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

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Ocean Sleeping Bag Hire: http://bit.ly/oceansleepingbag

Many crew us crocs for below deck, but on deck I think you have to go a long way to beat the Keen sandal / shoe. It is ventilated and has a closed toe, protecting you from all the hazards on deck.

If you are interested in any of the items in my essential deck kit dry bag, ​click here

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.

​Keeping warm at sea is just a matter of preparation and attention to detail.

Of course, on some of the warmer legs, such as leg 1, leg 7 and much of leg 5, keeping warm on board is not a problem. In fact, dealing with 40+ degree temperatures and high levels of humidity below deck is the biggest challenge. If you want to read more on these warmer legs and how to keep cool, click here.

In my experience, staying warm requires that you look after yourself by eating well, staying active and staying as dry as possible and as well insulated as possible. Staying active on the race is rarely a big problem but there is an art to choosing the correct clothing for the conditions.

On a very cold night at sea, when it's wet and rough, with water over the deck (and the crew), staying dry and warm without overheating when busy changing sails, can be tricky. The start of a watch might have you thinking you are under-dressed, and feeling the bitter cold and yet 30 minutes later you might be sweating profusely having just dragged the yankee 1 down the deck, battling against sea state and gale force winds.

Understanding the best way to layer is therefore important.  For a cold ocean, you should be dressed as follows;

This is my suggested packing list for Level 1 Training.

• ​1 x Kit Bag (We suggest your bag is no more than 90 litres and should be soft - not a suitcase! You shouldn't be filling a 90L bag! 70 litres is a good size and should also do you for the race. A bag with rucksack straps makes for easier travelling when on foot or transferring from airports, etc. Waterproof is a good idea - but certainly not essential. A separate zipped up area for laundry is useful).
• 1 x Washbag (If it has a hook to hang it up in the showers ashore, so much the better. Consider packing breath mints and aerosol deodorant. Even if you don't need the breath mints you can always offer them to more needy souls and aerosol deodorant is known in the industry as 'a shower in a can' and, apparently, a 'pommy shower' if you are a 'colonial type'...)
• 1 x Towel (A chamois style travel towel makes for a less smelly environment below decks! Remember, there may be 12 on board - and 20+ on the race itself).
• 2 x Clothes pegs (For airing out towel on deck - saves it blowing away).
• 1 x Sleeping Bag (Again synthetic is best but for L1 Training a warm sleeping bag of any type will be fine.  There are specialist marine sleeping bags on the market). 
• 1 x Pillow  A synthetic is best. Down will absorb moisture and mould.
• 1 x Woolie Hat / Polartec Beanie / Sealskinz waterproof beanie
• 1 x Sun Hat    We do have sun in the UK sometimes! When it is sunny, a sun hat is useful. As with skiing, the sun on water intensifies the effect.
• 1 x Sun Cream x 1 factor 50+
• 1 x Lip Salve x 1 with UV protection
• 1 x Sunglasses if you wear glasses it's worth considering prescription lenses. Also some 'croakies' to keep them on your head!
• 6 x pairs underwear for training, nothing special. For the race I recommend merino wool. Icebreaker are good. I used 5 x pairs for RTW. A pair a week..! They are quick drying, comfortable, don't 'bunch' when wet (when you get a wet bum on the rail) and they resist odour well. Which is good.
• 6 x pairs of Socks    A medium weight ski sock plus normal cotton socks are fine for training. Merino wool socks and a pair of Sealskinz are useful for the race.
• 6 x T Shirts / Base Layer Tops.  For training cotton T Shirts are fine but synthetic fast-wicking shirts (base layers) are essential for the race. Bamboo and icebreaker make good base layers. Henri Lloyd, Musto, Gill and various other brands (including non-sailing brands) will also suffice.
• 1 or 2 x pairs quick drying Trousers    A pair of walking or hiking trousers will work well and if they zip down to shorts - all the better.
• 1 x pair shorts (in summer). Again, synthetic material is fast wicking and best.
• 2 x Fleece tops (One lightweight and one heavy weight for the winter months and night sailing).
• 1 x Lightweight waterproof jacket (Your Clipper Lightweight is perfect)
• 1 x Casual Shirt & Trousers  (In case you get to go to the pub..)
• 1 x pair of sailing Boots (In our opinion, by far the best best boots for cold legs and RTW crew are Le Chameau Neptune. They are warm, dry, bullet proof tough and do a great job!) Consider hiring a pair for training. If you subsequently buy or hire a pair for the race we'll give you back 50% of the hire fee you paid for training!
• 1 x Passport (In case you get boarded by Border Patrol)
• Seasickness medication / remedy (if you suffer)
• 1 x pair of Deck Shoes (Trainers are OK for training if you are on a budget but in that case bring spares in case they get wet!)
• 1 x Head Torch with a red lens. (Especially useful on L2 onwards  for night passages).
• Next of Kin Details
• 1 x Clipper Training Wet Notes (Ask the office for them).
• Make sure Clipper have all your paperwork & you've paid !

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Other useful stuff to consider:
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• 1 or 2 pairs of Gloves (As a regular sailor, my hands are pretty tough, but some like having a pair of sailing gloves to protect them from calouses, etc. A pair of sailing gloves with chamois/leather palms and fingerless tips is useful for this and still allows rope handling. For cold hands, consider warm, waterproof mittens, although nothing works great in the depths of the Southern Ocean, except, perhaps, rubber frozen meat packers gloves). For most conditions, Sealskinz winter mittens will do a good job, especially when worn with merino wool under-mittens.
• Knee pads - for sliding around on the foredeck in rough weather - spinlock are good.
• 1 x Sailing Safety Knife (Handy but not essential L1. We recommend the Gerber EZ Knife - with blunt nose. It's blunt ended (so you don't stab anyone) but has a very effective and super sharp cutting blade which is needed if you have to cut the rope (spectra core) on a Clipper yacht. Lanyard it to your life jacket so you don't lose it.
• 1 x Multi tool (Handy but not essential L1). The Gerber is good value, or the Leatherman Wave is the industry standard. The knife on a multi-tool isn't really good enough to cut thick spectra in a hurry - hence the safety knife.
• 1 x Dry Bag (5L or 10L dry bag is useful for organising stuff. Use a mini carabiner and clip it to your bunk and use as a place to keep your deck stuff - like knife, headtorch, etc.
• 1 x Snood / Buff / Scarf  (Great for keeping your neck insulated - acts as a gasket and stops water going down your neck!).
• Ear Plugs (To combat the snorers)!
• 1 x Note Book and pen (For making notes at the end of the day).
• 1 x RYA Sailing Logbook & Syllabus Useful and needed for logging personal miles if you continue sailing and want qualifications later.
• Next of Kin Details
• Personal Insurance
• Sudocrem cream (for the race) - yachtie botty
• Wet wipes (small pack) in case you go offshore overnight (your personal hygeine saviour).