Hot STYLES for SUMMER
As sailing season heats up, consider a few hot-weather technical additions to your onboard wardrobe.
Summer’s arrival marks the oh-so-happy time to swap out the offshore foul-weather gear, full-on sea boots and warm insulating layers for the considerably greater comforts of lightweight foulies, fast-drying shirts and shorts, and—if you cruise on warmer waters than those surrounding my hometown here in Puget Sound—swimwear. Here’s a look at some of the best options afloat for sailors, based on performance attributes across a wide range of latitudes and temperatures.
Let’s begin with quick-dry garments. No hyperbole—a Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily short-sleeve shirt is one of the first items that I pack for any day on the water, irrespective of the season or expected temperature. The shirts, which are available in men’s and women’s cuts, are built from 50 to 100 percent recycled materials and quickly wick away moisture, keeping you cool on hot days or warm on the chilly ones. Better still, the shirts, which are also available with long sleeves, deliver a 50-plus ultravioletprotection factor, and they come with Patagonia’s proprietary Heiq Fresh odor-resistant treatment.
When it comes to sailing under the unblinking noonday sun, Patagonia’s Tropic Comfort II Hoody shirts offer some of the best protection afloat, with a UPF rating of 50-plus. These shirts, which come in both men’s and women’s versions, sport generous-size hoods that are designed to comfortably pull over a baseball cap or visor, giving your face and head its own sun shelter. The hoodies are made from recycled material, are highly breathable, and come fitted with thumb loops so the sleeves can offer great protection for the backs of the hands.
The ability to wick away moisture from one’s skin is critical for making hot days tolerable. Helly Hansen has you covered with its Tech shirts, which come in both men’s and women’s styles and in long-sleeve and short-sleeve trims. All Tech shirts are built using a lightweight polyester fabric, and have flat-lock seams that are designed to be worn against bare skin, making these garments solid-performing base layers. All versions of the shirt are built using Helly
Hansen’s regular fit pattern.
One attribute of a well-designed piece of base-layer clothing is that you can forget you even have it on. Gill aims at this lofty mark with its UV Tec long-sleeve shirts, which come in both men’s and women’s styles. These lightweight, fast-drying and quick-wicking shirts are built from 100 percent polyester fabric, using next-toskin-friendly flat-lock seams. Better still, the shirts come with 50-plus UV protection, which helps to mitigate the sun’s ability to cook unprotected skin on full-sun days.
For the ensemble look, match the shirt with a pair of Gill UV Tec shorts. Good sailing shorts should be comfortable when moving about on the boat and have enough après-sailing style to allow you to blend in with the crowd ashore. Gill’s UV Tec shorts accomplish this
for both male and female sailors with their lightweight and fast-drying 100 percent nylon fabric, which offers 50-plus UV protection and a water-repellent treatment, as well as an adjustable waistband
and ample pocket space. This latter feature is tackled by zippered side and front pockets and button-protected back pockets.
Helly Hansen’s QD cargo shorts are another good option for a day on the water. A hallmark of a solid pair of sailing shorts is their ability to move when you move, rather than impeding activity. The QD line covers this base quite comfortably. Shorts are built from a fast-drying and stretchy ripstop polyamide fabric. They are available in both men’s and women’s styles and in multiple colors. Design features include a movement-friendly gusseted crotch, at least one snap-secured side cargo pocket, and dual hand pockets and belt loops. And, if you’re curious, they look equally great when you head out on the town.
Intended for long days spent in the wind and sun, the Musto RIB UV Fast Dry shorts come with a minimum UPF rating of 30 (darker colors are rated to 40). The shorts, which come in his and hers versions, are built from a nylon (96 percent) and spandex (4 percent) material that’s fast-drying and durable. They also feature a double-button waist closure, dual side and rear pockets, and a conservative-looking style that’s right at home at events ashore.
Moving moisture away from the body is a key component of warm-weather clothing, and Zhik’s Marine Shorts use a lightweight, stretchy and fast-drying material that helps keep wearers cool, even during summer’s dog days. Zhik’s shorts, which come in men’s and women’s versions, sport a classic chino styling with dual zippered hand pockets, belt loops and a double-button closure. Both the men’s and women’s versions are available in multiple colors and purportedly deliver the kind of on-body comfort that keeps them in steady rotation.
SWIMMING ANYONE?
Patagonia offers four interesting options when it comes time to go for a dip. Its Baggies shorts are, in a word, classic. I’ve worn mine through thousands of miles of running, hiking, sailing and swimming, and they never disappoint. While Baggies likely won’t win you the styleking award (although they’re available in multiple colors, inseam lengths, and men’s and women’s cuts), they’ll get you through any adventure—from Caribbean charters to Down
East gunkholing—with count-on-it durability.
When multisport adventures are on the agenda, perhaps mixed with some time ashore, Patagonia’s Stretch Hydroflow boardshorts stand ready to tackle any waterrelated activity. The shorts are made from a partially recycled polyester and spandex material that delivers 50-plus UPF protection and move-with-you stretch. Additionally, these boardshorts feature a surfingfriendly cut, a self-draining hip pocket (right leg) and sonic-welded seams.
Women’s one-piece swimsuits have long proved their flexibility for looking great in a variety of locales (and cultures), and Patagonia’s Women’s Glassy Dawn one-piece swimsuit should perform in any and all water conditions. The suit features adjustable cross-back straps for a snug fit and a stealthy underbust elastic for support. Better still, the suits are built from recycled materials using Fair Trade Certified sewing.
Last, Patagonia’s Nanogrip bikini (top and bottom sold
separately) features a secure fit that will hold up to any swim ladder or spinnaker swing session. The bikinis feature Patagonia’s proprietary Nanogrip microfiber lining to help it stay put, and the top sports a full-coverage triangular design with secure straps that can be easily adjusted to suit the activity du jour.
WHEN IT RAINS
While the Helly Hansen Crew hooded jacket doesn’t offer fully waterproof protection, I’ve used mine in a variety of racing and cruising situations, encompassing a variety of conditions, including winter outings on Puget Sound and summer cruising in Connecticut, and it performs well in most situations shy of a downpour (and I’ve used mine then too). The jacket, which is available in both men’s and women’s cuts, is built out of a breathable two-ply material that’s coated with a water-repellent
treatment and sports a mesh liner. The collar extends the comfort motif with a Polartec fleece lining, and its stow-away hood tucks neatly into the collar. Dual zippered hand pockets hold smartphones and shelter cold digits, and its single chest pocket is handy for storing credit cards. Finally, the jacket has a hip-length cuff that works well with bibs and features a one-handed hem-adjustment cord.
Staying dry and comfortable in a wide variety of conditions isn’t always easy, but Gill’s Pilot jacket, which is available in both men’s and women’s versions, helps inshore sailors realize this goal. The jackets are constructed from a two-layer, laminated soft polyester fabric (it feel soft on bare skin) with fully taped seams. The coat features adjustable Velcro-secured cuffs, an internal storm guard on the main zipper and a two-way adjustable roll-away hood, allowing sailors to dial in their preferred fit based on the strength of a summer squall. A high-cut neck provides shelter from the wind for one’s neck and face, while two zippered side pockets provide protection for everything from wallets and AIS MOB devices to hands. Both the men’s and women’s versions are available in four different colors, and high-visibility detailing helps crewmembers keep track of each other during dark, murky graveyard watches.
Mustang Survival designers are no strangers to soggy weather, thanks to their Vancouver, British Columbia, headquarters. The unisex Callan jacket is constructed using Mustang’s proprietary Soft Marinespectm MP fabric, and features fully sealed seams and an athletic cut, yielding a coat that moves with the wearer while also delivering breathability. It has zippered hand pockets, a single chest pocket and an alpine-style hood that’s designed to deliver great peripheral visibility. Additionally, the jacket features adjustable cuffs to keep rain and spray at bay, and an elasticized and adjustable hem blocks unwanted updrafts while locking in core warmth in chilly conditions. All zippers are water-resistant, and an internal hanging loop allows the jacket to be dried out between watches. They are available in three colors and come in a wide range of sizes, from XS to XXL.
While Musto is a household name among serious offshore sailors, the company also makes a full range of lightweight gear that’s perfect for negotiating summer rain and wind (and beyond). For example, the BR1 inshore jacket, which is available in both men’s and women’s styles and in a multitude of colors, is built from Musto’s proprietary, two-layer, breathable BR1 fabric and features a fleece lining. Seams are taped, and the coat has a sturdy zipper, a water-resistant coating, elasticized cuffs, zippered hand-warmer pockets, and secure cargo pockets (great for storing AIS MOBS or flashlights), plus articulated sleeves for greater freedom of movement. Both the men’s and women’s jackets feature high-cut fleece-lined collars and fluorescent, roll-away drop hoods that are two-way adjustable. The hems and seat areas of all BR1 inshore jackets are reinforced, and reflective piping and detailing helps your shipmates keep track of you during low-light watches or pub crawls.
Australia-based clothier Zhik is no stranger to big offshore conditions such as those encountered in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race or hot summer days of cruising along the Lucky Country’s beautiful coastlines, islands and Great Barrier Reef. Such experiences are reflected in the company’s Z-cru coats, which are available for both sexes. Z-cru jackets are built from a highly breathable, two-layer polyurethane fabric and feature carefully situated mesh paneling that helps promote breathability, comfort and ease of layering. The hoodless jacket features a minimalist design that features two zippered hand pockets, a zippered external chest pocket, and internal chest pockets. Adjustable Velcro cuffs keep spray outboard of a wearer’s sleeves, and darted elbows deliver user-friendly articulation. Both the men’s and women’s versions of the jacket are available in a bevy of colors, however the men’s version is available in XS through XXXL sizing, while the women’s jacket comes in XS through XL.