Gear

Just Add Water

If the America’s Cup Had a Gift Shop...

So there’s this massive yacht race called the “America’s Cup” happening right now. Maybe you’ve heard. Maybe you’re competing. Maybe you’re Larry Ellison. Point is, it’s time to procure nautical things and say words like “halyard.” Herewith, a head start on the nautical things.

SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE

Nautical Flags. Start Here.

You require: A handsome means of decorating your den. Or of asking that flaxen-haired first mate 10 knots off starboard to come aboard your motor sailer.
You’ll receive: A full set of nautical communication flags sewn by America’s oldest existing flag-maker. And hopefully instructions on how to read them.

NO DIRECTION HOME

How Magellan Did GPS

You require: The ability to navigate the high seas using the most archaic technology possible. And/or a nice key chain upgrade.
You’ll receive: This wooden mini compass. It’s water-resistant to 20 feet. And withstands temperatures from minus 20 to 120 degrees. And it’s handmade in Montana. Which is landlocked, but still.

ATLAS SHRUGGED

This Book Will Take You Everywhere

You require: A ship’s log. A calendar. And a whole lot of maps.
You’ll receive: A leather-bound atlas with all of those things. It’s got maps for all seven continents. And calendars until 2025. And a directory of every US Embassy... just in case.

SHOE IN

You Knew There’d Be Boat Shoes...

You require: Boat shoes. There’s not a genuine or artificial sailor on earth without boat shoes.
You’ll receive: These quintessential two-eyed boat shoes made by a family-run cobbling outfit in Maine. Because sailing is 10% perspiration and 90% looking good. Or some old nautical saying like that.

IN THE BAG

A Duffel Bag Made Out of Sailboats

You require: A baglike object to carry other objects in. One that looks and feels like a schooner off Puget Sound.
You’ll receive: This duffel bag, made from competition-quality sailcloth. With pockets enclosed by sailing snaps and handles made of sailing rope. We hear Christopher Cross has like a thousand of them.