Decent sailing gloves are an essential part of being both comfortable and safe when afloat in the winter months. Wet hands get cold very quickly, so it’s particularly important that…
Gear
6 best sun protection and comfort kit for sailors
Year-round exposure to the sun and the double-hit of rays reflecting off the water means that sailors have a high risk of skin damage, making sun protection key onboard. Liveaboards…
Best boat binoculars: 3 top options on the market
For sailors choosing the best boat binoculars can be a difficult call. What areas should you be looking to prioritise? Every sailor knows that anxious moment as you’re making a…
Gear: G-SHOCK Smartwatch – waterproof watch
The new G-SHOCK Smartwatch– the GSW-H1000 – includes an optical heart rate sensor, compass, altitude/air pressure sensor, accelerometer, gyrometer and GPS. The 1.2in colour screen has a three-tier user configurable…
Gear: ATP2 processor – ethernet networking
A+T’s ATP2 processor allows for full ethernet networking using a single wire linking all sensors and displays. This cable also supplies 12V power to low draw items such as sensors.…
GEAR: Calypso portable ultrasonic wind sensor
The Calypso portable ultrasonic wind sensor comes at a time when onboard systems are becoming increasingly integrated and fits well in a captain’s electronic instrument arsenal. Wireless wind sensors have…
Gear: Loop Boa Base – nifty stacking clutch
The Loop Boa Base is an extremely neat idea for adding extra clutches in places where there would otherwise be no convenient deck space. It allows them to be stacked…
New Gear: Wuzzos Corinthian Pro
The Wuzzos Corinthian Pro is a new high spec deck shoe which uses leather and mesh to maximise ventilation and drainage, while the dual density outsole is engineered to absorb…
Best waterproof bag: 8 drybags tested
Once a novelty, then a go-to item for dinghy sailors, a drybag is now a must have for all sailors and watersports enthusiasts. After all, why would you not keep…
Best cooler box and cooling kit for sailors
With the summer now in full swing, keeping cool is key for those of us spending time out on the water. And for those of us heading to the beach…
Hydrogen power: Is the future of onboard power here?
We all know that hydrogen is the power of the future. After all, scientists have been discussing it for decades. Between zero emissions, zero noise and no vibration, it is…
Reviewed: BRNKL remote boat monitoring system
Since the start of the Covid crisis many of us have been separated from our yachts for much longer than usual. Fortunately, there are a growing number of options for…
Gear: New Seldén soft attachment blocks
Increasingly sailors are turning to soft attachment blocks for the many positive attributes they offer. Originally they may have been seen as a weight saving bit of kit for performance…
Water for sailing: We survey the ARC fleet to find popular options
Water is the source of all life. For any sailor considering extended cruising or an ocean crossing, the ability to carry or produce sufficient fresh water for sailing is a…
Seasickness cure: Could VR be the future?
A true seasickness cure has long been hoped for as the debilitating problem has followed sailors for centuries. Charles Darwin gave a warning to any of his readers tempted to…
North Sails clothing: A sailing kit revolution?
Very rarely do new brands of wet weather gear come along, so when North Sails decided to enter the foray and produce their own North Sails clothing it had to…
Food for sailing: Our guide to the best options
While we know the top professional sailors, Olympians and America’s Cup grinders are lean, mean machines who inhale protein shakes to fuel their elite exercise routines, there is also a…
Lithium boat batteries: Why now is the right time to upgrade your electrics
Larger new cruising yachts, especially those at the quality end of the market, have been routinely fitted with lithium boat batteries for the past few years. Arcona, for instance, says…
iPad sailing: Pip Hare’s top tips on using your tablet to navigate
These days it’s rare for me not to use a tablet as part of my navigation equipment. The fact I can take my tablet with me anywhere in the world…
Monitoring apps: How the Internet of Things can turn your boat into a smart boat
What is it? Real time boat monitoring that allows remote checking of a vessel’s status and essential systems. Who is it for? Any owner who wants to know how their…