Dinghy sailing when you were young

[GummiTarzan]

Is there anyone more like me that was attracted to rainwear and wellies as child and went to sailing school?
I was sailing Optimist when I was young and wore quite heavy yellow bibpants and jacket from Helly Hansen. The first year of sailing my lifejacket was a Helly Hansen Navigare.

We were always wearing our "rubber gear" even when the sun was shining and nearly every day we played and bathed with our clothes on.

[Gordo]

You must have had some wonderful sailing adventures!

I really love the Scandinavian attitude towards rainwear. They seem to wear rainwear more often then in North America and Britain.

[GummiTarzan]

Yes it was wonderful summers with rainwear on nearly every day.

Here in Sweden many people wear rainwear but switched to breathables. In Denmark I belive that I see more traditional style rainwear.

[delboy]

I started dinghy sailing in1956 and at that time all waterproof sailing wear was made of PVC and I have continue to wear PVC today . I have now retired from sailing and continue to wear PVC raincoats as does my wife.

Today it is raining hard in the South of England and I will shortly be going out fully dressed in a coat and trousers with hat and gloves all in black PVC.

Delboy

[Gordo]

When did PVC in sailing/dinghy waterproofs start to disappear?

[GummiTarzan]

When did PVC in sailing/dinghy waterproofs start to disappear?

I think it was about 1988... But then the clothes wasn't breathable. Bought my first breathable foul weather kit 2000, but my drysuit wasn't breathable.

[annabell-cagoule]

Used to go fishing with friends, we all wore over the head orange pvc waterproofs with draw string closures on the neck. Even in summer!

[GummiTarzan]

Used to go fishing with friends, we all wore over the head orange pvc waterproofs with draw string closures on the neck. Even in summer!

Sounds good!
Wearing wellies too?

[annabell-cagoule]

Nope, normally trainers. Only wellies when very wet.

[Rainworshipper]

Never actually sailed a dinghy, but I did a basic course in kayaking about four years ago and of course I had to wear one of my cagoules. Sadly never had the chance since to hire a canoe and go for a paddle.