Karl, we live on about the same latitude. I think me even a little bit more north.

So we share the same daylight rhythm. This week we are in the socalled dark-days before Christmas.
Something where these Southern boys can only dream off!

Wintertime will also in Holland start around end November and will finish around end March. But fortunately, we have the Northsea close by (for me, 500m.).
This sea will slow down its temperature at least till December and will never go down 40 degree Fahrenheit.
So you can warm your hands when sailing below that in air temperature.

This sea-phenomenon will moderate our climate compared with your climate. You have what we call a (severe) landclimate and we have a (mild)seaclimate.

I can sail 12 month a year as long as airtemp is above 32 F and chilltemp is not to far down 30 F.