Winter Wetsuits 

Having a good thick wetsuit is crucial to enjoying windsurfing as it keeps you warm even when the air temperature is freezing. They work by trapping a thin layer of water between your warm body and the wetsuit; the wetsuit itself is waterproof and water gets in through the neck, arm and leg holes. Your body-heat then warms the water and the warm water acts as insulation from the cold outdoors.

I know what you sailors are saying at this point: “winter sailing is freezing”. Incorrect. When you’re windsurfing, the wetsuit gets fully soaked and the layer of water covers your entire body, not something that normally happens unless you end up in the water. Windsurfing also requires activity from your entire body and there is no standing (or sitting) still, so all of the water is constantly being warmed up. Don’t believe me? one of our members from Rio de Janario (and unused to sailing when the water is less than 15°C) will confirm that he was “absolutely fine, in-fact warm all the time” while windsurfing, and “expletively freezing” while sailing. Maybe you should reconsider your sport.

So new for this year, we have bought brand new 5.4. winter wetsuits (5mm on the body, 4mm on the arms and legs) to keep you all toastie warm in the ‘cool’ winter months. To reserve one contact our beginner representative 

We have Extra Small, Small and Medium wetsuits but our supply is limited so reserve one early.

Our wetsuits are free to borrow for those attending our events and cannot be borrowed for any non-club activity. Wetsuits will be given to those who have reserved one with the beginner representative as a priority, any left-over will then be handed out afterwards. There is no guarantee of getting one if you haven’t reserved one

A driver for the club event will be given all the booked wetsuits to take to, and distribute at, the event venue.

Proper Wetsuit Care

Wetsuits must be fully rinsed in cold fresh water only; hung up to drip dry the correct way out, then turned inside out to dry for about 48 hours. Then leave the correct way out to fully dry. Dry wetsuits should be rolled and not folded or crumpled. If you make creases it just weakens the material and shortens the wetsuits life.

When you are not wearing the wetsuit – fasten the Velcro neck strap to the opposite piece of Velcro. The hooks of the Velcro slowly destroy wetsuits and makes then look really naff.

Wetsuits must be rinsed and completely dried by the person who borrowed it and they must return it fully dry to a committee member by the Thursday after the event. If the wetsuit is needed before the next Thursday the wetsuit must be rinsed and returned to a committee member the day before it is next needed, the beginner representative will contact you in this situation.

The SU has wetsuits to borrow from the activity office on level 3 of the SU, you need to have any SU sport club membership to borrow one for free and they will lend it to you for 7 days.

If you are borrowing a Bath Windsurfing wetsuit for anything other than Chew Valley Lake Trips a signed disclaimer (download link below) is required before the wetsuit is handed over, stating that the person intending to borrow the wetsuit is responsible for the full cost to replace the wetsuit if it is lost, or to repair any excessive damage that is sustained while in their care (excessive damage will be determined to be such by the committee). The wetsuit will be handed over when the signed disclaimer is handed to a committee member.

Wetsuit Hiring Disclaimer

Don’t hesitate to contact Martin Lemaire with any questions about wetsuits