What to wear on a whale watch?
June 12, 2017 2:33 PM Subscribe
I am going on two whale watching trips, one in Boston on Thursday and another one in Ponta Delgada (Azores) over the weekend. Do I need a waterproof coat, a windbreaker, or just some fleece? Will my baseball cap fly off into the sea?
I am a landlubber and have no idea how cold it will be out in the North Atlantic in mid-June. I am going to try to take one of the larger boats in the Azores and I assume there is less chance of getting wet on those. Weather in the Azores will be 60-70F. I usually put my hair in a ponytail and put it through the hat hole. Will that stand up to the ocean gales? Should I just stick to sunglasses and sunscreen? I plan to take a backpack on each trip, so I can carry things without having to wear them.
I am a landlubber and have no idea how cold it will be out in the North Atlantic in mid-June. I am going to try to take one of the larger boats in the Azores and I assume there is less chance of getting wet on those. Weather in the Azores will be 60-70F. I usually put my hair in a ponytail and put it through the hat hole. Will that stand up to the ocean gales? Should I just stick to sunglasses and sunscreen? I plan to take a backpack on each trip, so I can carry things without having to wear them.
Best answer: From what I remember of taking Boston whale watch tours, it's about 10-15 degrees colder out on the water than it is in the city, so you definitely want some kind of jacket. Thursday is supposed to be 75 inland. I've taken tours when everyone was so cold that they stayed inside for most of the way back in the afternoon, when it started to cool down. Also, sunglasses instead of hat because of the wind factor. Have fun!
posted by pangolin party at 2:43 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pangolin party at 2:43 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
For sure you can lose your hat; I did on a whale watch some time ago. If you wear a hat, try to get one of those that has a cord you fasten under your chin; that will at least give you chance at not losing it.
You didn't ask about this, but I will mention: you might want to take Dramamine or use one of those bracelets for motion sickness (which do work, believe it or not). When I went on the whale watch, the seas were rough and let's just say that a healthy (har har) percentage of the passengers were not much enjoying the scenery.
posted by holborne at 2:48 PM on June 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
You didn't ask about this, but I will mention: you might want to take Dramamine or use one of those bracelets for motion sickness (which do work, believe it or not). When I went on the whale watch, the seas were rough and let's just say that a healthy (har har) percentage of the passengers were not much enjoying the scenery.
posted by holborne at 2:48 PM on June 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
I like 3 layers. a T-shirt, a thermal layer, a windbreaker.
It's more mix and match so you can adapt to weather.
If you are worried about your hat blowing off (they can and will) you can use a string or spare shoelace to keep it tethered to your collar.
The first time I went whale watching, the boat was 26ft long, we saw no whales and everyone got sick. It was awful.
The 2nd time, a mother and calf breached about 6ft from us and everyone had the "look deep into my eye" experience and people most got happily splashed but not soaked.
As an aside, it's hard to imagine, but pre-electricity, Whaling was one of the top industries in the US. They were killed for meat, oil and blubber buy everyone including us until about the 1930's. When you look one in the eye, that will be hard to imagine.
posted by bobdow at 3:20 PM on June 12, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's more mix and match so you can adapt to weather.
If you are worried about your hat blowing off (they can and will) you can use a string or spare shoelace to keep it tethered to your collar.
The first time I went whale watching, the boat was 26ft long, we saw no whales and everyone got sick. It was awful.
The 2nd time, a mother and calf breached about 6ft from us and everyone had the "look deep into my eye" experience and people most got happily splashed but not soaked.
As an aside, it's hard to imagine, but pre-electricity, Whaling was one of the top industries in the US. They were killed for meat, oil and blubber buy everyone including us until about the 1930's. When you look one in the eye, that will be hard to imagine.
posted by bobdow at 3:20 PM on June 12, 2017 [3 favorites]
Nobody has mentioned pants yet, but there is nothing like the misery of wet jeans. If you have some water resistant pants (e.g. nylon-ish workout pants with a layer underneath or even snow pants), that would be better than some pants that will stay soaked if you get splashed.
posted by ktkt at 3:36 PM on June 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ktkt at 3:36 PM on June 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
There may be spray from waves, so you may get wet/ damp. Bring a spare tshirt at a minimum. Layers are good, maybe tshirt, fleece, and a windbreaker in your backpack. Last time I went on one, from Portland, Me, my nephew got very seasick. Dramamine can make the trip back to shore much more manageable. Have fun.
posted by theora55 at 3:59 PM on June 12, 2017
posted by theora55 at 3:59 PM on June 12, 2017
When I went whale watching in Ponta Delgada, the company put is in heavy fisherman-style overalls and jackets. It was January and we were on the small rigid-hulled inflatable boats, but we got splashed quite a bit and I was glad for the outer waterproof layers. Definitely you need a little clip on a string to keep your hat on!!
Enjoy Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel was totally lovely! Let me know if you need recs and I will try to recall.
posted by foodmapper at 4:17 PM on June 12, 2017
Enjoy Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel was totally lovely! Let me know if you need recs and I will try to recall.
posted by foodmapper at 4:17 PM on June 12, 2017
Best answer: Consider a tiny package of emergency poncho just in case it is rather rougher and wetter than expected. Three layers and a strap for your hat and you'll be fine. Probably also should have lanyards/ties for phone/camera etc if you play on having small expensive stuff out.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:18 PM on June 12, 2017
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:18 PM on June 12, 2017
Take a piece of cord and tie alligator clips to each end. Wrap one end around the adjustable part of your hat and clip it to itself. Clip the other end to the back of your shirt or jacket collar or the label in your shirt. I used to do a lot of sailing off the coast of Massachusetts and Maine and that's what I and my fellow sailors always did.
Lots of sunscreen!!!
posted by bendy at 5:30 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Lots of sunscreen!!!
posted by bendy at 5:30 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nthing some variation of dramamine. I also wear hats with my hair in a ponytail, and will use tiny clips or a few bobby pins to hold the hat to the hair behind my ears on windy days. Don't underestimate the physical and psychological warmth of a nice soft scarf. Also comfy shoes.
posted by scrubjay at 5:49 PM on June 12, 2017
posted by scrubjay at 5:49 PM on June 12, 2017
I went on a whale watch out of Provincetown when I was a teenager. I wore sneakers, socks, clam-digger style pants, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt. I was comfortable the whole time, but being a teenager I might not have noticed the same discomforts I would as an adult.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:27 PM on June 12, 2017
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:27 PM on June 12, 2017
Layer layer layer. I went whale-watching in Monterey in July and that was cold enough; I don't want to contemplate doing it in Boston.
Seconding sunscreen, dramamine (you never know when seasickness can hit) and waterproof outer layers.
Have fun - whale watching is awesome!
posted by Tamanna at 8:38 PM on June 12, 2017
Seconding sunscreen, dramamine (you never know when seasickness can hit) and waterproof outer layers.
Have fun - whale watching is awesome!
posted by Tamanna at 8:38 PM on June 12, 2017
A Tilley-style (or cheap knock-off) wide-brim sun-hat with a string is worth having in any kind of weather. If you think it looks too nerdy then you can just do what the old folks do and not give a crap.
posted by ovvl at 9:40 PM on June 12, 2017
posted by ovvl at 9:40 PM on June 12, 2017
went whale watching in july in boston and we were fine in shorts but jackets came in handy. i would come prepared both for cool air and sea sickness. layers as someone suggested. It was super foggy the day we went but water was calm and an astonishing number of the people on board got sick... maybe a domino effect i don't know.
posted by domino at 6:41 AM on June 13, 2017
posted by domino at 6:41 AM on June 13, 2017
Yeah, don't be like the many people who get on a whale watch boat in Boston and immediately start snacking for the hour ride out to Stellwagon. Eat something light-ish a little while before your boat leaves. Head outside toward the back of the boat and look at the horizon if you're feeling seasick.
This is all highly dependent on seas. My impression is that we've had westerly winds lately, so hopefully there won't be big swells. A windbreaker is the main clothing you might want, sunscreen is a Must. When you get to the whales I like the top deck (if seas are calmish) for best viewing. Enjoy!
posted by ldthomps at 7:49 AM on June 13, 2017
This is all highly dependent on seas. My impression is that we've had westerly winds lately, so hopefully there won't be big swells. A windbreaker is the main clothing you might want, sunscreen is a Must. When you get to the whales I like the top deck (if seas are calmish) for best viewing. Enjoy!
posted by ldthomps at 7:49 AM on June 13, 2017
Response by poster: Okay, I have Dramamine and an emergency poncho and I will plan to go hatless. I don't have any actual waterproof clothing, but I will layer and bring backups. Thanks all!
posted by soelo at 10:11 AM on June 13, 2017
posted by soelo at 10:11 AM on June 13, 2017
Response by poster: I am back and had lots of fun on both trips! I had a t-shirt and a thicker fleece with a hood on both trips. The Boston trip was too sunny to be on the top deck, so I hung out on the second floor where there was plenty of sea spray. The Sao Miguel trip was on a much smaller boat and they told us to put on a coat under our life jackets. If we overheated, we could take them off, but I was only hot for a few minutes. Other people's hats flew off on both boats!
Dolphins and whales are so cool! Boston: one humpback sighted, he surfaced 20 or so times. Azores: two fin whales and 3 kinds of dolphins, plus Portuguese Man-o-War
posted by soelo at 9:56 AM on June 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Dolphins and whales are so cool! Boston: one humpback sighted, he surfaced 20 or so times. Azores: two fin whales and 3 kinds of dolphins, plus Portuguese Man-o-War
posted by soelo at 9:56 AM on June 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
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Your ball cap is definitely at risk of flying away on any boat. Your reflexes will not (likely) make it possible for you to grab it when you start to feel it peel off your head. The wind gets under the bill and it just sails beck over the pony tail.
posted by bilabial at 2:41 PM on June 12, 2017 [4 favorites]