Gift ideas for dinghy and yacht sailors

Buying Christmas gifts for sailors can be tricky.

After all, with quality comes high prices, and top-end kit certainly doesn't come cheap. But, that need not mean you rule out sailing gifts completely. There are various other thoughtful gift ideas out there for avid sailors. If you want to surprise your loved one with something special this Christmas, and probably even something they wouldn’t think of getting themselves, we’ve got a few ideas to get the ball rolling.

Luggage

One great Christmas gift for someone with a strong passion for sailing (or any water sport really) is luggage. Yes, it really is that simple.

We often overlook the need for good luggage when transporting clothing and other bits and bobs from shore. But it’s very easy to lose small bits of kit if you’re not keeping it all bundled up together. From holdalls and wheeled bags, to dry bags and backpacks, each piece of luggage is fit for its purpose. You can bet your bottom dollar that any avid sailor is always in need of a fresh new bag to keep their kit safe in, as with heavy use comes inevitable wear and tear. Luggage can vary according to budget, but you need not spend a fortune to find a good quality bag from a top brand.

A luxury favourite of ours is the Zhik Regatta Bag (£99.95). It comes with a free 25L dry bag, and can be carried in backpack or shoulder style.

For a more affordable alternative, the Henri Lloyd Breeze 50L Holdall (£34.95) is stylish and durable, making it the perfect kit-holding gift this Christmas.

Watches

Optimum Time, the specialist sports timing company, design watches specifically for a sport, that are easy to use and read.

The Optimum Time OS Series 3 Sailing Watch is a perfect gift for any ocean-lover. The most popular dinghy and yachting watch in Europe, it features a large screen, big buttons, and a sync button if you miss a gun. Used by pro sailors worldwide, it delivers outstanding performance at the reasonable price of £59.95.

The watch is available in yellow, white or blue.

Undergarments

A final, obvious suggestion when it comes to buying gifts for a sailor, is obviously clothing. As you probably know, kit can be plentiful and expensive, with cooler weather bringing even more layers into the equation. Yet, whilst staple items such as sailing jackets and salopettes are at the core of every man’s wardrobe, underlayers are often overlooked. The need for these (especially in the UK) is prolific, and December is the perfect time to gift your loved one with some much needed extra layers. They’ll be thanking you at sea, trust me.