We want to be able to provide the finest protection available for your eyes and head and need some user feedback. In the eye department we have found that regular sunglasses (particularly Oakley)seem to be a favorite of many of the top sailors on America's Cup boats (we figure these guys sail everyday and need max protection) and the BARZ have caught favor with the extreme sailing crowd like VOLVO OCEAN RACE and THE RACE participants.
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<br>What do you folks wear to stop the UV/IR and wind abrasion of the cornea which is becoming a bigger concern for those over 30 years of age?
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<br>If you could improve one thing about your eye protection gear, what would that be?
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<br>On head protection: We have actually sold a lot of the GATH helmets to KITE BOARDERS and to surfers but the sailing crowd in the US doesn't seem to care for helmets in general. What do you wear to keep your head warm and safe?
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<br>Thank you in advance for your replies!
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<br>Mark A. Michaelsen ~MM~
<br>SPS Website: http://www.sailingproshop.com
<br>Small Craft Advisories Sailing Centers
<br>1244 Pacific Coast Highway
<br>Seal Beach, Ca 90740
<br>(562) 594-8749 Voice
<br>(562) 594-0208 FAX
<br>(800) 354-7245 Order Line
<br>(714) 238-0925 International Voice Mail/Pager
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<br><br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

Hey Mark!
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<br>Great question! I haven't felt the need to purchase a helmet, and don't think I will be any time soon. I'm more fearful of getting tangled up or trapped then of hitting my head to the point of being knocked out.
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<br>Here's a picture of my sunglasses:
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<br>The model number is US6 Black Pro YPB.
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<br>Anyway, they're polarized, they're light, and they come with a good set of croakies. Also, the yellow-brown lens makes all the atmosperhic haze vanish! I love them. The only bad thing about them is that they're not widely available. I stumbled upon them at the Miami boat show, and I know that the guy who sold them to me travels to a lot of shows. They are also available at some yacht clubs and few other places.
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<br>I broke a pair the day before a regatta, and I was mortified! I couldn't get them replaced fast enough. Supposedly I have a warranty replacement on the way, but in the meatime I bought a new pair, because I wear them any day the sun is shining. My eyes are in heaven!
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<br>As for other safety items I carry, obviously I wear a good comfortable pfd, and now I carry a Gerber River Guide knife.
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<br>Here's a link to the Ullman Sails Website:
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<br>Ullman Sails
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<br>Fair winds,
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<br>Tim J.
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<br>P.S. Almost forgot to mention that I'm not thirty yet, but I think preserving my vision is definitley a good thing!
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<br>Hobie 20 #541
<br>Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52
<br>White Bear Lake, MN

Mark,
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<br>For the eyes I like the Barz Optics in medium to heavy conditions. They allow full face on water with no leakage or fogging. They are also comfortable for long distance races like the Worrell 1000. In light or hot summer days drifting on the lakes in Texas any pair of sun glasses are good, no particular kind here.
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<br>I have not worn a helmet before on a Catamaran or feel the need to. When my head feels sensitive, generally due to cold weather, I put on a wool hat. I have only hit my head once and that was during a violent pitchpole on a H20. My leg got caught in the tramp strap and I pivoted around and hit the back of my head on the boom, reminded me of getting slapped as a kid for doing something wrong. My crew came off worse with a hard hit on the leg from the jib block.
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<br>Hope this helps,
<br>Ian Billings
<br>www.pisailing.com<br><br>

I have found a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses which are perfect for me. They fit very well, are light, keep wind off of my eyes, and are available in perscription (which I need). They are polarized, which really helps on the water. Even on light-wind days tacking upwind right into the reflected sun, I can look at the water right in the sun's reflection and see every ripple without any problem. They are like magic.
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<br>I haven't worn Barz, but would consider them if we got stronger weather around here.
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<br>I have never felt that a cat got fast or wild enough to really need a helmet for head protection (a good friend who windsurfs a lot says they are definitely required for that sport). I do carry a knife on my PFD. I prefer the pointy ScubaPro K-5 knife
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<br>Sail fast and have fun,
<br>Alan Thompson
<br>I20 - San Diego<br><br>

SPEX goggles are great if you're going to take a lot of spay in the face, plus it's simple to change out the lenses for varying sun/cloud conditions: clear if it's cloudy but you want wind and spray protection, amber for most conditions, and yellow for low-light conditions.
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<br>For non-extreme sailing i've stumbled onto Native brand glasses. You can push them all the way up to your face and they don't fog because they have a venting system across the top of the lenses. Nose pieces are super grippy which keeps them from sliding down. comfortable wrap-around styling and they look good on the beach, too. go for the low-ryder style.
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<br>i can't imagine wearing a helmet while sailing....<br><br>