Helly Hansen donates half of all UK online sales to RNLI during May
Global sailing brand Helly Hansen, a strategic partner of the RNLI, has announced the continuation of its support of the charity’s Mayday campaign. Helly Hansen will be donating 50% of all UK online sales during the month of May to the RNLI, as it has done since 2018.
The Mayday appeal aims to raise funds for the RNLI ahead of the busy summer season, when more people are drawn to the water – and more people get into danger. All donations go towards making sure RNLI lifesavers have everything they need to keep families safe this summer, including volunteer training, new equipment and safety education that are all critical elements to saving lives.
Since 2018, Helly Hansen has provided the RNLI with professional-grade gear for their lifeboat crews, keeping them warm, dry and protected when they are out saving lives, in all conditions. Alongside the kit, the partnership with Helly Hansen has allowed the RNLI to broaden its crucial safety messages with the aim of reducing drowning in the UK.
Emma Russell, Marketing Manager for Helly Hansen in the UK, Ireland and Benelux, comments, “This year is shaping up to be one of the busiest for the RNLI, so donations are as important as ever. We are so proud to be their partner, and the funds raised from all of Helly Hansen’s UK online purchases in May are going straight to help local stations and lifeboat teams where it will help them to keep people safe near and on the water.”
The donations for the month of May include proceeds from sales of Helly Hansen’s newest kit for Summer 2022.
The Skagen Offshore Jacket (SRP £325) is a classic sailing jacket, tested and developed alongside coastal and offshore sailing professionals, and shares ergonomics and features with the brand’s leading professional, offshore Ægir collection. Highly waterproof and extremely breathable, the jacket features HELLY TECH® Performance technology – a sport-specific design and construction for high-performance sailing activities during challenging and changing weather conditions.
Responsibly designed, the jacket contains a minimum of 50% recycled content — including high-quality Ocean Bound recycled material, made by repurposing abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear such as fishing buoys, which are otherwise a major source of marine rubbish. Offering full protection from the waves and wind, especially for the neck and face, the Skagen Offshore Jacket ensures the wearer remains dry, comfortable, and highly visible during all ocean activity. The high-vis packable hood, SOLAS-rated reflectors and double cuffs further enhance comfort, visibility, and protection.
Leveraging insights on movement from the Foil Series for the 36th America’s Cup, the HP Foil Shell Jacket (SRP £200) is built for improved aerodynamic performance at higher speeds. Extremely waterproof and breathable, the jacket also features HELLY TECH® Professional technology – the brand’s tough weatherproof outer layer designed for use in highly aerobic, extremely wet, or long-lasting activities in the harshest of conditions.
After testing with inshore sailing experts and American Magic team members, one of the jacket’s key additions is its hi-vis hood – a new feature in the men’s piece, designed for increased safety and visibility. Built so that the wearer can be more easily seen during tough weather conditions, or if an accident should occur.
The jacket also features dual-taped flat seam technology and YKK AQUAGUARD® zippers to ensure the wearer stays dry, while an athletic-fit and 4-way stretch softshell fabric enhance comfort and low-profile seams aid aero dynamism.
The Salt Cruiser V1 (SRP £110) boasts a unique sailing silhouette with an engineered, quick-drying construction and great breathability. Protective and supportive, the shoe’s HH® Lite-Frame technology helps to stabilise the foot without added weight, while HH® Pro-Guard toe-cap and moulded heel-cap offer additional protection in unstable conditions. Designed with a rubber cupsole and the brand’s HH® Storm-Grip outsole, the shoe also offers serious traction, ideal for wet and slippery surfaces.
The HP Foil V2 (SRP £100) is a lightweight, performance shoe offering protection and enhanced agility for use in a variety of watersport environments. An evolution of the brand’s existing HP Foil F1 style, the low-cut shoe also features HH® Lite-Frame technology, offering more stability without the added weight, and an open-mesh construction for enhanced breathability and flexibility. The protective rubber cupsole includes a comfortable, removable EVA footbed, which is quick-drying and includes antimicrobial treatment. The shoe also features a custom, non-marking rubber outsole.
As the official apparel sponsor of American Magic, challenger for the 36th America’s Cup, the Rider Foil Race (SRP £90) was inspired by the team and designed with their insights from the customised racing vest the brand created for them. The Rider Foil Race utilises the ergonomics and technology developed with the American Magic team for their high-speed, physical racing needs – featuring a fit and cut developed for maximum freedom of movement and ventilation. It is further enhanced using feedback from Olympic inshore dinghy and sports boat sailors.
Professional sailors know their sport presents some of the most unpredictable outdoor conditions and physical demands, and that safety is key whether they are racing or not. The vest was built on this knowledge, offering the wearer peace of mind when faced with harsh and challenging conditions. With ISO (12402-5) certified buoyancy, the vest is a crucial aid that supports the wearer to remain safe in extreme sailing circumstances such as a boat capsize. The ergonomic split panelling and elastic side panels offer enhanced comfort and ease of movement, particularly beneficial for performance and high-speed needs.
The Helly Hansen collection is available to purchase online via www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/.
Helly Hansen and the RNLI have been strategic partners since 2018 and are committed to working together to educate and influence those at risk from drowning. To learn more about the Mayday appeal, or to sign up to take part in a fundraising Mayday Mile, visit www.rnli.org/SupportMayday