • Rip Stop Fabric - Stop rips in their tracks with this heavy duty fabric
  • Insulation - Insulated with hollow fibre stuffing
  • Personal Preference - Please remember that everyone feels the hot and cold differently. Always go with your personal preference
  • Great For Outdoor Adventures - Perfect for outdoor activities like fishing trips in the wild
  • Extreme Rating - Can be used for extreme temperature of -18°C. This is a survival temperature only. The bag is not intended for regular use at this temperature
  • Comfort Temperature - The comfort temperature for this sleeping bag is 3°C to -2°C. This is the minimum temperature that the sleeping bag is designed for
  • Weight - 3.7kg
  • Dimensions - 220cm x 98cm
  • Packed Dimensions - 32cm x 45cm
ORDER FROM AMAZON UK
We provide ​affiliate links on some items. This may entitle us to a small commission from Amazon if you buy.
​The purchase price for you remains the same.
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How to pack your Ocean Sleepwear Bag for Travel

16/3/2019

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I recently came across a post on a #ClipperCrew what's app group.  Thanks Keith for the tip!  You can buy a vacuum pump and various bags for just over a tenner on Amazon and the result is that packing your Ocean Sleepwear bag just got a whole lot more manageable!
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Kit Review | Le Chameau Neptune

29/1/2019

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Kit Review | Ocean Sleepwear Bag

29/1/2019

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What to Pack for a Cold Race Leg?

28/1/2019

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In this short video I discuss what you should be thinking about packing for a cold ocean leg. In this context, I consider Cold Ocean Legs to be Legs 2, 3 , 4, 6 and Leg 8.

Fierce Turtle (Packing for Training)   : http://bit.ly/PackingListfortraining
Check Out our Classified Pages for pre-used kit:
​https://www.fierceturtle.co.uk/pre-used-kit

Le Chameau Boots:  http://bit.ly/sailingboots
Ocean Sleeping Bag Hire: http://bit.ly/oceansleepingbag
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KIT REVIEW | Ocean Sleepwear Marine Sleeping Bag

11/3/2018

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The Ocean Sleepwear Bag costs a big chunk of change. Is it worth it? This brief video shows you what you get. We hire bags for training or the race and you can find pre-used bags in the classified ads section.
HIRE SHOP
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Fleece-lined sleeping bag Review - Save £££s!!

10/3/2018

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Keeping warm at sea is very important, especially on long, cold high latitude races such as Legs 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 of the Clipper Race. The last week of Leg 5 is also very very cold!

​A warm sleeping bag is a must-have for sailors doing a 'cold ocean'. Here, we review the budget option - The Mountain Warehouse Sutherland Sleeping Bag.
View product on Amazon
If you'd like to receive reviews and crew tips and tricks, be sure to subscribe for our monthly newsletter or podcast.

​We'll be reviewing the Ocean Sleepwear bag soon. We also hire the Ocean bag for crew looking to try it out during training. Click here for details.
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KIT REVIEW | Le Chameau Neptune

15/2/2018

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Discount Codes
The Neptune is the top of the range sailing boot from Le Chameau stable. Le Chameau is well known for its high-end boots and the Neptune does not disappoint.
 
The boot is made from rubber. It is robust and extremely hardwearing. It has a thick sole to reduce loss of heat through conductivity, it has an excellent all-grip sole, gaiters to prevent leakage and water ingress and a thick neoprene lining to ensure you have warm feet even on the coldest night watch.

Fierce Turtle sell the Le Chameau Neptune. Register with us for a significant member-only discount offered throughout the year.
 
The RRP is £315. Needless to say, we do a much better price for Clipper Crew. 
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What are the best boots for high Latitude Sailing?

9/2/2018

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Volvo Ocean Race - Southern Ocean
Sailing in the Southern Ocean in Summer is a tough old gig, even for the pros on The Volvo Ocean Race. It seems no coincidence that so many use the Le Chameau Neptune boot for the really tough, cold race legs.

Click here for our review of the Le Chameau Neptune. Clipper Crew can claim 15% OFF the Le Chameau Neptune if purchased in February 2018.

The DISCOUNT CODE is WARMFEET.  Just enter the code at checkout.

Sail safe.
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The Pros and Cons of Leg 3

17/12/2016

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​Leg 3 is a biggy !
 
The Southern Ocean must surely be on every offshore sailor's bucket list. The 'Roaring Forties' below 40 degrees South are renowned for massive low pressure systems and monster waves. Crossing from The Cape of Good Hope to Cape Leeuwin (or thereabouts) means that you have undertaken a big challenge. It gets cold, wild and wonderful.
​In previous years the race has started in Cape Town and finished in Western Australia (usually Albany or Geraldton).
 
​Pros;

  • Major bucket list item - Southern Ocean and Roaring Forties - tick!
  • By now the round the world crew are getting it together. The Southern Ocean is probably the first big baptism of fire for a sustained period of time. It really sorts the men and women from the girls and boys. It's a big challenge.
  • Cape Town and South Africa is definitely worth a visit. If you are a legger finishing in Australia then its worth considering a few weeks travel and then perhaps meet your boat on the East Coast?
  • The race starts in warm climes but the fleet will dive South to get the benefit of the Westerlies rolling around the bottom of the planet. It is likely that you will dip deep below 40 degrees South and into the Roaring Forties, staying just North of 'gates' put in place to keep the fleet safely North of the ice fields of The Antarctic.
  • You get to see plenty of wales, dolphins and Albatross. It really is a wild and unspoilt wilderness down there.
  • The weather is varied but soon gets colder and colder as you go South. The sea state is normally driven by large, energetic depressions that roll across the Southern Ocean from West to East. It is likely that you will see sustained wind speed over 60 - 70 kts on a few occasions. We saw gusts over 100kts on the 11-12 and 13-14 races.
  • Because the depressions drive waves, unchecked, around the bottom of the planet the waves can be huge.  Waves over 60ft are pretty standard South of forty degrees although you can also be becalmed between systems. When in the midst of it, the sleigh ride is great fun. Surfing at 30kts+ down monster waves in a severe gale or storm is pretty exciting stuff!

Cons;

  • I think the big downside of this Leg is that it is usually just one race. That means that if you have a problem or the boat retires or has an issue, that's it. Your race is over - or at least damaged. But that's just the luck of the draw.
  • It gets mighty cold down there.  It may be running into the summer but don't think you'll be wearing shorts and T Shirts very long. It is very much multi-layered base and mid layers, possibly dry suits and balaclavas! Brrrr.
  • If you are flying from the Northern hemisphere for one leg then this is going to cost you. Flights may be relatively cheap nowadays, but its still pricey to fly half way across the World.
  • As a legger, you are starting to see a fairly big difference between your competence and that of several of your fellow 'round-the-world' crew. Most boats bond well and a good skipper will make sure that the benefits of an experienced core crew are recognised but all the crew's talents are exploited. Everyone has their own way of doing things but 'leggers' and 'worlders' are usually considered 'equal' with no silly one-up-man-ship.  I allocated my RTW crew as mentors to the leggers for the first few days. After all, some of the crew may not have been on their race boat for several months since training. Everyone is always learning anyway.
  • If you enjoy Leg 3, one of the biggest 'cons' is that you'll need to summon the willpower to get off the boat at the end! I've seen plenty of tears from one-leg-only crew after they've experienced a challenging leg that was everything they had hoped it would be and then they have to stop.
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    Mark Burkes is a former Clipper Race Skipper, Round the World Crew, Clipper Training Skipper & jobbing RYA Yachtmaster Instructor (Ocean). He has over 200,000 miles logged.

    Mark also writes professionally both online and offline and has written for Yachting World.

    Fierce Turtle is not linked to nor is it in any way accredited by the splendid folk at Clipper Ventures. All opinion is our own.

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