A good gift is necessary for the ones you love. And if they happen to be sailors or water lovers, then this list should give you some ideas.
This clever portable device provides an affordable way to keep friends and family in the know with your whereabouts while sailing offshore. It works like a Sat phone, and provides live online tracking and can be synced with your phone and operated through an app. A gift not only for your person but for yourself too!
2. Ullman Sails Up-Cycled Bag
Made from up-cycled material, Ullman’s stylish range of bags is wide enough to cover all your needs. You can find them on ullmansailsgear.com.
3. Gill Racing Sunglasses
These snazzy glasses provide all the protection you need when spending the day out on the water, as well as a head strap for security and are also buoyant.
4. JBL Waterproof Speaker
Whatever the activity, sailors tend to enjoy keeping the vibe going. Music brings people together, an especially useful quality when on the water with nowhere else to go. JBL offer a wide range of sizes at an affordable price, and you can find them easily in South Africa.
5. Sugru
Sugru is a new material that feels like play dough but acts like super glue – user-friendly, waterproof, highly malleable and sticks to most objects. This is a greatly useful thing to have around, especially for those involved in boats. You can find it at Builder’s Warehouse.
6. Eco Sunscreen
Because local is ‘lekker’, we chose a South African sun cream that protects without the enviro-harmful nasties. Eli & You have a great SPF40+, zinc-based, water resistant block that is perfect for being on and in the water. Aside from their website, you can also find it on Faithful to Nature – a perfect site for doing your other Christmas shopping with their great range of eco products.
7. Musto Fast Dry Hat/Cap
While we are on the topic of sun protection, a good fast-drying hat is useful whether on or off the water. We recommend Musto’s cap or wide-brimmed hat.
Nothing says ‘love’ like a smart (yet functional) watch as a gift. The Panerai Submersible is an absolute stunner, and comes in a wide range of materials, giving you the choice pieces: sports or precious, classic or avant-garde. With their incredible new technology, the submersible is the perfect watch for transitioning from on-water action to an evening of festivities. In Cape Town you can find the Panerai submersible at Charles Greig Jewellers at the V&A Waterfront.
9. Learning a thing or two
If you are sailing-curious but aren’t totally sure of where to start, Atlantic Yachting are offering a 10% discount on their competent crew course if you bring a friend along this summer. The course is 5 days long, includes your food and accommodation, and is in the beautiful coastal town of Langebaan. This course teaches you all the necessities to become a useful crew member on a cruising yacht.
For those interested in working in the sailing industry, AY also offer career courses from entry-level to advanced.
10. Raymarine Element Sonar/GPS
If the sailor in your life is into fishing, this piece of gear is sure to impress. Featuring super high-resolution sonar technology, Element delivers the sharpest view of the underwater world. This toy will keep you entertained for hours with its multiple angles and settings. You can find them through MDM Services, a sole distributor of Raymarine in South Africa.
11. The Boat Cook Book
Planning on doing some cruising? Or even just spending some time on a boat? Regardless of what anyone says, galley cooking is totally different to any other kind. The space, the equipment, the motion – it’s a whole other ball game. The Boat Cookbook has 85 fuss-free recipes to help you out! You can get it on Amazon, or as an e-version.
12. A dreamy holiday with Moorings and Sunsail
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- @ Andrew Hofmeyer
Warm waters, soft breeze, picturesque palms, floating around in your sarong, and fresh fish for both lunch and dinner. Cruising is a seriously special way to explore a place. Its even more special shared with the people you love or are close with. A surprise charter holiday is probably our favourite gift of the lot! The possibilities in this holiday are endless – bareboat or skippered, power or sail yachts, and locations all around the world to choose from. Visit The Moorings and Sunsail for current specials.
