Hi there,

Any advice for wetsuits in winter? I live in Sydney and might go south a couple of hours drive so was thinking a 2/3mm wetsuit would be suitable although I do feel the cold? Anything else to consider specific to windsurfing? Good cheap places to buy?

Also I came across a shark visual deterrent technology developed in Perth that looks interesting.

radiator.net/collections/shark-deterrent-surf-range

We're generally not in the water for very long but I do need to learn how to waterstart

Thanks!
Andrew

Aside... this was interesting: needessentials.com/pages/temp-chart
It doesn't take into account wind-chill...

Melbourne can easily remove 5-10 degrees from the air-temp due to the wind coming from the Southern Ocean.
Similar for other areas.

I heard Dr Surf on 3RRR talking about needessentials and he said the wetsuits were excellent.

Thanks for the memory jog Rog, my jacket was a Gull off Ebay from UK also.

mathew said..
Aside... this was interesting: needessentials.com/pages/temp-chart
It doesn't take into account wind-chill...

Melbourne can easily remove 5-10 degrees from the air-temp due to the wind coming from the Southern Ocean.
Similar for other areas.

Smooth-skinned, windsport-specific wetsuits are the best. Alas, they are too fragile. I had one of these:

https://www.surf-store.com/ion-quantum-semidry-4-3-sk/

Fell apart after a season.
Last winter, I had an Excel Dry-lock chest-zip 4/3. It wasn't warm enough on its own, but this on top (and a hood) made all the difference:

www.xcelwetsuits.com/shop/product/surf/2-1mm-sharkskin-top?color=BLK

It's very form fitting, so buy a size bigger than your wetsuit.
This also looks good: needessentials.com/collections/mens-wetusits/products/front-zip-jacket

Wearing boots makes a big difference.
A cheaper solution than buying a 4/3 is to wear a 1mm rashie inside a 3/2

RipCurl flashbomb 3/2 highly recommend!!
worth trying what ever you buy on as others have suggested

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, lots of good info!

mathew said..
If you are cold, more rubber is better... there is no other way around it. [ That statement could be construed in a number of ways... ]

So, wear your winter wetsuit - if you are still cold, put your summer wetsuit over the top... for some 5-7mm of core coverage.

AFAIK, Sydney's water temp doesn't drop below 17.

I'm just going through getting a new suit..
I had a Neil Pryde Serene 3/4/5mm that has been great for the last 6 years..unfortunately it split below the armpit and although I glued it at the end of last season it came apart first go..still I think 6 years of heavy use is good value.. I could have got it repaired but it is starting to lose a little bit of flex so I thought a new one would be best.
I was just going to get another but I was told they only make to order now and there is a 6 month wait!
Ordered an Ion in a similar style - semi dry - 4/5mm/ ankle velcro closures/ wind resistant rubber etc . I couldn't get as large as I'd like .. so I'll have to try and see.
They must think all old ducks stay at home in winter and knit. grr

I like the long legs and short arms with a thin wetsuit rashie under. I don't suffer fore arm pump and super Flexi while out. Choose your own thickness and an additional spray jacket for wind chill is a sound idea too.
Severne has exactly these but I hacked an old wettie to be short sleeves.
My new wettie is front zip and worked real well on last session.

sboardcrazy said..

BSN101 said..
I like the long legs and short arms with a thin wetsuit rashie under. I don't suffer fore arm pump and super Flexi while out. Choose your own thickness and an additional spray jacket for wind chill is a sound idea too.
Severne has exactly these but I hacked an old wettie to be short sleeves.
My new wettie is front zip and worked real well on last session.

What's the advantage of a front zip wettie? I've been told they are really hard to get into?

Maybe a little harder but still ok.
Better seal around the neck so less water coming into the suit that way. Water pools at my ankles so I have a small drain hole there for it to release and not give me elephant ankles.
I wear a neo rashie when it's colder and my WWA rashie all other times

I got one of the first Severne steamers with a back zip 3:2 for Perth a while ago maybe 2 yrs, great wetsuit, what I like most is the loose fit arms. No more cramps after a few hours winter sailing. None.

I bought a 5mm wetsuit to be used in the chilly alpine lakes in the summer. Unfortunately I bought a back zip one: big mistake! Every time I try a waterstart, a half liter of icy water, directly from a glacier, flows through the neck opening, and my thoughts go to the mother of the guy who designed it. Couldn't she have an headache, that night?

To resume: buy a chest zip one. They are a bit more difficult to wear, but fit their purpose of keeping you warm.