#sailing tech

The Regatta Box

If you're like me, during a regatta, the back of your truck or SUV can turn in to a mountain of chaos. You're tossing in items at the last minute before you leave the house, your crew tosses in items after the boat is rigged and hits the water, etc. Then after a few races, you start digging around looking for a spare shackle and you feel like you're digging out some ancient Roman ruins.

I decided to clean up my act and organize my regatta box. I went to Lowes and spent some time in their container aisle. With a few minutes of experimenting I found that the "styleselection" brand Shoe Box (13.44" x 8.02" x 4.7") fit almost perfectly sideways in the "styleselection" brand Flip-Lid Tote (12 gal, 21.75" x 15.2" x 12.5"). When I got home, I did have to cut off the little tabs on either end of the lid to make things fit better, but everything is in there nice and tight. One of the real nice aspects of this setup is that everything is in clear boxes, so finding what you're looking for is fast and easy. Overall, I think these boxes cost me approx. $15.

For those Brad Pitt/Se7en fans out there, let me tell you what's in the box. 

Lube & Polish - McLube Sailkote, McLube Hullkote, sponge, green pad, rags

Line - Spare dock line, bow line, misc. Velcro straps, spare 12-strand Spectra

Gloves - Spare sailing gloves, beer coozies (very important, keep these on top)

Rigging / Tools - Sail repair tape, rigging tape, Speedpuck, spare batteries, spare rigging parts (pins, ring dings, bolts, nuts, etc.), Loos gauge,  pliers, wrench

First aid kit

Most of the time, the PFD (personal flotation device) isn't the first thing that comes to mind when shopping for sailing gear.  But I can tell you, a good PFD makes a world of difference, especially when sailing on smaller boats.

The first big decision is between static and inflatable.  To me, this is an easy decision.  If you plan on getting wet or are working in an active environment (like the foredeck or on a smaller sportboat/dignhy), use a static PFD.  If you're on a big boat and you're not at the mast or foredeck, an inflatable should be fine.  

Here are some of my recommendations for performance, static PFDs:

Stohlquist Drifter

The Stohlquist has a good, fitted shape and lots of pockets to stash your lip balm, knife, etc.

Starting at around $100 on Amazon Extrasport Eddy 

StasThe Extrasport is a good PFD, but tends to be cheaper than the Stohlquist.  The fit may not be as snug or fitted as the Stohlquist.

Starting at around $50 on Amazon

Gill Racing PFD Sidezip

When I'm racing small boats, I prefer a sidezip.  The biggest reason is because of the pocket being centrally located.  I usually look for a pocket big enough for my knife, tape, lip balm and VHF radio.

A little while ago I did an overall review on my sailing shoes, the Sperry SeaRacer with GripX3.  Now I'd like to report on the condition of the shoes after over a year's worth of regattas in many different kinds of boats.

To start with, a little background in how often I sail.  I live in Southern Louisiana which weather wise stays pretty mild during the winter so us on the Gulf Coast can sail almost the entire year. I purchased these shoes at the beginning of the 2012 sailing season, so they about 14 months old right now.  I've been out sailing almost every one of those months on Pearson Flyers, Tartan 10s, my Viper 640, etc.

I am very happy to report that these shoes are doing great.  Let's look at each part of the shoe:

The Sole

For being at grippy at these shoes are, the soles are still holding up good.  You can see in the video below that there are a few wear spots, especially on my right shoe from where I stand on the deck.  So far, these wear spots have not affected my traction and I still feel very secure moving around a wet deck. The grip is still holding great.

The Upper

The mesh upper looks exactly like it did when I bought the shoe.  There's only a few wear areas to speak of.  On the right shoe (I really work my right foot apparently) there's one blowout that you can see in the video.  Luckily this blowout is in a confined area and really doesn't affect the performance of the shoe at all.

Also, there's a reflective piping around the laces that is getting worn.  I'm sure this is because I wear these shoes hiking in my Viper 640 and the hiking straps are wearing it down.  As a side note, because there is no hard plastic on the top of the shoe, they are very comfortable to hike in.

The Smell

One of the hardest problems to combat with sailing shoes is the smell.  I've owned shoes that smelled like a pig's ass in Texas after just one or two times on a wet day.  I am VERY happy to report that after 14 months of sailing (Wednesday nights, weekends, etc.) that these shoes barely smell at all. 

The mesh uppers have good airflow and the insoles come out very easily for rapid drying.  My one tip for wet weather sailing is wear a pair of GoreTex socks.  Not only will they keep you feet dry and warm in when paired with these shoes, but they keep the bacteria away from them as well.

Overall

Again, I am super happy with these shoes.  They are the best pair of Sperry's I've owned and probably the best pair of active sailing shoes I've tried.

Every four years the guys at the ISAF get together to figure out how to confuse the guys that just got rule 18 figured out...  For 2013 there is a new edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing coming out.  The two changes that will affect most people will be the rule changes for giving mark-room and finishing.  It's important that you review these changes and how they apply on the race course.

Of course that leads to a great Christmas gift idea - a new copy of the RSS!  US Sailing has a waterproof version for sale right now at a good discount for US Sailing members.  Only $19.95 for US Sailing members (from the $34.95 retail).

When sailing in cold weather, staying warm can be a challenge.  Sure you go out, dressed in layers like you were told.  But of course you're freezing headed upwind and you're overheated on the downwind leg... If you're lucky enough to live somewhere warm, you don't need to pull out the cold weather gear that often.  But when you do, you're probably missing this one piece of clothing - A fleece neck gaitor.

There's a reason why sailors would wear wool peacoats.  Even when wet, wool retains its thermal properties.  Fleece is our modern, synthetic alternative.  Neck gaitors are great because they offer so many options.  If you start getting cold, they're easy to put on.  If it gets colder and windier, you can cover the lower portion of your face with the gaitor.  And because they're fleece, they can take a wave and not pull the warmth away from your neck.  Once you start sailing with one, you won't be able to leave the dock without it.

There are a few essential pieces of equipment for any sailor no matter if they race or cruise.  A good knife is one of those pieces of equipment.  Not only do they fill a utility function, but they can be an important safety device.  Being able to cut away or line or open a shackle when the boat is in an emergency situation can drastically change the outcome of that situation.

Myerchin is my default knife manufacturer.  They have been making rigging knifes since 1984.  They test their knives in actual at-sea environments.  I have always been happy with the construction quality and corrosion resistance.

If I was to buy a knife for myself right now, I would choose the Myerchin Titanium Crew Pro.  Their crew knives tend to be small and fit easy in my pocket.  The titanium keeps the knife light and strong.  The blade and marlin spike lock in to the open position which is vital for personal safety.  You can find these knives on Amazon starting around $70 which may be one of the best investments you can give the sailor in your life!

Let me start off this review by stating that I am really finicky about my feet. Because of some bad decisions I made when I was a teenager and the subsequent surgeries required to address the result of those decisions, my right foot has some particular requirements when it comes to footwear.

Historically, I have been really hard on my sailing shoes. I typically switch between foredeck on spinnaker boats to hiking on my Viper 640. Also, because I sail on the Gulf Coast, almost every month out of the year is available for sailing. This means I need a shoe that has lots of grip, is comfortable enough to run around the deck for multiple days straight and can fit under the hiking straps on my Viper. The Sperry Top-sider SeaRacer with GripX3 technology has not let me down this season.

Price

I purchased my pair of Sperry SeaRacers at the beginning of the 2012 season. I found the $100 price tag to be very reasonable. Of course it didn't hurt that I received a discount for renewing my US Sailing membership, so they were even cheaper through the Sperry online store. I've seen prices range from $80 to $120 for various sailing performance shoes, so I put this shoe right in the middle of the competition.

Construction

One of the first things you'll notice when you pick up these shoes is that they are light. It seems that they have saved a lot of weight by eliminating the materials in the shoe that would absorb water. So not only do you get a lightweight shoe, but they don't get heavier after a few waves. The upper portion of the shoe is made with a mesh material which I really like. This mesh keeps these shoes nice and cool, especially during the heat of the summers here on the Gulf Coast. This mesh also doesn't stretch, so they shoes remain snug even after a whole day of wet and sloppy racing.

As far as hardware on the shoe, they have eliminated metal and plastic bits on the top of the shoe so they are comfy under hiking straps and won't corrode in salt water. Now when we start talking about the sole, we get in to the real technology...

Performance

I don't know who came up with this GripX3 stuff, but I want to shake their hand. I have never owned a pair of shoes with more grip. And to add to it, after a season of sailing, they are still just as grippy and the rubber is still soft. I know I have more confidence on the foredeck because of these shoes and I wouldn't be caught up there without them. Good gear won't make you a good sailor, but it does allow you to concentrate 100% on the task at hand and not worrying about where to step or what to avoid.

Durability

If you're like me, you wear through at least one pair of sailing gloves a season. Right now I can see daylight through the palms of my last pair... I'm equally as rough on the shoes I wear. I don't baby my shoes. I wear them on and off the boat. I walk on concrete, wood, gravel, etc. I don't want to have to change down to sandals just so I don't ruin the soles. With these shoes, I don't have to.

So far, I haven't had a single stitch come out or see any mechanical problems. There is a little wear patch on the sole near my big toe on both shoes just from the way I step, but there's still lots of sailing left. There is some wear on the reflective piping on the top of the shoe. I'm sure this is wearing off from going under the hiking straps. I would say I definitely have a full, second season of sailing in these shoes (and probably a third) before I start to see any real wear which would cause me to go back to the store.

Cons?

It's hard to find anything I don't like about these shoes. If you sail in colder climates, these shoes will present a little challenge for you. Because they're so light and breathable, your feet are not going to stay warm at all. For colder sailing, I recommend GoreTex socks to keep your skin dry and warm.

Overall impression