Apparel and Accessories

By David SchmidtAs a kid, I scoffed at sunscreen. Now I seek out intelligent sailing gear that comes loaded with an SPF rating (perhaps that’s the inner kid still hating to rub on the slippery stuff). Sunday Afternoon’s Sun Tee shirt perfectly fits this bill. Not only does it have an SPF 50 rating, but its soft, meshlike fabric feels cool on a hot day, and it dries super-fast, even

When I was a junior sailor, I scoffed at sun protection; now that rates of skin cancer have dramatically increased, I pay close attention. Sun Day Afternoons’s Adventure Hat offers great UV protection (the hat’s material carries a 50+ SPF rating) and, thanks to its generous, down-sloped bill, plenty of shade. What caught my eye was the hat’s long back veil, which keeps the sun off your neck. The

By Peter NielsenThese full-height boots have a waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex lining, leather outers on the foot part, and a tough woven nylon outer covering on the upperworks. Uniquely among seaboots, they also have built-in gaiters – stretchy waterproof nylon sleeves into which your pants can be tucked, thereby minimizing the chance of a shot of icy water up your leg. I

Early-season sailing’s burly temps and biting winds demand extra-warm clothing, like this Solo jacket from Arc’Teryx. The Solo is an insulating layer intended to be worn under a shell or foul-weather jacket; it relies on ThermaTek insulation, a hydrophobic, hollow-fiber filament that packs big heat, for its minimal weight and bulk. The Solo features articulated elbows for ease of movement, dual

Days away from port and thousands of miles offshore, a sailor in the Volvo Ocean Race decides whether to eat chicken la king, beef stroganoff, or three-cheese lasagna for dinner. But the teams in the round-the-world race are not airlifting in home-cooked entres, and they have not hired chefs. The sailors’ hot meals come from freeze-dried and dehydrated food. It’s the

When it’s wet and cold outside, few fibers keep you as comfortable as wool. Smart-Wool garments are not scratchy like some woolen clothing and will keep you well insulated and free of damp, itch, and odor thanks to its internal merino wool construction. Clothing of various types for men, women, and children offer amazing warmth for the weight. See the Web site for products and prices. Smart-

Rolex’s new elegant-yet-functional Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II makes it easier to hit the line exactly as the starting gun fires. Available in either yellow or white gold, the watch has impeccable style and features an innovative programmable countdown memory (controlled by rotating the bezel). Prices range from $31,500 to $34,850, depending on the model. Rolex,

Looking for one pair of “go-to” shades that will serve you equally well on the water, at the club, or on the golf course? If so, Kaenon’s new Kabin model could be your answer. The glasses, made in Italy using injection-molded TR-90 plastic for durability and minimal weight, feature simple-yet-elegant styling. The Kabin’s ultra-grippy Variflex nose pads will hold the glasses

Foul weather often demands only a thin layer of protection, yet many sailing jackets are heavier and bulkier than needed for inshore racing or coastal cruising. The lightweight Atlantis Microburst shell is designed for use in light rain, wind, fog, and mist. It is available with or without a hood, has oversized pockets, an athletic cut, armpit zips for shedding excess heat, and is made from

Interested in frostbiting? If so, your extremities will thank you for investing in a new drysuit. Gul recently launched their new Code Zero with “action fit” cut, which strategically incorporates ergonomically-positioned stretch panels, giving the user better range of motion. The suit, which is made out of Gul’s proprietary GCX4 fabric is both breathable and waterproof, and features heat-taped