10 Christmas gift ideas for sailing lovers

How often have you desperately looked for a good Christmas present and eventually bought the standard, boring perfume set, a body wash, or worse, a rather ugly centerpiece? 

This is the moment to stop wasting money and buy what your loved ones really deserve! This Christmas, your sailing lovers will be blessed with a thoughtful gift, an item that they will look forward to putting into use on their next sailing adventure. No need to look further, because we put together a list of the best gifts that suit all budgets, so you can make an impression and thank us later.

When it comes to sailing items, there are three factors that need to be considered in order to make a great gift:

• Functionality: if a gift is functional, it belongs to the boat! And if it's multi-functional, even better. 
• Lastingness: wind and salt are sailors' friends and foes, and so they are for the items they bring onboard. Make sure they are designed to last in such a rough environment 
• Usefulness: sailors need to have items that are quick and easy to use at hand. If your gift is practical and doesn't require much space or resources to be used, then you hit the jackpot! 

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Drone - from $79 / £75

If your sailing lover is also a tech lover, then a drone might be the right gift for him/her. Let's be honest: aerial shots are way more dramatic than any other type of video or picture. Think about all the great shots they could take while sailing to different destinations or while anchoring in a pristine bay with turquoise waters... This is the perfect gift for making long-lasting and high-quality memories during every sailing adventure. 

There are different versions of drones on the market, but beginners don't need to start with fancy equipment. Check out our Amazon choices to get some inspiration:

Drone with 1080P Camera

Drone NEHEME NH525

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Donations to save the oceans - from $10 / £10

This is, in our opinion, the most thoughtful one. As sailing lovers, our greatest wish is to protect the ocean and its fragile ecosystem, in order to be able to enjoy the natural beauties wherever we go.

The oceans are threatened by various menaces that are directly and indirectly caused by human actions, therefore is our duty to do what we can to preserve them. Plastic pollution, climate change, overfishing, and industrial waste are just a few of the big threats and yes, there's always something a single person can do to make things better. Apart from playing our part with little daily actions such as recycling, reducing carbon emissions, and eating sustainable fish, there are plenty of organizations that fight to make this world a better place on your behalf. 

A donation to an ocean organization could make a great and thoughtful gift that will warm everyone's heart. Here are a few charities to consider for your Christmas gift:

- 4Oceans

- Oceana

- The Ocean Conservancy

- Coral Reef Alliance 

or check your local marine reserve for a more customized gift! 

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Swiss Army Knife - from $25 / £23

A multi-functional knife is a practical tool on a boat. You can cut or untie ropes, open cans or bottles, screw/unscrew, and much more! 

Here are our favorite choices:

- Victorinox Swiss Army Knife

- Victorinox Multi-Tool 

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Dry Bag - from $20 / £20

A dry bag is the best way to keep your clothes and belongings dry, especially while on a boat. Although it might not have enough space to pack clothes for long cruises, it's a great bag for shorter holidays, and can be used to keep things on the deck or to carry dry clothes to the beach. 

Here are some of the best-selling options available on Amazon:

- Earth Pak 10L 

- Piscifun Dry Bag 20L 

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Waterproof Smartphone Case - from $20 / £20

If your sailing lover is not as techy as the drone one, then a waterproof phone case will do the job! Apart from being a great solution for keeping your smartphone safe and dry all the time, they are suitable for diving and can be used for taking pictures and videos underwater. Another great and easier way to collect beautiful memories during a sailing holiday! 

Make sure you read the reviews and get a good one, we don't want any water to get in the case, don't we?

These are some valid options to keep in mind:

- Newppon Waterproof Cell Phone Pouch

- Nisso Professional Snorkeling Underwater Phone Case

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Sailing Sunglasses - from $25 / £23 

Whether you are on the water or onshore, it is essential to protect your eyes with polarized sunglasses that could protect you from dangerous UVA and UVB rays, which can come directly from the sun or as a reflection on the water's surface. This will allow you to improve your visibility and comfort during navigation. 

Lightweight, non-bulky, and aesthetic sunglasses are a great option for all sailing lovers. They should be comfortable to be worn for a long period of time, they should be impact resistant for any unforeseen event, and they should have non-slip pads on the nose for extra grip. Finally, you can also pair them with a string to make sure they never fall off the boat!

These are some quality sunglasses that can be easily purchased on Amazon:

- Cressi Bahia Sport Sunglasses 

- WindRider Polarized Sunglasses

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Sailing Shoes - from $37 / £35

It might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking about a gift for a sailing lover, but wearing the right shoes on a boat is a great way to prevent unforeseen accidents onboard.

Deck floors are usually wet and very slippery, and a shoe with a good grip is the best solution for avoiding sprained ankles and other injuries. A lightweight, waterproof, and rubber-soled pair of shoes will be a much-appreciated gift by all sailors! 

These are the best shoe brands on the market:

- Sperry Men's Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoe

- Columbia Men's Slack Tide Lace PFG Boat Shoe

- Timberland Women's Amherst Boat Shoe

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Sailing Watch - from $250 / £200 

Another great item that cannot miss on a captain's wrist. Sailing watches are not ordinary watches and come with a variety of functions that keep you informed and safe while navigating. 

This is a rather expensive gift that we suggest considering only when having good budget availability - otherwise, it can also be bought as a group gift! 

Here are our favorite choices:

- Tissot Sailing-Touch Watch

- Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer Chronograph Watch 

- Garmin Quatix 6 

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Portable Charger Power Bank - from $80 / £75

When you are on a boat, it's easy to lack electric plugs or even electricity, for what it's worth. A portable power bank can help you charge small objects such as phones, nautical instruments, cameras, or GPS: a practical item that takes little space! 

You can also gift a solar panel charger, which can be easily charged with solar light and used to plug small objects and can last days.

These are some of the power banks available on Amazon:

- Imuto 100w Power Bank 

- FosPower 2000mAh Portable Power Bank with Solar Charging

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Inflatable SUP Board - from $300 / £280

Last but not least, an item that can turn any sailing holiday into a tornado of fun and adventure. An inflatable SUP board is a great gift that can occupy little space and can be easily carried with you on the boat! 

Cheaper boards are usually included in the $300 - $800 price range. We understand this might be a big budget, but the higher the price the better will be the quality of the product. These SUP boards are perfect for kids and adults who experience this sport for the first time and want to have fun while in the water, exploring hidden caves and bay cliffs. 

Here are some good options:

- Retrospec Weekender 10' Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard

- iRocker ALL AROUND 10' ULTRA™ Inflatable Paddle Board

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