HM JY15 ASA Mar07 12/14/06 8:47 AM Page 1
PAGE 8 • WINTER 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
AMERICAN
SAILING
R ASSOCIA TION
ASA MEMBER PRODUCT REVIEW
by Captain Jeff Grossman
Advantage
I
am a native Floridian who has also spent a great deal
of time in the Bahamas and Caribbean. Good eyewear
HUNTER
For more information
has always been a must for me, especially with eyes
Whether racing, training, learning to sail or just having fun, the Hunter JY15 can’t be beat.
Visit www.panoptx.com.
made a bit more sensitive from wearing contact lenses.
Sunglasses must be comfortable and rugged enough to
come with massive volleys of lightning, so Plan B was
handle the rigors of everything from surfing a Laser to
called for. I resorted to putting the top down on the
sailing 50 footers offshore.
convertible and sticking my head out for the high wind
test and standing in the shower for the rain repelling. The
We Go The Distance
Panoptx offers many choices in sunglasses with a variety of Panoptx passed both tests quite well, though the
frames and lens combinations. The glasses tested were convertible test was a bit brief.
Typhoons with grey tortoise shell frames with polarized
lenses. The frames had a solid feel with strong arm hinges The glasses have a coating that causes both fresh and
386.462.3077 • Fax 386.462.4077
and bridge. The lenses meet 100 percent UV requirements salt water to bead. A good breeze helps keep the lenses
For Dealer/Product Information:
and have special coatings for glare and water repelling. The clear, or a careful wipe with the provided cloth. The
huntermarine.com
inside of the frames are outlined with a rubber gasket instructions included with the glasses recommended not
called an “air dam.” It is designed to cut the turbulence wiping them with other materials (e.g. T-shirts, shorts)
and debris that can bother the eyes in high winds. since the coating could be damaged. I found a good “huff
n’ puff” blew most of the water off the lenses yielding a
view without the usual smeared water distortion.
Testing
The Panoptx sunglasses were tested on a sail in the Gulf
-Building Daysailers through Passagemakers-
of Mexico off Clearwater, Fla. It was a clear Florida
The Final Aanlysis
summer afternoon and thus there was no problem finding Because of a smaller viewing area and the fact that, as
plenty of intense sunlight and lots of glare off the water. It sailors, we are rarely at the speeds where the air dam
was quickly apparent that these sunglasses had excellent comes into effect, I may not use these as everyday wear.
glare rejection. The glasses should be good for picking However, they will be kept carefully below in the Nav
one’s way through passages in unmarked reefs that can Station where I can quickly get them for high wind, high
only be done safely with good visibility. Anyone who has seas or special water visibility requirements like reefs.
passionate about sailing
visited Wardrick Wells in the Bahamas will appreciate this! SAILING VACATIONS
Sometimes a lens has great polarization for glare, but has Because the lens technology was so impressive I will also
the polarization oriented such that it is difficult to read spend more time at the Panoptx web site looking for a
LCD instrument displays. Our Simrad LCD displays were ‘daily’ wear pair! At $139 MSRP I would consider the
completely clear and easy to see with the Panoptx. Panoptx Typhoons with the Marine Lenses a good value.
These glasses weren’t designed for best use when driving Capt. Jeff Grossman grew up sailing in Florida and has been
a car, which is good since they obscure too much of the actively sailing over 45 years, skippering boats since the age of
peripheral vision for my taste. On the boat, however, I find 15 and sailing in the ‘70s through the Bahamas using only
I’m looking in all directions all the time so this turned out compass and Radio Direction Finder. He has extensively cruised
not to be a problem. These Panoptx are designed to with his current boat, a Skye 51, in the Caribbean and Florida.
prevent back glare (light coming in from the sides and
bottom) and they did that effectively. The reduction in
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glare resulted in less fatigue on the eyes.
At Sunsail we share your passion for sailing, and have spent over 30 years
working to ensure our charters are the best value available. No matter if you're
a group on our largest yacht, or a couple on our smallest, you'll get the same
I had to think a bit
Sunsail quality and service that make us the best value in sailing vacations today.
about how to test the
frames’ “air dam” in
Trust your vacation to Sunsail - The company that loves
high winds and the
sailing as much as you do…
lenses’ water rejection
Call 888 252 3505 or visit www.sunsail.com
abilities. Our summer
afternoon thunderstorms
frequently bring winds well above
50 knots with very heavy rain which
SAILING VACATIONS
would be perfect. But these storms also
Caribbean • Mediterranean • South Pacif_ic • South East Asia • Indian Ocean
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