As Henri-Lloyd push ahead with their latest advanced range of technical clothing they have no shortage of rather well-informed help

Henri-Lloyd has been investing heavily in new products and a raft of initiatives at the very top of the sport since its acquisition two years ago by the Swiss Monte Rosa Sports group. These include a collaboration with Nautor Swan, as official sportswear partner for Nautor Swan and ClubSwan regattas, plus a third America’s Cup cycle with Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia America’s Cup team.

At the same time Henri-Lloyd’s own management team has been strengthened, with four-time Volvo Ocean Race competitor and former Navico Group CEO Knut Frostad joining as executive chairman in March 2024, along with other leading industry figures including Simon Payne, a two-time Moth world champion and now chief commercial officer at Henri-Lloyd.

The Elite offshore range is a key new product, developed to provide the ultimate in protection for professional sailors and serious enthusiasts who sail in the harshest of conditions. Knut Frostad says it is simply the best offshore sailing kit he has ever used. ‘Offshore sailing is close to my heart and what you wear onboard is all you have and bring with you. For me it is a noncompromise area of sailing. Elite is exactly that. Non-compromise, and gear and fabrics I would cross any ocean in, comfortably,’ he says.

The Elite range is manufactured at Henri-Lloyd’s premises in Poland - located in the town that Mr Henri originally came from. It draws on the six decades of expertise within the company, whilst also incorporating the latest in materials. Featuring recycled fabrics, together with all essential features and a modern design and styling, it offers a very complete and competent product to all sailors.

The entire range is made of Henri-Lloyd’s three-layer 180gsm Dri Pro fabric, which is very breathable, yet has a high 20k waterproofing rating. As the fabric doesn’t need a lining it’s also lightweight and very quick to dry. The inner face has a slide glide treatment for easy donning and doffing of layers and optimal freedom of movement.

Careful attention to detail is informed by the firm’s long-term experience of producing high-end sailing clothing for the America’s Cup, The Ocean Race and Vendée Globe skippers. Hi-fit trousers are one of the most critical garments of any offshore collection, yet are overlooked surprisingly often, taking a second rung to jackets. Happily, this is not the case with the Elite hi-fits, which have a snug, yet very comfortable fit. Impressively this is achieved without impeding movement in any way.

The stretchy shoulder straps are helpful in this respect, allowing some give without the designers needing to resort to extra fabric. The shoulder straps also incorporate a 3D cushioned mesh that improves comfort and further boosts breathability. Heavy duty Cordura reinforcement protects areas vulnerable to chafe and abrasion, including seat, knees and bottom of the legs.

Large envelope-style cargo leg pockets have hook and loop closures and drainage holes, while the chest handwarmer pockets benefit from a very quick drying Rentex mesh lining on the outer side and are easily accessed even when wearing a lifejacket. As with the other garments in the range, pockets, seam edges and logos all have reflective detailing.

Perhaps surprisingly, the men’s version only has a one-way zip, which allows for a more streamlined gusset, with no excess material. The zip runs smoothly and didn’t prove an issue in use, even when wearing a lifejacket. The women’s hi-fit trousers have heavyweight non-corrosive Vislon AquaGuard side zips for the drop seat.

The jacket, which is also available in men’s and women’s sizes, is designed to keep the wearer dry even in very challenging conditions. It therefore has a high microfleece lined protective collar and the feel of a heavier garment. However, the alternative of a lower collar would reduce protection – a compromise the Henri-Lloyd designers were not prepared to accept. In any case, it doesn’t feel restrictive on the water and there’s plenty of freedom of movement.

An extended back, again with Cordura reinforcement at the bottom, maximises protection, while three levels of adjustment – at the top of the collar, the waist and hips – help fine tune the shape that can be moulded to suit each individual.

A lot of thought has gone into directing and draining the flow of water. For instance, the hood has an integrated drainage system designed to direct water away from the peak. Clear panels each side vastly improve peripheral vision, while the hood packs neatly in a pouch on the back of the collar that’s shaped to avoid catching on guardrails when hiking.

There’s also an internal pocket with a brushed dot mesh lining that minimises water absorption. In addition to similar reflective detailing to the hi-fit trousers, the jacket has reflective subtle Union Flag patches with a photoluminescent backing on the throat tab, the cuffs and the back of the collar.

The Elite Dry Top is a unisex smock designed to offer maximum protection in the most difficult of conditions. The latex collar and cuffs eliminate cold water ingress without the need for a collar and hood, making this garment lighter and more streamlined than the Elite Jacket, even though it’s made of the same fabrics.

A neoprene waist forms a tight seal around the hi-fit trousers, while the Dry Top’s raglan sleeves reduce the number of seams needed, which helps to shed water more quickly. There’s also a large central kangaroo pocket, plus a pair of side handwarmers and a useful zipped arm pocket for a personal locator beacon (PLB) or radio.

The Elite collection is part of a wider revamped range of sailing kit for Henri-Lloyd, in which the company’s 60 years of knowledge and experience, along with investment in state of the art fabrics, has resulted in impressively comfortable offshore foul weather gear that’s effective in all conditions.