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Sailing in winter is perfectly possible if your clothing, lifejacket and planning suit the cold: you dress in several thin layers, always wear your lifejacket on deck and plan short legs that end before sunset. What matters most is the water, because the North Sea and Baltic Sea are so cold in winter that falling overboard becomes dangerous within the first few minutes.
The essentials at a glance
- Water below 15 °C is considered cold. In February 2026, the Baltic Sea averaged 0.7 °C and the North Sea 5.9 °C.
- In water, the body cools down four to five times faster than in air at the same temperature.
- Wind makes the cold feel significantly worse: at 0 °C and 20 knots of wind, it feels like about −7 °C.
- Layered clothing: thermal base layer, warm mid layer, waterproof oilskins, plus a hat, gloves and warm boots.
- Around the winter solstice, you only get a little over seven hours of daylight on the German Baltic coast.
Why is cold on the water different from cold on land?
Three things combine on a boat: wind, wetness and cold water. On land you can keep moving or take shelter, but on board you often sit still at the helm for a long time, and spray soaks through every layer that isn't watertight.
Wind chill: how cold does wind feel?
Wind constantly carries away the layer of warm air right above your skin. That is why a given temperature feels much colder in wind than the thermometer shows. The table shows rounded values based on the internationally used wind chill formula.
| Air temperature | 10 kn wind | 20 kn wind | 25 kn wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 °C | about 1 °C | about 0 °C | about −1 °C |
| 3 °C | about −1 °C | about −3 °C | about −4 °C |
| 0 °C | about −5 °C | about −7 °C | about −8 °C |
On deck, what counts is the apparent wind, which is the true wind plus the wind created by your own boat's movement. For example, at 0 °C and a true wind of 15 knots, it feels like about −6 °C. If you are sailing close-hauled at 5 knots, around 19 knots reach the deck, and the wind chill drops to about −7 °C. On a downwind course it is the other way round: you feel only around 10 knots, which feels like about −5 °C.
If you prefer to read knots in km/h, you will find the conversion in the article Converting knots to km/h.
How cold are the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in winter?
In winter the Baltic Sea cools to just above freezing, while the North Sea stays a few degrees warmer. In winter 2025/26, the mean surface temperatures were:
| Month | Baltic Sea | North Sea |
|---|---|---|
| December 2025 | 6,1 °C | 9,6 °C |
| January 2026 | 3,0 °C | 7,5 °C |
| February 2026 | 0,7 °C | 5,9 °C |
In terms of water temperature, this was a fairly average winter. As far as ice is concerned, however, 2026 was the strongest winter since 2010/11.
In cold winters, ice forms in sheltered parts of the Baltic Sea. In 2026, there was ice in the Greifswalder Bodden and the Szczecin Lagoon from early January, and it lasted until March. In February, ice even formed briefly in the fjords as far as Flensburg. During the ice season, the BSH regularly publishes ice reports and ice charts.
What should I wear for sailing in winter?
The best solution is the layering principle: several thin layers that keep you warm together and can be put on and taken off individually. Thin layers trap more air than one thick jumper and leave you free to move at the winches and sheets.
First layer: thermal base layer
Next to your skin, wear long merino wool or synthetic underwear. It wicks sweat away from your skin. Cotton is unsuitable because it holds moisture and then lies cold against your skin.
Second layer: insulation
On top comes an insulating layer of fleece, wool or synthetic insulation. Fleece salopettes keep your back and kidneys warmer than ordinary trousers, because they don't ride up when you bend over.
Third layer: oilskins
On the outside, waterproof, breathable oilskins protect you from wind and spray. Salopettes with a high back and a jacket with a high collar and hood are the right choice in winter. Bright signal colours make sure you can be seen more easily at dusk and in fog.
Head, hands and feet
These parts of the body cool down first, and cold fingers make every job with the lines a struggle. A wool or fleece hat and a neck tube for your neck and face belong in every jacket pocket. Two pairs of gloves work well: thin ones for handling lines and warm, waterproof ones for long spells at the helm. Take a spare pair, because dry hands stay warm much longer.
For your feet, lined sailing boots with non-slip soles are best. Buy them large enough for thick wool socks to fit without pinching. Feet get cold faster in tight boots.
Don't forget your sunglasses
The winter sun sits low and dazzles, especially when you are looking out for buoys and sea marks. Sunglasses therefore make sense even in December.
Why should you always wear a lifejacket on deck in winter?
Because cold water is at its most dangerous in the first few minutes. If someone falls in, the sudden chill triggers cold shock: uncontrolled gasping, an inability to hold your breath and a heavy strain on the heart. The most violent reactions subside after a few minutes. Until then, a lifejacket keeps your head above water without you having to swim.
In winter, then, it is best if everyone who goes on deck wears a lifejacket, even in calm weather and even in harbour on the way along an icy pontoon.
What to look for in a lifejacket
- The lifejacket must fit over your thick winter clothing. Readjust the waist strap if you are wearing more layers than in summer.
- The crotch strap stops the lifejacket from riding up over your head in the water. Always fasten it.
- A spray hood protects your mouth and nose from incoming water.
- Have automatic lifejackets serviced regularly. If a lifejacket has got wet, open it up and let it dry inside.
At night, when alone on deck and in rough weather, add a harness. How to combine jackstay, harness and tether sensibly is explained in the article Jackstay, harness and tether.
How do I plan a winter sailing trip?
Plan short legs in sheltered sailing areas with several harbours nearby, and be tied up again before sunset. Around the winter solstice you get only a good seven hours of daylight on Kiel Fjord, whereas in June it is over 17 hours.
Daylight and weather
On 21 December the sun rises in Kiel at around 8:40 am and sets shortly before 4 pm. After sunset the temperature drops quickly, and berthing in the dark is harder in winter than in summer. Calm high-pressure conditions often bring clear, dry weather with little wind and are ideal for winter sailing trips. Always check the current marine weather forecast from the Deutscher Wetterdienst before you cast off.
Base your planning on the crew member who gets cold fastest or has the least experience. A leg that everyone can manage comfortably is worth more in winter than an ambitious destination.
Harbours out of season
Many marinas on the North Sea and Baltic Sea operate only in a limited way in winter, and some are closed altogether. In some harbours, under the harbour regulations, nobody may go onto the pontoons from 1 November to 31 March without written permission from the harbour master or a winter berth contract. There is no winter maintenance service there, and slippery surfaces and ice on the pontoons are expressly possible (as of November 2026).
Expect pontoons to be slippery, and wear sturdy, non-slip shoes when going ashore. Some club harbours keep their winter berths free of ice with a bubbler system.
You can read how to moor your boat securely in harbour on a stormy winter day in the article Securing your boat in harbour in a storm.
What should you watch out for with heating and damp on board?
Heating makes winter sailing trips much more pleasant, but it brings its own risks. Carbon monoxide is produced by any heater that burns diesel, paraffin or gas, and also in the exhaust of an engine or generator, for example when you charge the batteries in harbour with the engine running. The gas is odourless and can also build up under a closed cockpit enclosure or cover.
A carbon monoxide detector in the cabin is therefore a must on board. There are detectors designed for use in leisure vehicles and boats. Test them regularly with the test button. The first signs of poisoning, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea and tiredness, are easily mistaken for a cold or seasickness. Always take an alarm seriously. Detailed advice is provided by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch's leaflet on carbon monoxide on boats.
Electric fan heaters are convenient on shore power, but they are banned in some harbours. Some harbour regulations expressly prohibit the use of fan heaters and electric heaters on board.
Regular ventilation helps against damp, even when it is cold. Hang wet oilskins in the cockpit or the oilskin locker, not in the cabin. Otherwise the moisture condenses on the hull and the deckhead, and sleeping bags turn clammy.
How do you keep the crew warm when sailing in winter?
Short watches, hot food and regular drinks keep the crew performing well in winter. Anyone sitting still at the helm for a long time gets cold faster than someone working the sheets. So swap over at the helm more often than you would in summer.
A flask of tea or soup belongs in the cockpit before you cast off. Warm, sweetened drinks are the right choice; alcohol does not belong in the cockpit. If you have a pre-existing condition, such as a heart condition, talk to your doctor before sailing in the cold.
Change out of wet clothing early, before you get chilled through. Keep dry spare clothes within easy reach in a waterproof bag for this purpose.
Baltic Sea sailing trips and warm alternatives on Törnfinder
On Törnfinder you will find offers for Sailing in the Baltic Sea. If you would rather sail in a milder climate in winter, take a look at the sailing trips for Sailing in the Canary Islands on offer. All sailing trips in warm sailing areas from December to March are shown by Sailing in Winter.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sail on the Baltic Sea in winter?
Yes, as long as there is no ice and the weather is right. You need warm clothing layered up, a lifejacket for everyone on deck and harbours that take guests in winter. Plan short legs that end before sunset.
What do you wear when sailing in winter?
Three layers: base layer underwear in merino or synthetic fibre, a warming layer of fleece or wool, and waterproof oilskins on top. Add a hat, a neck tube, two pairs of gloves and lined boots with room for thick socks.
How cold is the Baltic Sea in winter?
Very cold: in February 2026 the average surface temperature of the Baltic Sea was 0.7 °C, and in January 3.0 °C. That was roughly a normal winter. The North Sea was slightly warmer at 5.9 °C in February.
At what temperature is water dangerously cold?
Water below 15 °C is considered cold and can trigger cold shock. In winter the North Sea and the Baltic Sea are far below that, with the Baltic Sea at times close to 0 °C.
Should you always wear a lifejacket when sailing in winter?
In winter you should always wear one on deck, even in calm weather. In cold water it keeps you afloat during the first, most dangerous minutes, without you having to swim.
