⚓️ Born from a Fender — and a Flash of Genius
The Phat Buoy brand began not in a boardroom but at the helm a boat.
During one early voyage, a crewmember was towed behind the yacht clinging to a large fender — and someone shouted, “Look, it’s fat buoy surfing!”
From that laughter, Simon “DC” Tyler saw the spark of an identity.
The “Phat Buoys” were born — a tongue-in-cheek name that quickly became a badge of pride.
Drawing on his experience in branded merchandise, Simon commissioned a friend to create the now-iconic two grinning piranhas logo.
The palette was bold, the humour dry, and from then on, each voyage had its own custom-designed kit.
At first, it was simple embroidery on fleeces and rugby shirts; soon, it became an entire culture of gear, gifts, and memorabilia.
⚓️ A Tradition of Gear and Glory
Every year since 2004, a new piece of Phat Buoy kit has been introduced — a mix of functional sailing wear and tongue-in-cheek souvenirs.
The first official item, before the logo had been born, was a blue fleece for the Newfoundland voyage.
By the following year, the Ireland blue-and-cream quartered rugby shirt had joined the ranks, and with the Phat Buoy brand the floodgates opened.
From there came jackets, beanies, swim shorts, rugby tops, gilets, towels, blazers, napkins, tin cups, even boxer shorts —
each carrying the logo, initials in orange thread, and a story of its own.
At ports around the world, locals and sailors alike have spotted the familiar fish and grins, often followed by laughter, conversation, and rum.
Orange — Warboy’s favourite colour — became a Phat Buoy signature.
Every garment bears a nod to orange, most often through the embroidered initials.
Over time, the group’s shore presence became unmistakable:
blazers at airports, hoodies at harbours, and the iconic “Phat Buoys On Board” banner unfurled wherever the boat was moored.
Three metres long and proudly displayed at every stop — and a grinning burgee flown more quietly by the mast, but always with pride.
⚓️ The Collection Over Time
| Year | Voyage | Merchandise Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Newfoundland | Blue fleece |
| 2005 | South Ireland | Blue & cream quartered rugby top |
| 2006 | Maine | Alamar jacket, blue beanie, blue baseball hat |
| 2007 | British Columbia | Sail-fabric carry bag, white/blue long-sleeve tee, Henry Lloyd trousers |
| 2008 | Orkneys | Napkins, pale blue fleece, blue swim towel |
| 2009 | NW France & Channel Islands | Navy blue ‘10’ polo, decanter & glasses |
| 2010 | Sweden/Denmark/Norway | Blue swim shorts, red Macron football shirt |
| 2011 | Iceland | White cotton Musto shirt |
| 2012 | Sardinia & Corsica | White & blue short-sleeve rugby top |
| 2013 | Cyclades | White T-shirt (blue shoulders), red Gill jacket |
| 2014 | Lake Huron | Blazer, grey tuque |
| 2015 | Turkey | White shiny polo, blue shiny polo |
| 2016 | West Portugal | Blue ‘Lisbon’ shirt |
| 2017 | Brittany | White Musto polo, blue Helly Hansen gilet |
| 2018 | Azores | White Musto shirt, tin cup, blue HH jacket |
| 2019 | Lake Champlain | Grey half-zip fleece, blue baseball cap |
| 2022 | Inner Hebrides | Blue/white rugby, splash pants, orange boxers, sunglasses |
| 2023 | Mallorca | Triboard shorts, bucket hat, white T-shirt, HH belt, picnic bag |
| 2024 | Shetlands | Shetland jumper, dry bag, bandana |
| 2025 | Lake Ontario | Hoodie, suit carrier, PB iron-on patches |
(No merchandise was issued during the COVID-19 years of 2020–2021.)
⚓️ Blazers and Brotherhood
Perhaps the most iconic of all are the Phat Buoy blazers — tailored for each crewmember, worn proudly when travelling or celebrating ashore.
Their navy and blue striped fabric, embroidered crests, and orange details make them both ridiculous and regal.
They’ve turned heads in airports, pubs, and ports across continents.
One exception became legend:
When David “Dasher” Ashfield had his measurements taken by an assistant, he never checked them — his blazer arrived with sleeves too short for any human arm.
From then on, the “seven in blazers and one not” photo became part of Phat folklore.
⚓️ A Brand That Travels
From the original fender to the modern hoodies, the Phat Buoy brand has become a visual thread through more than 5,000 nautical miles and two and a half decades.
Each item carries memories of waves, wind, and wine — and of friends bound by the sea and by humour.
And somewhere, in every port they’ve sailed from, a curious passerby has asked:
“Phat Buoys? Who are they?”
And the answer is always the same:
A crew of friends, adventurers, and storytellers — united by mischief, miles, and the call of the sea.