Zhik becomes official race wear supplier to UK Etchells Fleet
by Rob Goddard 1 May 2014 14:20 BST
1 May 2014
Let's go downhill in race one as Triad chases Iris III on day two of the Australian Etchells Nationals © Michael Jennings
Performance racing clothing manufacturer Zhik has become the official clothing supplier to the UK Etchells fleet. The relationship has been born of the need for the sailors to compete at the highest level throughout the world, and the comfort and manoeuvrability that the Zhik sailing wear system brings helps all sailors to perform at the best of their abilities.
David Franks, Cowes Fleet Captain, said "Having raced wearing the Zhik gear I can now appreciate why world champions from across the globe insist on Zhik. Whatever the weather threw at my crew, we remained warm allowing us to concentrate on the sailing; it's almost like having the advantage of a new set of sails but with a longer life."
Zhik are sponsoring the Etchells fleet for the International Invitational Cup in July, and the UK Nationals and European Championships being held in Weymouth in September.
Simon Payne, Head of Zhik Europe said, "We are delighted to be associated with the UK Etchells Class which we have long admired and it's wonderful to see such a strong resurgence of this great racing boat. We remember Etchells Alley in Cowes, then the base of our sailing heroes, and is seems to be the same soon! Now we are proud to be sponsoring the UK fleet."
Zhik is known for producing the most technically advanced sailing clothes used by World and Olympic champions. Zhik's product designs and features are developed by an amazing team of sailors resulting in innovations never seen before in the sailing clothing market. Over the past two years Zhik has added on a range of clothes suitable for keelboats ensuring that the keelboat sailors experience the Zhik difference. Zhik team riders dominated the latest ISAF Sailing World Cup leg in Palma amassing a heavy bag of 6 Gold Medals spread among 5 nations.
Etchells are a strict one design keel boat, designed for teams 3 or 4 crew and are sailed by many top sailors throughout the world, over 1400 have been built to date with new builds still in production, see www.etchells.org, www.etchellsukfleet.co.uk or the facebook group 'Cowes Etchells Fleet'.