I'd recommend the spring suit.

I was out earlier in february in 70 degrees and I was roasting in my full suit.

Try http://www.murrays.com/closeouts/closeouts.html#wetsuits for close-out prices on wetsuits. The wetsuit manufacturers sites have some advice on what to buy for your needs.

An owner died during a very recent transatlantic race after falling overboard. He was clipped to the rail before the fall. His brother was his crew. The man overboard could not be pulled back up onto the boat. I'm only guessing that his inability to recover the skipper, even though he was very near the boat, had something to do with the fact that the he was becoming hypothermic and his ability to help himself had been greatly diminished. He was too heavy for the brother to lift. After discussion with race officials the skipper's body was set adrift in the life raft with an EPIRB. Crew members on other boats had to help the brother sail the boat the rest of the way.

Personally, I think 52 deg. has the great potential to render you helpless (my first draft said "kill you")after a difficult-to-recover capsize without some sort of torso warming suit unless you're already really close to shore. Carry some safety equipment; horn and flares. Since I singlehand a lot of the time I sprung for a handheld waterproof VHF last year. I've been hypothermic once. After that I bought a "shorty" wetsuit with 3mm titanium layer for warmth. If you're going out there you really should spring for the bucks for the equipment; even if your brother is on board to help you.

The rule of thumb is to dress for the water temperature, NOT the air temperature. (Remember what it is you're trying to protect yourself from.) If it gets too warm, you can always splash a bit of water to cool off (or, with those new ratchamatic blocks I'll be putting on this spring, I may end up getting tea bagged a few times like Rick did).

In my humble opinion the best wetsuit is the one that fits the best, regardless of cost, we are all shapesand sizes and wetsuits work by trapping a layer of water close to the skin which is then heated by your body, if the wetsuit does not fit well all that warm water will be simply flushed away.

So try on as many suits as you can, don't be swayed by the jargon, if the cheapest suit fits you best then thas the one to get, if the most expensive fits you best, well thats a shame cos thats the one to get.

In my area there are plenty of people that will make suits to measure and that would be my best reccomendation.

As for outer coatings they will make a difference but I think you are better off with a cheap oversuit as previously suggested. At least you can take it on or off.

All the best

Gareth

OK, here's what I did. I bought a shorty wetsuit, about 2 mm, from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16058&item=3601423735&rd=1

I also bought a wetsuit top from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=23808&item=3601238628&rd=1

Someone local sold me some boots, some gloves, and shorts as well. I have a raincoat I can use as a spray top.

So I'm set, right? And I can try these in different combinations, making sure I don't friz completely if I jump in the water.

Thanks for all the advice!

Jonathan

You sound set Jonathan.

You coming out to Jordan on Sunday?

The NC State sailing club is gonna head out there, and CSC is having races out there (we're not going to get in their way unless they want us to)

Told you so

Told you so what?

Hi Todd,

Sunday looks unlikely this week, then we are gone two weekends to Florida... so I think we will start up just after Easter.

Jonathan

He told me that's about what I needed - Sam sold me the used boots, shorts, and hood that I mentioned ;->

Jonathan

I also told Jonathan about the cheap wetsuits on Ebay.