At the show

TheDailySail has a look around Southampton Boat Show

On display in the park was Hilary Lister’s record breaking Soling, in which she crossed the Channel in August. Hilary, a quadriplegic sailor, controlled the boat by using sip-and-puff technique on two tubes, one each for the rudder control and the sheets. Under-deck (below) the equipment is remarkably all a bit Heath Robinson, with a wheel chair motor driving the control line spindles. Lister – who was in most national newspapers following her achievement, including front page in The Guardian, is now planning her next challenge to sail round Britain.



News on the Ker 11.3 stand was of the imminent arrival of Moonraker, the first MK2 version of the design. Attention has been paid to the appendages of the MK2, with the bulb having a new longer and flatter shape. The rudder has also been redesigned. On deck improvements include a new carbon wheel and Lewmar carbon winches. It will be interesting to see how the new version does under an anticipated lower IRC rating.

We were fortunate to be given a preview by Gill of their new additions to the range due to be launched to the retail sector over the winter. Business is going well for the Midlands based company with a reported 40% increase in waterproof sales in the last four years. Nick Gill expressed confidence in their decision some years ago to avoid the ‘expensive branded breathable fabrics’ in favour of their own ‘Dot’ fabric

While redesigning some of their range it became impossible for the reflective strip on the wrist to be positioned on outside of the arm, where it has traditionally gone. However the solution was to put it on the inside of the wrist which turns out to be a much more practical place to have it – if you are in the water and waving at your rescuers it is with your palm towards them. Eureka, a case for Gill of ‘you saw it here first’.

Items that caught our eye was the Coast Sport jacket (£100) – now in much more fashionable black/grey colourway, the Dinghy Smock (£60), which has an improved fit around the neck along with six colour choices (including Lavender for the girls), and some new designs of their ever popular Rash vests.



Already in the shops is funky looking Softshell Race Jacket (above). Priced at £120 this has a breathable soft outer bonded directly to a comfortable thin fleece lining – providing a degree of warmth with a very low weight, low bulk jacket.

Other key products in the line up – the popular Key West range and the Atlantic have been through a redesign/upgrade. To finish off Gill are launching a toothbrush – to – 100 litres luggage set, all specifically designed for the sailor by an experienced luggage designer, this will be available before Christmas.