while there’s amuch higher level of breathability than the BR2 range offers. Yet the BR3 garments feel surprisingly light, while still offering a high 20,000mmwaterproofing rating and excellent breathability, along with plenty of freedomof movement and easy layering. The BR3 Sport line, which
includes a smock, jacket, salopettes and waterproof shorts, has a more streamlined style. ‘The priority is freedom of movement, reduced bulk and keeping you protected for the time that you're on the water,’ says product designer Lucy Davis. ‘It’s therefore more of a shorter, fitted jacket and doesn’t have big pockets.’ It’s a remarkably lightweight and
compact garment that can be folded into its hood, yet offers excellent protection in all but the worst conditions. Equally impressive, despite the close fit, with aminimum of excess fabric, is the level of unrestrictedmovement, regardless of what task you’re doing on the boat. This is the result of a combination
of factors, including the lightweight nature of the fabric, the cut of the sleeves and the material’s four-way stretch characteristic. Well-placed pockets are easily accessed, even when wearing a lifejacket, and the waterproof zip means a cumbersome storm flap is not required. The weapon of choice from the
range, for anyone regularly fire- hosed by spray, is likely to be the BR3 Sport Smock. This is also engineered to give excellent freedom of movement, while maximising protection when racing high-octane classes that can be properly wet in big winds. These Sport products use Musto’s new Ocean Tech Pro performance
Above: the BR3 Offshore jacket and trousers are designed for longer races, coastal or offshore, and incorporate most key elements of the high-end MPX range. Top right: the MPX-style hood sits high on the collar, making it much more comfortable towearwith a lifejacket
standard, which offers an excellent balance between waterproofing and breathability, at 20,000mmand 10,000mmrespectively. This is not as good as LPX, which has better breathability and waterproofing: as with Musto’s other Gore-Tex garments, it achieves the holy grail of a very high 28,000mmwaterproofing rating alongside excellent breathability. On the other hand, the longevity of the two collections is very similar and the BR3 salopettes and shorts benefit fromabrasion resistant seats and knees. Equally BR3 represents a big step
up relative to BR2 in many respects, even though the latter remains ‘a perfect choice for coastal cruising,’ according to Davis. Nevertheless, for those with a slightly larger budget, there are multiple advantages in choosing three-layer fabrics for cruising, or even when spending a day on the water in a RIB. The lack of a separate lining
makes garments far easier to don and doff, while three-layer fabrics are also inherently much more breathable, reducing risk of condensation on the lining. But the biggest advantages are in comfort and ease of movement – in this domain additional weight and bulk is no longer synonymous with more protection. The ability to incorporate mid and base layer garments with a BR3 outer shell is far easier and more comfortable thanks to the products’ three-layer construction. Both the Pertex Shield membrane
and Ocean Tech Pro performance have a C0 durable waterproof coating (DWR) that’s free of the perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) that are harmful to health and to the environment. It’s worth noting that this is part of a worldwide change across every industry that uses PFCs, as part of the Paris agreement, with support from the United Nations. While Musto’s Gore-Tex based products currently use a C6 DWR,
this will be phased out from the spring/summer 2026 season onwards. Fabric manager Suzanne Baxter says Musto has carried out blind testing of this C0 fabric against C6 materials, by making each leg of salopettes from different materials, finding that users could not tell the difference between them. A key difference, however, is that
the DWR needs re-activatingmore frequently. This is achieved by ironing or tumble drying on a low heat after washing the garment with a detergent frombrands such as Grangers. Existing C6 products already
benefit from this treatment periodically, even if many users ignore this advice. The Ocean Race and Women’s America’s Cup sailor Hannah Diamond says she washes and tumble dries her Musto kit regularly. She says often what appeared to be small leaks vanish afterwards, as these were areas where the fabric was wetting out, rather than the water beading off easily, due to the DWR coating needing reactivation. A line of Storm fleece mid-layers
was also launched alongside the BR3 collection. These are warm and comfortable and have a DWR to protect against light spray. The BR3 collection is part of a
wider initiative at Musto to be the top provider of technical clothing across every type of sailing, not just the top of the pyramid. Price points for this range may be lower than that of Musto’s renowned LPX and MPX professional level products, but it still benefits from the same development processes, including expert design input and extensive on-water testing, both from sailors and coaches who are on the water day in, day out, all year. The end result is excellent
performance, with a focus on stretch and freedom of movement, while balancing performance features with reduced bulk and weight.
www.musto.com
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