NEW NORTH SAILS SERVICE LOFT: WICKLOW, IRELAND

Open Now For All Your Sail Care Needs

We are delighted to announce the opening of our new Certified Service location in County Wicklow, Ireland. Only 30km from Dun Laoghaire, this new operation will be run by Shane Hughes who has been a long-standing part of North Sails since 1999 and part of the team in Ireland since the start of 2017. Having previously managed the service floor for North Sails UK in Gosport, Hughes is no stranger to the world of sail service. He was born in Dublin and began his racing career at the age of nine at Howth Yacht Club. He went on to compete nationally and internationally in Mirrors and 420's and began racing keelboats at the age of 15. As a very experienced sailor, racer, and fully-trained sailmaker, you can rest assured your sails are in very safe hands at North Sails Wicklow.

“Shane is a highly respected and well liked sailor who brings an unrivaled level of expertise as a racer.”

From the 1st of July, the loft is open for business, and with a selection of sails already waiting to be serviced, the new loft will be busy from the start. We are ready to look after every sailor as we return to racing over the next few weeks. As exciting as this new venture is, we must recognise the great service work carried out by Richard Marshall and his team at Marshall Marine Textiles for the past 17 years. Richard is now diversifying his business and as of the 1st July 2020, he will no longer repair sails. His cover and marine upholstery business is still operating at full speed, but he is officially hanging up his sailmaking scissors! North Sails Ireland founder, Nigel Young, comments on how they came to work together for 17 years: "I met Richard back in the winter of 2003 on the steps of his workshop in Cobh. After a 20-minute conversation, we agreed on how we might work together, with Richard looking after the sail service and me helping him adapt to the North Sails blue book standard of working. I don't think either of us ever imagined that that conversation would be the foundations of a 17-year working relationship. We have some great memories of late-night service work together in all corners of Ireland!'' Richard comments: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the customers that used our sail repair services over the years. A special thanks to Nigel and the guys from North Sails Ireland for a great 17 years! I would like to wish Shane the very best of luck with his new venture; I know him well and he's the perfect man to pick up the baton and run with it. Good luck with the next 17!'' For all of your sail service needs from anywhere in Ireland, please contact Shane directly on 0838103539 or shane.hughes@northsails.com and he will take care of you.