Gary Jobson: The shoe that won the America's Cup (and is back on board today)

Some say history repeats itself. In politics, in economics, and even in shoes.
Take 1977: Sebago launches its Docksides, while Gary Jobson, an American sailor, heads the bow and wins the America's Cup.

Coincidence? Perhaps. But, as often happens, behind a
coincidence there is always a thicker plot.

Docksides weren't just moccasins. They were the footwear of those who truly lived by the sea: a sure grip on the shore, seams as strong as a hull, and comfort that could withstand a crossing. Designed for sailing, they ended up on the feet of anyone who wanted to look like a sea dog even at the harbor bar.

In the 1980s, Sebago decided to do what it does best in America: transform a champion into an icon. Thus was born the Gary Jobson model, a tribute to the tactician who had written a page in the history of the sport. A shoe bearing his name, with the epic aura of a hero and the democratic charm of a dockside loafer.

For years, the Gary Jobson remained there, in that archive where legends end up: too tied to its era for nostalgics, too ahead of its time for fashionistas. Until today. Because Sebago decided to put it back on the water with the Portland Gary Jobson capsule collection: unlined full-grain leather, 360-degree lacing, leather laces, and a custom non-slip sole that still bears its name.

Question: is it nostalgia or is it vision? Is it a marketing ploy or the return of a true symbol? Perhaps both. Certainly, it's proof that some legends never sink: you just have to wait for the right tide.

And so, from 1977 to today, the Gary Jobson has crossed oceans and decades. It's not just a shoe: it's a reminder that at sea, as in life, the one with the biggest boat doesn't always win. The one who knows how to stay the course wins.