What to wear offshore sailing in the heat?

Zhik XWR Pro Long Sleeve Top © Zhik

With the temperatures soaring across Europe, sailors competing in this summer's offshore races, are thinking carefully about what to pack in their kit bag.

Alan Roberts recently finished second in a very hot Solo Guy Cotton Concarneau Figaro 3 race. Sailors starting the Lonely Rock Race starting from Plymouth on Sunday 16 August, can expect warm and breezy conditions for the race to the Fastnet Rock.

New Zhik XWR Pro Long Sleeve Top

Zhik's new super lightweight, breathable XWR Pro Long Sleeve Top is for high activity sailing in warm conditions, when you need to keep cool, yet avoid chilling and stay protected from spray and sun.

With a UPF 50+ treatment, it will protect you from harmful UV rays. The high-stretch, soft, smooth technical fabric is designed for excellent manoeuvrability, athleticism with a performance fit and raglan-cut sleeves for unrestricted movement.

Being highly water repellent too, water will bounce off the fabric helping to shield you from water and wind chill, whilst keeping you dry. Water droplets simply bead up and roll off the fabric, and do not get absorbed by the fibres. The XWR Pro top is an all-round performance garment for yacht racing, and ideal for dinghies and foiling too.

Zhik XWR Pro Long Sleeve Top - photo © Zhik

Team the XWR Pro top with Zhik's recently improved Deck Shorts to achieve the perfect combination for long stints of hot weather when sailing offshore. Cut for action, the soft, four-way stretch fabric moves with you, allowing unrestricted movement. With a durable water-repellent coating (DWR) the fabric deflects spray keeping you dry and reducing the need for full waterproof salopettes in the heat.

Secure utility pockets on each thigh and deep side pockets keep multitools and mobiles safely with you. Integrated waistband adjusters enable you to adapt the fit when wearing different layers. A reinforced seat panel using stretch Zhiktex™ II reinforcement fabric, protects from non-slip decks and enhances durability.

Fresh from his success in the Solo Guy Cotton race, British sailor Alan Roberts comments, "Solo Figaro racing is high intensity, close racing. Out there I need to stay cool, calm and collected 24/7, through extreme heat to extreme cold. Zhik's technical XWR Pro top and Deck Shorts are brilliant in warm conditions with spray. I'm comfortable always, and can just focus on the racing."

• XWR Pro Long Sleeve top - available in Deep Blue, size S to XXL
  RRP: €99.95; £85.00; US $99.99; AUS $159.95

• Zhik Deck Shorts - available in black; Mens sizes 28 to 40; Womens sizes 8 - 16
  RRP: €129.95; £99.95; US $129.99; AUS $199.95