Sailing World's Annual Gift Guide
Sailing World's Annual Gift Guide
From inexpensive to outlandish, any of this gear will satisfy the racing sailor in your life. "Tech News" from our November/December 2006 issue.
It's that time of year when you're either trying to figure out what gifts to give, or how to let people know what you want. We're here to help. On the following pages you'll find gifts from $3.99 to well over $100,000. We've tested many of the products, others we just think are cool.
The Leukemia Cup has been raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 14 years and has raised more than $20 million to help fund research and services for blood cancer patients. If you can't make it to one of their regattas, show your support by purchasing a few SailFast bracelets for your crew. They're made by North Sails and retail for $3.99, www.lls.org/regatta
Every butterfingered sailor will appreciate the Key Buoy from Davis Instruments. The Key Buoy automaticallyinflates a bright orange tube once it hits the water, keeping afloat objects weighing 4.2 ounces or less. It's a one-shot deal, so buy a few. $6.95, www.davisnet.com
If you'd like to brighten somebody's cubicle, or even your own, with daydreaming fodder, think calendars. Yachting photographers Onne van der Wal and Sharon Green, two of the best in the business, have calendars packed with images guaranteed to fire up the juices of any sailor. And, our own Doctor of Disaster has unearthed another collection of crashes, capsizes, and shredded kites for Sailing World's Best of Dr. Crash calendar. www.ultimatesailing.com, www.vanderwal.com, www.sailingworld.com
Anyone who has scraped a knuckle opening fuel, water, or holding tank cover plates will appreciate the KeyWiz. The ergonomic plastic body, which floats, has two stainless steel pins, one of which is adjustable to fit most any cover plate. The top of the KeyWiz accepts a 3/8-inch drive ratchet for some additional torque. $19.99, www.keywiz.net
We're fans of LED lighting because of the long life and low power requirements. We also like to travel light. Satisfying both of our needs is the PakLite, a 1.5-ounce flashlight that snaps to any 9-volt battery and supplies 200 to 1,200 hours of light (longer with a Lithium battery). From $24, www.9volt light.com
There are more than a few books available for the racing sailor, but a few of our favorites include Fastnet, Force 10 by John Rousemaniere; Chapman Piloting and Seamanship; Sailing for Dummies by JJ and Peter Isler; The Race by Tim Zimmerman; Fatal Storm by Rob Mundle; All This and Sailing, Too by Olin Stephens; Comeback by Dennis Conner; Temple to the Wind by Chris Pastore; Heavy Weather Sailing by K. Adlard Coles; and Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing Through 2008 by Dave Perry.
The expense of replacing a broken wind indicator is annoying. But for any Laser sailor that's had one ripped off their bow or mast during a close quarters mark rounding-the usual culprit being an opponent's mainsheet-the bigger pain is sailing the remainder of the day without the vital feedback the instrument provides. To avoid such a situation, Ryan Minth, a member of the 2005 U.S. Sailing Team, created the C-Vane. This mast-mounted wind indicator has protection above and below the pivot point and wayward mainsheets slide off the frame and harmlessly spin the vane. $35, www.c-vane.com
