What with interviewing Torben Grael, and waxing on about Ericsson 3, you may have guessed that I was a guest of the Ericsson Racing Team down in Galway. Somehow I forgot to post about my Sunday Business Post article last Sunday, about the branding side of the VOR, and in particular the gear development angle.

Helly Hansen talked me through their product research programme as main clothing sponsors on board the Ericsson boats. One of the big outcomes has been the Helly Welly and their range of footwear in general. As a sailor, you learn early on not to expect much from footwear. Ireland led the way for a while with Dubarry boots, but their lining always pulled inside-out within a few months, which made them increasingly uncomfortable. The Helly Welly is lighter, more comfortable, and dispenses with the lining. And they’re bringing out one with a gaiter for super-duper offshore sailors.

What’s particularly nice is the way it rolls down to make it an ankle boot when it’s hotter – very clever.

The article on the Ericsson/Helly Hansen development programme is here.

Sunday Business Post, June 7, 2009

Ocean Race works as live lab
by Markham Nolan
When the Volvo Ocean Race fleet left Galway yesterday, it marked the end of a unique 18-month exercise in clothing product research and branding, Two crews headed out of Galway Bay bound for Sweden on board Ericsson-branded boats, clothed head-to-toe in technical sailing gear from Helly Hansen. Much of that gear had evolved considerably since the crews started training 18 months ago in Lanzarote.

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