Technology
Whatever you want...
Building upon an outstanding record in Olympic and small boat classes Zhik has carefully and steadily developed its technical clothing, scoring major successes in everything from kitefoiling to the Route du Rhum
Passion for innovation and perform- ance is a driving force behind Zhik’s unflinching focus on development and improvement. Thus its sailing gear repeatedly breaks through technical boundaries, delivering exceptional comfort and protection. Through product innovation and global sales expansion Zhik grew by 40 per cent last year and with continued positive feedback from customers further growth is expected. Enduring relationships with a long
list of top-level athletes across the sport are an integral part of product
development.Most of themedal winners at the Tokyo Olympics used Zhik gear. The partnership with gold medalists and reigning America’s Cup champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, who now head up the New Zealand SailGP team, has been running for over a decade. Before the last Volvo Ocean Race
Zhik also worked closely with AkzoNobel and overall winner Dongfeng Race Team. Knowledge and learning gained fromthat process is directly incorporated into the current OFS800 offshore range. ‘Their input was pivotal,’ says Zhik’s head of design and production, Drue Kerr, who has played a key role in Zhik’s development for over a decade. ‘Our previous iterations of offshore
58 SEAHORSE
kit had emphasised durability, but the Volvo teams also highlighted that breathability and temperature control are key for athletes who work tremendously hard in such varied conditions.’ Traditionally there was always a
trade-off between these factors, so increasing breathability meant that durability suffered and vice-versa. However, Zhik was determined to find a best-in-class solution that would allow good breathability without compromising durability. ‘We went on a massive journey
to identify the best materials, trialling 20 or 30 options from big brand membranes to bespoke products that we developed with our suppliers,’ adds Kerr. That process led Zhik to eVent, a company that had not previously been involved in the marine sector, but is now a key partner. Their membrane performed best for both durability and breathability in the lab, with these results subsequently validated by athletes using prototype garments on the water. Zhik is pioneering this completely
new fabric in the marine industry. Modified for offshore use, eVent’s technology has allowed Zhik to produce a range with no compromise achieving the highest possible levels
Above: Yoann Richomme wore Zhik’s OFS800 for the 2022 Route du Rhum and is now working with Zhik to develop the next generation of its offshore sailing gear
of waterproofing, comfort, durability and breathability. These factors all give sailors a competitive advantage. The design of the OFS800 range
includes some novel features. The hood has a polymer composite window that is unique in material and structure. All elements are integrated so it “locks” onto your head and rotates as you turn your head. The choice of polymer composite for the windows, in place of a more common clear thermoset or thermoplastic, means it won’t fog or crease over time, nor will sunlight cause discolouring over the lifetime of the product. British solo sailor Alan Roberts
is another important partner who brought a different perspective to the OSF800 project that made the final product more versatile. He lived in the kit day in, day out, which highlighted a need to keep the body warm and protected in different scenarios. Roberts also needed to get the gear on and off quickly after a nap. As a result the range is extremely versatile – you can wear it cruising, on a TP52 when you’re getting fire-hosed by spray, or for the Sydney-Hobart. Talking to key players at Zhik it
quickly becomes clear that product development isn’t a finite process
JULIEN CHAMPOLLION/POLARYSE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126
