GIFTS FOR SAILORS….when you need some inspiration

What to buy a sailor??It's hard buying presents for friends and family who seem to have everything.

If you're buying for a sailor, it's even harder - especially if you don't know what's what.

So, we're sailors and here's our guide to the things we love to get!

Gifts under $50

• Cap – a vital bit of gear and the one bit most at risk of loss. You can’t go wrong with a sailing cap – they’re light and breathable, provide UV protection, and generally come with a retainer strap to keep them attached to the sailor in windy conditions.• Gloves – another item all sailors need and will appreciate. Dinghy

sailors will use thin gloves that allow for most dexterity – usually a knitted grip glove, while keel boat (yachts) sailors will use more robust gloves – often leather or hi-tech fabric, short or long fingered.

Gill Pro CapGill Technical Cap

Musto Defender Gloves

Zhik Sailing Gloves

Forward Sailing Gloves

Gifts $50 - $100

• Sunglasses – vital to cut the glare and stop the squinting. The ones designed for sailors will be polarized, offer UV protection, and have lens coatings to repel water, salt and sunscreen and finger prints, and they’ll float.

• Bags – sailors need a robust and waterproof bag, one that can take a bit of rough handling and keep the wet in or out.

Henri Lloyd Crew-Pac Stow Bag 45L

Gill Race Sunglasses Gill Glare Sunglasses

Burke Yachtsman Waterproof Gear Bag 25L

Zhik Storm Pack

Gifts $100 - $200

• Sailing shoes – yes, there is a difference. Sailing shoes will have non-marking soles as no boat owner wants crew leaving black marks all over the deck. There’s a growing range of sailing shoes – from the traditional to sporty to those with street-cred. • Watch – for the racing sailor a good watch is a premium. Sailing

watches do more than tell the time, they countdown to the race start, keep lap times and are tough enough to survive the rough and tumble of the race.

Gill Regatta Timer

Zhik ZKGs

Zhik ZK Boatshoes

Gill Race Watch

Gifts $200+

• PLB – PLB stands for Personal Locator Beacon and it’s a device a sailor will trigger if they fall overboard in order to get found. Get one that’s designed for the marine environment, is small and convenient to carry and use. Chances are your sailor will never need it, though will always be prepared.• Seaboots – nothing describes misery better than cold wet feet, especially when

you’re on a cold wet race with no end in sight. Happiness on the other hand is warm toasty feet – the effect you get in great seaboots. The better they are, the more they cost so show how much you care, and they’ll be thinking kindly of you whilst sitting on the rails in 30 knots.• Boom brake – the ultimate gift for the cruising sailor who has everything. A boom

brake is a piece of safety equipment that prevents the boom from swinging wildly out of control and doing any amount of damage to the boat and/or crew.

Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB

Zhik ZK Seaboots

Musto HPX Ocean Boots

Wichard Boom Brake

If you’re still not sure what to get, we’re happy to help so get in touch. Alternatives are a gift voucher or use our wishlist and nail it!