The Bitter End

SB Sponsors Peter Miller & Miller Match Racing to compete in Bermuda Gold Cup

2011-10-14T13:17:00.001-04:00

This season we were fortunate enough to sponsor another young local sailor to compete in a Grand Prix event, Peter Miller & Miller Match Racing at the 2011 Bermuda Gold Cup. Peter is a student at Connecticut College and an active team member on Conn's Sailing Team, hailing from Bermuda, Peter was one of two young locals chosen to compete in this year's Gold Cup, a worldwide Match Racing Circuit with various stops across the globe.

For this event we outfitted Peter and his crew in SLAM "Bermuda" Hissar Shorts and Henri Lloyd Atmosphere Tees, topping everything off with our SB FlexFit Trucker Hat, they looked sharp. Upon Peter's return from the Gold Cup, he wrote up a post-event re-cap for us, congrats to Peter and his team for taking on some of the world's best !!!

From Peter:

"Although my first World Match Racing Tour/ Grade 1 event was not my most successful outing, I took away many valuable lessons that will be massively important for the rest of my match racing career. While I was disappointed to not come away with any wins, just having the experience of racing against the big guys was a thrill in itself. The group that I was placed in was very tough (as were all the groups). In my group I had world’s number 1, Ian Williams, #7 Mathieu Richard, #13 Eric Monnin, #14 Laurie Jury, #17 Damien Iehl, #22 Simone Ferraresse and former America’s Cup skipper Terry McLaughlin. Needless to say, the odds were stacked against me. We had some close races with a couple of those guys, which was encouraging

Like I said, many lessons were learned; most importantly was that I need to put in a lot more hours into match racing. I only really started match racing this summer and some of these guys have been racing the better part of my life. Repetition and time in the boat match racing is the only way to think five moves ahead of the other boat. I felt as though my competitors knew what my move was before the thought had even popped into my head. At the top level, match racing is much faster paced and the ability to make decisions before situations develop is of the utmost importance and that only comes with more and more match racing experience.

Crew communication is also vital. Unfortunately I had to throw together a crew at very short notice, so I ended up with people that I have not match raced with before. I found that my head was in the boat or focused on the other boat that I could not even look out of the boat towards the line or up the course during the prestart. I needed my crew to communicate the necessary information to me, such as laylines, time to burn, time to the line, time to laylines. All that information had to be fed to me before I needed it, in order to make the proper calls. That takes time for crew to get used to the way the skipper sails, how much information he/she needs and when to give it to them. We got better at it as the regatta went on, but sailing with a consistent crew is a must for competing on the world stage.

Being used to the boats. The IOD is a totally different monster. Heavy and un-manoeuvrable it really is completely different match racing these boats. While I got a fair amount of tiller time in the IOD’s before the event, most of these guys had way more experience match racing the boats. I felt as though my tactics were very solid, I thought I was adjusting quite well, but I just couldn’t quite put the boat where I wanted it to go. Hopefully I will have more time at home next fall to put an IOD through its paces and become an expert!

While going win less at a regatta isn’t the most encouraging thing, learning those valuable lessons competing in the Gold Cup has made me hungrier to do more match racing. It was certainly special to sail in a regatta that I had watched as a young boy against professionals that I idolized. If you asked me even a year ago,I never would have dreamed that I would be taking questions at a press conference or sailing against the world’s number one match racer. A totally cool experience, and as I told the reporters, I’ve never had so much fun getting my butt kicked!

This summer I could be looking at a full campaign to climb the rankings into the top 100!

And A HUGE Thank You to Sound Boatworks for providing Miller Match Racing with gear. They deserve credit for making us look legit!

Peter

Team Knowles: Swimming with Sharks

2011-01-03T16:22:00.004-05:00

With the Worlds starting in a little less than 5 days, SB sailor Matt Knowles has been down under in Belmont, Australia running a strong practice regiment for Worlds preparation, rig, sail, swim, fix, sail, swim, fix and repeat. Practice conditions in Belmont have been exciting, with steady breeze, sunny days, warm weather and water and the occasional shark siting. Nonetheless, Matt has been trucking along with his US teammates and new Aussie Moth friends, with the Pre-Worlds starting Jan. 5th, and an expected 115 Moths on a single start line, this tale is going to get a little more interesting.

Matt is keeping us well informed though, with his Worlds Blog, where you can get daily updates from his adventure down under, and as we get more media content from Matt and his team, we will continually post what will be some of the most exciting, fast and aggressive sailing footage seen in a long while, stay posted.

New Gear: Dinghy is IN !!!

2010-12-28T16:38:00.011-05:00

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 Pr o 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 Hydroph obe 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 Hy drophobe Trou sers
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

2010-12-07T13:50:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-21T18:27:00.005-05:00

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

2010-10-14T17:44:00.006-04:00

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 !!!

2010-10-10T21:15:00.013-04:00

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

2010-09-11T15:04:00.010-04:00

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

2010-05-15T20:12:00.007-04:00

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

2010-04-27T23:21:00.009-04:00

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

2010-04-27T22:26:00.008-04:00

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

2010-04-22T17:37:00.006-04:00

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

2010-04-15T23:03:00.005-04:00

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

2010-03-18T17:56:00.005-04:00

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

2010-03-15T18:24:00.007-04:00

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"

2010-03-12T17:34:00.009-05:00

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

Gill Race Padded Front Impact Hikers

2009-12-17T17:50:00.010-05:00

New for 2010 from Gill's coveted race line, are the Padded Front Impact Hikers. This latest addition to Gill's line of sailing foul weather gear is great for anyone who is constantly hiking hard on the rail and coming off the boat with lifeline grooves on them. With design targeted for front impact protection when hiking hard on the rail, Gill places padding at the waist line as well as Kevlar reinforced knee protection. These hikers come in two styles, Shorts and 3/4 tights all made from 4-way stretch Lycra ideal for under garment or wearing independently. Also added in to the material is 50+ UV Protection, flat locked seams for comfort and quick drying. We are now accepting orders for delivery before Key West Race Week, Shorts @ $40 & Tights @ $85, Free Shipping included. Give us a call at 800-459-3886 to order for yourself or your entire crew.

New Products: Karver & Antal Hardware

2009-09-23T00:25:00.007-04:00

We are very excited to announce the arrival of two new brands to Sound Boatworks, Karver Systems & Antal Marine Equipment. Both of these brands of marine parts will bring innovative products that are of the highest quality and designed to make your sailing experience faster and more fun. Over the next two weeks we will be adding these brands to our marine superstore website and catalog, pre-orders may be taken by emailing us or calling our office @ 800-459-3886.

Karver Systems offer "The present generation of high tech racing boats require equally high tech deck gear that accurately corresponds with the current evolution in performance, output efficiency, weight reduction and ergonomics. Concepts first adopted in the design and construction of the Open 60’Class, can now be applied to all yachts, allowing racing and cruising sailors alike to benefit from the latest cutting edge technology." Visit www.karver-systems.com to learn more about this exciting new brand.

"Antal Marine Equipment designs and manufactures a full line of winches, blocks, marine cleats, roller furling systems, clutches and mast and traveler systems. These products are made in Italy and are the result of the most recent research and technology. You can count on Antal for products that help your boat perform at the highest level. " Visit www.antal.it for more information on Antal's complete product line.

Sound Boatworks always strives to offer the most innovative and cutting edge products necessary for your ultimate sailing experiences. As we continue to build our website and catalog we ask you, the sailor, to offer suggestions on gear or hardware that you would like to see at Sound Boatworks. New products are becoming available every day in the marine industry and the consumer is almost always the most educated on these products. Feel free to comment on this blog with suggestions of new or old products that you need or just desire to have and we will do our best to get them to you.

All images Copyright 2009 Antal Marine Equipment, Karver Systems, Sound Boatworks

Velocitek Speed Challenge

2009-08-10T20:27:00.007-04:00

Bora Gulari wins $1000 in the Velocitek Speed Challenge

Cascade Locks, Oregon (August 8th, 2008) – On the opening day of the 2009 CST Moth Worlds competitors pushed their limits in an effort to claim the $1000 cash prize for the highest speed in the CST Moth Worlds Velocitek Speed Challenge. Efficiency was the name of the game with a moderate thermal westerly and short chop pushing against the river current. At 12:00 PM sailors left the beach with three hours to log their top speeds on Velocitek devices.

The world's best Moth sailors were not phased by the challenging conditions and the top speeds were impressive. In the end the three fastest sailors proved to be:

1. Bora Gulari (USA), the Madman from Detroit, who hit 25.3 kts to win this edition of the CST Moth Worlds Velocitek $1000 Speed Challenge.

2. Arnaud Psarophagis (SUI), last year's Speed Challenge winner and Nathan Outteridge (AUS), fresh off winning the 49er Worlds, both clocking in at 24.3 kts.

3. Laser legend Brad Funk (USA), maxing out at 24.2 kts.

Courtesy of Alec Stewart/Velocitek

Kaenon Eyewear: On the Water

2009-07-29T23:22:00.015-04:00

Being a collegiate sailor, and doing as much keelboat racing as possible when I'm not in school, I am on the water sailing quite a bit. As we all know, it is nearly impossible to chase shifts when you cannot see them and this is why eye wear is such a small but crucial key to the sport of sailing. True, you can pick up sunglasses before every race at your local convenience store or even gas station (I know all about this from traveling around New England for Jr. and Interscholastic races) but they are never the same as wearing a pair of quality polarized glasses meant for the sport. I have been skiing and sailing for most of my life, and have worn many of the industry's top sunglass brands, and nothing has compared to the level of quality in form or function in similar price ranges that Kaenon has reached.

Kaenon polarized sunglasses offer a wide variety of frame styles for both men and women to fit all size faces. I personally
picked up a pair of the Jettys, my flavor choice: Tobacco (brown) frame with a copper lens.

As advertised and claimed in their tech literature these lenses are clear and acute, with color contrasting qualities I have never seen in any sunglasses I have ever worn. They blow every other brand I've worn out of the water (no pun intended)! Not only is the vision quality superior, but the range of style Kaenon offers is equal to that of, if not exceeding, any sunglass manufacturer around. From highly sport function technical, to total style, Kaenon has a pair shades to match. All retaining the superior qualities of SR-91 polarized lenses, the SR-91 lens material Kaenon uses is impact resistant to the highest level of industry standards, important but hopefully never experienced!

This is my first pair of Kaenon glasses and I am nothing but thrilled with the eye comfort, vision clarity, polarized qualities, and style they’ve provided so far this sailing season! There is no doubt that Kaenon is putting out the best of the best polarized sunglasses. I am looking forward to wearing them for my winter mountain sporting activities in the off season as well. I am fairly confident that my new Jettys will be a year round pair of shades that I will be rocking from Oceanside to Mountainside !

New Gear: Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses

2009-05-30T00:46:00.009-04:00

New Gear has arrived at Sound Boatworks in the form of the ultimate eye wear for any sailor, Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses !!! We just received our first shipment of the 2009 line of Kaenon eye wear, and to be honest, work was suspended for part of the day while the staff dug in and tried on just about every model. Kaenon has manufactured an excellent high-impact, superior clarity lens called the SR-91, backed by their stylish and strong frames, which are made in Italy. These sunglasses are a must have for any sailor looking to get away from poly-carbonates that you can't see through or your expensive glass lenses that you keep breaking on the boat. In addition to the great lens and frame technology, Kaenon has come out with some pretty extreme colors, checkout the Bolsa in Seaweed or the Jetty in Tobacco. I grabbed a pair of Jettys out of the case at the end of the day today, and I'm definitely looking forward to trying these out on the water this weekend, I'll keep you posted !!!

New Products: Laser Boom & Traveler Blocks by Harken

2009-05-28T23:03:00.007-04:00

With a Fresh New Look and some definite improvements on functionality and performance, Laser Performance has finally introduced the long awaited traveler and boom blocks from Harken. The new Harken blocks will come as a package including rivets for installation on the boom blocks and the retail price for this sailboat rigging hardware package will be $96.

At last you won't have to struggle anymore with taping up your traveler blocks with rigging tape so they won't un-clip. The new traveler blocks will be a one piece setup and approved by the Laser Sailboat Class. They come with a fantastic fresh look, which is sleek and modern - much different than the ones we've been staring at for the past decade or so.

A joint development project with Laser Performance and Harken, the expected arrival date of the new blocks is June 24th. We are already accepting pre-orders via the website. You can also call into the store to reserve a set. This is a definite must have for a serious Laser sailor ! As soon as we receive the new blocks we will ship them out same day. We are very proud and excited to be offering this latest addition to the fine family of Harken sailing gear products.

Sail it Like you Stole It

2009-05-28T22:00:00.005-04:00

At the 2009 Tybee 500, Team Accelerated Chaos sailed hard from start to finish. Sailed by Chris Burd & Chris Titcomb and sponsored by Sound Boatworks, Team Accelerated Chaos placed 8th out of 24 boats. On this 6 leg race starting on Islamorada Key, FL and finishing on Tybee Island, GA, Team Accelerated Chaos finished in just 2 days, 4 hours, 14 minutes & 48 seconds, just 2 minutes after Team Zhik whom they had been challenging every leg of the race as seen in this photo on the start of Leg 3.

Based out of Boston, MA, Team Accelerated Chaos is skippered by Chris Titcomb with Chris Burd as crew and the boat was managed by Frank Keefe. Photos are courtesy of Kevin Rejda of Pensacola, FL.