We knew our old mainsail was in borderline condition when we set off from the Canary Islands bound for North America. The old sail had served us well for five years of tropical cruising and had driven our Mason 43 more than 30,000 miles. But the Dacron panels were getting so soft and the stitching so brittle that we kept our fingers crossed every time we jibed or let the sail flog for a moment. It finally started to come apart in the mid-Atlantic when we were hit by a series of blustery trade-wind squalls.

Three Layer System - 3LS Graphic

The 3 Layer System is based on a simple principle - water transmits heat 30 times faster than air. So wet skin gets cold 30 times quicker than dry skin.

To keep warm in the worst conditions first of all you must stay dry. To do this your clothing must transport body moisture away from the skin, hold dry warm air close to the body and keep moisture out.

Layer 1 - The Base Layer
This layer is worn next to your skin and must transfer (wick) sweat away from your body as fast as possible. Polypropylene and Polyester fabrics are best for this. Beware of cotton clothing which can absorb 30+% more than its weight in water and transfers heat away from your body thirty times quicker than dry air.