When performance apparel meets national identity, something remarkable happens—it becomes more than clothing. It becomes a uniform for pride, purpose, and movement. That’s exactly what the Rodd & Gunn Cosair Bay Jacket represents.

Developed in collaboration with the New Zealand SailGP Team, this sleek, weather-ready outerwear piece does more than protect against the elements. It expresses the soul of sport, the poise of modern design, and the unmistakable ethos of a brand that knows the outdoors as intimately as it knows tailoring.

Named after Cosair Bay, a small cove in Christchurch, the jacket pays quiet tribute to New Zealand’s coastal geography and its long-standing connection to the sea. But its real power lies in how it blends nautical functionality with urban-ready design, creating something that’s equally at home in a regatta grandstand or on a windy Wellington sidewalk.

The Cosair Bay Jacket is not a billboard of sponsorships—it’s a layered, sculpted, high-performance answer to what everyday outerwear should feel like in 2025: lightweight, intentional, quietly heroic.

The Rodd & Gunn Philosophy: Built to Endure, Designed to Elevate

Founded in New Zealand in 1946, Rodd & Gunn has long defined its style through the lens of timeless menswear and high-quality craftsmanship. While best known for their shirting, knitwear, and tailored jackets, the brand’s growing footprint in performance wear—and now, technical outerwear—is a natural evolution.

The Cosair Bay Jacket marks a sharp point in that trajectory. It’s not about chasing trends. It’s about answering a question: what happens when performance design is treated with the same care as classic tailoring? The answer is this jacket.

And the timing is no accident. As the SailGP global racing series becomes a new icon in international sports, Rodd & Gunn positions itself not just as a brand that outfits spectators—but as a label woven into the very narrative of the sport.

A Closer Look: Design Meets the Demands of the Water

The Cosair Bay Jacket is built for movement. Every stitch, zip, and curve has been engineered for life in motion—on deck or on shore.

Lightweight Construction

The jacket’s fabric is deceptively light. It carries weight where it matters—at the seams and along weatherproof panels—but remains breathable and flexible. That lightness isn’t just about comfort; it’s tactical. In sailing, mobility and agility are everything. This jacket offers both, without bulk or drag.

Weather-Resistant Performance

Built for inclement weather, the Cosair Bay isn’t just splash-resistant. It’s designed to withstand wind, spray, and sudden shifts in climate. Whether you’re caught in a crosswind on the Hauraki Gulf or navigating an urban storm, it holds firm.

Articulated Hood

The hood, a focal point of the design, moves with the wearer. It’s not stiff or oversized—it’s responsive. The articulation allows for quick turns, neck movement, and unobstructed peripheral vision, whether you’re facing a gust or focusing on your environment.

Chunky Front Zip

The jacket features a robust zipper, chosen not for aesthetics alone but for utility. It’s glove-friendly and weather-sealed, with oversized teeth for reliability under pressure. It glides easily, whether you’re sealing it against a chill or opening up for airflow.

Raglan Sleeves

Instead of traditional shoulder seams, the Cosair Bay uses raglan sleeves—a design that removes the shoulder joint from the seam line. This improves flexibility and reinforces motion—ideal for reaching, pulling, hoisting, or simply navigating your daily routine with ease.

Functional Front Pocket

A single, streamlined front pocket sits mid-body, offering just enough room for essentials: gloves, keys, or a mobile. It’s not cluttered with multiple compartments; it keeps the silhouette clean and the function direct.

Form Follows Function, Then Refines It

While the Cosair Bay Jacket is built for performance, it doesn’t announce it loudly. There’s no excessive branding. No tactical gimmicks. Its profile is clean, almost minimalist, save for the subtle SailGP sponsor marks, which add authenticity without overwhelming the garment’s aesthetic.

The jacket’s silhouette is structured but not stiff. It flatters the body without clinging. It’s as stylish layered over a crewneck and chinos as it is atop a thermal base layer and performance pants.

The color palette is also smartly restrained. The primary version released with the New Zealand SailGP kit features neutral tones—charcoal, navy, slate—that echo the hues of the sea, sky, and sails. These tones lend the jacket versatility across seasons and environments.

SailGP: The New Era of Competitive Sailing

To understand the Cosair Bay Jacket’s importance, you need to understand the SailGP movement. Created in 2018, SailGP is not your traditional regatta. It’s Formula 1 on water—foiling catamarans, capable of 50+ knot speeds, driven by elite teams from around the globe. The league is sleek, fast, and fiercely competitive. It’s also pushing the envelope on sustainability, technology, and global fan engagement.

New Zealand’s SailGP team is one of the sport’s elite. With legends like Peter Burling and Blair Tuke at the helm, the team brings Olympic pedigree and high-performance precision to every race. Their success isn’t just about medals—it’s about crafting a national identity on the water.

Rodd & Gunn’s role in this ecosystem isn’t just apparel partner. It’s visual translator—giving fans and athletes a wardrobe that reflects the philosophy of the sport: speed, control, clarity.

Who’s Wearing It? Not Just Sailors

Though the Cosair Bay Jacket is built for performance, it’s not limited to elite sailors or on-deck utility. This jacket is just as likely to be worn:

• In the city, layered over a merino sweater for a sharp, low-profile commute.
• On a trail, used as a wind shell during an autumn hike.
• At events, styled with denim or chinos for a clean, sporty statement.
• As travel wear, thanks to its packability and weather resistance.

It appeals to urban minimalists, design-focused outdoorsmen, and sports loyalists alike. It’s outerwear that moves effortlessly between environments and expectations.

Sustainability and Supply Chain Integrity

As with all Rodd & Gunn products, the Cosair Bay Jacket isn’t just performance-minded—it’s ethically produced. The brand continues to refine its materials and processes, opting for:

• Responsible manufacturing practices
• Long-life garments that reduce turnover and waste
• Thoughtful material sourcing that prioritizes durability and recyclability

This is gear you invest in not just because it looks good or performs well, but because it lasts. It resists fast fashion’s churn by being timeless and resilient.

In the Details: What Sets It Apart

Let’s break down a few of the intangible elements that elevate the Cosair Bay Jacket beyond other sailing-inspired outerwear:

• Fit Engineering: The jacket is trim without being tight. It’s been tested for motion, not just mannequin display.
• Tactile Confidence: Every material touchpoint—from the hood cord to the zipper pull—feels considered and secure.
• Brand Subtlety: Unlike many sportswear crossovers, the branding here is minimal, tonal, and premium. No loud sponsor logos. Just enough to tell a story.
• Emotional Resonance: Wearing this jacket feels like stepping into a narrative. It’s a garment with context, not just construction.

Price Point and Value

Retailing around the premium-performance outerwear range, the Cosair Bay Jacket is priced for those who value design, story, and function in equal measure. It isn’t cheap—but it’s also not excessive. You’re paying for:

• Technical design that works in extreme and everyday scenarios
• Ethical, durable construction
• Association with an elite global team and an iconic New Zealand brand
• Aesthetic versatility for years, not seasons

It’s not a fast purchase. It’s a smart investment.

A New Standard in National Outerwear

With the Cosair Bay Jacket, Rodd & Gunn has managed something rare. It’s created a garment that holds equal appeal for athletes, fans, and fashion-focused minimalists. It bridges the gap between performance gear and personal style, national identity and universal function.

This jacket is as much about attitude as it is about application. It’s for those who move with purpose. For those who respect craft. For those who understand that how we dress can signal more than status—it can signal values.

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