When it comes to foul weather gear, coastal and around-the-buoys keelboat sailors are sometimes stuck between a rock and hard place. You can go for the full-on offshore outfit, but that’s a little bit like owning a Ferrari just to get to and from the local Walmart.  Or you can opt for more dinghy-oriented gear—spray tops and lightweight salopettes—and keep your fingers crossed that you’re not going to get hosing. Enter Gill’s Verso system, no-frills jacket and trousers that bridge the gap between offshore and dinghy gear.  

         Both are made of Gill Marine‘s trademarked XPLORE+ fabric, which can be machine washed. Yes, like all other foul weather gear on the market today, it’s breathable, but what we immediately noticed is that this stuff feels rugged. Not around-the-world rugged, but something you’d be fine with on a weekend race where the weather suddenly goes south or around the buoys on a blustery fall or spring day. It doesn’t have anywhere near the bulk or stiffness of true offshore gear, nor is it so light that after a long afternoon you’ll be running for a hot shower once you get off the water. 

         The jacket: no lining, three pockets, a tuck-away high-viz hood and Velcro wrist closures.  Basic. But spend a little more time with it, and you’ll discover some cool details.  Inside each cuff are inner seals that can be secured snuggly around each wrist with a Velcro tab for a true watertight fit. The back lower hem is extended just over five inches to avoid “ride-up” when sitting. That’s supplemented with an elastic draw string that runs around the bottom of the jacket.

Up top, there’s a comfortable fleece collar liner. When fully zipped, the collar tops out just around chin level, which is about perfect for keeping spray out. With the tuck-away hood, we expected some uncomfortable bulk on the back of the collar, but we hardly knew it was there. Nice surprise. Add in three-way adjustments for hood and collar, and you’re set to stay dry and warm in just about any position on deck. Available in black or light grey. $385.

         The trousers continue the basic theme, but with a few variations. Most obvious is the touch-screen pocket, located on the upper right thigh. It’s big enough to hold just about any size phone or GPS and behind it is a pocket large enough for a pair of sailing gloves.  A sturdy Velcro-sealed flap keeps contents of both pockets secure. Inside the main pocket is a loop for keys, a knife or anything of similar ilk. We love the attention to detail.

OK, enough with the pocket already. Gill calls these trousers, but a more specific name—salopettes—seems to fit them better.  In height, they come up just under the neck, and there are wide, comfortable shoulder straps that can be set in one of two positions, along with Gill’s SuperStretch back panel that not only stretches but allows air to easily pass through—great for one of those days that suddenly heats up, leaving you with no opportunity to doff the foul-weather gear. As you’d expect, knees and seat are heavily reinforced. Inside the waterproof zipper is a large gusset to double down on keeping water out. Available in black only. $385.

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This is Gill’s top-of-the-line sailing glove. It has the same Dura-Grip reinforcement as its predecessor, but the coverage is expanded, going well down on the palm and up and over the fingertips, as well as a reinforcing band around the top of the thumb opening, which should lengthen the life of the glove. The only downside is that there is a little less feel at the fingertips—probably not a big issue unless you are trying to do fine tactile activities. Not a deal-breaker, as it’s pretty easy to just take the gloves off, if necessary. Rather than sewing the grip material flat onto the glove, as it was before, it is now integrated into sides of each finger, proving a more seamless transition that should be less prone to lifting over time. The other primary materials in the glove are as before—a proprietary leather-like material in color and texture called Proton-Ultra XD on the palm side and four-way stretch nylon across the back. The glove has been shortened at the wrist, improving watch access, and the Velcro wrist strap has been enlarged and now fastens on the outside of the wrist instead of on the inside, as was the case with the previous model. The larger size makes it easier to attach and the location minimizes the possibility of snagging. Both big plusses. We checked out a size large and it was a fairly snug large, so if you’re close to the top end of your size range, you might opt for the next size up, unless you prefer a really snug fit.

$46.95.

Championship Glove

The Championship model is a step down from the Pro in price, but shares many of the same quality and design features with its more expensive sibling—seamless Dura-Grip on the palm and up over the fingertips, the same four-way stretch fabric across the back, a shortened length for watch access and the wrist closure enlarged and moved to the outside of the wrist. The primary difference is in the use of the stretch nylon in areas where the Pro glove uses the more rugged Proton-Ultra XD. Think leather gloves versus fabric. Still, the Championship has reinforcement where you need it most, and it should perform comparably with the Pro. Tactile use at the fingertips is slightly better than the Pro, perhaps because the Dura-Grip is wrapped over thinner stretch material, whereas the Pro wraps over the thicker leather-like material. Again, not a deal-breaker. The Championship Glove runs a little on the small side, although not quite as much as the Pro, perhaps because there is more stretch material here, which gives a little more.

$36.95.

Helmsman Glove

Here’s a cold-weather glove that, while you could use it in other positions on the boat, is really is designed for what its name suggests. A Thinsulate PrimaLoft lining keeps hands warm during long stints at the wheel or tiller, something any driver will appreciate during the spring and fall or on the occasional chilly summer night watch. And when damp, it still provides warmth. The soft shell is waterproof and breathable, with a gauntlet-style cuff that can be worn over or under foul weather gear. The glove is secured with a Velcro closure on the outside of the wrist where it’s least likely to snag, and a stretchy drawstring around the cuff reduces water ingress. For improved touch-screen capability, there’s a suede-like material at the tip of the forefinger, eliminating the need to remove the gloves when changing instrument modes. Like the other Gill products, the Helmsman incorporates the brand’s rugged Dura-Grip on the palm and up and over the fingertips and thumb for when the helm might be called on to trim sails or grind. Sizing seems true, as the large proved a comfortable fit.

$54.95.

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There are skiff suits, and then there are skiff suits. Gill Marine’s new cold-weather FireCell Skiff Suit and FireCell top are in the latter category, as they’re well beyond your basic neoprene sailing gear. Both have been put through their paces on the SailGP circuit with the U.S. and UK teams. We got our hands on a set, and every time we examined a different part of the kit, we saw yet another cool innovation. Let’s start with the construction.

In the front of the skiff suit, running from the neck down to just above the knees, and inside the back of the race top, is Gill’s new “FireCell” material, which traps air in its thermal pockets. It’s constructed of a three-layer sandwich of nylon, foam and liner, and feels like tightly woven fleece on the inside, warm and comfortable. Opposite the FireCell layer—on the back of the skiff suit and the front of the race top—are thermal panels constructed of high-stretch, water-repellent material that dries quickly and provides additional warmth. Both pieces are rated for use from 39 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other details include glued, taped and blind-stitched seams, pre-bent knees, hems in limb openings that are lined with grippy silicone to prevent ride-up and, for the guys, a relief opening. Four-way stretch material in shoulders, sides and arms improves mobility. The neck opening in the top is made of a soft, stretchy “Glideskin” to prevent chafe and make the top easier to get on and off. Abrasion-resistant panels are on the seat, running well down the back of the upper legs, and on the knees.

Both are available in sizes JL through XXL. FireCell Skiff Suit: $269. FireCell Race Top: $169. For more, www.gillmarine.com

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Sailing World’s College Rankings, presented by Gill, are determined by an open coaches poll. For more information on the poll, or on how your team’s coach can become a part of it, visit http://bit.ly/9jqgev. This is the sixth and final national ranking for the Fall 2017 season, based on results through December 19th.

The fall semester is done and college sailors look forward to some time spent off with their families over the holidays. In the meantime, coaches have had a chance to reflect on the season so far, and weigh in on their thoughts for the best teams in each conference. For teams that haven’t sailed against each other much so far, this round of rankings gives a snapshot of some of the teams we can look forward to seeing compete during the coming spring season.

Top teams:

Full Rankings:

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Sailing World’s College Rankings, presented by Gill, are determined by an open coaches poll. For more information on the poll, or on how your team’s coach can become a part of it, click here. The number of first place votes a team received is in brackets.

COED

Also receiving votes: Cornell, Old Dominion, University of California at Santa Barbara, Marquette, Coast Guard, Rhode Island, Eckerd, South Florida, Connecticut, Hampton, Southern California, California Maritime Academy, Hawaii, Pennsylvania.

WOMENS

Also receiving votes: Harvard, South Florida, Eckerd, Vermont, Southern California, Bowdoin, Tufts, Old Dominion, Pennsylvania, Gannon, Jacksonville.

The post Sailing World College Rankings, November 16 2017 appeared first on Sailing World.

Sailing World’s College Rankings, presented by Gill, are determined by an open coaches poll. For more information on the poll, or on how your team’s coach can become a part of it, click here. The number of first place votes a team received is in brackets.

COED

Also receiving votes: Coast Guard, Bowdoin, Rhode Island, Fordham, Jacksonville, Connecticut College, Eckerd, U. Penn, U.C.S.B, South Florida, Northeastern, U.V.M., Hampton.

WOMEN’S

Also receiving votes: Tufts, Northeastern, U.C.S.B., U.V.M., U. Penn, Eckerd, Old Dominion, Bowdoin.

17 coaches participated: Allison Jolly, Jack Swikart, Johnny Norfleet, Billy Martin, John Mollicone, Cori Radtke, Scott Ikle, Clinton Hayes, Conner Blouin, Zach Runci, Greer Wattson, Emilie Blinderman, Janel Zarkowsky, Dillon Paiva, Tyler Colvin, Chris Klevan, Brian Clancy.

The post Sailing World College Rankings, 2, 2017 appeared first on Sailing World.

COED

Also receiving votes: South Florida, Hampton, Jacksonville , Connecticut, Cornell, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, California Maritime Academy, Southern California, Northeastern.

WOMEN’S

Also receiving votes: South Florida, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Roger Williams, Bowdoin, Northeastern, Fordham, Old Dominion, California Maritime Academy, California Channel Islands, Hawaii.

The post Sailing World College Rankings, October 17 2017 appeared first on Sailing World.

Lightweight and stretchy, the Gill Race Soft Shell Smock is the perfect piece of gear for your regatta pack when the weather is unpredictable. Sporty and versatile, this smock is made out of bi-component lightweight stretch fabric. The inner layer is sweat wicking and the outer finish is durable and water repellant.

Don’t let the performance fool you, this sleek layer is also highly breathable and the quarter zip neckline allows for cool ventilation. For days when the breeze picks up or the weather goes south, this smock is a sure way to stay comfortable no matter what the conditions. It looks great as a layering piece or alone, and even better when your boat name is monogrammed on it!

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The Gill Keelboat Racer Trouser is the perfect purchase those looking for the versatile fit of bibs, but with the cut of a salopette. Lightweight and simple with only one noticeable ​ tactician pocket for course maps or devices, these trousers are lightweight yet tough. They offer racers a reinforced seat and knees, d-ring attachment for tools, and the versatile Gill 4-Dot fabric which offers high performance, waterproofing and breathability.

What stands out about the Gill Racers is their extreme adjustability. Sure to fit any body type, the trouser offers adjustability at the shoulders and a SuperStretch back panel. The waist adjustment and retractable ankle adjusters mean that these trousers can be just as easily paired with a performance tee and trainers as well as a thick fleece underneath or boots.

The reinforced waterproof seams mean that you can battle even the rainiest or wettest of conditions in these trousers, and the salopette design keeps your torso dry is the wind picks up. Paired with the Keelboat Racer Jacket, these Trousers create a sporty look sure to be the envy of all other sailors on the water.

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It seems like every season means a new pair of gloves. We’ve chopped up gardening gloves, looked like we were about to go to work doing dishes and have wrapped our hands in e-tape looking like a boxer about to hop into the ring in hopes of lessening the pain of the inevitable blisters that occur once you’ve held the sheets for so many hours. Gill, the world leader in sailing gloves has brought a new pair to the market that mean never trying any crazy tricks to save your hands again.

This fall Gill introduced its Pro glove to the market and they are unlike anything else Sailing World has ever seen. Made out of Dura-Grip fabric, these gloves mean you will never lose your grasp, no matter how rainy or slippery things are onboard. In addition to keeping your grip, the Proton-Ultra palm and finger constructions prevents rope burn and has tested high above any other methods out there.

Despite the durability of new fabrics, Gill hasn’t sacrificed any flexibility. The stretch woven fabric allows sailors to keep their dexterity. The difference is in the details, the contoured fit and pre-curved fingers prevent any unnecessary change in shape, the generous thumb and index finger allow a better fit than ever before and maximum protection. The wrist closures also prevent sailors from starting their watches on accident.

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