New Gear: Dinghy is IN !!!

2011 may be the year of dinghy, it seems as though all of our beloved manufacturers are taking a look back at their classic popular dinghy lines and making serious improvements as well as launching some fabulous new gear. Earlier we blogged about SLAM's new Skiff Line, Italian/Australian inspired wet wear for the dinghy/skiff sailor, now we have another great new Dinghy Collection to brag about, Gill's 2011 Dinghy Collection.....sweet right ?

Gill has been offering great dinghy gear as far back as I can remember, simple quality gear that lasts, at great prices backed by excellent customer service. Gill will be setting a new bar for 2011 in Dinghy Gear with some of the gear they have been working on, sticking with the basics as well. Since we've got a lot to get through, I don't want to bore you anymore with me editorializing their new gear so were going to get right to it:

Gill Pro Top
XS-XXL
$129

The ever popular classic top has been re-designed for 2011, changing up its styling for added flair, toning down the colors and adding a bit of fashion....keeping though the great PU adjustable neck collar & cuffs, adjustable neoprene waist band and adding in an easy access stow pocket and most importantly, the price is still the same, a sweet deal @ $129. Available in Women's style and fit.

Gill Pro Salopettes
XS-XXL
$129

The Pro Top's matching bottoms have been renovated as well, check them out, available in Women's sizing and styles as well.





Gill Pro Hikers
XS-XXL
$169

Revamped and ready to roll....tack that is, the Pro Hikers combine performance with day-long comfort and are built to withstand the punishment of active use. The removable thigh pads allow for correct positioning and protection. At the crotch and the back of the knees the high tenacity Di-Guard neoprene seat panel protects against wear generated through contact with the boat, Di-Guard is 3X more durable than regular neoprene.

Gill Hydrophobe Long Sleeve Top
S-XXL
$65

Uh-oh, someone has some competition......Super lightweight yet a highly thermal Rash Guard, ergonomically designed using stretch materials. The material is naturally Hydrophobic so water is repelled away from the fabric ensuring the garment doesn't get heavy and damp when worn in wet conditions. Can be worn as a thermal layer or on its own on warmer days to reduce wind-chill, wicking Polypropylene fabric for warmth and comfort.

Gill Hydrophobe Trousers
XS-XXL
$65

And bottoms to match......Gill's new Hydrophobe line is setting an industry standard in price and new product development. Technical layers such as these used to be high $$$ and didn't last long, with these new products being released, the consumer is able to purchase technical gear easily, with affordability and confidence that the gear will last.

Gill Skiff Boot
US 5-13
$69

Perfect for the fast-paced, highly agile world of the performance skiff racer. The lightweight Gill Skiff Boot has an internal split toe design for maximum traction and swift movement around the boat. The thin sole design allows you to "feel" the boat and assures that as much of your foot is in contact with the boat at any one time.


Gill Nappy Harness
S-XXL
$169

A stripped-out, elemental design with single handed adjustment and a wide, load bearing spreader bar. Removable/adjustable stiffened lumbar support, single handed tension lock at waist adjustment, neoprene padding on shoulder straps for additional comfort and support.

frostbitten in the northeast

Bonafide Laser sailing in the northeast is what you're seeing......our sailing season doesn't end when we see frost, it keeps going until our boats are frozen to their dollies. Thanks to the Frostbite Yacht Club, aptly named, on the CT River in Essex, CT, Etchells, JY15, Ideal18 and Laser sailors are able to extend their season well into the winter. You have to imagine though how it feels to get whipped in the face by spray while racing Lasers in 30 degree weather with a mild water temp of 45 degrees, that shows some serious dedication to the sport. Thanks to Kevin Gillman, the smiling face you see on camera, for sharing what frostbiting in a Laser in 30 degrees looks like.

Hopefully this latest video content may spawn some like minded individuals to share similar content or anything that may make a viewer go "wow", get in touch with us if you have anything to share and we'll make sure to reward you for it.

If you're still sailing, and the air temp has passed 60 degrees, get in touch with us for the gear you need to stay dry and warm, with the right gear you can stay sailing and keep from becoming frostbitten......

SB Announces sponsorship of US Moth Sailor Matt Knowles

Sound Boatworks is proud to announce our newest member of the SB Team, US Moth Sailor Matt Knowles !!! We are very excited to welcome Matt aboard, former Harvard Sailing Team member and member of the US Sailing Racing Rules Committee, Matt is a great addition to the SB sponsored teams. Currently Matt is preparing for what will be one of the fastest single handed events of 2011, the Moth Worlds in Australia. In addition to Matt's high speed sailing, he also hosts "Unruly", a blog on the Racing Rules of Sailing, of which SB is also proud to sponsor and will be giving away prizes for the winners of Matt's Rules Quizzes.

We will be covering Matt's adventure down under in the coming month so check back with us for awesome photos, videos and much more. Also, check out Matt's blog, Unruly, and test yourself to see how well you know the RULES !!!




Photos courtesy of Winston Yan

Sneak Peek: Gill Regatta Master Watch II

Get ready to get your socks knocked off.....this is always a good way to start off a post, it makes it sound really compelling and provocative, which this is, especially if you are a watch aficionado. Gill has released their "Regatta Master Watch II", a title that aptly fit their original Regatta Master watch, but doesn't quite say enough about their newest gadget, potentially "Master Brain" or "Laptop on your wrist" may describe this gem a bit better.

The lightweight, new and improved Regatta Master Watch II from Gill is designed specifically for competitive sailors. Water resistant to 50 meters, features include a stopwatch, countdown
timer, compass, calendar and alarm, all displayed on a large digital screen. Serious racers will enjoy the countdown feature that gives a sound signal every minute, and in the last minute prior to the race start, the seconds count down in a large full screen display for ease of viewing. The synchronization feature allows sailors to readjust their timings to the closest minute at any time in the sequence. The large buttons on the sides of the watch help avoid any accidental ʻmiss-pressʼ in the vital pre-start.

With a power saving sleep-mode, battery life is lengthened and when the time does come to change the battery, a simple coin will remove the back cover, and once re-sealed, the watch remains totally waterproof – quick and easy, without the necessity to send the watch away. There is an international dual-time facility so that two different world times may be displayed consecutively, whilst for night-use thereʼs a powerful electro luminescent backlight. The hard-wearing wrist strap completes the stylish design.

Priced just a little higher than its older brother @ $175, the Gill Regatta Master Watch II is set to debut November 20th, just in time for the Holiday gift season. Sound Boatworks is currently accepting pre-orders on our website as well as over the phone, make sure to secure a place in line as with the expected popularity of this hot little guy, it may be out of stock by Christmas.

Breaking News: SLAM Dinghy Collection Just Arrived !!!

It has arrived....the brand new SLAM Dinghy collection, stunning, well designed and moderately priced only begin to describe SLAM's new range designed in part by world re-known skiff sailor and 49er designer, Julian Bethwaite. SLAM's Dinghy Collection is made up of core pieces designed to keep you warm, dry and comfortable, with a bit of Italian flair and Aussie speed, from rash guards to hikers this collection will cover your wet wear needs. We were able to get a sneak peek before the start of the Annapolis boat show last week, as we dug into the duffel bag securing samples of the new line, piece by piece we pulled out, our eyes got a little bigger and our smiles widened.

SLAM's Dinghy Collection covers the basics of what you need for wet sailing, starting the line off with a Rash Guard for flexibility and UV protection moving up to the long sleeve Titanium top offering a thermal barrier from the elements. For bottoms, SLAM offers shorts, pants, long johns and hikers, the latter being the most amazing and technologically advanced I've ever seen, sticking to the same principle, the bottoms are designed for comfort and flexibility and range from UV protection from the sun to thermal barriers for cold weather sailing.

Generally we get the opportunity to try on and test out new gear before offering it to our customers, however our ability to do so in this case was rather limited to wearing it around the office, definitely not a proper field test, but did just fine in this case. Rather than ranting on and on about how wonderful this new gear is, we figured a spotlight on just a few would be sufficient for this blog, afterward please spend as much time on the website drooling on your computer screen as you browse through your "New Gear", and don't forget to click on the ever so important "Add to Cart" button or Santa won't know where to deliver your gear to.

The SLAM L/S Titanium Top @ 89.95 offered in XS-XXXL, this super stretch neoprene shirt protects you from the bitter chill and keeps you warmer. Constructed from Tri-density 0.5mm (1.5mm on chest) neoprene with a Titanium inner coating to reflect body heat, flatlock stitching & 4-way stretch material.

SLAM Skiff Pants @ $119.60 offered in XS-XXXL, cut for a professional athletes body and are built for competition. When you're racing, you need flexibility foremost and just enough neoprene on you to keep warm for the duration of the race. Constructed from Apex-Flex high end flex (double-lined) neoprene. Apex Flex has a 250% stretch factor and is lined on both the inside and outside with a silky smooth jersey. Flatlock stitching, a strong durable self-locking stitch that comfortable against the skin. The FL seam is water permeable implying the technique is generally used in warm water suits.


SLAM Skiff Long Johns @ $149.50 offered in XS-XXXL, using the same Apex Flex neoprene technology as the rest of the line the SLAM Long Johns are a great lower and upper body thermal barrier piece, offering excellent deflection of colder elements while sailing. Lined with a micro fleece material for ease of putting on and off as well as comfort when they are against the skin. Similar to the skiff pants , the Long Johns offer PU imprinted knee reinforcement and padding for the needs of the dinghy sailor.

Check out the new SLAM Dingy Collection online at www.shopsoundboatworks.com, Gear UP with this great new line and prepare yourself for a cold winter, or for you lucky Southern sailors, a mild day of sailing. Whether you're out sailing 420s Scholastically, Frostbiting your Laser on the lake, or competing in medal races on a 49er, this new line is sure to suit your needs, long out live your expectations and be a part of your sailing wardrobe for many years.

Product of the Week: Gill Sail Jacket

On the other side of the pond, our friends at Gill have been quite busy developing some exciting new products to compliment their already great collection of sailing gear. Gill has kept us on the edge of our seats as they have been slowly giving us sneak peeks of what they have been working on, and what we hope the sailing world will be wearing this year.

Since we've been teased by Gill they have been releasing segments of their new line of sailing foul weather gear little by little, we figured we'd return the favor to you. Each week the staff at Sound Boatworks will be giving you a sneak peek at the great new products coming onto the market this Fall/Winter. Some products are ready for purchase, and some you may have to wait a little longer for, so don't forget to add them to your wishlist. Don't worry though, we'll let you know exactly when they'll be ready to ship out....

This week we are introducing the Gill Sail Jacket, a contemporary marine design inspired by the classic & popular Gill Crew jacket, offered at $175. Gill has hit a home run on this piece, bringing an all together new element to their line of nautical clothing - a piece of clothing that is functional, fashionable, and works beautifully both on and off the water. Offered in just two colors, Silver with steel accents and Black with steel, both colors are also adorned with Gill fresh new logo colors of a soft red. What is often overlooked on casual wear are clean areas on the garment to personalize with your boat name, team logo or school colors. However, Gill has left an abundance of room on this piece for such decoration, while still adding a bit of their own flair, for if we wish to wear it as is, it will look as sweet on the water as it does on the dock.

One of the most unique features on the Gill Sail Jacket is the 100% breathable & waterproof fabric that forms it. This is something that is uncommon in crew wear and more so in any piece of clothing that lands under $200. In addition, the Sail Jacket is extremely lightweight with its polyester insulation and 2 layer construction.

Whether you're using the Gill Sail Jacket for your team jacket, wearing it on a crisp fall night keelboat racing, or if you're just walking the dog, it works. It combines everything you need to stay warm and dry as we come into the mild weather of Fall, but also let's you look quite chic as you cruise the docks or hit the watering hole after racing. It offers everything you could ever want in a sailing jacket and then some. Offered in XS-XXL in Silver or Black, the Gill Sail Jacket is a necessary piece in your gear bag, priced at $175


Check the Gill Sail Jacket out, located on our web store in our Inshore apparel section and also in our "Hot Deals" section.

Product of the Week: Pelican HeadsUp Lite™ 2690 Headlamp

Regardless of the season, Pelican's new 2690 HeadsUp Lite™ won't leave you in the dark. With 60 lumens of LED light, 10 hours of battery burn time and weighing in at 4.1 ounces, it's brighter, more efficient, compact and lighter than other headlamps in its class. The no-nonsense rotary bezel switch on this newest addition to the line of Pelican lights is easy to operate, even when wearing bulky gloves.

The 2690 is made of impact and chemical resistant ABS and it's water resistant for all-weather use. It comes with an adjustable and comfortable cloth strap, as well as a heavy duty rubber strap that will not slip off your climbing helmet. Pelican's 2690 HeadsUp Lite^TM is engineered for those who take the outdoors seriously. For those who are fans of LED lenser torches, this item is truly a must have.

The 2690 is a great piece of gear for any sailor, whether Racing around the Cans or Offshore cruises, it is a must have on your boat. It is beyond a doubt among the best in the field of LED flashlights and headlights. When we got our hands on the 2690, it lived up to all the hype, and it actually does have a true battery life of 10 hours !!! In our experience, although the 2690 does come with 2 AA Batteries, we recommend stepping up to a lithium battery for longer life, especially when left in the cabin for extended periods. This fresh new item comes in at $39.95, check it out, don't be left in the dark.

New Product: Myerchin P300 Sailor's Knife

From the ever-popular line of Myerchin knives comes Myerchin's latest innovation, the Myerchin P300 Sailor's Knife. Based off the design of Myerchin's line of sailboat rigging knives comes a compact (Just 5" closed), power packing knife with all the functions of it's older brothers. With an aluminum handle and stainless steel innards, this sailboat knife is built to withstand the torture and abuse of the salt water environment. This Myerchin offshore rigging knife was built with a simple new tool with 3 main functions, a 2.25" Serrated Blade, Locking Marlin Spike and fully functional Pliers.
At my first glance, the P300 seemed puny and weak, but with further investigation I found the short, serrated cutting blade, made from 440C Stainless Steel to be extremely useful. The blade moves very smoothly with a one hand opening & locking function. The Marlin Spike locks into place nicely and the inner locking components which work swiftly are made from stainless steel to prevent any corrosion from locking the knife up.

One of the coolest features on this new knife is the Pliers mounted on the spike end of the knife. Before the knife made its way to our shop for the first look, the addition of pliers seemed needless and appeared non-functional. However, after a few uses they proved to be a great tool for unlocking tough shackles, with just enough jaw size and expansion as not to become cumbersome during use.

Myerchin finished off their new baby with some of their traditional touches including a tethering loop, belt clip and tough Cordura pouch, with a new neoprene-like liner that might eliminate moisture within the pouch. Overall, I would say that Myerchin has hit a home run with their newest knife, nailing the price point, size and functionality for the everyday sailor. With the price landing in the lower part of the rigging knife market, it gives you tremendous value and function, but doesn't give you buyer's remorse when you drop it over the rail. The Myerchin P300 Sailor's Knife is offered in 3 colors: Silver, Blue and Red and retails for $39.95 .

New Photos added to the Ultimate Photo Contest

We've got some great new sets of Photos sent in this week for the Ultimate Photo Contest at Sound Boatworks. Be sure to check out our complete set at Sound Boatworks Ultimate Photo Contest







Our friend Milko sends us some great shots of sailing on Geneva Lake straight from Switzerland
















Sara Proctor from SailFastPhoto gives us a taste of some awesome Sportboat sailing at this year's Key West Race Week and Gold Cup in Ft. Lauderdale.

The fabulous Farr 40 "Joe Fly" with undoubtedly some of the best graphics in sailing
Courtesy of Sara Proctor from SailFastPhoto

New Photos from Sound Boatworks Ultimate Sailing Contest

Thanks to Colin for his great picture of a newly built Long Island Sloop on his recent trip to the Bahamas. Evidently Bahamian Sloop sailing is quite the National pastime with sloops ranging from 17'-30' and competitions within the islands as well as the island countries surrounding the Bahamas.

Sound Boatworks Ultimate Photo Contest

So we've decided, mostly due to lack of participants, to extend the Sound Boatworks Ultimate Photo Contest through May 1st. Anyway, here's a bit of a new batch sent over from Chuck Kesson of Newport, RI, more to come........












Visit our Contest library at Sound Boatworks Ultimate Photo Contest

Sound Boatworks Photo Contest

Some of the first few contestants have already been sending in their photos, check them out: Sound Boatworks Photo Contest Album. Feel free to comment on any of the pictures and be sure to send some of yours in!


Photo courtesy of "k2sails@gmail.com"

Sound Boatworks Photo Contest

Right now its blowing a steady 35 here in CT, and everyone's thinking of how sick it would to be sailing, however its March.....and it's cold, but there's nothing like seeing some extreme sailing photos to get you in the mood to get on the water. For the remainder of March, Sound Boatworks is hosting our first annual "Ultimate Sailing Photo Contest", so send us your best shots. Regardless of whether they are of you, or if you're behind the lens, we'd love to see them and share them with everyone else who's aching to be on the water. Your photo can be a cool boat, nice sailing, or even a sweet wipe out. Nothing is barred here, so send us whatever you have. Top prizes include a Gill Regatta Watch, Gift Certificates worth up to $100, and other additional prizes for the top five winners. Our panel of judges will scrutinize every photo to find the best of the best. To make this a legit contest we're gonna to have some rules here:

1. The photo must be owned by you - no copying and pasting here. It can be you, your brother, your friend or some dude you saw sailing one day. The photo doesn't have to be taken by you, but you must have permission for it.

2. To qualify for medals, all photos have to be in by March 25th

3. By submitting your photo, you give Sound Boatworks permission to post it to our blog, website, or Facebook page

4. Submit your photos to chris@soundboatworksllc.com, include your name, where the photos were taken, and a brief description of what's happening in the shot.

So let's get rolling, be the first - or last to get your Ultimate Photo to Sound Boatworks. This may be your chance to share a boat you've been drooling over, your proudest moment on the water, or even your most humiliating. Here's a little teaser to get you started

Sound Boatworks sponsors "Argo"

Sound Boatworks is proud to announce the sponsorship of "Argo", a Melges 32 from Larchmont YC, NY. Owned and operated by Jason Carroll, NYC, and backed with tactical support by John & Molly Baxter, Greenwich, CT, Argo is a well tuned Long Island Sound boat that has been traveling the international Melges 32 circuit for the past year and placing well amongst their seasoned international competitors. Last summer Argo attended the Melges 32 World Championship in Italy and placed 5th overall against well experienced European sport boat sailors. This year Argo has attended both Key West Race Week & Miami Race Week flying the Sound Boatworks colors. Sound Boatworks sponsored Argo in partnership with SLAM Foul Weather Gear, as you see in the photo above the Argonuats donning SLAM's RC Spraytop & RC Salopettes. Sound Boatworks will be following Argo closely on their tour of the East Coast circuit this season with the grand finale of the Melges 32 World Champs to be held in San Francisco, CA. Sound Boatworks is proud to support local teams and we give many thanks to the crew of Argo for supporting us on the water. We'd like to give special thanks to John & Molly Baxter, Whitney Gladstone from North Graphics, Filipo & Paul of SLAM USA, and Ted & Skip Zuse for all of the help in making this sponsorship a success. You can follow Argo on both our blog and Argo's Blog as they cruise the Melges circuit. Argo's Crew consists of the following sailors:

Jason Carroll from New York, NY – Skipper

John Baxter from Greenwich, CT – Tactician

Chad Corning from New Rochelle, NY – Main trim

Dan Litchfield from New York, NY – Jib / Spin trim

Molly Baxter from Greenwich, CT – Strategist/Pit

Patrick Mauro from New York, NY – Pit

Ben Bardwell from Newport, RI – Mast

Brian Fox from New York, NY – Bow

Julie Howe - Pit Assist

Photos courtesy of John Carroll