@neauoire From his pocket he pulled out a pair of shapeless oiled wool mittens. To our astonishment, before he put them on, he leaned over the side and dunked them, warm and dry, into the water, squeezed them out, then put them on half-sodden. “It’s better,” he said. “Not so cold later.” He was quite right; the gloves acted like wet-suit gloves and reduced the wind’s chill.

-- The Brendan Voyage, Tim Severin