Fashionable foulies
What with the Olympics and the America’s Cup, much of the recent development in sailing clothing has been focused on racing gear. While the Olympics have been postponed, and we probably don’t want to think too hard about the AC36 following Ben Ainslie’s elimination at the hands of the Italians, there is lots of new product coming through.
From ocean racers like Alex Thompson and Thomas Coville to Olympic hopefuls, those at the highest levels of our sport are instrumental in trialling new gear and providing feedback through commercial partnerships. Here’s a round-up of the best gear, and the sailors helping to shape it.
Cruising foulies
Gill’s mid-range OS3 wet weather gear has had an overhaul this year. Designed for coastal sailing, the jacket looks substantially the same, but it has seen some technical improvements. Performance comes from two layers of fabric, offering up to 20,000mm of waterproofing and 60 per cent breathability. This system has been rebranded Xplore, and represents medium to entry level performance, with excellent durability. Intriguingly, Gill is one of the first brands to switch to a plant-derived waterproof treatment for OS3, instead of
