Along with shorter courses and cold weather gear, frostbite racing means hot beverages replace cold beer, downwind legs are wing on wing instead of flying the kite, and in big boats, everyone stays in the cockpit. We asked cold weather sailors Stuart Proctor, programs and education manager at Baltimore’s Downtown Sailing Center, and Robert Suhay of Hampton Roads Sailing to fill us in o n the frigid world of frostbiting.
What kind of boats are you racing and where?
Proctor: We sail right off the docks in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and we race J/22s with an occasional Sonar thrown into the mix. Each Saturday, we usually have about about 30 people racing eight or nine boats.
Suhay: We sail Lasers and other dinghies off the boat ramp at Old Dominion University. Our roster often changes, and the core members seem to morph over time, with a few stalwarts hanging in year after year. We’ve sailed with as few as three boats, and as many as 16. In all, we have had more than 60 sailors take part in the Sunday morning series during the past five years.
How long have you been a frostbiter? 
Proctor: This is the fourth consecutive DSC frostbiting season, but I’ve been sailing in winters since I was 16.
Suhay: I’ve been sailing through the winter most of my life, but I got into organized frostbite racing over the past six years.
What are your most important pieces of cold weather gear?
Proctor: Merino wool socks make for warm and dry feet, and Atlas thermals with nitrile gloves underneath keep my hands warm until it gets really cold; then I throw on the “warm gloves.” My Carhartt coveralls keep me toasty and stylish as long as it’s not too wet and windy, then the sailing gear comes out. But the greatest luxury I own is a pair of fleece pants. We typically recommend ski apparel to our members who lack fancy equipment, which works just fine, and I’ve even been beaten on occasion by men in camo gear.
Suhay: I live by my wetsuit, double-layer wool socks, and a wool hat. In a Laser, the feet are almost always in water, so thick wool socks are a must. In fall, a shorty and base layer leggings and top are generally enough. Once the real cold sets in, I have two full wetsuits. When the wind is up, a spray top goes a long way to keeping things toasty.
How do you explain the attraction to sailing in the cold?
Proctor: I really enjoy the nature of the racing we do. We focus on short course, non-spinnaker racing that is exciting for advanced sailors but not too intimidating for new drivers. We self-police, and for the starts, the racer with the most experience blasts the sequence from his boat over VHF radio via an “Ollie,” a horn in a box on a timer. This kind of racing is a great opportunity to work on one’s weaknesses. What other time do you get six starts in during one afternoon? Since we don’t keep score, we try new things and do things we wouldn’t do when racing for points.
Suhay: I love sailing in the winter because the air and water are very clear, and there’s very little boat traffic. Frostbiting brings on a feeling of shared challenge and camaraderie. There’s a sense of “we must be crazy to be doing this” that definitely builds a community. On shore, we generally have a big pot of tea or coffee available for everyone to share. When it gets really cold, my wife enjoys brewing up a batch of Irish coffee. It’s very friendly on the water, and we have very few rule conflicts. When they come up, the issue has always been settled on the water.
Are there any special safety rules your club or association imposes?
Proctor: The DSC will run frostbiting as long as: there is no snow or ice on the boats, docks, or water; the combined air and water temps are 80 degrees Fahrenheit; and the wind is less than 20 knots. We keep a powerboat at the end of the dock ready to go in case we have an emergency.
Suhay: We require that everyone out on the water is capable of handling a small boat, dressed in appropriate clothing, and understands the risks involved. We run short courses to keep the fleet close. Our group will stop a race to assist if someone is in trouble, and we have access to warm showers if a person does begin to experience hypothermia. We don’t race if the water temperature and wind conditions look too dangerous, generally if the wind is in the high teens.
