U.S. Sailing and Helly Hansen, a global leader in sailing apparel, have announced a new partnership to support the U.S. Sailing Team. Helly Hansen has been named as the exclusive apparel provider for national team sailors through 2020.
“As U.S. Sailing Team athletes compete around the world, it is of critical importance that they are equipped with the best technical sailing apparel available,” said two-time Olympic champion Malcolm Page, the chief of U.S. Olympic Sailing. “Regardless of whether we will be facing oppressive heat or bitter cold, we know that Helly Hansen can offer advanced solutions to provide our team with the comfort, protection, durability, and mobility required for competitive success. The brand is trusted by professional sailors around the world and we look forward to working with them to give our sailors every possible competitive advantage.”
Sailing has been at the core of the Helly Hansen brand since its inception in 1877. The first products offered by the company sought to protect Norwegian mariners from challenging nordic weather. Technical improvements have come through relentless innovation and application of the latest technologies. Helly Hansen’s involvement in high-performance sailing has been notably distinguished, with Norwegian athletes wearing Helly Hansen gear at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. Since then, sailors outfitted with Helly Hansen apparel have conquered everything from dinghy regattas to open ocean races in every corner of the globe.
“We are thrilled and humbled to be partnering with the U.S. Sailing Team,” said Erik Burbank, Helly Hansen’s chief marketing officer. “Sailing is where the Helly Hansen brand started 140 years ago, and partnering with the pros of the sport is a critical element in ensuring that we continue to lead in the category. We look forward to supporting the athletes as they train, compete and continue to work toward their goals.”
U.S. Sailing Team athletes have begun receiving Helly Hansen team gear at training venues across the country, and reaction has been both swift and universally positive. “I’m thrilled that the U.S. Sailing Team will be working with Helly Hansen going forward,” said three-time U.S. Olympian and Men’s 470 helmsman Stu McNay. “They make first-rate sailing gear, and on top of that, it looks stylish.”
Athletes also noted that having a gear partner with over a century of marine experience provided significant peace of mind. “We compete in some really cold places, like Palma de Mallorca, Spain, every March, for example,” said U.S. Olympian and Nacra 17 athlete Louisa Chafee. “Places like that are windy, wet, and have the kind of cold that gets into your bones. Having sailing gear that can breathe but also shed water is vital to being able to perform well. If you’re cold, you’re not going to win races.”
