[paulk]

You will not believe how cold your hands will get. Find the best gloves you can to keep them as warm and dry as possible. As in skiing, keeping your feet warm is also key. (Warm feet= happy skiers) So boots & socks with room to wiggle the toes are important. After the hands and feet, there''s a reason sailors traditionally wear watch caps. IMHO that the wool ones itch too much. A fleece one will dry out quicker, won''t itch, and won''t smell funky either. You can also try the handwarmer packs from camping stores in case you under-estimate the cold. Sail fast! Think warm thoughts!