NEW GEAR

Dennis O'Neill reviews the latest products designed to make sailing safer and easier

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FLIPPER

FOLDABLE WINCH HANDLE

www.easysea.org

Italian innovation, claimed to be the world’s first foldable winch handle, designed to help you to tighten and release sheets without having to remove the handle from the winch – or remember where you’ve just put it. Made from high-quality aluminium with 316L stainless steel joints, it features a universal star stud to fit any winch and can be positioned in four different configurations: ‘Closed’, sitting on the winch and allowing you to furl or let out the sheet quickly and smoothly; ‘Half-opened’, in anticipation of impending manoeuvres; ‘Opened’, in readiness to use as a standard-sized lever; and ‘Extended’, to make use of the extra-long 30cm leverage. It comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

SAILPROOF SP10S/SP10X

SAILING TABLETS

www.sailproof.shop.

FROM £834

Choice of two tough 10-inch Android tablets, designed with sailing in mind. The standard version (SP10S) and high-end version (SP10X) both use a Dual Frequency GNSS chip for accurate navigation satellite capture, while cruising offshore or in remote areas, from five constellations, including GPS, Galileo and GLONASS. They also feature robust Gorilla Glass screens compatible with polarised sunglasses, enhanced cameras, 5.2 Bluetooth and air-pressure sensors to provide barometric alerts. The faster SP10X (£1,126) features an Octacore processor reaching 2.4 Ghz and comes with a fully waterproof charging port.