Top Sailing Accessories for Dinghy Racing

Dinghy racing is won in the margins. The boat that points a fraction higher, accelerates a touch sooner and holds its lane out of every tack is rarely the one with the biggest budget. It is usually the one that turns up best prepared. Small pieces of kit, chosen well and looked after, add up to real places on the water.

Here are the accessories our team and our customers reach for most, grouped by the job they do. Some make the boat quicker, some keep you sailing when kit fails, and some simply make a long day on the water more comfortable. Every one earns its place in the boat bag, whether you are club racing on a Sunday or lining up at an open meeting.

Boat speed starts before you leave the slipway. A clean, slick hull moves water more easily, so it is worth the ten minutes it takes to apply Harken McLube Hullkote Speed Polish. It cleans and protects in one pass, then repels water for smoother flow over the hull. The finish lasts, so a pre-regatta application keeps paying you back across a weekend of racing.

Friction hides everywhere else too. McLube Sailkote Dry Lubricant is a dry film, not an oil, so it frees up spinnaker chutes, luff tapes, mast tracks and tell-tales without attracting grit. For ball-bearing blocks and traveller cars, reach for McLube OneDrop Ball Bearing Conditioner instead. It is formulated to condition bearings without over-lubricating them, which is what causes cars to skid and develop flat spots. Look after your blocks and cleats and they will run sweetly for years.

Two tapes finish the job. PROtect Self-Adhesive Chafe Tape is a tough, clear 500-micron film that shields spreaders, decks and hardware from sheet and line wear, protecting your expensive sails in the process. Rooster Pro Grip Brushed EVA Deck Tape adds secure footing and comfortable hiking grip, moulds to the surface and peels off cleanly with no residue when you want to change it.

Tactics start with information. A masthead vane like the Little Hawk Race Wind Indicator is sensitive enough to show subtle shifts and headers from the top of the rig, which helps you commit to the right side of the beat with confidence. On smaller dinghies where a masthead fitting is not practical, the clip-on Little Hawk Mk2 Wind Indicator mounts on the lower mast in seconds and gives you a constant read of true wind direction to glance at through every manoeuvre.

Do not overlook the committee boat either. The RWO Flag Sticker with Code Flags is a cheap self-adhesive reference chart of the full code and racing flags, complete with morse equivalents. Stick it in the cockpit and you can decode a postponement or a black flag at a glance, without taking your head out of the race or missing the start sequence.

Gear fails at the worst moments, so carry the means to fix it. The Gill Marine Tool is a seven-in-one folding multi-tool with a serrated blade, marlin spike, shackle key and more, all in a one-handed design with a grippy G10 handle and a belt pouch. It handles quick rig jobs afloat and doubles as essential safety kit.

If you like to build your own control lines, splicing your own ropes is cleaner, stronger and cheaper than knots. The D-Splicer Set covers rope from 1mm to 8mm with four interchangeable needles and a locking mechanism to pull line neatly through a splice. For the smaller-diameter lines common on dinghies, the 4mm and 5.5mm Selma Fid Package is an inexpensive addition to your kit. And to keep your foot tension set correctly, the UK-made Clew Strap for 50mm Boom secures the sail clew with adjustable 25mm webbing.

You sail better when you are comfortable and in control. The Zhik Tactical Sailing Glove comes as a pack of three pairs, with a sticky latex-coated palm for grip on the sheets and a lightweight, soft nylon liner that keeps plenty of feel and dexterity. Buying three pairs together means you always have a fresh set through a long season.

If you spend time on your knees hiking or kneeling in the boat, the Zhik Kollition Knee Pads are worth every penny. The articulated compression sleeve holds 12mm of moulded EVA padding in place over hard deck impacts, yet stays slim enough to wear under your sailing clothing.

Your sails and foils are your most valuable and performance-critical gear, so protect them in transit. The Sailing Chandlery Long Sail Bag is a tough 2900mm PVC-polyester bag for storing and carrying rolled sails between events. For Laser and ILCA sailors, the fully padded Gorilla Foil Bag guards your rudder and daggerboard, the parts most likely to pick up damage that costs you speed. Its UV-stable material vents to reduce condensation, and a mesh pocket keeps your ropes and small parts together.

None of these items will transform a bad day on the water on their own. Together, they are the difference between a boat that is merely rigged and one that is properly race-ready. Start with the areas where you know you lose time, whether that is boat speed, boat handling or simply staying comfortable enough to concentrate for a full race. Add a piece at a time, look after what you buy, and the gains soon stack up.

If you are unsure where to begin, the best guide is often what other racers rate. Browse our most popular sailing products to see what fellow sailors are adding to their boats right now, and build a kit list that suits your class and your budget.