5 EXPERT TIPS BOB BEGGS ON SAILING IN COLD WEATHER

As temperatures drop, Andy Rice gets tips on how to handle the cold from self-confessed Arctic weather fan and winning Clipper Round the World Race skipper Bob Beggs

- Bob Beggs

Unlike most of us, Bob Beggs seeks out extreme cold and is currently planning his next yachting venture into the Arctic Circle. "When I was in the Commandos I did 10 winters up in the Arctic Circle in Norway, and quite a bit of time in Northern Canada, and I must admit I enjoyed the cold climates and the challenges it brings." Which is why Bob is the ideal person to ask what the rest of us should do when we're faced with cold conditions on board.

His experience from skippering non-professional teams in the Clipper Race is that you design everything around minimising exposure to the worst conditions and keeping as few people on deck as you can manage, without compromising the handling of the boat.

"It's often standard to have someone dedicated to trimming the vang on and off, but honestly, how often do you need someone in that role? I've seen people come offwatch after four hours, freezing cold, having not adjusted the vang once. If someone's not needed on deck, they should be down below staying as warm and dry as possible." Here are Bob's five best tips for fighting the extreme cold.

1 MINIMISE EXPOSURE

Modern technical clothing is very good but if you're going to expose yourself to the foredeck and you're doing big sail changes in heinous conditions with white water charging down the deck at 20 knots or so, you've got to accept that you're going to get wet - no matter how good the gear you're wearing.