Dec 6, 2013

Gill's New watches: The Regatta Master Watch and the Race Watch

Gill has designed a new range of watches, with updated features and styling.They have been designed exclusively for Gill as a sailing specific watch, although they can also be used for powerboat racing, navigation and other on the water time keeping.

Both watches have the features you expect like being water resistant to 30m, shock and impact resistant construction and time, date, day and alarm functions. They also have features you need from a sailing watch to be at the starting line on time including an adjustable countdown timer with a synchro button. They are constructed from Carbon reinforced ABS plastic with a stainless steel case back and feature a Flexible, hard wearing TPU strap.

Then there's the features that will impress you and make these watches stand out. They have a key lock function, so you won't accidentally reset your timer when roll tacking a dinghy or grinding a winch. They have a sleep mode to save battery life. Last but certainly not least is one of the most useful features    to the racing sailor: the numbers on the countdown timer increase in size and clarity during the last minute and the countdown timer features audible warnings.

The Regatta Master Watch has even more features. It has a dual time feature that shows the time for two time zones. This is perfect for people who travel a lot, you can leave one time mode for your home and use the second one for your destination. It also features a stop watch and is water resistant down to 50m.

Both watches are excellent options. The Gill race watch features a modern design and is available in three stylish colors; Blue/White, Red/White and Black/Red. The Race Master Watch has a timeless design and has additional features and strength.

 Whether you choose the Gill Race or Regatta master watch, you can trust your timepiece to reliably count down to the start. Now it's up to you to be on the line when the timer reads 0:00.

Nov 26, 2013

Harken & the AC72 - Interview with Mark Wiss

We got Mark Wiss, Harken's Global Director of Sales & Marketing, to sit down with us to talk about the 34th. Americas Cup and his impressions about the new technology developed for this year's boats. Mark is one of the key people at Harken when it comes to Grand Prix racing and the Americas Cup.
Image: Mark Wiss, Jimmy Spithill and Peter Harken

We were all exceptical about this Americas Cup and the use of Catamarans for Match Racing. What are your comments after watching the races?

Mark:   I couldn’t get enough!  And I didn’t want it to stop.  This is my 5th AC that I have been involved through Harken, and it ranks as the most exciting next to the 2000AC in NZ.  I believe the Finals certainly muted all those critics who doubted the vision by Larry and Russell.   Assuming they retain the AC72, we will now be in the second generation;  where the teams will become more equal in speed and handling.  First generation of any class there is always a big speed gap as some design/sail teams get it right and others just don’t.  The following generations inside a rule always improve after watching, copying and improving .  There is no doubt in my mind that the end result; ETNZ vs Oracle was an incredible match racing event.

How do you see AC technology migrating into your everyday sailor? Do you expect to see classes sailing with Wind-Sails and Foils?

Mark:  the Americas Cup is an incredible R&D arena for our industry.  We always experience ‘trickle-down’ from the Cup, and this is already happening after the AC34.   For example, many of the newly constructed racing boats are already ordering hydraulic solutions that we supplied Oracle.  Multihulls are more popular than ever, and this is evident in what we are seeing from the boat builders.  More charter catamarans are ordered every year than monohulls now, and beach catamarans are becoming more popular than ever.  Foiling is already happening with the Moth and now the Kiteboarders are foiling too.  I’m confident that foil designs and shapes are going to improve and provide giant leaps in performance for both mono and multihulls that we are all sailing.  I believe that we will even find Wings more commonplace;  that will take more development, but I’m confident that Wing sails will become something that could be installed onto a day sailor.

Harken is a big part of the AC development. What Harken product is in use today by the everyday sailor that came directly from AC technology (year?)
Mark:  Wow…a big question, and the list is very long!  Lets see if I can start the list from memory…. I am sure I have missed a lot!

Black Magic Airblocks (1995)
CRX Traveler Cars (2000)
1111 Winch (2003)
65 Winch (2000)
Carbon Pedestals (1995)
Carbon Pedestal handles (1995)
All our Gearbox technology (1995, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010)
Pivoting Track solutions (2007)
50 Winch (2003)
990 Winch (just after 1995)
TTR Blocks (2007)
T2 Carbo Blocks (2007)

To find more about Harken or to order Harken products click here

Nov 18, 2013

Introducing the Ronstan Vaavud

Right in time for the Holiday season, we would like to introduce an exciting gift idea for the sailor or amateur meteorologist in your family: the Vaavud
This device turns your smartphone into an anemometer, giving accurate wind readings using the electronics in your phone.

Compatibility

The Vaavud wind meter works with all iPhones from 4 and onwards, and all iPads from 2 and onwards, running on iOS 6 or 7.
With regards to Android phones we have currently confirmed it to work with Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4 and HTC one, as well as a number of other devices.

Design

Red Vaavud - sideview
The Vaavud design is inspired by professional cup anemometers, but with two cups instead of three, in order to make it truly pocket friendly. The  one piece, molded rotor and the low friction Teflon bearing makes the Vaavud wind meter extremely durable. If sand or dirt gets inside the Vaavud wind meter it can easily be cleaned out with water. And The Vaavud wind meter can take quite a beating – it is built for action!

The Vaavud app

The Vaavud app gives you a clear overview of average, actual and maximum wind speed, as well as a real time graph – in fact the first real time graph in the world on a hand held anemometer! And you can scroll and pinch-zoom on the graph, if you want to taker a closer look at something.
The unit of measure can be changed on the fly by simply tapping the screen. (Available units: m/s, Kmh, mph, Kts and Bft.)
A live map gives you access to measurements made by other Vaavud users globally. Tap on a measurement to see details and a map thumbnail of the location. Tap on the map thumbnail to zoom in and see exactly where the measurement was made or tap on a nearby measurement on the list to see it’s details.
New features will constantly be added to the app. Measurement history will be available soon, and much more will follow.
Finally, you can use the Vaavud wind meter together with the Weendy app to tap into the world’s fastest-growing  community-based weather network.

Accuracy

Vaavud in Wind tunnel
The Vaavud wind meter has a wind range of 2 to 20* m/s. Precision is the least of +/- 4% or 0.2 m/s. The wind meter has been tested and calibrated in a professional wind tunnel at the Technical University of Denmark.
Because of the cup-anemometer design, the precision of the Vaavud wind meter is not affected by changes in wind direction (unlike a propeller based anemometer, which must point precisely up against the wind to measure correctly). And the Vaavud app taps into other sensors in your phone, to ensure that the device is held correctly, so the risk of incorrect measurements can be minimized.
*Up to 24 m/s for iPhone 5S and up to 48 m/s on some Android phones

Nov 11, 2013

Zhik Wetsuits

As we approach The winter sailing season many dinghy sailors are looking at getting wet suits to protect them from the cold water and wind that winter brings. Our friends at Zhik have developed a full line of wet suits to protect sailors in every weather condition, from the hottest days of summer to the most frigid winters.

For the warmest weather Zhik has devloped the HybridGear line which keeps you cool with tough lightweight spandex while also protecting you from the suns rays and nicks from the boat. The HybridGear suits can be worn with a Zhik Spandex top for the perfect combination of sun protection and and cooling.

When the weather drops down the next step in the Zhik gear line up is the Microfleece wetsuits. These wetsuits are great for a wide range of weather conditions and are perfect for any sailor looking for a "sailing wetsuit". They have a very thin fleece layer which allows them to be thinner and more comfortable than traditional wet suits while still allowing the same level of warmth. They can be worn with the hydrophobic fleece top or Orspan top in moderate weather. When the temperature drops further they can be combined with a titanium top or a superwarm top when it truly gets cold.

The warmest Zhik wetsuits are the SuperWarm suits. They are designed for flexible racing in cold water conditions. They feature a quad layer neoprene system with hydrophobic outer nylon, superstretch insulation, internal reflective and thermal fleece layers. They are available in a full body suit version and an armless version that can be combined with a SuperWarm top.

All of the Zhik wetsuits are also available in a Hiker version, which includes the Zhik Powerpads. This turns any Zhik wet suit into a hiking suit allowing longer hiking time with less fatigue on your legs. The Zhik power pads are designed to stay in place and don't slide around as you hike as they are attached to your legs, not the suit.



Nov 1, 2013

Introducing Stephanie

We would like to introduce Stephanie Linton, who runs our order processing and logistics department. Stephanie has been with Mauri Pro Sailing for over 2 years and has been influential in developing the reliable and self sustaining logistics required for fully processing your orders.

Stephanie was born in New York and raised in South Florida before moving to Texas to work at Mauri Pro Sailing. While in Florida, she earned a degree in Small Business & Entrepreneurship and began working at one of the top Golf Clubs in the area. While at the golf club, Stephanie worked her way up to Club Manager, a position that required her to plan the club's annual budget, allocate appropriate funds for events, and coordinate major tournaments and club activities. Stephanie's extensive background as the Club Manager led to her current position at Mauri Pro Sailing as the head of our Order and Logistics Department.

Stephanie's background in sailing revolves around large yachts and cruising up and down the beaches of Southern Florida. When she arrived to Texas, the first boat she crewed on was a Farr 39ML and then a Lee 69. Needless to say, Stephanie was expecting to be able to hold her drink (Malibu and OJ with no pink umbrella) and sail. After getting a taste of the racing life, Stephanie was hooked! She's always down to sail and enjoys doing racing committee.


At Mauri Pro Sailing, Stephanie has excelled exceptionally well, ensuring that your orders are processed quickly, and delivered to you on time! Stephanie has been key to bringing Mauri Pro Sailing to its current success and we are extremely glad to have her aboard. If you ever have a special requirement, questions regarding shipping or the processing of your order, be sure to talk with Stephanie! 



Oct 17, 2013

Antal V-Grip Clutches

Antal's line of V-Grip rope clutches is an excellent option for line management on your sailboat. Clutch selection has become critical as today's high-tech lines are capable of carrying much higher loads in smaller diameters than what was previously available. As running rigging gets upgraded, a review of your clutches is also recommended. The high load-capacity-to-diameter ratio of Dyneema, Vectran and Technora cored lines reduces the amount of surface area available to hold the line, meaning a rough holding surface has a higher likelihood of damaging the cover of the line. Antal's V-Grip clutches seek to reduce the damage to your line without sacrificing holding power by increasing the surface area of the cam itself, so it can spread the holding load over more of the line cover. Check out the video below for a more detailed explanation of Antal's clutch options and manufacturing process.

Order your Antal rope clutches online, view all Antal sailboat hardware or contact Mauri Pro Sailing for more information on upgrading your running rigging and rope clutches.


Jonathan McMillan, Technology and Technical Assistance


Continuing with our 20th Anniversary, we would like to highlight one of our most knowledgeable tech's, Jonathan. He can help you with just about any technical difficulty. whether its quoting and installing a switch-battcar system on an 80' yacht or doing an entire electronics and navigation overhaul on your boat, this is the man you need to talk to!

Jonathan was born in the maritime provinces of Canada with the sea in his blood. A descendant of captains and fisherman Jonathan discovered his love of the sea first by roaming the beaches, wharves and waterways of Nova Scotia, and later by venturing out in the boats he once only admired from a distance. His first coastal trip was on a wooden double-ender returning to Halifax from the Mahone Bay wooden boat festival when he was eleven. "I remember  sitting out on the long bowsprit looking down at porpoises breaching. That became my favourite place on board a sailboat." Summer day cruises and occasional overnighters remained an important part of Jonathan's life for many years after that.

Never expecting to turn his passion into his living, Jonathan studied Math and Engineering in college and eventually found himself far from the sea in Fort Worth, Texas. It took some time, but a return to the water was inevitable, this time on the many inland lakes that dot Texas. As a way to sail he decided to try racing, and fell into his second love.  Making up for lost time, Jonathan quickly found himself engrossed in racing multiple times a week for most of the year and has since gained extensive experience from the bow to the traveller and at the nav station during distance races. His history includes a wide range of keelboats including J/22, J/80, Hobie 33, Beneteau 36.7, Farr 39ML and most recently a trans-superior regatta on board a Joubert-Nivelt IOR 50.

Sailing experience aside, it was Jonathan's technical skills that brought him to Mauri Pro Sailing where he can now live sailing full time. Web development, analysis and optimization are important to help customers find what they're looking for within our store, and to provide the information they need to make a selection. When questions arise Jonathan is the go-to guy for sailing instruments, autopilots, electric winches and windlasses.

Oct 10, 2013

Harken Ratchet Blocks Q&A Session


If you ever have any questions about the Harken ratchet blocks, this is a great opportunity to see some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Harken ratchets.

General Information

Harken Ratchamatic®, Carbo Ratchet, and Hexaratchet® blocks are lightweight, strong, and run exclusively on ball bearings for fast trimming under any load.

What are Harken ratchet blocks?

Harken ratchet blocks hold part of the sheet’s load, let you trim and ease with complete control, and enable higher trimming speeds. Ratchets make it much easier to hand-hold higher loads by only allowing the sheave to turn in the trimming direction. When you are holding or releasing the load, the faceted sheave grips the line to reduce fatigue and give you more control. Also, ratchets make faster trimming possible because you don’t have to hold the full force of the sheet while shifting your grip.

Options include ratchet blocks with beckets, adjustable cams, multiple sheaves, adjustable automatic load-sensing mechanisms, and footblock and fiddle configurations. Harken offers ratchet blocks in sizes between 40 and 75 mm (1 9/16"–3").

Where should I use ratchet blocks?

Ratchet blocks are great for any system that is normally adjusted by hand, including mainsheets, jib sheets, spinnakers, vangs, and backstays on everything from dinghies to large keelboats. In addition to increasing the loads you can manage without a winch, they reduce shock loading on your hands and your equipment—for example, a ratchet block can stop an unanticipated gust from yanking the line through your hands or from putting too much load on your cam cleats. 

Some dinghies and sportboats even use two Ratchamatics® in series for turns less than 90 degrees per ratchet block.

What are Harken Hexaratchets® and Carbo Ratchets?

Hexaratchets® and Carbo Ratchets have sheaves that turn only in the trimming direction when the ratchet is turned on. Carbo Ratchets are built with the same lightweight and strong materials as other Harken Carbo blocks, while Hexaratchets® come in the stainless steel-reinforced Classic style. Hexaratchets® and Carbo Ratchets increase holding power by as much as 15:1.

What is a Carbo Ratchamatic®?

The load-sensing Carbo Ratchamatic® has a ratchet that instantly engages when a predetermined load is reached. When unloaded, the ratchet pawl seamlessly disengages to allow the sheet to run out instantly during mark roundings and jibes. The Ratchamatic allows lightly-loaded sheets to run freely in both directions for fingertip control. The preset load threshold can be fine-tuned with an Allen wrench to suit different applications, sailing styles, and body types.

How do I adjust a Carbo Ratchamatic to engage the ratchet at a higher or lower load?

To increase or decrease the load at which the ratchet engages, first, move the sheave so the hole in the sheave’s groove is at the bottom of the block. Insert a 2.5 mm Allen wrench and turn clockwise to engage at higher loads and counterclockwise for lighter loads. You will need to remove the becket before adjusting if it is a becket block.

Oct 4, 2013

Maia Caffelli, our Director of Global Operations

Today, we would like to introduce you to one of the key members on the Mauri Pro Sailing team, Maia Caffelli, our Director of Global Operations:



When asked about her time at the company, Maia commented: “I have been sailing with Juan since we were both in our 20’s, (a looooong time a ago).  And I even endured a great deal of bruises thanks to all of that J24 roll tacking. I'm SURE there will be more bruises and great memories to come!”

Moving forward, Juan started the business and within a couple of weeks asked Maia to join as co-founder and to manage the daily operations of the new company. As the company grew, her position and role within the company evolved into a much larger position of responsibility she became the Director of Global Operations.

Maia was born in Peru to an Italian family, and grew up speaking Italian and Castilian (Peruvian Spanish, which is like Spanish, but sounds nothing like Spanish!). When the company was started, Maia put in an immense amount of effort just to learn English. She worked full time, attended night classes, AND raised two kids, Ale and Giacomo (since both of the kids loved to scuba dive and cruise, it seemed that salt water ran through their veins!) All in all, it presented an interesting and exciting challenge for Maia, as she worked day and night with a rapidly growing internet company.

We sat down with Maia and asked her a few questions on her role and how the company is going:

What challenges do you have today?

Today, with all the tools and connections we have learned and developed as the company has grown, my biggest and most enjoyable challenge is to get the Best Customer Service to our loyal customers around the world. Every day presents a challenge, but most importantly, every day brings a new experience that I can bring back to my team to help them improve our business each day.

How do you see the company moving forward?


Our background comes from different continents and that makes us unique. It helps us to understand the culture, necessities, and requirements of all types of sailors throughout the world. We understand that your boat is your home, your hobby, and your passion. We ourselves are passionate sailors that love to compete and innovate every minute. We can assure you that we will never stop finding new options and solutions that will better serve you, the sailor. We will continue to commit ourselves to making Mauri Pro Sailing the top Online Sailing Store.

Oct 3, 2013

Spinlock Eye Candy



Its really a pleasure to be able to view some of the technical capabilities of Spinlock. Seen on the new Gunboat 66 and new Alegre are thesenew carbon padeyes PD6/C, PD8/C, PD10/C and PD12/C.
Constructed from a single loop of 17-4PH stainless steel with no welds, giving excellent strength to weight ratio, Spinlock PD/C Pad Eyes use a stainless steel collar in the laminate area to increase the bearing area  helping minimise the tearing effect suffered by standard pad eyes in cored decks, as well as improved shock loading resistance. This increase in diameter through the collars also reduces the requirement for local reinforcement in the deck area, furthering weight reduction. With their one piece design, the PD/C are able to work efficiently with horizontal loadings, with SWL load 20% above other designs.

To view all Spinlock products go to: http://www.mauriprosailing.com/us/category/2-Spinlock.html

Sep 27, 2013

Our History at MAURI PRO SAILING

As we approach our 20th. anniversary we want to start a series of small postings about how we got here and who helped lead us to this point. Obviously we will need to start with the company founder Juan Mauri, but not before mentioning that Mauri Pro Sailing has grown from a guy selling sails to pay his way to regattas to a Multi-national network of sailing websites and stores with customers, friends and affiliations worldwide.

About Juan Mauri 

Juan is a passionate sailor, always looking forward to talk with other sailors about sail trim, deck layouts, racing techniques and more. He is the President and Business Director of Mauri Pro Sailing and active supporter of many US and international one design classes and sailing organizations.

Juan Mauri is a world-class one-design sailor and our racing guru. He has been a sail consultant since 1991 for several sail makers. While living in South America, Juan won over (??? Read contest below) national titles in IMS, J-24 and Lasers. He represented his native country Peru in the Pan American Games and won the South American Match Racing Championships. In 1999, he moved to the United States. Since then, he has won many International, North Americans and NOOD Regattas. Using the techniques he developed as the MPS formula for success and the 1% approach to sailboat racing, Juan lead several teams to winning campaigns and successful businesses. Juan remains active running seminars, sail testing, and working on brand development. He also enjoys doing crazy things like: Shark Diving, getting rid of his car racing/driving bug, and going over and over about trekking all the way up to Mount Everest Base Camp (plus who knows what else).

From the business point of view, Juan is tireless about searching for new, better ways to serve the sailing community and sailors worldwide. We are sure that the Mauri Pro Sailing websites reflect that effort, and that the crew of Mauri Pro Sailing keeps pushing forward every day to become an even better team so that we can deliver the best Technical Support and e-tools available to sailors worldwide. 

Note: Juan's background in industrial & textile design and e-commerce focus has helped him on the analysis of better sails, trimming techniques, sail hardware, and deck selection guides. Juan is not only a creative sailor, but also a natural teacher. He is available to take your questions at any time. 

Contest: Guess how many National and International Regattas Juan has won over the last 33 years and win a Offshore Sailing Jacket. Guess how many times he place 2nd, and we will add the trousers.



Sep 19, 2013

NovaSail NS START: GPS Instruments Made Easy

From the Mauri Pro Sailing Technical Department

NovaSail has recently updated their line of GPS Sailing Instruments to add improvements and streamline your options. The line now consists of two clear options, the NS START and the NS360 Wireless. No longer are the NS100 and NS360+. The NS360 Wireless is the current flagship model with the longest feature list. NovaSail designed the NS START as a complement to the NS360 Wireless for those not requiring a magnetic compass or the waypoint and route management functions.
NovaSail NS360 Wireless and NS Start
NovaSail NS360 Wireless and NS Start
The NS START offers a simple interface with two modes and hands off operation once you've entered the start sequence. In Start mode, dedicated boat and pin end buttons make it easy to set the line to give you distance to the start, and the timer is always ready to go at a single button press. When the clock hits zero the NS START automatically switches over to Run mode, giving you boat speed and heading. You can run and entire race with just three button presses.

The simplicity of the NS START should not be mistaken for a lack of options. It still functions as a data loggger, storing up to 400 hours of racing which can be downloaded to your computer for post-race analysis. The LCD backlight allows for use day or night. Speed and Course data can be set to three different damping levels to make it easy to read in highly variable conditions like when sailing in high seas. Pressing the boat and pin buttons together displays the current latitude and longitude in case you need to give your position in an emergency. All that rolled into a compact, waterproof and ultra robust package that runs for over 30 hours on a single AA battery.

The NS START package includes the unit itself, wireless interface and cable for downloading data, dovetail bracket for mounting, tether string, screws, operating manual and a pair of NovaSail stickers.
NovaSail NS Start Box Contents
NovaSail NS Start Box Contents
You can find more information on the NS START including detailed specifications and the product manual by visiting the NovaSail Store on Mauri Pro Sailing.

Let us know if you have any questions or requests for future articles by posting in the comments below.

Max VMG,
Jonathan - Mauri Pro Sailing Technical Staff

Sep 16, 2013

Product of the Day: New Harken Carbo Pivoting Lead

This week, we will be highlighting some of the new Harken Products that just recently hit the shelves. Today, we're reviewing the new carbo pivoting lead block
Key features: 
  • 25% lighter than previous model
  • Replaces metallic version (mounting points match old version)
  • Comes in Carbo-Cam and Cam-Matic versions
  • Available in 2 sizes- 29mm and 40mm 
  • Cams can be mounted upside down

All-New Carbo® Pivoting Lead Blocks are up to 25% Lighter

Racers can trim even more weight off their mast and boom with the new Harken Carbo Pivoting Lead Blocks—these high-strength, glass-reinforced composite blocks are up to 25% lighter than the Classic version they replace. With maximum working loads up to 136 kg (300 lb), they're perfect for sheets and halyards on small boats and control lines on larger boats.
"I was psyched to install the new Carbo Pivoting Lead Blocks on my F-18," says product designer Graham Walker. "I use a 40 mm for the spin halyard and two 29s for the cunningham on my rotating mast. I was able to switch out to lighter blocks that have the same working load and same mounting hold pattern, and now I don't have to worry about corrosion between stainless bases and my aluminum mast."
Pivoting Lead Blocks allow free mast rotation while still allowing cleating and control from the cockpit. They're also ideal as boom-mounted mainsheet blocks for converting old systems where the skipper has to reach aft to trim the sheet.
Carbo Pivoting Lead Blocks feature the same hole spacing and rivet size as Classic Pivoting Lead Blocks for easy upgrades. An integrated reversible cam cleat allows you to swap the cleating or uncleating direction—up or down on mastbase configurations and fore or aft on horizontal installations. The high-load ball bearings, sheave, and sideplates are all corrosion proof and UV-stabilized for maximum weather resistance. Carbo Pivoting Lead Blocks are available in 29 mm and 40 mm sizes with aluminum or Carbo Cam® Cleats.

Sep 13, 2013

New Product Harken T2 Doubles

Harken announced just last week new products!  Between this week and next week, we will be featuring a new item each day. Follow us daily to see what each of these products offers. You can find all these new products at our Harken Store

The Harken® Soft-Attach T2™ Line Sees Double

HARKEN SOFT-ATTACH T2 BLOCKS Mauri Pro Sailing store

Harken has updated its patent-pending T2™ Blocks with double versions of the 18, 29, 40, and 57 mm sizes, giving sailors the ability to build an even greater array of systems. Harken T2 Doubles share the same styling and all-composite construction as other blocks in the line. The 29, 40, and 57 have no rivets, fasteners, metal parts, or shackles, making them some of the lightest blocks on the market.
"We're working hard to grow the T2 line with the lightest blocks possible without compromising the strength and reliability we're known for," says Harken engineer Matt Schmidt. "With these new T2 Doubles and Ratchamatics, you can build complete systems for your boat that can take the load without the weight of metal shackles."
T2 Blocks have received rave reviews from Olympic and world-class sailors for their reliability and smooth operation. Single and double configurations can be tied, spliced, or lashed to almost anything. Double blocks feature composite line guides in the block head to prevent capsizing. Composite sheaves spin freely on Delrin® ball bearings with curved bearing races for low-friction rolling under high loads. All T2 Blocks are lashed or spliced through the load-bearing center of the block, decreasing sideplate loads and providing extra security. T2 Blocks range from 18 to 57 mm and are ideal for traveler controls, mainsheets, vangs, cascades, and other applications that require small and extremely lightweight blocks.



Sep 10, 2013

Coutts Quarter Ton Cup

Check out this great video of the Coutts Quarter Ton Cup! Its great to see that this class is thriving very well.




Go to http://www.quartertonclass.org/ for more information on this great class.

Sep 5, 2013

Gill Pro Smock Top

Gill Pro Smock Top

The summer is coming to an end, cooler weather is around the corner and the intercollegiate and interscholastic sailing seasons are kicking off. It’s the perfect time to start preparing with the right cold weather sailing gear. One of the most important and versatile pieces in a dinghy sailor’s gear bag is the dinghy smock, popularly referred to as the spray top.

The Gill Pro Top Smock is the perfect top layer for dinghy sailors. It keeps sailors dry in a wide variety of sailing conditions. It can be worn with a rash guard and sailing shorts in moderate weather or over a hiking suit and a fleece layer in the coldest weather. Gill engineered this smock for unrestricted movement allowing sailors to quickly move across the boat without feeling cramped.

The Gill Pro Top Smock is designed with comfort, breathability and waterproofing in mind. It is waterproof with adjustable seals at the wrists, neck and waistband. The neck seal is unique in its ability to unzip which helps a lot on those sweaty downwind legs.


The Women’s Version of the Gill Pro Smock Top is designed with a more flattering line and is available in a variety of colors including Purple and Berry. The Berry version is especially popular with college sailors. Our friend and college sailor Ataly Asher has been wearing hers for a year now and says that it is very durable and still looks like it did the day she bought it. She also commented that they fit true to size and that the Women's fit is great. 


Sep 4, 2013

Zhik on the new Nacra 17

Take a look at how Zhik is being used on some of the new Nacra 17's. This video features  future Australian Olympians, Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin discussing the benefits of the Zhik Superwarm Skiff Suit and the T2 Harness. 





The Zhik Superwarm Suit


If you sail in cold water then get this suit. As a long john suit it has flexibility to be combined with the technical tops for various temperature conditions. In the super cold, combine it with the SuperWarm top. This may eliminate the need to ever wear a dry suit again.

The new ZhikSkin SuperWarm material is specially made for the Zhik suits, and it is quite simply the ultimate in neoprene available. We have combined the water repellent Hydrophobic high quality outer shell with a super stretchy neoprene, and layer of titanium and a layer of MicroFleece. All four layers build the total solution of weather protection, temperature insulation, reflective inner layer and thermal base layer. All in one material. 

If you need to take a pee between races, then bust open the Loo Rip. No need to take the suit off and freeze to death. This Loo Rip feature works in both the mens and ladies suits. 







Zhik Superwarm: http://www.mauriprosailing.com/us/category/1-Zhik-Wetsuits.html

T-2 Harness


The evolution continues with Zhik's latest generation trapeze harness. 

Stretch Crotch
Respect your junk, the most comfortable ride now has multiple layers to distribute loads. 

Contoured Fit
3D contoured shape, engineered for enhanced movement and increased strength. 

T2 Spreader Bar
Super strong 316 stainless spreader, now padded for ultimate riding comfort. 

Heavy Duty Construction
Reinforced construction with reduced point loads and multiple layers in key areas. 

2d Velcro Adjustment
25% more contact area & optimised adjustability for that perfect fit. 

Lumbar Support 
Fully adjustable lumbar pad provides comfort and support to ride harder & longer. 







Zhik T-2 Harness: http://www.mauriprosailing.com/us/category/1-Zhik-T2-Trapeze-Harness.html

Jul 15, 2013

New Gill Floating Sunglasses

You remember that time your sunglasses got knocked overboard and sank? Most of us here at Mauri Pro Sailing, especially myself, can recall multiple memories where we see the glasses slowly sinking beneath the surface and gone forever. I'm more than positive that my last 2 sunglasses are at the bottom of the Chesapeake bay.

But just when all hope was lost on sunglasses.... there was a miracle! Gill came out with an awesome collection of Polarized Sunglasses and the best thing about them.... wait for it.... THEY FLOAT!

Now, they've actually been around for a little while now, but the entire line just got retrofitted with some new designs and colors. And we have to say, they look extremely stylish!  And don't worry, some of them have the wide sides, so you can show off that awesome sunglasses tan to all your friends at the club.

So take a look at some of the new designs and try them out for yourself. I have a pair of these glasses and love them! If these didn't float, I'm pretty sure I would have lost these glasses months ago.

THANK YOU GILL!

Technical Information


Polaroid's polarizing lenses are made up of a number of functional elements ultra-carefully bonded together to achieve a high-performance optical product: The main element of the sandwich lens construction is the polarizing light filter in the center. Laminated to both sides of the filter are UV light absorbers, which block 100% of harmful UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation. Optically corrected, shatter-resistant cushion elements are laminated to both sides of the UV absorbers, followed by a unique scratch- proof coating applied to the outer surfaces.


A hydrophobic outer lens coating sheds water and reduces salt residue, while oleophobic technology is applied to the inside face, repelling fingerprints, sun lotion and skin oils all culminating to provide optimum clear vision.




sofiaThe frames are made of a low density, light, tough and flexible material for maximum buoyancy, and have been molded in a wrap-around design so they stay anchored to your face, whatever the weather. Extra comfort and grip comes from the use of ingenious soft pads that cushion the temple, and a neat integral molding for the bridge of the nose.

Check out more of the collection here: Gill Sunglasses

GIL9659B - Gill Spectrum - Matte BlackGIL9657B - Gill Tactic - Matte BlackGIL9472B - Gill Racing - Black FadeGIL9635WT - Gill Womens Gemini Sunglasses - Tortise Shell / Copper









And just to pay homage to my favorite pair of glasses, here's the last known photo of both of us together. You will be missed.....









Jul 3, 2013

Ronstan's Clear Start Starting Watch

The Ronstan Clear Start Starting Watch is one of the best starting watches we have to offer and one of the best selling watches! It has multiple start sequences including SAF 5,4,1, and 0. The handy "SYNC" fucntion allows you to re-synchronize with the starter's time mid-sequences. If you're off when the gun goes (which happens more often than we would like to admit), all you need to do is hit the SYNC button at the 4 minute gun and the watch goes straight to 4 min! Also a great feature is its rotating face, large readout, and easy to use function keys.

Retail Price: $117.00 OUR PRICE: $99.40


RSGRF4030 - Ronstan Clear Start Race Timer

Feb 20, 2013

SELDÉN GX Spinnaker Furler

SELDÉN GX! This is all about enjoyment!
For every sailor who is thrilled by boat speed in combination with fast and easy sail handling, Seldén GX is a new extra member of the crew. Unfurling an asymmetric spinnaker will give you instant gratification in terms of sailing performance and true sailing pleasure. Furling systems for asymmetric spinnakers and cruising chutes.

The GX Furler is available in 3 different configurations: 7.5, 10, and 15. This furler is great for cruising, racing, and top-down furling.


selden gx furler furling selden system


  • For cruising: In light winds you can have the furled sail hoisted, ready for action. Once you are off the wind you simply release the furling line and pull on the sheet and the asymmetric spinnaker unfurls while you remain in the safety of the cockpit. With a jib and an asymmetric spinnaker your performance is optimized for all wind angles.
  • For racing: An asymmetric spinnaker with a mid girth of minimum 75% of the foot length measures as a regular down wind sail. This means you can combine it with your regular spinnakers without penalty within the ORCi and IRC rules. Imagine the difference this could make to your sailing performance in the borderland between jib and spinnaker - what a game changer!
  • Top-down furling: The sail is attached to the freely rotating tack swivel on the drum and to the halyard swivel while the luff is free flying. A rigid anti-torsion line connects the drum and the halyard swivel. When turning the drum the anti-torsion line makes the top of the sail furl first, while the tack is independent on its swivel.

  • Shop:
     Selden GX Furler & Accessories
    mauri pro sailing sleden store