Yachting World — February 2018

NEW GEAR

There are an increasing

number of affordable MOB

location devices on the market

that use a portable/wearable

beacon linked to an app on a

mobile phone. We featured a

test of them in our October

issue. The CrewWatcher is

the latest and the jury felt it

deserved the overall prize

in the Lifesaving and Safety

Equipment category because

of the simple and intuitive user

interface design of its app.

Price: $89.99.

http://www.weems-plath.com

This modular system for offshore
foulweather gear was the result of extensive
development work with the Dongfeng Race
Team and Team AkzoNobel when they were
preparing for the Volvo Ocean Race.
Key features include an interchangeable
clear visor for the hood, while on the smock
and drysuit the entire hood-collar unit can
be changed, allowing different balaclavas
for different weather conditions. The three
options include a conventional hood, a
neoprene balaclava for use in extreme cold
and a lightweight option in Zhik’s Avlare

material, which provides a high degree

of UV protection.

“I knew the Zhik guys from the America’s

Cup and the stuff they did for us then –

they paid extra attention just to make it

right for us – and to keep us warm and

dry,” says Simeon Tienpont, skipper of

Team AkzoNobel. “The light weight is

so important for us and we were able to

customise how we wanted it; from the fit

to things like the pockets.”

Price: Jacket/smock from £699.

http://www.zhik.com

The Seabin is a brilliant invention for marinas

and calm waters that sucks floating debris

into a dock-mounted dustbin device. The

brainchild of two Australian sailors, one

Seabin is estimated to capture 1.5kg

of rubbish per day (0.5 tonnes per

year) – everything

from bottles and

plastic bags down to

2mm microplastics.

We first wrote

about the prototype two

years ago. As of this January, Seabin is

producing 18 of the V5 production version

per week for installation in marinas worldwide

and plans to scale that up to 60 per week.

Price: €3,300. http://www.seabinproject.com

As reported in our last issue, Scanstrut won the

overall DAME award for its part in developing

an intuitive, convertible kit that allows disabled

sailors to sail a standard RS Venture. The pack

allows a dinghy already used commonly by able-

bodied sailors to be adapted for disabled use in

just 30 minutes.

The system includes a combined battery

and control box, a powered mainsheet winch,

linear actuators for the rudders, joystick control

and a sip-puff headset option. It allows the

same boat to be used in everything from junior

programmes to high disability Paralympic

training and racing. http://www.scanstrut.com

Scanstrut RS Venture

Connect Conversion kit

Digital Yacht’s new portable AIS transponder,

which we featured in the August issue, is a

clever solution for both recreational sailors

and professionals who regularly move from

boat to boat. It is designed to interface directly

with tablets, smartphones and PCs, either via

wireless or a hardwired USB connection, and

allows the AIS data to be overlaid onto popular

charting apps.

Price: £475. http://www.digitalyacht.co.uk

Nomad Portable AIS B

CrewWatcher Seabin V5

Zhik Isotak X

From £699

CLEAN

OCEANS

92 February 2018