Slip, slop, slappers...

Leading sailors tell how they have picked up on the Cancer Council's familiar message, by Bob Ross.

MUM said as she smothered me with coconut oil: “Go down to the beach and get yourself a healthy suntan.”

As you may be aware, that was a fair while ago. Since, cooking on the beach as a kid, swimming, going sailing, sometimes with a hat, but not always to feel the breeze across the face and in the hair on light days. Almost always, the arms and legs were bare. Sunglasses were not practical for dinghy sailing.

So listen, you sailing kids of today; after all that, now I have to go to a skin cancer specialist to get sunspots burned off every six months. He reminds me that my Scottish/English heritage presented me with a vulnerable fair skin.

I’ve had five skin cancers cut out, the last one a year ago from the corner of an eye; so close that the incision had to be stitched from the inside of the lower lid as well as the outside by a skilled specialist on a very nervous patient.

Next month, I am booked in for cataract surgery on eyes not covered continuously enough by sunglasses in my years’ sailing and photographing other people doing it.

For three months over this past winter I scratched and itched with a skin condition; legacy of skin baked over-dry and now ageing.

And the Cancer Council tells us that Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world with more than 430,000 new cases each year and 1500 dying from it; some of them sailors.

Do I have your attention?

Sun protection needs to be part of everyday routines. For sailors, out there without any nearby shade for respite from the sun’s unremitting rays, often too busy to re-apply sunscreen at the recommended intervals, it is especially important.

Specialist, comfortable sailing clothing made from sun-protective material is now widely available and should be used. More sailors are absorbing the sun protection message and are choosing to sail fully covered from neck to toe.

Choose hats and caps to best protect the face, ears and neck, and sunglasses for the eyes, within the limitations your type of sailing offers. Obviously the ideal broad-brimmed hat and sunnies will not work for the dinghy, skiff and cat sailor drenched by waves and spray.

Sunscreens, advises the Cancer Council, should be broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF30+ that should be applied liberally; at least a teaspoon for each limb, front and back of the body and half a teaspoon for the face, neck and ears. Most people don’t apply enough, resulting in only 50-80 per cent of the protection stated on the product.

Apply it 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards.

A wide range of sunscreen products is sold in Australia. All have to be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration as safe and effective. However, not all of them contain the same ingredients, so if your skin reacts to one sunscreen, talk to a chemist or your doctor about choosing another with different chemical composition.

Clothing

The Cancer Council recommends loose-fitting collared shirts with long sleeves and at least three-quarter length trousers for sun protection. It says darker colours generally offer more protection than lighter colours.

Clothing specially designed for sun protection carries a tag with an ultra violet protective rating. The UPF rating, from 10 (moderate) to 50 (excellent) tells you how much UV radiation will pass through unstretched dry material.

Any fabric rated above UPF30 provides good protection against UV radiation but 50+ is recommended by the Cancer Council.

Eye protection

Long-term exposure to ultra-violet radiation can cause cataracts – a clouding in the lens of the eye which obscures vision – and skin cancer on the eyelids.

The Cancer Council and Eye Research Australia recommends good-quality wrap-around sunglasses that meet Australian Standard AS/NZS 1067:2003 (categories 2, 3 and 4).

Personal choices

Victor Kovalenko, the Australian Sailing Team’s head coach who spends more time on the water than most sailors I know, says: “It is important in Australia to be protected from the damaging effects of the sun. A lot of young kids are not even aware of this and we are missing some friends who have died from skin cancer.

“Our mission is to let the younger generations know they have to be protected.”

Number one on his protection list is good clothing. “Stay in the shade if you can and wear good clothing with long sleeves and big hats – I have three or four of them. Prevent your skin from drying out.”

Banana Boat is Victor’s favourite sunblock but he says any non-greasy sunscreen will do. Put on a layer before you leave the house and again when you get to the club before you go sailing. (Use of the terms sunblock and sunscreen can be confusing. Sunblock is generally regarded as any sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more).

On days when the sun’s rays are extremely strong, Victor will apply over that first layer a product called Invisible Zinc. It has the traditional zinc oxide, milled down so that it is no longer visible to the naked eye, as its blocking agent.

After sailing, wash your face and put on a new layer of sunblock if you are going back out into the sun. “You have to rinse your face because the mix of sun block and salt can cause great damage,” Kovalenko says. “If you are not going to be exposed to the sun again, put on a little bit of moisturiser to keep your skin fresh.

“Every six months get checked by a skin cancer specialist so if you have a problem it can be addressed in time.”

Kovalenko warns against using sunblock that is past expiry date. “It can damage your skin.” And don’t leave the sunblock exposed to the sun or in a hot place because it can lose its properties before the expiry date. Keep it in the fridge at home.

He also warns against the excessive use of protective lipstick. “A lot of kids get addicted and keep putting it on. It can cause damage in time. I was in trouble for two years with lipstick. You start to use it more and more, your lips get so dry. Use sunblock on the face and neck and a touch of it on the lips.”

Sunglasses? “Kaenon is number one
for sailing. They have good sun protection. You can see the wind patterns on the water very well.”

Matt Allen, offshore sailor with the modified Volvo 70 Ichi Ban and immediate past Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, after five skin cancer operations is very conscious of the need for sun protection and the need to get the message to young sailors.

“All our kids don’t worry about it. You have to keep reminding them that it is extremely important,” he says.

He uses Zincstic, the traditional white zinc cream which, he says, can be hard to find but is cheap and Actinica Lipsomal sunscreen, which is expensive.

“Zinc does not wash off so much where a lot of other products need to be re-applied, which is not that easy when you are sailing a boat,” he says.

His skin specialist has warned that continually using zinc could have long-term adverse effects and that Actinica Lipsomal is the next best thing. “It has this agent that should shrink sun spots,” Allen says.

Matt Allen sails with three items of headwear: Broad-rimmed white hat until
the wind strength makes it impractical, then a cap and finally, in rugged conditions, an old Musto cap with a neck flap.

“I will never wear a hood because part of sailing is feeling the wind on your neck and face and hoods are dangerous if someone is trying to yell a warning to you. I think there is still a challenge to design the perfect sailing hat.”

He always sails in a long-sleeved shirt with a collar. “Make sure the material has high UV protection.”

Sunglasses? “Maui Jims; they never come off your face or hat, never move and they are wrap-around so you don’t lose peripheral vision.”

Tom Slingsby, Laser Olympian and world champion: “As anyone who has seen photos of me can tell, I need to be better with sun protection; not the best skin to be a sailor.

“Depending on how long I am on the water, I always put sun cream on before sailing and if out there for extended periods of time, I will re-apply it. I usually try to get Banana Boat sunscreen. I think it’s the best type.

“I always wear a hat when sailing and I am covered head to toe in SLAM sailing gear. Other than my face and neck, I only have to put sunscreen on the back of my hands because I don’t wear gloves.

“I am still trying to adapt to wearing sunglasses while racing, but in between races and on yachts I usually wear Oakley sunglasses.”

Nicky Souter, 2009 world women’s match racing champion skipper, says that as she has become older she has been more thorough in applying sunscreen. “I usually re-apply it four times a day if we are spending all day on the water.

“We permanently have two bottles in our tool bag we take out racing each day. I’m not too fussy about what brand I use but at the moment we have Cancer Council and Garnier sunscreen in our bag.

“I apply sunscreen every day I am out on the water as you quite often get burnt in the overcast days when you’re not thinking about it.

“I quite like wearing visors or a nice well-fitted SLAM hat for on the water. I usually alternate between these two hats.

“When racing, I wear a pair of Polarised Oakleys. It’s quite important for my sunnies to be polarised; it also makes it so much easier to see the wind on the water.”

Justin (“Juggy”) Clougher, Tasmanian professional offshore sailor, based in Newport RI, USA: Sunscreen: “I will use whatever is available. My preferences are those that are low in perfume and slime factor. I buy a lot of Coppertone Sport in the 30 to 50 power. It also comes in a small pocket tube for later lube sessions.”

Also in the quiver is the spray-on Coppertone. “This spray has really revolutionised the application of sunscreen, so you can do yourself all over in a light right amount, including the back. The stuff is great, dries quickly and works, but it is premium priced.

“Sunscreen in the eyes is the biggest drag in the world. So I go for the Coppertone. It has a moisturiser too and is so easy to put on in the morning at home before the sweat happens. The spray-on has an alcohol base so it goes on easily over a sweat layer and dries real quick.

“Other favourite brand is the Bullfrog QuickGel; another quick-dry brand low in perfume and with no eye-burn factor. Apply at least two tubes a day and three if you can.”

Clougher says that technical-line shirts and shorts have brought a better level of comfort to “the wet boys”.

“Pretty much every brand has a technical line that is satisfactory in quick-dry and breathable levels. The polypro gear can start to get really skanky after a while to the point where it’s in the bin, mate.

“But I am fortunate to have ‘Magic Carpet’. I can come home from two weeks away on some sweatbox festering foreign soil, throw my filthy skanky gear into the corner of the bedroom and mate, it’s Magic! I come back a couple of days later and it’s all washed and folded – fantastic!

“I am pretty sure that the ‘magician’ (6ft and blonde) uses NapiSan on the polypro gear to get the stink and muck out. That’s her preferred product in this department.

“You really can’t go wrong with technical tee shirts and they come in long sleeves, too.

“Broad-brimmed hats are the go but it’s hard to find a good one with a brim that’s not too big and stays rigid enough to protect. The good ones get even better with a lot of salt soaking and sun baking. I never wash my broady because it stays stiffer when it’s dirty and salty.

“Any sports cap is good when you have your foulies on full hood mode. It keeps the spray out of your eyes, which is a big help at pace with lots of firehose punishment and it keeps the old nose from a burn.

“Sunglasses are all good these days, but expensive. The better the quality, the more they cost; pretty much like wine or cars! And then you crack them up or lose them. Bugger!

“I run the Oakley brand, which has a proven track record in sporting arenas. I like the Iridium lens, which has a light-reflective coating. The best sports frame around is the Oakley Radar. It sticks on your head like the proverbial stuff that clings to blankets and they have great lens coverage.

“I always take two pairs of shades to events as backups are necessary AND if you rotate the frame types from time to time you don’t end up with ‘skull dent’ or ‘brain dent’ from wearing hugging sun glasses in the same spot for days on end.”

Sam Newton, 18ft skiff and Rolex Sydney-Hobart race-winning crew member, and boat maintenance business proprietor says not only sailing most of the week but also working outdoors for a lot of the rest, has made him constantly aware of sun protection.

“It is important to find a sunscreen that you like and are happy to wear. There are a lot out there that are either too thick or too thin and really don’t sit well with your eyes while sailing. This is a big deal sailing the 18ft skiffs as we don’t wear sunglasses and are constantly being sprayed by water.

“It’s always nicer not to wear sunscreen but when you get badly burnt on day one of the regatta, it never helps the results. In a wet environment, I find you need to apply it every two or three hours. It’s easy to forget, when you are pre-occupied and have the cold wind blowing on your face, but you do need to do it, especially if you have fair skin like me.

“When on yachts, I find it easiest to make sure there is some sunscreen on deck in the rope bags or even put some in my pocket to remind myself. I always bring my own.

“When it comes to headwear, I like visors. Normal hats give me a headache and visors just never blow off. You can’t beat the white Zhik visor.

“I have also found that the polarised Kaenon sunglasses are great to spot the wind, with their large uninterrupted lenses.”

Grant Wharington, owner/skipper of the maxi offshore racer Wild Thing and Etchells sailor: “I generally wear fully-covered arms and legs so don’t apply much sunscreen but when I do, to my face, it’s usually Hamiltons or a similar non-greasy product.

“I apply Blistex to my lips about every 30 minutes while sailing. I find it the best for protection and avoiding cold sores.

“I ALWAYS wear a hat and cannot even go outside without sunglasses on. I use and prefer Kaenon sunnies. They are fantastic for both the Etchells and maxi with excellent polarised lenses.

Andrew Palfrey, coach and currently world champion crew in the Etchells and 5.5 Metre classes: “I don’t particularly like applying sunscreen because I don’t like the oily feeling on my face. I put it on because I have to, as opposed to wanting to put it on.

“I don’t have any favourites as such, but I avoid the really greasy types. For a long day I will apply it in the morning before I go outside and again before going on the water.”

Palfrey prefers the Kaenon polarised sunglasses but admits: “I would spend a great deal of time without glasses on when I am sailing. I don’t like the water on the lenses so I don’t bother.

“When I’m coaching, I spend a lot of time looking through the lens of a camera. I guess this is why my eyes are generally red!”

Palfrey has no headware favourites. “For longer periods on shore doing boat work I revert to a wide-brimmed hat. Other than that, I wear a baseball cap for comfort.”