As the leading global sailing brand, Helly Hansen is trusted by professionals, drawing on their expertise and feedback to create gear that can stand up to harsh conditions and unpredictable environments. Working with professional offshore sailors all over the world, the brand’s Ægir offshore collection is top-of-the-line, designed to perform in extremely wet and challenging ocean conditions.
For Summer 2023, Helly Hansen is upgrading the pinnacle piece of its collection with the new Ægir Race Jacket 2.0 (SRP £700), designed with 50% recycled material without compromising professional grade performance.
Five years in the making, Helly Hansen’s designers have taken learnings and insights from professional offshore sailors, including Thomas Coville, Pip Hare and Joan Mulloy. Featuring a newly developed four-layer fabric, which is made with 50% recycled material and a PFC-free durable water repellent treatment, the jacket is more responsibly made while still being performance-driven, delivering extreme HELLY TECH® Professional waterproof/breathable protection.
The Ægir Race Jacket 2.0 also offers improved mobility, meeting the demands of modern offshore sailing boats which operate at higher speeds. With an ergonomic shaped fit, articulated elbows and a raglan sleeve, the jacket is built to provide maximum freedom of movement, ideal for sailors who are working hard to push their boats to the fullest. Additional features of the jacket include a high weather-protective collar; fully sealed seams; an adjustable, helmet-compatible, packable hi-vis hood; CORDURA® fabric reinforcement; ventilation openings for added breathability; adjustable double cuffs; and SOLAS-rated reflectors for visibility and safety.
Øyvind Vedvik, Vice President of Ski, Sailing and Research & Development at Helly Hansen, says, “As modern sailing and racing continues to evolve, we work closely with professionals to ensure that our products can live up to their expectations and requirements. Our new Ægir Race Jacket 2.0 is an evolution of the previous version and the result of continuous collaboration with professionals to create gear that is both performance-driven and more responsibly made.”
Ahead of its release, the Ægir Race Jacket 2.0 has been recognised as a Gold Winner in the 2023 German Design Awards. The highest achievement within the global competition, the award is determined by an international jury of experts from all design disciplines, and it acknowledges the jacket’s innovative and responsible design.
The German Design Awards jury made the following statement: “The waterproof and breathable Ægir Race Jacket 2.0 from Helly Hansen was developed for and with professional sailors. The excellently crafted sports jacket impresses – especially with regard to the seams – not only through the use of innovative functional and sustainable high-tech materials, but also with its ergonomic fit for maximum freedom of movement. The fact that the jacket is free of harmful perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), which are found in many outdoor products, is another appealing feature. In addition, there are many handy details that increase comfort and ensure safety when sailing. With its high-quality material and manufacturing combined with the classic timeless cut, the Ægir Race Jacket 2.0 is designed to last. This is also an aspect of sustainability.”
The Ægir Race Jacket 2.0 will be available in men’s and women’s specific designs in-store and online from Spring 2023, alongside the Ægir Race Salopette 2.0 and the Ægir Race Bib. To learn more about Helly Hansen’s existing Ægir offshore collection, please visit www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb.