To all the aficionados out there, we're not getting mixed up with our seafaring wardrobes.
We know the difference between a yacht and a tall ship, but we wanted to show you how you can mingle on Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides with the best of the crews this week and how the whiff of salt air might just create a flicker of maritime influence to your (becoming) jaded summer wardrobe.
There are well known sailing clothing lines - Musto, Helly Hansen, Gill and, of course, Capt. O.M. Watts.
It looks casual, but there are slight touches that make these garments sea worthy; the easy to spot tight armholes and waists, the deck grip soles on the shoes, the slightly brighter colourways and reflective strips.
What you've got to remember about life in-shore (that is, within sight of the coast) and off-shore (right out to sea) is that water comes at you from all sides, so the aim of sea worthy clothing is to remain warm and dry.
It's hard to recover from being wet and ultimately cold if the drying air is full of spray.
Sailors at the top of their class rig out their boats with the very best sails and the very best gear. Many a sailing `widow' will complain that the yacht has a better wardrobe than she has, but in the very best gear, boats and people alike perform better.
And like yachts these days have Kevlar sails instead of the old fashioned natural fibres, so sailing clothing is lightweight and fast drying.
Modern day off-shore clothing looks vaguely historical, not so far removed from the trawler skipper wear, with its high salopettes and colours and reflective properties, but it's all those things because of the water.
To be sealed at the cuff, the waist and tied tight round the face means you are totally waterproof, and many jackets these days have in-built buoyancy within them in case of accidents.
Jenny Vaughan, 49, of Slaley, Northumberland, is a keen sailor when the opportunity arises. She has a day skipper ticket and is a veteran of Cowes Week, West Highland Wee, and the Scottish Series. She also stresses the importance of keeping light and agile. Her `position' on a yacht, as a bow-woman, requires being fleet of foot and mind.
"There's lots of nylon used for its quick drying and waterproof abilities, and the nylon and polyester fleeces wick moisture away. It's not so long ago that the waterproofs were so waterproof that sweating was a major problem.
An early attempt at creating a breathable membrane led to the salt eating away and breaking the fabric down, but it's been perfected now."
The `crew' method of dressing all in the same branded T-shirt won't be lost on football supporters; it's all part of the same mental processes. You're part of a winning team and you want to wear the same uniform to let others see just that.
"There's a lot of camaraderie on board," says Jenny. "When you're sailing competitively you are with a crew of people that you depend on, rely and trust. There's a great deal of mutual respect and the successful crews like to be very visible with their distinctive logos, T-shirts and caps. There's a fine line between when the race ends and the socialising begins."
Women have their own clothing lines, but many styles are unisex and available in a good range of sizes. Jenny says all the garments are performance led, but as you're often wearing the same clothes for days on end it's best to pick colours that are serviceable. Inner layers are about keeping warm and dry, the outer layers are about health and safety.
But some manufacturers took a little while to cotton on to some designs that were less suitable for ladies.
Jenny's sailing wardrobe has three layers. A thermal body, an intermediate fleece and a totally waterproof top layer.
She cites a personal breakthrough a few years ago. Although she's an experienced sailor, there are occasions when she's a little under the weather.
A company called Patagonia invented the drop seat salopette for women. Just imagine how that changed her life!
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