Apparel and Accessories

In terms of cut and detailing, different sailing styles require very different approaches. A cruising-style jacket (or a jacket designed for more casual offshore racing) will typically feature a longer three-quarter length, or hip-length, cut.

Although breathable fabrics are now pretty much universal, all breathable fabrics are not made by Gore-Tex. Ever since the company’s patent on semi-permeable microporous PTFE expired over a decade ago, a number of other manufacturers have started created similar materials, or “membranes,” that work equally well.

Like base layers, midlayers are another part of the foul weather gear equation that has undergone major changes in recent years. Time was that base layers consisted almost exclusively of fluffy, quick-drying synthetic fleeces.

Helly Hansen developed the first “wicking” synthetic base layer back in the early 1970s, and according to Helly’s Kristoffer Ulrickson, the basic concept has remained pretty much the same ever since.

For years West Marine has been offering its own line of branded foul-weather gear, and its Trysail jacket and bibs serve as an excellent example of what to look for in bluewater cruising gear.

Stuff going over the side is one of the hazards of sailing, but these new “Floater” polarized photochromic shades from Australia’s Barz Optics will stay on the water’s surface, even in rough conditions.

It’s not often that a pair of shorts really grabs our attention, but these shorts from Liquid Flow did just that—and then some. Made from a super-soft, quick-dry micro-fiber material, they can be used as swim trunks in the afternoon and then worn out on the town at night.

It’s just you, your sails, the wind and water. You don’t need anything else to enjoy a good summer cruise. Oh, who are we kidding? There’s all kinds of fun and useful gear, and our ten favorites for this summer are sure to take your next cruise into some serious fun territory.

Most people are familiar with the Green Movement, but what about the Blue one? As sailors, this cause should be near and dear to our hearts. The blue movement is about the oceans that occupy 70 percent of the Earth and our dependence on them.

This very cool “Soul” drysuit, from Victoria, British Columbia, is a brainchild of the sailboarders and kite surfers running Ocean Rodeo Sports. Cut to resemble well-tailored snowboarding gear, the Soul is built with multiple breathable waterproof layers.