How To Care For Your Waterproof Sailing Jacket

Your sailing clothing system works hard, facing up to the elements and helping you to perform at your best, whether you’re hopping between harbours or competing at your very best. Each layer within your chosen sailing system has an important function, but it’s often your waterproof sailing jacket that steals the headlines as the most obvious hard worker.

Whether exposed to salt spray offshore or worn day after day on a multi-day passage, every single outing leaves a mark on the waterproof exterior. Over time, this natural wear and tear compounds and can affect the overall performance, breathability and comfort of your jacket. This can be a concerning thought, particularly when you’ve made a significant investment to find and purchase a jacket that suits your discipline and is constructed from the right technology with a suitable waterproof rating.

The good news is that it’s much simpler to care for and maintain a waterproof jacket than you might think. In fact, one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding technical sailing clothing is that waterproof items should be washed as infrequently as possible. The reality is there are a few easy steps you can take to care for your waterproof sailing jacket, which we have outlined in this comprehensive guide.

When To Care For Your Waterproof Sailing Jacket

A good waterproof sailing jacket, like those available in the Gill range, will be engineered using advanced fabric technologies designed to balance water protection and long-term durability in even the harshest marine environments. Across our sailing systems specifically, this includes XPLORE® fabric technology, which creates a barrier against water while allowing moisture to escape from within the garment.

It’s this balance of waterproofing and breathability that keeps you comfortable during changing activity levels. However, like any technical fabric system, performance can be affected by the natural build-up of salt, dirt, body oils, and general contamination from regular use. 

Regular care and maintenance help to ensure that this natural wear doesn’t do too much damage. In fact, we actively promote washing your waterproof sailing jacket from time to time to keep the fabrics performing at their best. There’s no specific schedule you need to follow, though a general rule of thumb is to give your jacket a wash after heavy use and every couple of months beyond that to keep it looking and feeling fresh.

Can You Wash A Waterproof Sailing Jacket?

We’d forgive you if alarm bells are ringing at the thought of washing a waterproof garment. It’s an incredibly common misconception that waterproof clothing should never be washed, and we’d always encourage you to check the product care instructions for specific items and not make assumptions. However, where Gill waterproof sailing jackets are concerned, washing in the right way is absolutely encouraged.

 

We apply a DWR (durable water repellent) finish to our jackets that can be naturally reactivated by applying heat. In short, this means that our waterproof sailing jackets are absolutely fine to wash as long as you follow our instructions. Doing so will ensure that water continues to bead and roll away from the fabric, rather than soak in as contamination beads up over time and interferes with the treatment.

How To Wash Your Waterproof Sailing Jacket

To wash your waterproof sailing jacket in the right way and preserve its performance, follow these steps.

Before You Wash

Your sailing jacket can be laundered in the machine at home. Before placing it in the machine, do the following to prepare:

• Empty all of the pockets

• Securely fasten all of the zips

• Check the care label on the inside of the jacket for any specific instructions

Although you might have multiple garments to maintain, wash each one individually to minimise abrasion during the wash cycle.

Washing Your Waterproof Sailing Jacket

Simpler is better when actually putting your waterproof jacket in the machine. This means using a non-biological detergent and avoiding fabric softeners and similar additives. These can leave residues and be too aggressive for the technical fabric which may compromise the performance of your jacket’s DWR treatment. 

Most importantly, always follow the washing instructions provided on your jacket’s care label as requirements can vary between products, even if they are constructed from the same technology like our XPLORE® fabric. 

Drying Your Waterproof Sailing Jacket

Once your wash cycle has finished, shake off any excess water before drying.

A low-heat tumble dry is one of the most effective ways to restore the performance of the DWR finish, as the gentle application of heat helps to reactivate the treatment. Once properly dried, you should notice water beading on the outer fabric once again, showing that the DWR finish is working properly.

Always use a low heat setting to wash a waterproof sailing jacket, as excessive temperatures can damage the seam tape.

Caring For Modern Waterproof Technologies

Here at Gill, the waterproof technology built into our waterproof sailing jackets continues to evolve. We’re now incorporating Nikiwax Direct.Dry® technology into our OS1 Ocean Sailing Clothing System, which is a PFAS-free DWR treatment developed in partnership with Nikiwax. This treatment achieves the highest rating on the AATCC 22 spray test, yet still maintains exceptional wash durability and can still be cared for using the instructions above. That said, any of our jackets utilising Direct.Dry can also be renewed using Nikiwax’s aftercare products.

Final Tips For Looking After Your Waterproof Sailing Jacket

From our Verso racing jackets to our well-recognised Offshore sailing range, every Gill waterproof sailing jacket is tested beyond standards to deliver dependable performance when the conditions become demanding. By following the care advice outlined in this guide, you can help ensure that the technical fabrics and waterproof treatments of your jacket continue performing exactly as intended for years to come.

For further advice on caring for your waterproof sailing clothing or aftercare products, please reach out to our team. You can also explore our full range of sailing jackets and sailing clothing systems online now.