Dinghy sailors of the 1970s had slim pickings for sailing gear. At least until avid racer Nick Gill did something about it. He convinced his father to give him a corner of his lace factory in Nottingham, England, connected with a pattern cutter and fabric supplier and experimented until the Gill dinghy line was born. An early first included braces for one-piece dinghy suits, making them more comfortable and improving mobility. And then came the game-changing two-piece dinghy suit.
In 1981, John Oakley, skipper of the British America’s Cup challenger, Lionheart, approached Gill about team gear with an eye toward minimizing windage. Innovation again–the kit included detachable sleeves. That opened the door for Gill to start producing offshore gear for the long haul of the grueling Whitbread Race. So good was the kit, the story goes, that Gill shipped 15 sets of foul weather gear to Cape Town for a team that had enough of being soaked to the bone. Only one crewmember had been wearing Gill’s stuff—and he was the only one that sailed into port happy and dry.
This year marks the company’s 50th anniversary, a major milestone in an industry that has seen many others come and go. Gill’s core and DNA has always been sailing so we’ve reviewed a lot of their high-end gear over the years, but given their humble origins, we thought it appropriate to revisit five iconic, every-race items we all use.
Glove Love
With the high-tech, smaller diameter lines we’re using these days, sailing gloves are essential. Gill has a wide assortment. We recently got our hands on—or into—their 50th Anniversary Pro Glove, which is their top-of-the-line offering; the Deckhand Glove, a more cost-friendly option; and their 3 Season Glove, which is the only one with full coverage on all fingers.
The Pro and Deckhand models are both pre-formed for a comfortable fit and have a shortened cuff, which is great for flexibility and makes getting to watch buttons a lot easier. Both have breathable four-way stretch fabric material on the back. The Pro model is a beefier glove, especially in the palm area and up the inside of the fingers. Sometimes beefier fabric equals a stiffer glove but the Pro has a pair of notches on each finger, which act almost like finger joints. Surprisingly flexible.
The Deckhand has great flexibility and fits similarly, but the forefinger on each glove is open, which makes it easy to use a touch screen or deal with a small item, such as a fastener ring or shackle, without having to remove a glove. If you’re just looking for a basic, well-designed glove, the Deckhand will do the trick. If you’re dinghy sailing or handling aggressive lines on a bigger boat, opt for the Pro Glove. Pro: $59.95. Deckhand: $29.95.
The 3 Season Glove has the same Dura-Grip material as the Pro model on the palm and up the fingers, but the rest of the glove is neoprene, making it preferred for frostbiting or spring conditions. We’ve worn these when the ice has only been off the water a short time and glad we had them. They extend further up the wrist than the Pro and Deckhand gloves, so less ideal for watch-button access. With full-finger coverage, the forefinger tip is touch-screen compatible. $39.95.
Pack On, Pack Off
For sailors, a backpack is ideal for lots of reasons, but a pack that’s too big invites overpacking. Gill’s Special Edition 35L Voyager Kit Pack is just the right size. We were able to stuff it with a pair of deck shoes, spray top, salopettes, sailing shorts, extra base layer, thin fleece, gloves, and sunglasses case. No problem.
Made of PVC material, it’s darn near bulletproof. It has a roll-down top and large, zipped-front pocket for easy access to smaller items, as well as an adjustable, shock-cord, webbed section to hold a water bottle. The straps are padded and adjustable, and we especially liked the breathable pads to keep the PVC material off your back. Measures 26x13x8. $94.95
I’ve had a 10L Voyager Dry Bag for a number of years, and it simply refuses to die. Not saying it will last a lifetime, but darn close. Made of a PVC fabric with welded seams, it’s perfect for Wednesday evening racing where you just need to bring a few basics–a spray top, gloves, sunglasses case. The top features a roll-down closure to make the bag water-tight, and there’s a handy strap to sling it over your shoulder as you’re carrying sails down the dock. Measures 19×8. Also comes in 25L and 50L sizes, if you need more room. 10L Voyager Dry Bag: $29.95.
