December 1, 2015

Stocking Stuffers for Sailors That Won’t Break the Bank!

Stocking Stuffers for Sailors That Won’t Break the Bank!


Need a not-too-expensive gift for a sailor? Look no further.


Still looking for a couple of little stocking stuffers for your favorite sailor? These fun little items would float any sailors boat—pun intended! But seriously, check out our favorite items for boat owners and crew, all under $40.

Lemon & Line Limited Edition Watch Hill Anchor Bangle
The Lemon & Line Watch Hill Anchor Bangle in stainless steel.


A great gift for the lady sailor in your life! Lemon & Line’s Watch Hill Anchor Bangle is made with marine-grade stainless steel, and easily slips onto wrists between 5.75” and 6.75”. $38.00

Zhik Superwarm Headband
The Zhik Superwarm Headband is a great stocking stuffer for a dinghy sailor.


The Zhik Superwarm Headband is a great stocking stuffer for any hard-core dinghy sailor. Designed for flexible racing in cold-water conditions, the headband is made with a water-repellent outer layer and a cozy fleece lining. $14.90

Dr Sails 25ml
Every boat needs to have a tube of Dr. Sails on board.


Every boat needs a tube of DrSails on board: This unique fast-curing adhesive system is perfect for on-the-fly repairs to sailcloth, metal, wood, carbon fiber, and even neoprene. $45.00

Harken Sailcloth Wallet
The perfect wallet for a die-hard sailor.


This is the perfect wallet for any die-hard sailor. The slim-design tri-fold wallet comes in three colors, Carbon, Kevlar, and Dacron. We personally like Carbon, because who wouldn’t want a wallet that matches their brand new 3di sails! $25.00

Henri Lloyd Fast-Dri Crew Cap
Customize this Henri Lloyd Fast-Dry cap for a great crew gift!


Don’t forget your crew! Show how much you appreciate all their hard work with the Henri Lloyd Fast-Dri Crew Cap embroidered with your boat’s logo (embroidery additional). $19.00


Not quite what you had in mind? Check out our complete Holiday Gift Guide.

Always FREE GROUND SHIPPING for all US orders.
No minimums, no coupons, no fuss!


Ship to shore – We’ve got you covered

www.whitecapsmarine.com

November 24, 2015

10 Great Holiday Gifts, From Our Sailing Family to Yours


10 Great Holiday Gifts for Sailors

Let’s face it: Sailing is a gear-heavy sport. What better time to check off a few items from the wish list than the holidays.


We combed our catalog and put together a list of our picks for the best gifts for sailors this holiday season. We expect you’ll find something for just about everyone on your list! (And—a few things for yourself too.)


Gill Classic Floating Polarized Sunglasses in Matte Black.
Gill Classic Floating Polarized Sunglasses in Matte Black.


How many pairs of sunglasses have you lost during your sailing career? You may rather not count, and frankly, neither would we! That’s why we’ve got Gill’s floating sunglasses on our wish list. The sleek, Grilamid TR90 wrap-around frames come in three colors, and shatterproof, 100% glare free polarized lenses are designed specifically for wearing on the water. However if you drop them on the racecourse, we don’t guarantee your helmsman will turn the boat around. $89.95

The Optimum Time Series 16 features a large 28mm display and comes with two bands.
The Optimum Time Series 16 features a large 28mm display and comes with two bands.


The perfect gift for the discerning sailor: The Optimum Series 16 features a large 28mm display enclosed in heavy-duty polished stainless steel and interchangeable leather and silicon rubber straps, perfect for on the water or at the club. The three-row display shows time and timer together; timer functions include countdown, pre-programmed ISAF start sequences with audible warning signals, and user selectable one-minute intervals—ideal for match racing. $229.95

Racer Blue is one of our favorite colors in the HH Duffel Bag 2 range!
Racer Blue is one of our favorite colors in the HH Duffel Bag 2 range!


Helly Hansen’s Duffel Bag 2 is fantastically versatile, transforming from backpack to duffle bag with ease. The bag comes in seven colors (so you can easily find your bag in the pile) and four sizes. The 70L bag is the perfect size for racing, and if you pack responsibly, should be able to carry just about everything you need even for an ocean crossing. $120.00

The Henri Lloyd Traverse Half Zip in Carbon.
The Henri Lloyd Traverse Half Zip in Carbon. 


We love this mid-layer fleece on cold days! The Henri Lloyd Traverse is lightweight, breathable, and ergonomically designed for men and women with a half-zip neck. The men’s version has a zippered pocket on the left chest, while the women’s version has a zippered pocked on the left upper arm. Two colors available. $139.00

Your junior sailor will love this limited edition watch from Optimum Time.
Your junior sailor will love this limited edition watch from Optimum Time.


The Optimum Time Series 11 is a great gift for the stylish junior sailor, with a ton of functions for on and off the water including countdown and up and pre-programmed ISAF start sequences. There’s also a calendar and an alarm—for those of you who are prone to sleeping in. The watch has an electro-luminescence backlight feature (a key function to have if you do any overnight racing) and is housed in a 26mm round display with a soft strap and heavy-duty stainless steel buckle. $74.95

The Helly Hansen HH Dry Technical Base Layer comes in great colors for men, women, and juniors.
The Helly Hansen HH Dry Technical Base Layer comes in great colors for men, women, and juniors.


Helly Hansen’s HH Dry technical base layer for men, women, and juniors is a great pick for any cold weather sport. Lightweight, non-itch, and allergy neutral, it stays dry next to the skin no matter how wet you get. Available in multiple colors, all with Helly Hansen’s iconic stripe along the sleeve. $40.00

Our favorite ultra-lightweight inflatable lifevest!
Our favorite ultra-lightweight inflatable lifevest!

Do your family members moan every time you tell them to put on their lifevest? We’ve got the answer! The Spinlock Deckvest LITE is our favorite inflatable lifevest for inshore sailing and powerboating. Its ultra-lightweight, contoured design makes it comfortable all day long. The Deckvest LITE is Type III USCG approved, and uses a water-activated auto-inflator designed to inflate only when water flows upward through the unit. $189.00

A great boot for going across the ocean, or getting soaked on a sport boat around the buoys!
A great boot for going across the ocean, or getting soaked on a sport boat around the buoys!


Hands down our favorite heavy weather sailing boots. The neoprene and rubber upper and waterproof gaiter with perforated neoprene gusset for drainage guarantees that your feel will be dry in even the most extreme conditions, but they’re also lightweight enough for the sloppy conditions of Melges 24 or J/70 sailing. Only available in men’s sizes, but the men’s 6 with a pair of wool socks fits a woman’s size 7 foot perfectly. $229.00

The Gill Helmsman Gloves—a must-have for any helmsman!
The Gill Helmsman Gloves—a must-have for any helmsman!


Gill’s insulated Helmsman Gloves are great for keeping your hands warm and dry on rainy cold days and cold nights. Soft Fibrefill insulation provides warmth while the waterproof breathable liner keeps you dry. As the name suggests, these are designed to offer good grip on the helm and while handling wet lines. (If you’re looking for a glove for your bowman, may we suggest the Henri Lloyd Cobra Grip Long Finger Glove.) $55.00



What attracted us to Henri Lloyd’s Cyclone Soft Shell was how classy it looks. We’re talking “yachting” here. But what we love it for is the quality: It’s extremely breathable, but still highly wind and water resistant; just watch the water droplets roll off the DWR finished surface. And the fit is the perfect combination of athleticism and style. The Cyclone Soft Shell is also available as a vest.
$129.00


Not quite what you had in mind? Check out our entire holiday gift collection!

Always FREE GROUND SHIPPING for all US orders.
No minimums, no coupons, no fuss!


Ship to shore – We’ve got you covered

www.whitecapsmarine.com

July 14, 2015

Deciding What to Wear


As long as conditions are safe, rough weather should not keep us from enjoying the water.  In fact, rough weather days can often be the most memorable and great for stories at the bar afterwards.  However, poor quality clothing and out of date fabrics can ruin the day for all on the water activities, especially for people who are new to boating.

Wearing lighter weight, less restrictive, highly breathable garments will keep you warm (but not too warm!) and dry all day in the worst of conditions.

It is important to know yourself and your tolerance to the cold as every person is different, but proper layering and the right outer garments will keep you from being wet, cold and miserable.

BASE LAYERS

Most people see a base layer as a piece of clothing to keep you warm. But a base layer's true function is to keep surface of the skin dry by moving water away from the skin, a process called "wicking".  A good wicking base layer will help to keep you warm in cold conditions but will also help you to stay cool on hot days, especially when wearing waterproof breathable outer garments.

With only moderate exertion, our bodies give off about a quart of moisture vapour in one hour. This is the body's natural cooling system.  To prevent discomfort this moisture should not be absorbed by fabrics next to the skin, but should be able to evaporate or wick to the next layer so the skin is dry.

Polyester or Merino Wool fabrics are the best choices for a good base layer. Cotton is bad on the water!  Cotton clothing absorbs moisture up to 400% of its own weight.  Damp fabric and the moist surrounding air will transfer heat AWAY from the boat twenty times faster than dry fabric and surrounding air.  If you are wearing cotton clothing next to the skin, it will absorb the moisture and suck the heat out of your body leaving you feeling cold and clammy which will eventually lead to early tiredness and fatigue.

If you find that your old base layer is no longer wicking well, it is time to replace it.  And you should never use fabric softeners on these fabrics.

Helly Hansen HH Dry Fly Pants
Helly Hansen HH Dry Fly Pants
Helly Hansen Dry Stripe Crew


Zhik HydroBase Pants
Zhik Hydrobase Top



MIDLAYERS

A midlayer is generally worn over the base layer.  It's purpose is to help trap the dry warmed air close to the body.  The trapped air works like double glazing in a house.  A good midlayer garment should be highly breathable to allow the moisture that has been wicked from your skin to pass through (Moisture Vapour Transfer).

Generally, a good midlayer is a fleece or lofted garment similar to a sleeping bag and the materials used should be non-absorbing.  For the same reason as above, cotton is not a good choice.

Midlayers can also function as a great outer layer in mild weather on the boat and even look great on shore.


Helly Hansen Regulate Jacket
Helly Hansen Daybreaker Fleece




Henri Lloyd Aura Half Zip Fleece
Henri Lloyd Traverse Fleece



WATERPROOF, BREATHABLE OUTER LAYER

The outer layer is where the real protection against the elements takes place.  Look for something that is highly breathable and completely waterproof and windproof.

The principle purpose of the outer layer is to stop wind water getting in and also to contain the warm air within the midlayer from escaping, but allowing the moist air to escape (Moisture Vapour Transfer).  The latest fabrics on the market are lighter and more flexible than ever before, but also still extremely durable.  This allows greater freedom of movement and less tiring when worn for extended periods.

Outer layers come in a wide range of styles with many different features and you need to take into account the kind of boating you will be doing in order to choose the right system.  The needs out on the water in San Francisco Bay are very different to those in Biscayne Bay, Miami.  Maybe you never leave protected waters or you prefer to undertake long offshore passages.  Are you a racer, a cruiser, a fisherman, or a power boater?  There is a product out there that will suit your need and we are here to help you choose the perfect outerwear for you.




Always FREE GROUND SHIPPING for all US orders. No minimums, no coupons, no fuss!

Ship to shore – We’ve got you covered

Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/whitecapsmarine) and follow us on Twitter (@whitecapsmarine)

May 27, 2015

Rio 2016 - Team Barrows-Morris 49er Campaign


We are very excited to announce our partnership with the Team Barrows-Morris 49er Olympic Campaign as their official retailer and gear sponsor.

In late 2012 Thomas Barrows and Joe teamed up to train in the 49er class with their sights set on qualifying as the United States representative at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Though they raced against each other a few times in junior sailing, the pairing met in 2008 when Joe started his freshmen year at Yale. During the two years they were on the team together, Thomas and Joe sailed as the starting A and B helms. From the start, their complimentary sailing and communication styles were a great match, and in 2009 helped the team to win the Fowle Trophy, awarded annually to the best overall collegiate sailing team.

Team dynamic is a huge asset in the 49er class Thomas and Joe hope to one day win Olympic Gold in. Classified as the "Men's Two Person High Performance Class" at the Olympics, the 49er first debuted at the 2000 Games in Sydney, and is one of the fastest and most physically demanding skiffs in the world. Communication and teamwork are vital, as even the smallest mistake can result in high speed capsizes ad crashes. 

Read about each sailors' background here:

Team Barrows-Morris prefers Zhik sailing gear as their Brand of choice.  Zhik is an industry leader in sailing gear for dinghy sailors and are quickly becoming a leader in foul weather gear for keelboat racing and cruising as well.

Visit our website for a full selection of gear, no matter if you have Olympic aspirations, are a weekend warrior, or the occasional cruiser.  


Always FREE SHIPPING for all US orders. No minimums, no coupons, no fuss!

Ship to shore – We’ve got you covered

Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/whitecapsmarine) and follow us on Twitter (@whitecapsmarine)