Have a lady in your life who loves to be out on the water? Check out our picks for Mother’s Day (or any day) gifts for 2018. From sailing gear to sunglasses, we’ve got you covered.

Columbia Women’s PFG Tamiami Cover Up

Go from snorkeling to beach potluck in no time at all with the Columbia PFG Tamiami cover up. The ultra-light, wicking fabric will keep you cool, and the UPF 40 sun-protection rating means that the cover up protects skin as well.

Gill OS3 Coastal Women’s Jacket

Perfect for coastal sailing adventures, the Gill OS3 Coastal Women’s Jacket has been updated for the 2018 collection. The two-layer fabric is windproof and waterproof yet light and breathable. The high-cut thermal collar and fully lined high-vis hood will keep you comfortable, and the cuffs adjust to ensure a good fit.

Maui Jim Rhythm

Fashion and function — the Rhythm sunglasses from Maui Jim’s Curated Collection feature a limited edition frame with the work of Maui artist Charlie Lyon. The polarized lenses are Maui Jim’s SuperThin glass, which provides crisp optics and rich colors — perfect for days on the water.

Mountainsmith Descent Small

Love taking great photos of your cruising destinations but hate to be burdened with all your gear? Check out the Descent Small camera pack. This shoulder sling can safely carry all your DSLR camera essentials within reach and swing out of the way when not needed.

Oru Kayak Bay ST

An origami kayak? Yes! The Oru Bay ST kayak is perfect for paddlers who don’t have much room to store a kayak. For cruisers, it’s ideal since the Bay ST can fold up into its own carrying case. Stow it in an extra berth or cockpit locker. The kayak takes only minutes to set up and is large enough to fit all your gear for the day.

Patagonia Pataloha Pareo

There might not be a better item of clothing aboard a boat than the humble pareo. Patagonia’s Pataloha Pareo is made of lightweight 100% organic cotton and is available in a variety of fun, colorful prints. Wear it as a skirt, dress, a wrap or a sarong.

Patagonia Micro Puff Vest

If you need a bit more warmth, take a look at the Micro Puff Vest. It features an ultralight ripstop shell that’s water resistant and windproof and treated with a DWR finish. The best part is the PlumaFill insulation will stay warm even when wet. Perfect for damp night watches or splashy dinghy rides.

Sperry Women’s Oasis Loft Boat Shoes

The Sperry Oasis Loft boat shoes look cute on or off the water. The flexible rubber outsole features siping that will give you secure footing on wet decks, and the EVA foam insole offers all-day support and comfort.

Tilley LTM6 Airflo hat

Tilley hats are legendary among sailors for good reasons — this hat offers a wide brim for maximum sun protection; the 3/4-inch mesh around the crown will keep you cool; it’s water repellent; it floats; and it stays on in gusty conditions. And best of all — it’s guaranteed for life.

West Marine Delmara Jacket

The Delmara Jacket was designed especially for women who sail. It’s lightweight and comfortable and provides subtle shaping for a flattering fit. The jacket is wind- and waterproof, breathable and easily fits over mid layers. It’s also long enough to keep you dry when you sit down.

The post Top 10 Sailing Gifts for Mother’s Day 2018 appeared first on Cruising World.

Gill Race Team Bag

Need a bag that can hold up to the cruising life? Now available in a smaller, 30-liter size, the Gill Race Team bag is constructed with puncture-resistant, waterproof PVC fabric, has welded seams and a roll-down closure. The wide-mouth opening makes for easy loading of all your kit.

$60 • www.gillna.com

Olas Float-On

The OLAS Float-On is a two-part safety device. It’s a pocket-size light that you can attach to your PFD or foul-weather jacket, and it will automatically set off the SOS strobe. If you pair it with a smartphone or tablet on board, the OLAS Float-On becomes an MOB locator device as well through the OLAS app.

$132 • www.exposurelights.com

Henri lloyd Aqua Down Jacket

There is nothing worse than being cold during your night watch. The Aqua Down jacket, available in men’s and women’s sizes, is lightweight and quick drying. The 600-fill down alternative insulation provides warmth even when wet.

$130 • henrilloydonline.com

Caframo Kona Fan

Whether you’re in the galley or in the cockpit, stay cool and comfortable with the Kona weatherproof fan. The three-speed 12-volt fan features a watertight motor and UV-stabilized plastic construction. The IP55 rating means it can withstand the occasional spray and still keep you cool.

$130 • www.caframo­lifestyle­­solutions.com

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Boye Knives

Whether the sailor in your life loves to cook or just would appreciate a good sailing knife, Boye Knives can fill the bill. Their new 6-inch chef’s knife ($600), crafted by master knife maker David Boye, is made of dendritic cobalt, a specialized alloy known for its edge holding and complete rust resistance. The blade is hand ground and the Arizona Desert Ironwood handle is hand shaped.

For years, cruisers have relied on Boye’s popular boat knife. The cobalt alloy boat knife features extreme edge holding, and is permanently rust free. It is also non-magnetic, which means they won’t throw off a compass reading. Available with an as-cast ($189) or polished ($239) finish and either a blunt or pointed tip. www.boyeknives.com

Engel HD-30 soft-sided cooler

Perfect onboard or at the beach, the new Engel HD-30 soft-sided cooler ($200) is completely waterproof and has fully welded seams. The tough exterior is abrasion resistant, and the closed-cell foam insulation should keep items cold for days. www.engelcoolers.com

Mpowerd Outdoor 2.0

The latest inflatable solar-powered light from Mpowerd packs a lot of punch in a small package: the waterproof Outdoor 2.0 model has low, medium, high and strobe modes, and a battery that lasts up to 24 hours. It has straps on the top and bottom for easy attachment to your boom, lifelines, dinghy, or wherever you want to hang it. If you’re looking for mood lighting instead of a bright beacon, the Luci Lux is a frosted version and Luci Color can be set to one of eight colors or rotate through them all. Mpowerd partners with non-profits to distribute lights to areas of the world with limited access to electricity — most recently to victims of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Choose “Give Luci” on the website to contribute. The lights start at $19.95. www.mpowerd.com

Matador Beast28 Backpack

A good backpack really comes in handy on cruising adventures, whether carrying groceries back to the boat or all your gear for a day hike. The Matador Beast28 ($90) holds plenty of gear, yet is lightweight and water resistant. The best part? When not needed, it stuffs down into its own compression sack. www.matadorup.com

Patagonia Puff-Ball Bunting

The Puff-Ball Bunting ($99) from Patagonia has a wind- and water-resistant shell to keep your littlest crewmembers warm. The polyester batting is made from 90% recycled material and, unlike down, will hold its insulation even if it gets wet. Hand and foot openings have fold-over flaps to protect tiny fingers and toes. www.patagonia.com

Patagonia Nano-Air Light Pants

There is nothing worse than being cold on night watch. Once the sun sets, the ocean can be a chilly place, even in warmer latitudes. The Patagonia Nano-Air Light Pants ($140) are the perfect midlayer to put on underneath your foulie bibs. The 40g insulation keeps you warm, yet stretches for easy maneuverability. The 100-percent nylon ripstop shell and plain-weave liner, both have a durable water repellent finish, and offer generous mechanical stretch and breathability. www.patagonia.com

Patagonia Better Sweater Vest

Looks like a sweater but feels like a fleece? Patagonia’s Better Sweater Vest is like the mullet of mid-layers. Polyester fleece is soft and keeps you warm even in damp conditions, and offset shoulder seams won’t pinch under foul-weather bibs. Better yet, Patagonia has upped their social-responsibility game by switching to Fair Trade Certified sewing for all Better Sweater products, which ensures that the factory workers who create Patagonia clothing make a fair wage. $99, available in men’s, women’s and kid’s styles. www.patagonia.com

Seatek polarized glasses

Looking for new sunglasses? Seatek polarized glasses ($139) are designed around life on the water. Made in Italy, they offer 100 percent UV protection with a tough, yet lightweight frame (“Pablo” shown here) and a scratch resistant coating on the Carl Zeiss Vision high-performance lenses. The mirror finish (in blue or green) helps with reflection off the water. www.seatekgear.com

Swing-Lift Motor Hoists

Moving an outboard engine (which can weigh 100 pound or more for a 15hp) between the dinghy and its storage place on your boat’s pushpit can be daunting and potentially dangerous. The Swing-Lift motor hoist system ($315) is designed to solve this problem. Swing-Lift makes use of the boat’s existing winch with a halyard or topping lift and controls the position and orientation of the outboard so that it can be moved effortlessly and single-handedly. For boats where space is an issue, the company has just released the Slim-Lift, which works with outboard motors up to 14 inches wide, and requires only 16 inches of mounting space. Pair either model with a Sure-Grip lifting harness ($22).www.swing-lift.com

Toad&Co Flextime Skinny Pant

We love finding gear with high-tech performance and casual styling. Enter the Flextime ($85) from Toad&Co, a nylon-spandex pant with a slim fit and DWR coating to shed spray. The stretchy material makes them comfortable for climbing around on deck or a sojourn ashore. A zippered back pocket will keep your cash secure in the dinghy. www.toadandco.com

Toad&Co Kennicott Shirt Jac

Nothing beats the warmth of wool on night watch. The Kennicott shirt-jacket hybrid ($129) from Toad&Co is made from a combination of recycled wool for moisture wicking and warmth, polyester for softness and nylon for stretch. It has reinforced elbows and two snap-closure chest pockets. Our tester found the fit to be on the slim side — if you plan to wear it as an outer layer, size up. www.toadandco.com

Weego Portable Jumpers

Don’t be caught stranded! Whether on the road or on the waterway, a dead battery can ruin your day. Weego offers a full line of portable jump starters and rechargeable battery packs for every budget and engine size starting at $69. www.myweego.com

TIWAL Inflatable Sailboat

A sailboat under the tree? Yes! The TIWAL inflatable sailboat ($5,200) packs down into two bags, can be set up in less than 20 minutes and is easily transported in a small car (or cruising boat locker). It’s designed for fun and sporty sailing, and handles surprisingly well (it even won a Sailing World Boat of the Year award). If you’re cruising with teenagers, the TIWAL would be a fun addition to your kit (think of it as their car!). www.tiwal.com

The post The Best Gifts for Cruising Sailors appeared first on Cruising World.

Seatek Argo Watch

With military-grade stainless-steel construction, the Argo is designed for hard living on the water. The dive watch is water resistant to 200 meters and has a lightweight, comfortable rubber strap.

$290 • www.seatekgear.com

Si-Tex MDA-4 VHF/DSC/AIS

The new MDA-4 is an advanced VHF/DSC radio that also includes the safety and convenience of a dual-channel AIS receiver. For added safety in crowded waterways, the radio features AIS alerts for closest point of approach and time to closest point of approach.

$460 • www.si-tex.com

Can’t decide if you’d prefer a stand-up paddleboard or a kayak? The Hi Life is an 11-foot kayak that is sturdy and stable enough to paddle as an SUP. It has a fold-down seat with a cooler storage area, and a rear deck that makes it easy for kids and pets to ride along.

$800 • www.perceptionkayaks.com

West Marine Third Reef 3l Jacket

Updates to West Marine’s popular Third Reef gear include three-layer construction, an articulated hood that moves with you and special fitting for women’s styles. The line includes jackets and bibs for men and women.

$250 • www.westmarine.com

Imtra St. Maarten Light

Add a stylish, modern look to your boat’s saloon with the St. Maarten lights. The fixtures can take either a G4 LED or halogen bulb, and the blown-glass shade is available in several colors. Another cool feature? The base includes a USB charging port.

$250 • www.imtra.com

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Every sailor needs a good pair of polarized sunglasses, but how do you choose the right ones? Do they all offer the same amount of protection? The CW editors tested more than 50 pairs to learn all about the latest and greatest in eyewear: large and small frames, glass and plastic lenses, sporty and casual styles. Here are the basics to help you narrow your options.

Lens Material

The vast majority of sunglasses made for sailing have some variation of a plastic, often polycarbonate, lenses, which are lightweight and resistant to shattering. Some plastic lenses have a polarized layer applied to them, while the polarization of others is integral to the lens. It would be harder to scratch off the polarization of the latter, but they are also more expensive. Glass lenses have incredible clarity and are more scratch-resistant than plastic, but are also heavier and a more expensive option, and could crack or shatter in a way that plastic would not.

Darkness

How much light comes through a lens is sometimes described using 4 categories. Category 0 is for clear lenses with no UV protection (technically, they allow 80% to 100% UV transmission — think safety goggles). Category 1 lenses allow 43% to 80% UV transmission and would only be used for low-light situations. Most sailing sunglasses will fall into category 3, which allows 8% to 18% UV transmission — these would be for general and bright conditions. Category 4, where you’d find glacier goggles, only allow 3% to 8% UV transmission and are too dark for use while driving. A couple of the sunglasses we tested had photochromic, or variable-transmission lenses. These start light and get darker when exposed to bright sun for a few minutes. Testers thought this feature would be great for continuous wear as lighting conditions changed, but they do take a few minutes to change colors when you go up on deck after being below or vice versa.

Tint

Lenses with a gray base tint tended to be a bit darker to look through and showed a true representation of colors. These would be best for use in full, bright sun. Some testers found gray lenses to be the most comfortable to look through because they don’t change the colors of what you’re looking at, while others found them too dark. Looking through lenses with a brown, copper or amber base tint made the world look brighter than looking through the gray tints, and contrast was more defined. Brown lenses are no less protective in terms of what percent of UV rays come through, even though the visual experience is different. Some testers preferred copper lenses because they could be used on bright but overcast days as well as sunny ones, while others thought the world looked too bright or brown. Rose-colored lenses had a similar effect to the amber tints; the variation of warm-tone lenses seemed to be a matter of personal preference.

Coatings

A few of the lenses tested had a mirrored coating on the front that is supposed to reduce the amount of glare that gets in to your eyes. Testers like the mirrored lenses for style points and some liked that you can’t see a wearer’s eyes through the lens, although there was a concern that the mirror coating shows scratches more quickly than non-mirrored lenses. Whether the mirror truly reflected more light was not so obvious to the wearers.

One type of coating that really did make a difference was the anti-glare coating on the back of some of the lenses. Particularly on flatter (less wrapped) frame styles, light could sometimes come in from the sides and show a distracting reflection of the wearer’s cheeks. Frames with a higher base curve (more wrapped) did not need this coating as much, nor did styles with wide arms. Many of the sunglasses had hydrophobic coatings to help water bead up and roll off. We didn’t specifically test whether this made a difference with salt spray or in a drizzle but like this idea. Likewise, we didn’t test the oil-resistant coating that helps some sunglasses fight the potential dangers of sunscreen and general grime, but like this feature as well.

Curvature

Base curve is the number used to describe how flat or wrapped a pair of glasses is on your face — technically it’s the radius of the circle formed by the inside of the lenses. We found frames with a base curve of 8 to be quite wrapped, and a base curve of 6 to be more flat, for example the Wayfarer styles. The more wrapped styles did a better job of cutting side glare.

We recently put some of the best sunglasses available to the test to find out the best pair of sunglasses for sailing. To find out some of our editors favorites, click here.

The post How to Choose the Right Sunglasses appeared first on Cruising World.

Costa Del Mar Kiwa

Suited to medium-wide and large faces, the aviator-style Costa del Mar Kiwa sits comfortably on the face and won’t fall off when the action picks up. The Kiwas are both functional and stylish – perfect for a day on the water, and shoreside activities afterward. The Grey Polarized Polycarbonate lenses tested cut glare off the water, without sarificing color intensity and vibrance. With the wear and tear of days on the water sure to take a toll on your eyewear eventually, the Costa del Mar warranty can’t be beat. Every pair is backed for life, and in the event of a defect or damage, Costa del Mar will replace or repair your pair for just a small processing fee.

The Kiwas are available in numerous frame colors including tortoise and matte black, with both glass and polycarbonate lenses. The Kiwa can also be customized with prescription lenses.

costadelmar.com • $169

Kaenon Avila

The Kaenon Avila is a versatile pair of sunglasses that will suit a variety of face types and shapes. While designed for women with a medium to full face, the slim fit keeps them snugly on your face – even after a full day of racing – without feeling like they are stuck. The B-12 Gold Mirror lenses does an exceptional job reducing glare, making it easy to see approaching puffs on the water. The lens color is easy on the eyes, eliminating the need to squint through your glasses, even in bright sunlight. The large lenses block peripheral light like a wrap frame, ensuring a full field of vision without full wrap styling. The Avilas are covered by a one year warranty from Kaenon in the event of damage to the lenses or frames.

The Avila is available in Matte Tortoise, Black and Driftwood, with grey, rose, and gold lenses and can be customized with prescription lenses.

kaenon.com • $199

Revo Otis

The Revo Otis sunglasses fit perfectly on an average face size, and are extremely light. The large, rounded lenses offer exceptional coverage of your field of vision, blocking out any peripheral light. The Green Water Serilium lenses are made of a shatterproof polycarbonate, specifically coated to repel water and sweat. The mirrored coating uses the same technology to reflect light that NASA uses to protect satellites to keep your eyes safe. The lenses greatly reduce glare, and also enhance color, making these sunglasses valuable even on cloudy days. Revo offers a two-year warranty on its glasses in the event of damage, and has partnered with the Brien Holden Vision Institute to donate $10 from every purchase to protect against vision impairment in children and adults.

The Otis is available in brown, black and grey frames, with blue, green, brown and grey serilium lenses available.

revo.com • $189

Smith Wayward

The Smith Wayward is a very light and comfortable pair of sunglasses. They have a Wayfarer-style shape with nice big lenses that provide a lot of coverage. Testers with both wide and narrow heads (also both male and female) found them to be very comfortable and well proportioned. The Waywards are “Evolve” frames, made from 53% bio-based materials – a win for the environment, and your eyes. The Polarized Bronze Mirror lenses are ideal for inshore sailing, when you are looking for fish below the surface, or spotting coral heads in an anchorage. The front mirror reflects light, while on the inside, an anti-reflective coating prevents glare from the sides. The ChromaPop lenses also are water and oil repellent, making them more durable than other Smith lenses. The Waywards feature Smith’s unique lifetime warranty; send your damaged glasses back and if they can’t repair them, they’ll give you a discount on a new pair.

The Smith Waywards are available in matte black, black, and tortoise frames, with a variety of polarized lens colors.

smith.com • $169–$249

Under Armor Assist Storm

The Under Armor Assist Storm sunglasses were made for activity. The medium-sized sunglasses fit well and sit snugly on the face through a day or sailing, boating, or golfing. The sunglasses are equally at home off the water, too, and a versatile enough style to wear on shore to your next summer soiree. The grey polarized lenses suppress glare well, even when salty from spray, but do slightly reduce the clarity of vision. The Under Armor sunglasses also feature a lifetime warranty. Overall the glasses are great for a highly active person looking for a versatile pair of glasses to wear both on and off the water, with a great price tag.

The Under Armor Assist Storm sunglasses are available with black frames and grey polarized lenses.

underarmor.com • $75

Maui Jim Swept Away

The Maui Jim Swept Away glasses are a good fit for wider faces. The glasses are snug but not tight, and secure no matter how much they are bounced around. The Swept Away frame is a stylish design and offers a large field of vision, but does lack side protection from additional glare. The SuperThin glass lenses provide crisp and clear views, both up close and at a distance. The trade off for the improved optics comes at the cost of heavier glasses. Maui Jim offers a 30-day money back guarantee if you shop on their website, plus a two-year warranty. They are renowned for their excellent customer service and repair support. Overall the Swept Aways are a great looking pair of glasses more at home ashore, but perfect for a calm day on the water as well.

The Swept Away is available with blue-grey, blue-pink, tortoise, and ruby frames, and grey, bronze and rose lenses. The Swept Away can also be customized with prescription lenses.

mauijim.com • $299

Oakley Sliver

The Oakley Sliver is a modern, classy pair of square sunglasses. The Slivers rate high in both comfort and style. The frames are light and sit high on the temple and have a good grip on the face. The square frames are ideally suited to big-boat sailing, where the risk of snagging your sunglasses on a small line are minimal. The light-grey tones of the Prizm lenses brought great accents in low-light scenarios, and helped our tester’s ability to clearly see wind on overcast days. The blue-sky bright sun sparkle off the water was reduced, but still intense after a long day. Definition was good and glare negligible. The Shallow Water lenses are best suited to a mixed-cloud cover day. Overall, the Oakley Slivers are a solid set of shades for big-boat sailors that can serve double purpose for the boat and the yacht club. Given their strength in the mixed-cloud setting, they’re a good all-around package.

The Oakley Slivers can be customized to suit your specific needs, and are also available in a variety of preset options for both frame and lens color.

oakley.com • $180

Gill Squad Junior

The perfect pair of sunglasses for any junior crew member. The Gill Squad Sunglasses sit comfortably on the face of our 9 year-old tester. The blue lenses reduced glare, and offered wrap-around protection on the sides. Reading and spotting puffs on the water were all made easier through the polarized Gill lenses. A key feature of the Squad Sunglasses is the built-in floatation. With built-in buoyancy, you will never lose these sunglasses overboard. In addition, once our tester saw how cool he looked in them, they stayed on all day!

The Gill Squad Floating Sunglasses are available with a blue frame and blue polarized lenses.

gillna.com • $70

The post The Best Sailing Sunglasses appeared first on Cruising World.

Never be without a bag again. Whether you’re on a shopping trip or just need to carry some gear down to the boat, the Transit Tote can handle it. The tote stuffs into the integrated pouch, has an 18-liter capacity and is made out of waterproof ripstop material with leak-proof seams.

$40 • www.matadorup.com

This classy notebook, which boasts a recycled sail patch from a boat that has reached Cape Horn, is the perfect place to record your charter memories. Each 240-page notebook opens flat and contains a gusseted pocket for mementos.

$30 • www.amazon.com

Planning an adventure? Capture the total experience with the Virb 360. The easy-to-use camera records 360-degree sound and video, and the image stabilization ensures a smooth result.

$800 • www.amazon.com

Put through the paces on a recent charter trip in Cuba, the AquaFlex dress proved perfect for the occasion. It features a flattering fit, and the quick-dry fabric is great for splashy dinghy rides or a stand-up paddleboard cruise around the harbor.

$85 • www.toadandco.com

For days when you’re doing plenty of walking, you need more support than typical flip-flops can offer. The Pehuea combines the slip-on ease of a sandal with the comfort of a highly breathable sneaker, and the nonmarking sole will keep the decks scuff free.

$80 • www.olukai.com

The post Gear Roundup: Charter Essentials appeared first on Cruising World.

Reactor Atom

The Reactor Atom with NeverDark technology is designed for easy reading, no matter what the conditions are, making it a good companion during a nighttime stint at the helm. The watch, which is also available in a women’s style, is constructed of marine-grade stainless steel and is water-resistant to 200 meters.

$400

Freestyle Mariner Tide

Made just for life on the water, the Mariner Tide by Freestyle provides tide direction, time and height data as well as sunset and sunrise times with the touch of a button. The watch has a silicone band and is water-resistant to 100 meters.

$100

Nixon Base Tide

No need to guess where the tide cycle is — get the info you need with just a glance. Water resistant to 100 meters, the Base Tide keeps it simple with tide and time data on clear display. The retro style features a nylon band with Velcro closure.

$100

Luminox Sea Turtle

The Sea Turtle is the newest addition to ­Luminox’s Sea Series. The tough, lightweight watch features self-­powered illumination, a scratch-­resistant glass crystal face and a stainless-­steel double-­gasket protected crown. It’s also available in two sizes: 44 mm and 39 mm.

$250

Panerai Luminor Marina

Splurge alert! Luxury watch maker Panerai is an official partner of the 35th America’s Cup and, to mark the occasion, has released several limited-­edition watches, ­including the Luminor Marina. The America’s Cup logo is heat-­embossed on the strap, and Oracle Team USA’s logo is in relief on the watch back.

$7,100

The post Sailing Watches appeared first on Cruising World.

Irrespective of one’s proclivity for onboard technology, there’s no denying the sea change that smartphones and tablets have brought to marine electronics. Thanks to their built-in GPS receivers, plentiful processing power, touch-screen graphical interfaces and cellular modems, these devices are virtually tailor-made for use as independent navigation systems when loaded with the right cartography app, and provided, of course, that cellular or Wi-Fi service exists. I clearly remember the first few times that I used a Navionics chart app while sailing, amazed that I could privately explore alternative routings without causing agita at the nav station.

But while everyone’s abuzz about their phone and iPad, a new generation of wearable technology has been quietly gathering speed and now offers sailors hands-free access to critical data, anywhere on the boat.

Although many of us sail to escape onshore white noise, wearable technology delivers the benefit of increased situational awareness and onboard mobility sans the need to install a bevy of repeater screens. Also, by having constant access to metrics such as speed over ground and apparent wind angle, it’s much easier to qualify and quantify the real-time effects of sail trim and steering on your estimated time of arrival. Here, then, is a look at what’s out there in the world of wearables and how these devices work.

Let’s start at the wrist. Most sailing watches fall into one of two camps: digital chronometers with regatta-specific timers and countdown alarms, or upscale and elegant horological pieces with mechanical movements and wallet-puckering price tags. Garmin started innovating in this space in 2013 with the launch of its first-generation quatix GPS-enabled smartwatch, which offered what the company termed solid-state “ABCs” — altimeter, barometer and compass — along with handy sailing-specific features, such as a man-overboard button and tide information.

In stand-alone mode, quatix could use its onboard sensors and its GPS receiver to determine speed, direction and position information. The watch’s built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ANT+ (a communications protocol commonly used by fitness and other monitoring devices) connectivity allowed it to be paired with Garmin’s GNT-10 NMEA transceiver to display information from the vessel’s navigation system. Cooler still, quatix could be used to control a compatible Garmin autopilot.

“The first quatix was ahead of its time,” says Dave Dunn, Garmin’s director of marine sales and marketing, who explained that quatix’s ability to control autopilots earned it the nickname “the James Bond watch” among timepiece enthusiasts, of which he is one. “It was big and bulky, but it put quatix on the map.”

Today, all the major marine-electronics manufacturers include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability in their higher-end chart plotters, allowing smart devices to wirelessly talk to the plotter and access navigation and other data carried over an NMEA 2000 network.

“We live in a connected world,” says Dunn as he describes the considerably sleeker quatix 3, which was released in 2016 and allows users to customize their watch-face setting to display a range of onboard data. “One of quatix 3’s only shortcomings is that there’s no autopilot control,” says Dunn. The autopilot-control feature, he explains, didn’t mesh well with the new watch’s software platform; this may be corrected, though, in the next-generation quatix.

Still, quatix 3 is loaded with sailing-specific features, including a stand-alone man-overboard button that sets an internal emergency waypoint. The watch can also be paired with smartphones and tablets to access the Internet, and with a free app, it can be used to control an onboard Fusion marine stereo.

For most cruising sailors, basic depth and speed are top of mind when considering what metrics to have on display. But Garmin borrowed a page from the smartphone and tablet developers’ handbook and gives the quatix user lots of options. Garmin and third-party apps are available for download from the company’s Connect IQ online store. Additionally, built-in software allows quatix 3 owners to create and store up to 1,000 waypoints and 30 routes — a tool that could prove useful when searching a dark harbor for the boat after a big night ashore.

As with all portable electronics, quatix watches are beholden to their batteries, which in this case are USB-rechargeable lithium-ions. A quatix 3 can go for 30 days before needing a DC top-off, says Dunn, so long as its power-thirsty GPS receiver is switched off. To save juice, Dunn recommends pairing quatix watches with compatible chart plotters to obtain position and speed information, as this draws significantly less power than using the device’s internal resources.

Third-party connectivity is a limitation for quatix and quatix 3 because they can only be paired with Garmin-built chart plotters and wind instruments. Still, the watches’ impressive navigational capabilities when operating in stand-alone mode, coupled with their easy-to-read graphics and rugged, waterproof (to 150 feet) construction, make them solid choices for sailors of all stripes.

Another player in this segment of the wearable market is Italy’s Astra Yacht, which touts its esa Watch as the world’s first Android-based sailing timepiece. It features a touch-sensitive, customizable 1.54-inch high-definition screen that can display a wide range of performance and navigation data. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity allow the watch to connect to your boat’s navigation and other systems via Astra Yacht’s GAMP 2000 Wi-Fi multiplexer, which is sold separately. Users can download apps from the Google Play store, and paired with a smartphone, the watch can be used to make phone calls, send and receive text messages and email, play music and browse the Web. If connectivity doesn’t exist, the watch can use its internal GPS receiver to calculate speed and heading information.

Apple Watch wearers can join the fun too, with a range of sailing-specific apps available to let them seamlessly mesh their time on the water with all the other aspects of their digital lives.

Heads-Up Info

Rather than putting information on your wrist, head-up displays, or HUDs, take an in-your-face approach to keeping you on top of critical data. The technology became famous in the sailing world when Oracle Team USA’s skipper Jimmy Spithill used a custom-built system to win the 34th America’s Cup in 2013.

At present, just two companies make HUDs for multiple recreational outdoor activities: Garmin, which originally created a product for cyclists, and Recon, which targeted skiers and snowboarders but has since expanded into other sports, such as running and cycling.

So far, Garmin is the only manufacturer with sailing-specific gear, its Nautix in-view display. Recon has not launched a marine-specific product, though Canadian firm Afterguard made headlines in 2014 with the news that it has a sailing-specific display using Recon hardware. Afterguard did not respond to correspondence related to this article.

Garmin’s Nautix is a small, 1.1-ounce device that clips onto the temple of most glasses or sunglasses (excluding those with wire frames), making it an especially attractive option for sailors who use prescription glasses. These tidy displays wirelessly talk to a compatible Garmin chart plotter via an ANT+ connection, which allows Nautix to display networked NMEA 2000 data. A glove- and water-friendly touch-screen strip that’s fitted along the display’s chassis allows users to scroll between five customizable screen views.

“Cruisers who are away from their helms can keep an eye on their data,” says Dunn. Nautix can display need-it-now metrics, including boat speed, depth, heading, wind direction and bearing to the next waypoint, all on a screen that offers 428-by-240-pixel resolution, which delivers sharp, crisp graphical imagery.

As with anything new that’s introduced into your field of vision, it can take a few moments to initially adjust your eyes to the presence of the display, but after a brief learning curve Nautix’s screen is unobtrusively there, offering pertinent information without compromising one’s sight.

For performance–oriented sailors this can be a great tool to help get the most from their boat and sails. An ambient light sensor embedded in the Nautix display even dynamically adjusts for passing clouds and sunset.

Unlike quatix watches, Nautix displays can’t function in a stand-alone mode, making them only suited for use aboard Garmin-equipped boats.

While the luddites among us can make a strong argument for using sailing to escape the all-info clutter that assaults us ashore, wearable technology offers a digitally stylish way of staying up-to-date on dynamic information, and it can also be a great new way to learn more about how your boat responds to different sail-trim and steering inputs. Just be forewarned: Chasing numbers on the speedo can be addictive and lead to some expensive — but rewarding — conversations with your sailmaker.

David Schmidt is CW’s electronics editor.

The post Wearable Data appeared first on Cruising World.

Patagonia Lightweight Black Hole Cinch pack 20L

You need a sturdy pack for adventures ashore, but it needs to stow away easily on the boat. Patagonia’s new Lightweight Black Hole Cinch Pack is made out of tough, weatherproof nylon rip-stop. The backpack features highly breathable shoulder pads and back panel, and is hydration-­system compatible — perfect for long hikes.

$79

Interlux Micron WA

Micron WA, the newest antifouling paint from Interlux, features a water-­based, low-VOC formula with crisp colors and fast drying times. This self-polishing, ablative paint is suitable for any waters, including high-fouling locations.

See more at www.yachtpaint.com

Gill Race Trainer

Refreshing your cruising kit for the season? Don’t forget your feet! The new Gill Race Trainers feature a grippy sole with multidirectional water-dispersal channels and midsole cushioning that’s designed to reduce foot fatigue. The lightweight design also has a spacer mesh for breathability and heat and moisture transfer.

$125

Davis Instruments Snap Tool Multi-Key

The Snap Tool Multi-Key is a palm-size toolbox. With four hex-wrench sockets, zipper pull, Phillips and flat screwdrivers, a scraper, shackle opener, two deck-key sizes, bottle opener and even a recessed sharp blade for cutting through line, it might be the only thing you need in your pocket.

$13

FLIR One Gen3 Thermal Camera

Make your smartphone or tablet even more brilliant by turning it into a thermal camera. The latest generation of the Flir One thermal-­imaging cameras features an adjustable connector that can fit with almost any phone case. Flir One Gen3 is available for both iPhone and Android devices. Use it for DIY projects aboard, such as troubleshooting engine or electrical issues.

$300

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