A breezy brunch on the aft deck or al fresco on the veranda; these newly-released dinnerware collections from Vietri will add coastal charm to any table. Handmade in Italy, each artisan-crafted design displays its “salty” inspiration with a sense of fun and playfulness – yet still retaining the casual elegance Vietri is famous for. And with Vietri a HUGE favorite among the brides-to-be, these new releases are certain to be the hot item for nautical newlyweds.

1. Fresh Fish: Simple fish outlines in crisp white with rustic edges. Handmade in Tuscany of Italian stoneware. Microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe. Available in dish sets & serving pieces.

2. Sailboats: Vibrant colors capture sailboats in motion from coastline views. (Use for both serving or as wall decor). Handpainted on terra bianca in Tuscany. Dishwasher safe. Available in serving pieces.

3. Blu Mare: Whimsical sea creatures of all sizes display a vintage simplicity. Crisp cobalt and white. Made of terra bianca and handpainted in Tuscany. Dishwasher safe. Available in dish sets & serving pieces.

4. Adriatic: Hand-formed fish shapes in subtle shades of taupe, cream and blue with complementing stripes. Made of terra bianca and handpainted in Tuscany. Dishwasher safe. Available in dish sets & serving pieces.

If you enjoy a glass of vino every so often, but don’t care to deal with the storage (and taste effects) of uncorked wine, the EuroCave SoWine Home Wine Bar is a clever solution. Ideal for either the yacht bar or home bar, the SoWine will preserve and chill two bottles for up to 10 days, keeping them at-the-ready for a quick pour. Simply place an uncorked bottle of wine in the chamber, close the door, push down on the vacuum cylinder and set the temperature. Each chamber operates separately so you can chill red and white to their respective temperatures. Perfect for drop-in guests, a quick glass with dinner, or if you and your spouse prefer a different varietal. The SoWine can also be used as a traditional wine fridge to chill unopened bottles.

Keep your digits toasty while tapping away on your touch screens with the ETIP Gloves from The North Face. Made of form-fitting stretch knit, these gloves feature X-Static fabric at the tips of the index finger and thumb, allowing you agile operation of touch-sensitive devices. The palms are patterned with a layer of silicone gripper, providing traction to keep your device firmly in your hand. Great for iPhone & Android, iPod & MP3 players, laptop mouse touchpads and marine electronics’ screens. Available in black, asphalt grey and snow white.

Every once in awhile you run across a cool tool that makes you so giddy you want to order one for everyone you know. (sorry mates, said want to ) The cool tool here:  Joby GorillaPod. A creative twist on the classic camera tripod, Joby’s innovation uses flexible legs to mold to almost any surface, giving you hands-free photography wherever you are. Wrap around railings, pilings, handlebars, seat backs, tree limbs, human limbs — basically if it’s solid, it’s possible.

Particularly handy to the boater, the GorillaPod opens up a range of photographic possibilities. Get aerial shots, action shots, self-images, video footage while underway — capture angles and areas you’d never get with a traditional tripod. (bonus: no longer at the mercy of photographer’s sea legs) The GorillaPod’s flexible leg joints bend 360 degrees and have rubberized feet for stability and traction. There’s even a GorillaPod Magnetic line — attach your camera to any metallic surface with the ease of sticking a magnet.

The GorillaPod is available in several sizes and can secure most any size camera or camcorder. Joby also makes the GorillaMobile for the smartphone, iPod and GPS, as well as the equally-handy GorillaTorch — a line of LED lights with magnetic feet.

Every so often, a new product comes along that makes you want to slap your forehead and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  These are always the simple things, like paper clips or Post-It notes.  I was a judge for the IBEX Innovation Awards and, when our judging panel saw the combination rod and drink holder from Mate Series, we all had red marks on our foreheads.  I can’t remember how many nearly-full beer cans I’ve thrown onto a cockpit floor when a big fish struck, simply because there was no place to put the can.  Now when the reel whines, just lift out the rod and put the beer in its place.  Available in polished stainless or ABS plastic, the combo rod/drink holder also eliminates the tricky angled hole-saw cut by requiring only a round hole.  These come in vertical or rod angles of either 15- or 30-degrees.  Obviously, the beer can stays upright.  Prices start at about fifteen bucks.  Wow!

www.mateseries.com

Chris Caswell has been an award-winning boating journalist for four decades (no kidding!), during which time he’s owned more boats than he wants his wife or his banker to find out about.

So you’ve got the gorgeous boat…now you want some eye candy, right? If you want your first mate to look his/her best, get them the perfect gift for the nautically-inclined – a gift of jewelry by Style Newport.

I had the opportunity to take SN jewelry out for a test drive at the recent Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. I was curious how they would perform and pleased by the head-turning response they received.

“Great Style!” one woman commented.

“Those are lovely! Where’s their booth?” another inquired.

Handcrafted in Rhode Island, Style Newport creates nautical flag charms that can be worn either or bracelets or necklaces. Fine hand-crafting out of gold vermeil and enamel or Sterling Silver makes this jewelry something they will treasure forever. Silver charms start at $50, while gold sells for $70.

Conclusions: Style Newport has definitely got it going with their new line.
Is your mate signaling for something extra special this Holiday Season? Visit them online at http://www.stylenewport.com/.