After reading an article in a magazine about the ‘Top 7 items of sailing gadgetry,’ it got us thinking about our favourite bits of nautical gear. So we thought we would ask you guys what you think. Now you have read the article, what would be your top seven sailing items?

Ok here goes-

Garmin gpsmap60cs - it's tiny but does everything the big boys do, and I can use it in the car.

XM Ocean suit - HPX might be the cool choice but for just over a third of the price this suit is excellent.

Petzl Spatha knife - a small folding serrated knife (sharp point though) which cuts rope like it's not there and takes up no space in a pocket.

Tilley T5 - Ok, I know, but they are well made!

Creative 40gb mp3 player - easy way to have your entire music collection with you.

Mag Lite Solitaire - enough light to find the light switch!

Oakley Straight Jackets - old sunnies now but not too flash and they do a good job of keeping a high sun at bay.

Here are mine (not necessarily in order of importance!)

Prescription sunglasses (can't read the chart without them)

Reeds Almanac (essential for navigation, and also provides lots of irrelevant but interesting reading on quiet passages when there's not much else to do)

High factor suncream

Nikon Coolpix digital camera

Dubarry Goretex boots

Musto Snug jacket (warm, windproof, sort of showerproof, light, smart enough to go ashore in, what more do you need?)

Richard - my favourite skipper.