Helly Hansen’s smock wins award

Helly Hansen has received a German Design Award in the Excellent Product Design category for its new Ægir Ocean Modular Smock Top, launching in Spring 2021.

It’s been cited as ‘durable, impermeable and flexible’ by judges who also noted its ‘tailored solutions for expert mariners’.

Designed, developed and tested with professional offshore solo sailor, Thomas Coville – the first to sail solo on a trimaran around the world in less than 50 days – the Ægir Ocean Modular Smock Top is built with a removable hood and collar, a zip-off length extension and a dual opening vent design. Based on Coville’s feedback, as well as insight from Helly Hansen’s professional sailing ambassadors and teams, the smock top was designed to adapt and function in variable conditions.

As modern ocean racing boats continue to develop more protected cockpits, professional sailors need protection that can adapt to where they are on the boat. For Coville, the grinding work is done in the sheltered cockpit, but once outside, he may face sea spray and fifty knot winds. These changing conditions can require three separate smock tops to perform in a race – one with a longer length, one with a shorter length and one with a hood. With its modular design, the Helly Hansen smock combines these into one piece of gear that minimises the number of garments needed.

For hard grinding work, the smock top also features a dual opening vent design, enabling optimal heat regulation.

“We listened to the insight of Thomas Coville and our professional sailors to create a unique and original piece of technical gear tailored to the needs of professionals sailing around the world,” says Øyvind Vedvik, at Helly Hansen.

“The design team and I are thrilled that the smock top’s innovative and modular design has been recognised with the prestigious German Design Award.”