White Squall Breaks Boat, Not Spirit

These Italian-made shoes keep their grip when the going gets tough.

It was supposed to be a seven-day cruise around the Caribbean. It ended with a battered boat and a story to tell.

A little over a decade ago, I was out with my friend Johnny on a yacht called the Natural Light, a 45-footer he was transporting to a new buyer. Everything was going great: sunny skies, warm weather and Johnny’s girlfriend making some strong piña coladas. On the third night, we ran into trouble. After a weather report warned of 30-knot winds, we battened down the hatches, took an extra slug of rum for good luck and hoped for the best.

Then a white squall came through. White-out conditions. 70 mph winds. Lightning blowing our electrics. Gaping holes in the hull. Our tiny ship, as the TV theme goes, was tossed. But I never lost my footing thanks to my Spinnaker Boat Shoes. Made with nubuck calf leather and canvas in navy blue, these Italian-made shoes are built for the demands of the open water. Most importantly, these shoes sport slip-resistant thermoplastic rubber soles, meaning they’ll keep their grip when the going gets tough.

Whether you’re fighting the squall of a lifetime or sidling up to a dock-side bar for happy hour, the Spinnaker Boat Shoes are at home anywhere your feet take them.
– Jack B.