The coldest season reveals a different side of the sea: quiet, powerful and demanding. Being properly prepared is essential to experience it at its truest.
Sailing in Winter: How to Enjoy the Sea Off-Season
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The coldest season reveals a different side of the sea: quiet, powerful and demanding. Being properly prepared is essential to experience it at its truest.
In winter, the sea changes pace. Conditions are more variable, cold and wind directly affect how you move on board and how you sail. Outside the main season, winter sailing becomes a more conscious gesture. Those who choose to sail during this time of the year learn to read the sea more carefully and to value every detail.
Sailing in winter means accepting these conditions and knowing how to manage them, aware that comfort and protection directly influence concentration and the ability to act with precision. This is where technical clothing becomes part of the experience: protecting the body from cold and moisture is not just about comfort, but also necessary for facing more demanding situations.
To fully enjoy sailing in winter and cope with low temperatures, it is even more important to carefully choose what you wear. The basic principle is simple yet extremely effective: layering, combining multiple technical layers that work together.
The base layer is the foundation of the entire layering system. Recommended materials are:
Always avoid cotton, which retains moisture and cold.
Unisex thermal jersey made of Dryarn, the lightest, warmest and most breathable in the world. Long sleeve, ergonomic, breathable and insulating. Pro Seamless Top long sleeve is a first layer that just feels good to wear.
Unisex thermal tights made of Dryan® yarn, the lightest, warmest and most breathable in the world. Ergonomic, breathable and insulating. Pro Seamless tights are a first layer that makes you feel good.
The midlayer retains body heat without adding unnecessary bulk. Its main functions are:
Technical fleeces, lightweight insulated midlayers, as well as windproof trousers and waterproof bibs are ideal for cool or harsh conditions.
A four-season mid-layer designed for every outing. A full zip, two side pockets and an inner grid fleece structure make for a warm, breathable and perfect option both on its own and under a waistcoat or jacket. On deck, on land, on the road: be ready for anything.
A four-season mid-layer designed for every outing. A full zip, two side pockets and an inner grid fleece structure make for a warm, breathable and perfect option both on its own and under a waistcoat or jacket. On deck, on land, on the road: be ready for anything.
Lightweight and technical, the OD Hooded Midlayer Jkt is the ideal choice to always have with you. A technical four-season mid-layer, combining warmth, freedom and durability. Made with elastic nylon and water-repellent, the jacket is padded with lightweight, yet high-performance Primaloft. Perfect under a raincoat or on its own when the air cools down. Compact and compressible, the jacket is easy to store and always ready to be of use.
Lightweight and technical, the OD WS Hooded Midlayer Jkt is the ideal choice to always have with you. A technical four-season mid-layer, combining warmth, freedom and durability. Made with elastic nylon and water-repellent, the jacket is padded with lightweight, yet high-performance Primaloft. Perfect under a raincoat or on its own when the air cools down. Compact and compressible, the jacket is easy to store and always ready to be of use.
The One Design Hybrid Vest is a waistcoat designed to fit neatly under a shell or over a first layer. Padded with primaloft, lightweight, mini ripstop stretch fabric and a close fit, it protects the torso and back while allowing all the freedom of movement you need. A perfect option even on its own after racing.
The outer shell is the heart of winter protection and what truly allows you to sail with comfort and confidence.
Key features include:
For those who sail, it is also essential to have the right clothing for whatever conditions the sea may have in store. And the Pro Offshore Jacket will protect you against wind, water, salt and rain with its 15,000 mm waterproofing, high-visibility retractable hood and warm lined high collar.
A practical two-layer tech nylon pant, the Pro Offshore Pants are ideal for those seeking shelter from water, wind and rain for their lower limbs without the bulk of dungarees.
Pro Coastal Jacket: Sail fearlessly with this 100% recycled, breathable, and waterproof jacket. High-visibility hood included.
The Pro Coastal Bibs are waterproof, breathable and windproof bibs designed for the cruiser and amateur racer, and can be combined with the Pro Coastal Jacket.
Heat loss is greatest at the extremities of the body (head, neck and hands). That’s why these items are essential:
The Cable Beanie is the unisex winter beanie designed to be kept in your bag for those cold or windy days. It is made using recycled yarn.
The Pro Long Finger Glove is the full-finger glove that can spare your fingertips and palm from nasty surprises.
The sea in winter follows a rhythm unlike any other season. Sailing during this time of the year means slowing down, taking the time to listen and observe nature. It means rediscovering its most authentic essence, beyond sport or travel: a direct relationship with the landscape and the natural elements.
In the new 2025 edition, Beyond the Horizon followed the Transat Café L’OR along the ancient coffee trade route. In the heart of the ocean, far from land, every decision becomes a double challenge: against nature, but also against oneself.
No noise, no distractions, only the rhythm of the sea. This is the spirit we want to tell: sailing as a deep and authentic experience, where preparation and awareness make it possible to look beyond the visible horizon and beyond what we believe is possible.
Sailing in winter means accepting a quiet challenge. The coldest season demands preparation, but in return offers a depth and authenticity that tend to fade at other times of the year.
The winter sea is not for everyone, but it speaks to those who are looking for something more and reveals what it truly is. And it is there, in that meaningful emptiness, that sailing reconnects with its deepest roots.
1. How should you prepare for winter sailing ?
Start by analysing weather patterns, checking onboard equipment and planning alternative routes. Before departure, share information with the crew and define clear procedures.
2. How should you dress for sailing in winter?
Rely on the layering system: a breathable base layer, a thermal midlayer and a waterproof outer shell. Complete this setup with a beanie, neck warmer and other technical accessories.
3. Is winter sailing safe?
Yes, when approached with awareness. Winter requires greater preparation and attention, but it offers an extraordinary experience when faced with the right precautions.
Altura WS Tech Short is a women’s technical sailing short designed for everyday work on board. Made from high abrasion-resistant stretch double weave fabric, it combines durability, comfort and stability, representing the summer evolution of the Pro Tech pant in a women’s-specific design.
ACT WS Fleece Powerstretch is a technical full zip fleece designed for everyday activity and on-board use. Stretch, comfort and practicality come together in a construction made from recycled fabric, with a regular fit tailored to the female body.
Altura WS LGT Grid Fleece FZ is a lightweight technical fleece with a dedicated women’s fit. The grid fleece construction with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment, which helps water slide off the fabric, provides breathability, thermal regulation and protection from wind and light moisture. It performs effectively both as a mid layer and as an outer layer in mild conditions.
Logo WS Hoodie is the women’s hooded sweatshirt designed for dockside life and leisure connected to the sailing world. Comfort, clean lines and functional details make it ideal for pre- and post-race moments, with a fit tailored to the female body.