Dmitry Shteyn — Spring Lake Racing: Staying Warm and Hiking Hard

The Spring Reality on Wisconsin Waters

Late April and early May on Lake Mendota or Lake Michigan are beautiful, but they are unforgiving. While the air might occasionally hit sixty degrees, the water is often hovering in the low forties. For a racing sailor, this creates a unique physiological challenge. You need the mobility to cross the boat quickly, the strength to hike through big spring gusts, and the insulation to keep your muscles from seizing up when the spray hits.

I’ve seen many talented sailors lose a regatta not because they missed a shift, but because they lost their core temperature by the third leg and couldn't think straight or hike hard anymore. Staying competitive in the spring requires a specific approach to gear and physical technique.

Layering for Active Hiking

When we talk about staying warm, most people think of bulk. In a racing dinghy or a sportboat, bulk is your enemy. If you can’t move your arms freely to trim the main or get across the cockpit during a tack, you’re a liability.

The goal is to trap heat without absorbing water. I always recommend a high-quality neoprene base (a long john or full suit) combined with a spray top. In Wisconsin spring racing, a drysuit is often the safest bet, but even then, what you wear underneath matters. Wicking synthetics are essential. If you sweat during a high-intensity upwind leg and then sit still on a downwind run, that moisture will chill you to the bone.

Hiking Technique: Protecting the Joints

Hiking isn't just about leaning out; it’s about sustained isometric tension. When the water is cold, your muscles and tendons are less pliable, increasing the risk of strain.

To hike effectively in heavy spring air:

1. Engage the core first. Don't just hang from your knees. Tighten your abdominals to support your lower back.
2. Keep the toes up. In a Laser or a 420, pulling your toes toward your shins engages the tibialis anterior, which helps lock you into the hiking straps.
3. Avoid the 'V' sit. Try to keep your back straight. Slouching puts immense pressure on the lumbar spine, which is exacerbated when you are shivering.

The Role of Fitness

You cannot expect to show up to the first spring series and hike for forty minutes straight if you spent all winter on the couch. Spring racing fitness should focus on two things: isometric leg strength and cardiovascular endurance. The higher your heart rate, the warmer you'll stay.

I remember a regatta on Lake Michigan near Milwaukee where the wind was a steady 22 knots and the water was 45 degrees. The teams that stayed at the front of the fleet were the ones who could still hike flat-out in the last 100 yards of the windward leg. Once you start 'scolloping' or letting the boat heel because your legs are tired, you lose your foil efficiency and slide sideways.

Safety and the Racing Rules

From a safety perspective, cold water increases the risk of cold shock. This is why personal flotation devices (PFDs) are not just a rule—they are a lifeline. According to World Sailing’s Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), specifically Rule 40, if the race committee displays flag Y, every competitor must wear a PFD. In spring racing in Wisconsin, I recommend wearing one regardless of whether the flag is up.

Also, keep in mind Rule 49.1 regarding lifelines and hiking. You must not use any device to project your body weight outboard other than hiking straps or your own strength, unless the class rules specifically allow for trapezes. Using the cold as an excuse to grab a stay or a shroud for extra leverage is a quick way to get a protest filed against you.

Managing Energy Between Races

Between races, don't just sit still. Keep your blood flowing. Do some light arm circles or leg swings. If you have a coach boat nearby, keep a thermos of warm (not hot) water or tea. Staying hydrated is actually harder in the cold because you don't feel thirsty, but dehydration leads to faster cooling and muscle cramping.

If you can master the balance of keeping your core warm while maintaining the physical intensity required to keep the boat flat, you’ll have a massive advantage over the sailors who are just trying to survive the cold.