Apparel + Accessories

Sea Creatures

by Adam Cort, Posted September 27, 2011

The toughest part of using a life jacket is making sure to put the thing on. This goes double for kids. There’d have to be something seriously wrong, though, with any kid who wouldn’t want to wear a life jacket like this. Opa Cove’s Sea Squirts line includes both U.S. Coast Guard certified life jackets and “swim assist” vests for youngsters still working on their dog paddle. The vests’ neoprene

Garmin's Quatix GPS Watch

by Adam Cort, Posted April 11, 2013

The Quatix GPS watch is waterproof to 50 meters and puts an incredible amount of information right on your wrist, including everything from course over ground (COG) and velocity made good (VMG) data to an anchor-dragging alarm.

Manage Your Body Temp

by Adam Cort, Posted March 18, 2013

Helly Hansen is taking personal “temperature management” to a whole new level with its H2 Flow jacket, which can be worn as either a mid-layer or a stand-alone outer layer.

Comfortable Lifejackets for Racing and Cruising

by Adam Cort, Posted February 6, 2013

Gill’s new dinghy and technical-style lifejackets are configured with racing in mind, but thanks to their comfort and freedom of movement, they also work well for inshore cruising and daysailing.

Comfort at Sea and Ashore

by Adam Cort, Posted January 25, 2013

Featuring a waterproof breathable nylon shell with taped seams, a Primaloft insulating layer, reflective piping and an elastic waistband, the Challenger jacket is equally suitable for cruising, PHRF racing or a walk in the woods.

2012 Holiday Gift Guide

by Adam Cort, Posted December 4, 2012

Think your sailing sweetheart, your old man or your competitive kid has everything they need and more for getting out on the water? The editors at SAIL come to your rescue with practical, fun and stylish new items the helmsperson in your life won't be able to resist.

Life Jacket Straps

by Adam Cort, Posted November 21, 2012

Staying afloat is only part of the battle when you go overboard. It’s equally important to keep your head and mouth clear of waves and spray—which is where West Marine’s Universal Inflatable PFD thigh straps come in.

The Scoop on Sportboat Foulies

by Meredith Laitos, Posted November 6, 2012

The third installment of our 2012 foul weather gear reviews brings you our favorite sportboat coastal foulies. Click here to view a PDF of the story from our November issue. And for more information on items that sparked our interest, read on.

The Scoop on Coastal Foulies

by Lindsey Silken, Posted October 1, 2012

The second installment of our 2012 foul weather gear reviews brings you our favorite racing and cruising coastal foulies. Click here to view a PDF of the story from our October issue. And for more information on items that sparked our interest, read on.

The Scoop on Bluewater Foulies

by Adam Cort, Posted August 29, 2012

A look at the materials and design that go into bluewater foul-weather gear. Catch our September, October and November issue features on bluewater, coastal and dinghy foul-weather gear, and check back here for more information about our favorite picks and the materials they're made of.