Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2014 Updates

February 5th, 2014

As the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2013-14 enters Race 8 Day 9, we have seen One DLL and Henri Lloyd pull ahead of Derry~Londonderry~Doire which has been leading much of the past races. With 8 more races to go, we expect the race to remain extremely close. As of this writing, there remains roughly a 1-point difference between One DLL and Henri Lloyd for first place, while Great Britain and Switzerland are quite literally neck and neck for 4th place.   Read the rest of this entry »

Men’s Wet Weather Gear

January 23rd, 2014

Performance sailing is not for anyone who hates feeling cold or wet. Being cold and wet is pretty inescapable. The good thing is that there is sailing gear to protect you from the chill.

Regatta Gear has a great selection of yachting gear that is perfect for hitting the water thanks to its style, functionality, and comfort. For one, our selection of sailing jackets come in a variety of colors and offers some of the best protection available. These pieces are must-haves for all competitive sailors. Read the rest of this entry »

Men’s Sailing Clothing

January 13th, 2014

Performance sailing requires many things: an all-around knowledge of boats, a thirst for adventure, and the right gear to make the experience fun and comfortable.

At Regatta Gear, we specialize in selling sailing clothing that is both wearable and functional. We know the sport of competitive sailing in and out, and carry the very best men’s apparel to make your sailing experience the best it can be. Read the rest of this entry »

Stay Warm at Sea with Fleece Pullovers

November 27th, 2013

When you’re hitting the high seas, warmth, comfort and functionality from your sailing apparel are essential to making the experience is a pleasurable one. Cozy fleece pullovers provide those three necessary elements.

Regatta Gear offers a wide range of modern fleece pullovers for both men and women looking for comfortable sailing clothing to add to their kit. We realize the importance of functionality, especially if winds get choppy during your sail. The last thing anyone wants to worry about is their yachting gear when they’re manning the helm. Read the rest of this entry »

Essential Sailing Apparel: Performance Dry Tops

November 5th, 2013

For people who are updating their kit of yachting clothing, one of the first things we recommend is appropriate sailing shirts. Although an old cotton T- shirt works in a pinch performance dry tops are a must for every sailor. Performance dry tops can vary according to style, maker, and season, but there are several fixed characteristics. Read the rest of this entry »

Retail vs. Wholesale Sailing Apparel

October 25th, 2013

For most sailing gear companies out there, the finished sailing apparel does not go straight from the manufacturers to the clients; the clothing changes hands and gets sent off to retailers and or distributors, who sell the items to customers with a considerable mark-up. An average mark-up of 50% is common across most retailers, turning a product that costs $50 wholesale, into a product that costs $100 from retailers. This fact is not limited to yachting clothing, or sail gear—it is true for all clothing retailers. Read the rest of this entry »

The Boat for the 2000s: The USA 76

October 16th, 2013

At the end of 2001, the build team behind Oracle Racing built a boat that would represent America on the international boat racing platform for over 3 years. Representing America in the 2003 America’s Cup in New Zealand, the USA 76 would ultimately win 21 of its 33 races in the 2003, and also holds the rare distinguished honor of being the only boating team to defeat Switzerland’s SUI 64 twice. In the 2003 finals however, in spite of its expert design, construction, crew and afterguard, the USA 76 would experience heartbreak about losing to Switzerland’s Team Alinghi who would go on to defeat the New Zealand team and win the 2003 trophy. Read the rest of this entry »

Sailing Apparel Essentials: Splash Jackets

October 4th, 2013

If you are new to sailing, you might not be aware that as the water gets rougher and the weather gets colder, an upgrade in your sailing clothing is not just recommended, it is essential. Although some lightweight apparel might be sufficient in the summertime, once the weather cools down it is imperative that you stay warm and dry even if the weather is cold and wet.  Read the rest of this entry »

‘Low Speed Chase’ Loses Five Crew Members in South Farallon Race Accident

April 18th, 2012

The Regatta Gear team would like to extend our condolences to the families of the fine crew of the vessel Low Speed Chase, slammed by waves and pushed onto rocks during a race around South Farallon Island off San Francisco, Sat., April 14.  Five of the eight-member crew perished in the accident.

The boat’s owner, James “Jay” Bradford, 41, of Chicago, survived along with Bryan Chong and Nick Vos, who suffered a broken leg.  Rescuers recovered the body of Marc Kasanin.  The missing sailors – Alan Cahill, Alexis Busch, Elmer Morrissey and Jordan Fromm – are all presumed to have drowned.

Read the rest of this entry »

Regatta Gear Shares the Thrills and Spills at Farr 40 Australian Nationals

April 11th, 2012

There was plenty of action at the Farr 40 Australian National Championship, which took place March 2-3, 2012, at Sydney Harbour, and the Regatta Gear team was there to soak up the fun.

The Farr 40 Australian National Championship was hosted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS), based out of Port Jackson, the natural harbor of Sydney, Australia.  The Farr 40 is a 40-foot one-design sailboat.  One-Design is a racing method in which all boats have identical (or very similar) designs or models.

  

At the Farr 40 Australian Nationals, Regatta Gear sponsored and outfitted the entire crew and dockside support team of “Forty,” raced by good friends Sam Hill and Steve Barlow.

In their first major competition, the “Forty” crew did extremely well up against two world champions, finishing fourth out of a field of 10. The sailors were competing for a chance to race in the 2012 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship to be held at the Chicago Yacht Club, September 17-20.

Forty got away to a great start in Race Two, leading the fleet off the line.  Thundering downwind in the building breeze, boats were skating across the course and zigzagging to avoid the fleet of 18-foot skiffs that were making their way up the Harbour in the opposite direction. A big gust hit the fleet and caused “Kokomo” to do an involuntary gybe, forcing “Forty,” which was planing alongside, to make some fast maneuvers to narrowly avoid their stern.

The reigning World Champions aboard “Transfusion” (Guido Belgiorno-Nettis) sailed their boat flawlessly to win the Championship with a near-perfect scorecard.

The Rolex Farr 40 World Championships is the pinnacle event of the calendar with the highest level of competition – the Olympic, America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race Veterans are among this strictly Owner/Driver Class.  The Farr 40 Class maintains an extensive international schedule that revolves around regional fleets in the U.S., Australia, Southern Europe and the Nordic region.

Check out our video to see some of the action.