On test in Miami

Andy Nicholson takes Gill's new sunglasses on test, and also checks out the local hospital and his travel insurance

Over the winter clothing manufacturer Gill have launched a whole new range of dinghy and one design clothing. Alongside this range a few other products from Gill have been added, including their new Standard and Racing sunglasses.

TheDailySail took a pair of the Racing sunglasses to the SORC in Miami to put them through their paces in the traditional North American winter training ground. The test itself was to be short and intensive and ended in Mount Sinai Medical Centre.

The Racing glasses bear a remarkable resemblance to the funky Oakley Racing Jackets - the ones with the vents around the lenses. The significant difference with the Gill pair is the price. In a world where sunglasses seem to cost a million pounds more than they should do the Gill Racing sunnies come in at just £35 (US$ 64, Euro 53) a pair.

The main features of the glasses are Polaroid polarised lenses, anti-fog venting around the frame and an integral headband - and they float. For a yachtie this won’t make much difference as if you lose your sunnies over the side, you won’t be going back for them. This feature will be great for dinghy sailors though, so if during a capsize they come off they may well end up within arm's reach.

First impressions, if I’m honest, are that close inspection does indicate the budget build. The frames are well made, but just not perfect. Where the various elements of construction join it’s not 100% flush nor a perfect moulding. The strap at the back does the job, but the webbing looks and feels cheap.



My first concern was that the ‘slider’ on the headstrap would catch on things (such as the top life line when hiking out), as it has quite large ‘flanges’ on it. The reason for this is that this is part of the buoyancy which makes them float. The slider does sit snugly to the head, but a more streamlined design would have been better. In it’s defence the slider is made of soft plastic so will have a bit of give in it.



The fit is excellent. Although quite big, they are comfortable and snug. The overall look is quite space age, prompting fellow crew members to ask if I could see through women’s clothes. As if walking around Miami you need to…

The venting does the job, preventing the glasses from steaming up on the inside during energetic manoeuvres. I did find though that in 20 knots of breeze that quite a bit of air was coming in across my eyes, this could have a drying effect on your eyes after a long day on the water.

Polarised lenses have the main advantage of reducing, or eliminating the glare that comes off the water when sailing. Not only do polarised sunnies make for a more comfortable day out, they have the added advantage that the surface of the sea is more visible - so gusts and marks for example are easier to spot. In the Gill's favour polarised lenses are usually found on sunnies costing a lot more.

When you first put them on, everything jumps out with crisp, sharp definition. The water close up had an unusual blue/purple twinkle and occasionally things like the 3DL sails looked a bit multi-coloured through them. Looking across the water there was plenty of definition, which I am sure will enable sailors with a degree of talent to spot the gusts. One of the urban (or rather salty) myths about polarised lenses is that you can’t read the boat instruments. These were fine, with the Ockam displays clear and sharp. Unlike many other brands there is no grand story in the literature at just how effective and perfect the lenses are, you're just buying into the fact they are polarised lenses from Polaroid.

So overall how did they perform? Let me take one example from last Tuesday when were out practising before SORC. We were doing a windward drop on the Farr 40 in about 20 knots of breeze, something we have done thousands of times. Myself (bowman) and Nipper (mastman) tripped the pole off and then we set about pulling the chute down on the windward port side (so it’s ready for a bear away set). Only this time, the first time in a thousand such drops, the starboard clew hits the water and instantly gets sucked under the bow.

With the boat travelling at 10 knots any chute down the forehatch comes whistling out and follows the rest over the side and under the boat. Suddenly a vice-like grip grabs my ankle and a force that I have no control over takes me down the deck in a second, smashing me into the shrouds and a stanchion.

My expletives, with a tone and pitch based on pain, are quickly picked up and someone manages to get to the sheet and guy clip and release them. Suddenly the load comes off my leg and pain erupts.

I finish face down on the side deck, in agony. The crew take the sails down and head in and I end up in Mount Sinai Medical Centre, on the X-Ray table. Fortunately no broken bones and my Achilles tendon is still in one piece. That’s the end of the regatta for me - and my grip on reality - as I chew on Morphine painkillers.

What amazes me is that I didn’t lose the sunnies as I got wiped around various hard bits on the boat. A couple of scratches on the frame, but nothing busted and still firmly attached to my head.

So these get my nod. Not only do they do everything very well and at an amazing price, they do their job very well in the difficult and limb threatening environment on the water.

I do think I will keep my Oakleys for après racing though. The Gills are functional and effective, but not the sort of glasses I would wear in the bar supping that cold post race beer as the sun goes over the yardarm. But with the Gills in the firing line maybe I won’t have to fork out for a new pair of sunnies every season.

If the style doesn’t take you fancy, you can also get the Standard glasses, which have the same lenses but in a more traditional frame. These are again floatable and cost an even more reasonable £30 (US$ 55, Euro 45). The Racing glasses are available in silver or blue. For stockists see www.gillmarine.com

On a final note, I am now doing a product test on Columbus Travel Insurance. I bought an Annual World Multi Trip policy in January (thank God), with yacht racing as an additional sport covered by it. This cost me £79. The hospital in Miami accepted my insurance certificate and I did not have to fork out for the $1000 bill for my three hours spent there. I will update you on any developments as the claim progresses.

Don’t go anywhere without insurance…