Since its foundation in Genoa in 1979, SLAM has built a solid reputation in the round-the-cans yacht racing fraternity. Now, at last, it’s venturing offshore with the Force 9, top of the new Force range of technical clothing.

Developed with the Groupama sailing team during the 2001-12 Volvo Ocean Race, which isn’t a bad R&D lab, Force 9 features three-layer fabric that is waterproof and breathable, neoprene cuffs for better sealing and insulation, and mesh pockets inside at the elbow so you can add foam pads.

For now the colour palette is confined to the ‘steel’ shown, and ‘sunny lime’, seen left in this shot. Quite vivid, isn’t it?