Plea for big sailing boots
I love YM and have written in and supported the magazine in the past with ‘mast climbing advice’ and comparison tests, although I have just retired. This summer
I plan to fulfil a life-long ambition, and take my boat across the Atlantic (ARC+).
I have a problem… large feet.
Until 2018, Musto made both sailing boots and shoes in UK size 14. They fit perfectly and lasted a long time (HPX boots… 14 years – and I sail a fair bit).
Sadly this is no more. I’m struggling to find a breathable, short boot for everyday wear. Since Musto was bought by Helly Hansen, it has stopped making large sizes and no amount of flattery or pleading can move it. I have written to all the major (and minor) brands, pleading for help. No joy.
Clearly those of us burdened with large feet should no longer sail...
I can get sailing shoes from many sources, so the soles are available... and I have tried to find a company willing to make boots to fit the soles... no interest. Just rejection letters. I cannot be the only size-14 sailor. Can you assist? I am desperate! Barney Green
The shoe manufacturers respond:
Zhik’s largest boot is UK 13.5, Musto’s is UK 13, Solite says their UK 12 expand to UK 13. Dubarry are sending Barney the Crosshaven and Ultima Extrafit size 48 (UK 13.5) in ‘Extra Wide’. Gill has offered to make a special pair of boots when they go into production.
A Dubarry spokesperson said: ‘The problem we have is that the outsole sizing is based on moulds, which cost thousands of pounds per size. For Volvo Ocean Race sailors we have regularly had requests for very large sizes. In many cases the size 48 Extrafit has done the trick. We could, at an extreme, try and stretch a size 48 and it might squeeze an extra half size.’
Barney responds: ‘I had no idea my note would galvanise such support... Many thanks! Gill has been magnificent, offering to make me a special boot. Sadly it only makes rubber boots and I was hoping to find a short, breathable boot. Fingers crossed for Dubarry... and nail clippers!’ forms, such as HF Radio. The Icom IC-SAT100 only works with the Iridium Satellite Network, which has global cover. Unlike a standard Iridium device, the Icom operates like a VHF radio where the user selects a channel (known as a talk group) and pushes a button to talk to those who are subscribed to the same network.
This is known as PTT or push to talk. Iridium PTT networks are private and reasonably secure. There is a monthly fee for each handset and a further fee for each talk group (based on the size of geographical area covered). Users can then use PTT in the same way as a VHF radio. This is a private network, so it’s not possible to make phone calls or communicate with coastguards, port authorities and ships (except for vessels with same technology who are subscribed to the same talk group). In the aid world, we are starting to roll out Iridium PTT to countries where we currently use HF Radio. In the yachting sector, Iridium PTT could be a lower cost tool for managing safety within teams participating in ocean racing events.
Finally, Iridium PTT is not GMDSS compliant, so while it’s useful for group communications, mariners should also retain VHF and longer-range GMDSS communications. Mark Hawkins, MRIN
Theo Stocker responds: Many thanks Mark. Satellite communications is a fastdeveloping area and certainly one we will return to in these pages soon.