The Green Dragon team have travelled over 25,000 miles since leaving Galway last year. They have battled some of the most challenging oceans in the world and seen temperatures plummet to below freezing. Keeping warm and dry onboard can be a challenge in itself but thanks to the help of local Irish west coast based Fastnet Out Fits, the team have had an extra weapon onboard in the fight to stay warm.
Doris Affeldt of Fastnet Out Fits provided the crew with a variety of pure merino wool fleece garments for their trip. Nowhere was this more appreciated by the crew then whilst rounding Cape Horn, sailing through the Southern Ocean or across the North Atlantic where the unique warmth of these garments came into its own.
Some eleven years ago Doris set out to invent the most thermo-balancing, versatile and body honoring material. By using only the finest merino wool fibres, which are as fine as cashmere only stronger, she derived the pure merino wool fleece. It is ultra-light and so soft, it can be worn next to the skin by anyone. Combined with the un-rivaled natural intelligence of pure wool this makes for an amazing wearing experience.
Fastnet Out Fits is located in the Mayo Gealtacht in the small fishing village Doohoma were a varied collection, which includes a women’s range of jackets, coats, dresses and skirts, are carefully hand-crafted by local women in a small grass-roofed Irish cottage. When Doris heard about the Volvo Ocean Race having an Irish entry she remembered the excited message she had received from one of her customers who had sailed in a regatta North of Denmark. Wearing one of her garments he had been the only one on board who felt warm, while the rest of the team were battling with the cold. “I wondered if my merino fleece garments give our home team an advantage in cold conditions,”
commented Doris. “I contacted the team and offered to supply a core group of items which included a balaclava, hat, sweater and base layer”.
The Green Dragon team tested the Fastnet garments for suitability during their 2000 mile qualification passage ahead of the Volvo Ocean Race start. The team gave the go-ahead and Doris and her crew set out to put together the best garments possible for the Green Dragon Racing team. Eventually large boxes filled with balaclavas, earwarmers, wristwarmer, vests and classic pullovers were sent out to Alicante for the start of the race. The kit has been warmly received by all the crew onboard Green Dragon.
“I have been around the world many times and I have also tested a variety of kit designed to keep you warm, but I can say Fastnet kit has been fantastic, it really made a difference on the longest leg from China to Rio. It was freezing in China when we left, and then again as we rounded Cape Horn. The base layer really kept the core temperature up and the balaclava meant that our heads, which are often the most exposed part were kept warm,” Damian Foxall (Irish Sailor of the Year 2009)
“Keeping yourself warm is crucial to making sure you can do the best job possible onbord. The Fastnet Outfit kit was outstanding during some of the colder legs, most especially whilst rounding Cape Horn, here the balaclava was a god send! The biggest problem we can experience when wearing clothing underneath our oilskins is that it locks in the moisture, the Fastnet Out Fit collection actually absorbs the moisture and helps to keep you dry. It is lightweight and breathable. The last leg from Boston to Galway also saw some extreme temperatures onboard and I was pleased to have the kit with me. I would definitely recommend this to other sailors.”
Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker
“Thank you so much for the Fastnet clothing used on the Green Dragon. It is the best equipment that we have onboard. The North Atlantic and the Southern Ocean are warmer places thanks to the Fastnet jumpers”.
Jamie Boag, CEO Green Dragon
The Fastnet collection has found international acclaim, with a loyal customer base in Japan, Canada, the USA, France, Germany, Austria, Skandinavia, Italy, Australia including well-known names like the late Luciano Pavarotti, Maeve Binchi, the artist Pauline Bewick and Richard Gere.
To view the collection click here or see and ‘feel’ this wonderful material in her retail store cocoon in middle street in Galway City.
For further Information regarding Fastnet Out Fits please contact
Doris Affeldt
T: 0872364634
