NORTH SAILS BLOG

3Di OCEAN IS GEMAAKT VOOR UW VOLGENDE AVONTUUR Een complete 3D productlijn voor boten van ieder formaat Na uitvoerig testen en ontwikkelen is North Sails zeer enthousiast met de lancering van 3Di Ocean 370, ons nieuwste innovatieve zeil, waarmee onze cruise productlijn van 3D gemalde zeilen compleet is. Dit nieuwe product bouwt voort op het succes van ons revolutionaire 3Di Nordac polyester voor kleinere boten en Ocean 700, het ultieme superjacht cruise zeil. 3Di Ocean 370 valt precies tussen deze twee categorieën om tegemoet te komen aan de unieke karakteristieken van boten tussen 35 en 60 voet. Norths 3Di zeilen worden vervaardigd met onze gepatenteerde technologie, waarbij zeilen geproduceerd worden op een driedimensionale mal. Van origine was deze technologie bedoeld voor wedstrijdzeilers, maar met 3Di Ocean is de technologie nu ook voor cruise zeilers. Als marktleider is North Sails op zijn best wanneer onze energie en kennis gericht wordt op het compleet innoveren van een product segment. In 2017 heeft North Sails een revolutie teweeg gebracht met de her-uitvinding van het traditioneel geweven Dacron cruise zeil. Door robuuste Dacron 3Di tapes te verwerken op een driedimensionale mal introduceerde North de eerste echte innovatie voor cruise zeilers sinds Dacron in de jaren 50 katoen verving. Het prijswinnende 3Di Nordac werd al snel de benchmark voor cruise performance, met behoud van de traditionele Dacron look. In 2018 bracht North Sails het 3Di cruise concept naar de superjachten met 3Di Ocean 700. De toevoeging van 3Di Ocean 370 in 2020 is een bevestiging van de investering van het merk om cruise zeilers te ondersteunen met het leveren van de meest geavanceerde zeil technologie. ““Onze bedrijfscultuur wordt gedreven door een constant verlangen om zeil technologieën te ontwikkelen die de zeilervaring verbeteren van iedere zeilers”, aldus North Sails President Ken Read. ““Cruisen biedt een uitweg van het leven aan land, en de toewijding van North Sails aan dit segment is groter dan ooit. We hebben veel tijd gestoken in de ontwikkeling van een nieuw cruise product en zijn trots dit een jaar eerder te lanceren dan origineel gepland was. We kijken er erg naar uit om meer zeilers te laten genieten van een nieuw niveau in duurzaamheid en performance van cruise zeilen, door toepassing van 3Di. ” Het gebruik van Norths innovatieve en gepatenteerde 3Di technologie en productie levert sterkere en gebruiksvriendelijkere zeilen. Deze technologie maakt het mogelijk de cruise performance te verbeteren door zeilen te produceren die minder helling geven bij meer wind en juist extra vermogen geven bij licht weer. 3Di Ocean zeilen zijn naadloos, ongeëvenaard sterk, mooi en zeer duurzaam. Dit geeft meer vertrouwen wanneer u gaat zeilen, alleen, met vrienden of met uw familie. Simpel gezegd, Deze zeilen verbeteren uw zeilervaring. 3Di Ocean zijn nu beschikbaar. Neem contact op met uw lokale North Sails team om meer te leren over deze producten en levering deze zomer. Lees verder Vind een verkooppunt offerteaanvraag READ MORE

NORTH SAILS BY APPOINTMENT Book a Complimentary Coaching Session Calling all sailors on the Solent! Book a one-on-one, real-time coaching session with the North Sails experts who will join you by RIB and provide tips to help kick off your season. Let us know below when you will be sailing and we will schedule a time to meet you on the water to offer instant coaching and feedback. Whether you are a racer, cruiser, or One Design sailor, any boat should take advantage of North’s summer coaching. Sign up to improve your game with us. READ MORE

WEARING IS CARING Custom Face Masks For Local Transit In Vancouver North Sails was contacted by Troy McNamara aka “Creative Troy” about 2 weeks ago with a different project that he thought we could help out with. Troy’s company Creative Others was commissioned by Translink to design an oversized novelty mask for the front of one of their buses to help market their new initiatives titled “Wearing is caring”. Translink has planned to give away 15,000 Translink branded masks to Vancouverites and wanted one of their buses to wear a similar looking mask. Dennis and Chris, the two service team members in Vancouver put their heads together with Troy and came up with a plan to make a mask that would fit on the front of the bus. They needed to make a mask that would resemble the masks that Translink has produced and stand up to the harsh Vancouver weather. Dennis and Chris get "neat" and "fun" projects like this a few times a year so they said that they were excited and willing to help. They had a pretty tight deadline of about 11 days. They proposed using the same method for creating bimini tops and inserting battens to create the bulging nose. First, they sourced the material in the correct colour as well as made a rough template that Troy could take to the bus depot and size up with the Translink team. Once the template was reviewed it was returned to the loft to start the production of the new mask. Within the deadline the North Sails team got the job done in time, Translink loved the end product and most importantly the process was an enjoyable one. Troy, why did you contact North Sails and how was working with NS Vancouver during this custom project with such a tight deadline? Being an avid sailor all my life I knew that North Sails would be the perfect team to fabricate this. I’ve met Dennis and Chris out on the water from time to time and when you get on so well with guys like that on the racecourse I was confident they’d be fun to work with too. This timeline was intense as with a company like Translink there’s always feedback and requests for alterations. I was confident that the guys would be able to produce the goods and I was right. One of the most important things for me out of this whole experience was how clear in communication the guys were, the ease in how they collaborate, and their willingness to get the job done. I will certainly be looking to partner with North Sails again for future projects. Creative Others www.creativeothers.co​- @CreativeOther.Co​- shout@creativeothers.co​- +1 778 228 1672 Creative Others 404-1133 Beach Ave Vancouver BC, Canada V6E 1V1 We Are Brand Designers & Storytellers, Creating Experiences Both Physically & Digitally While Marketing Them With Measurable Results. Bringing Talented People Together Who Are Passionate Leaders In Their Fields To Exceed Clients' Expectations Is What We Do. READ MORE

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: NIRVANA GETS A NEW NORTH SAILS WARDROBE New Zealand Team Upgrades to 3Di for Winter Series Wind-Up While most of us are sweating it out during the summer months, local sailors in New Zealand are gearing up for coastal racing later this season with the RNZYS Winter Series. Nigel Hendy and his super crew on Dufour 45e Nirvana kicked off their sailing season with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Winter Series, where they just finished the third weekend of racing with their brand new 3Di RAW sails. Launched in 2012, this racer/cruiser team has been sporting North Sails for eight years now and decided this year they would upgrade their 3DL wardrobe to 3Di to help them reach their performance goals this 2020 season. The Sails Before upgrading to 3Di, Nirvana carried the now-retired North 3DL string laminate, which was used to its full extent, hoisted over 200 times before officially retiring from the program. “I upgraded because I realized I’d have a better shape over a longer period, which would extend the life of my sails. Our new sails are just great.” Says Nigel, “They are customized to fit my mast and boat, which has made all the difference. We went with a larger overlapping genoa this time around, which has also increased our power upwind, which was exactly what we needed. The shape of 3Di is fantastic–it’s just perfect.” “It’s lighter air this season, so it was a true test for the sails over the last few weeks to show us how much power we had been missing out on. After three weekends getting familiar with our new set up, we’ve now got the sails locked in, traveler mid-ship, using a bit more vang when we need to. We can control the main a lot better, as before we were only using about 50% to keep us on our feet. The new 3Di sails allow us better control and much easier trimming.” “The boat has everything it needs, including downwind. It’s options galore. We’ve got three asymmetrical sails, and three symmetricals. The genoa we keep on the furler, which helps when there are new crew members on board. The new sails are much lighter in general, he remarked. “They are the perfect fit. I am a happy customer.” 📸 Robert Delves North Sails Service & Support Nigel has been working with Andrew Wills, sail expert in Auckland, New Zealand for many years. The relationship-building aspect was something he didn’t know he would be guaranteed after purchasing sails. “I didn’t just buy a sail,” he said. “I bought a whole package of support, sailing, friends, and crew. It’s a lot of fun going to the loft. It’s like going to a toy shop. To me, the North Sails customer experience has been just fantastic.” Every part of the service and support aspect was covered thoroughly by the team in New Zealand, and Nigel can’t thank his sailmaker enough for providing top-notch support all around. “The advice on the rig set up and tuning, it just keeps going. You invest in a sail, but you really get so much more than you would think. You become part of the North Sails family. The way they make you feel like you are part of a team, part of a network; the way they care has made it a positive experience.” The Crew “I bought a racer/cruiser because my wife enjoys the cruising aspect mostly in the summer. We’ve got the dining room table set up, all the cruising amenities; she’s a great boat for that. But once the real racing season picks back up, we take out the dining table and fill Nirvana with all the sail inventory options one could ever need to race and be competitive. Nigel picks up additional crew here and there that come from small boat dinghy racing clubs. In many ways, Nirvana is a vessel to get more sailors out on the water. “Nirvana is fully capable of any type of racing. She’s got everything she needs to go for it. We are 100% Corinthian crew, all amateurs on board, and the nucleus of my crew I’ve known for years through our children growing up together. We are quite competitive and we’ve shared many victories together.” Nigel usually sails with 12 crew and since New Zealand has officially been cleared of Covid-19, Nigel is looking forward to having his full crew back and having the right weight on the rail. 📸 Robert Delves Results “We recently sailed a 50nm race and did very well. We finished second across the line. Every series we’ve entered, we’ve won at some point, in some corrected time fashion. We’ve been Club Champs, Commodore’s Cup Champs; We don’t always win on the line, because we race with a handicap–but we still obtain excellent results when we show up to compete.” “Traditionally, it’s not very windy in New Zealand in the winter months, which is June through August. In the spring and summer, the breeze turns on. We could get 25-35 knots every day easily during that part of the season. I prefer the longer races, and there’s a lot of those on our calendar. It’s easier to find crew for those too, rather than weeknight one-off sailing. It takes a big commitment for the team, and myself so we do what we can.” What’s next? The next big gig for Nirvana is the Yates Cup, which is a 230nm race that goes up the coast of New Zealand in July. After that, the team plans to sail the Coastal Classic, a 110nm race from Auckland to Bay of Islands. “We are looking forward to seeing how our new 3Di sails will maximize our sail power this season, said Nigel. “We can’t wait to see how she goes.” 🎥 Video courtesy of crew on Nirvana during a White Island Race edition, hosted by Royal Akarana Yacht Club.   READ MORE

En komplet 3Di produktlinje til cruising 3Di OCEAN kan bestilles nu Efter et gennemgribende arbejde og udviklingsprogram, er North Sails stolte af at kunne lancere 3Di OCEAN 370, vores seneste innovative sejl som fuldender vores serie af 3D-støbte sejl til cruising og langturssejlads. 3Di OCEAN 370 er bygget på North Sails succes med det revolutionerende 3Di NORDAC samt 3Di OCEAN 700, som er det ultimative cruising sejl til store superyachts. 3Di 370 OCEAN er båndet mellem disse to produkter og imødeser 35-60 fod cruising bådes unikke behov samt det voksende antal cruising katamaraner. North Sails 3Di sejl er skabt med den patenterede teknologi, som oprindeligt blev udviklet til kapsejlads men som nu revolutionerer markedet med 3Di OCEAN. Hos North Sails bruger vi konstant vores energi og ressourcer på udvikling af nye produktsegmenter. I 2017 revolutionerede vi cruising markedet ved at genopfinde det traditionelle Dacron sejl i polyester, som havde sin oprindelse i 1950'erne. Det prisbelønnede 3Di NORDAC blev hurtigt det nye benchmark for cruising og tursejl til både op til 40 fod. I 2018 tog North Sails 3Di cruisingsejl-konceptet videre til Superyachts med 3Di OCEAN 700 produktet. Tilføjelsen af OCEAN 370 i 2020 er endnu et vidnesbyrd om vores mission om at levere cruising-sejl med den seneste og mest avancerede teknologi til markedet. “Vores virksomhedskultur er drevet af et stort ønske om til stadighed at udvikle sejlteknologi, der giver sejlere en endnu bedre oplevelse”, siger North Sails direktør Ken Read. “Cruising giver mulighed for at slippe livet på land og North Sails engagement i cruisingmarkedet er større end nogensinde. Vi foranledigede vores cruising-produktudvikling og næsten et år efter fremfører vi udvidelsen af vores produktlinje. Vi ser frem til at flere sejlere vil opleve det nye niveau af holdbarhed og ydeevne for cruising-sejl med 3Di OCEAN-serien”. Med brugen af ​​North Sails innovative 3Di-teknologi og byggeprocesser, producerer vi i dag sejl, der både er stærkere og lettere at håndtere. Denne teknologi muliggør sejl, som giver en forbedret sejloplevelse, hvor man enkelt kan reducere krængning i hård vind og nemt få mere fart i let luft. 3Di OCEAN er uden syninger og 3D-støbt på en form i ét stykke, hvilket gør sejlet uovertruffen stærkt, flot at se på og med lang holdbarhed. Det betyder i alt sin enkelthed en forbedret og sjovere sejleroplevelse for dig, dine venner og din familie. 3Di OCEAN-sejl kan bestilles nu. Kontakt os idag og få mere information om vores nye produkt og en eventuel sommerlevering. Læs mere Find dit loft Få et tilbud READ MORE

WORLD OCEANS DAY The Ocean is Our Passion, Our Playground, Our Responsibility. For World Oceans Day this year, North Sails and North Kiteboarding came together to celebrate our love for the ocean. Collectively, ambassadors and athletes shared their thoughts on how we can better care for our best resource, our racecourse, our playground. Whether you are racing in a world championship, cruising for the weekend, or discovering a new place to go out and ride, we can all do small things to make a big impact on the health of our oceans. Charlie Enright, 11th Hour Racing “This year’s World Oceans Day has me yearning for the ocean like never before! I can’t wait to get back out there and reconnect with everything that I’ve been missing during these tumultuous times. The health of our oceans is important to all of us and it’s going to take every single one of us to get things back on track. Let’s use this inflection point as a way to combat ocean obstacles with a new level of vigor and motivation.” Jalou Langeree, North Kiteboarding Team Rider “Nature is the inspiration for so much of what we do…when we kite we feel so in tune with nature, so connected. We must work harder to protect it.” Dee Caffari, Turn the Tide on Plastic “I consider it a privilege to call the ocean my office and my playground. I have seen first hand the pollution in the world’s oceans and now with my recent work with Turn the Tide on Plastic, we have the scientific proof to support the microplastic problem we have to tackle. Our oceans act as a barometer for the health of our planet and we all can act now with a small action so collectively we can make a big difference.” Giulio Desiderato, North Sails One-Design Expert “All my best memories are linked to the sea. Sailing is more than just a hobby, sport, or work for me, it’s a lifestyle. If you are able to understand the values that the sea teaches you, and you are able to bring these values into your routine you will become a better and stronger person, on and off the water.” Marc Jacobs, North Kiteboarding Team Rider “Without the ocean, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do every day. As professional kiteboarders, we have the ability to spread awareness and have a voice for the ocean. It’s time to take action and protect our playground.” Warwick Kerr, North Sails Expert and Cruiser “Living on our sailboat, Wakaki is already a green life. We make an effort to always sail, and not use the engine. We conserve our freshwater and buy local and use natural/biodegradable products. We have solar power onboard, so we don’t have to use the engine to charge our batteries or turn on the lights. We don’t waste, we recycle and reuse.” READ MORE

3Di OCEAN: YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED Learn More About the New 3Di OCEAN Line-Up with Our Q+A Q: What is 3Di OCEAN? A: 3Di OCEAN is the newest line of 3Di sails from North Sails, designed and engineered exclusively for cruising. Q: Is 3Di OCEAN right for my type of boat and sailing? A: 3Di OCEAN is for you if you are looking for a premium cruising product, providing high strength and durability with all of the advantages of 3Di sailmaking. Q: What is different and better about 3Di sailmaking? A: 3Di is a unique-to-North molded composite sailmaking process. With 3Di, individual filament tapes are printed in precise tape vectors (length/direction) and densities. This membrane is then consolidated using heat and thermoset resin on a full size, sail-shaped mold. 3Di results in strong, smooth, and precisely shaped sails. Q: How does 3Di OCEAN differ from your other 3Di products? A: 3Di OCEAN sails are optimized for cruising strength and durability, while 3Di RAW sails are engineered for low stretch and lightweight racing performance. 3Di ENDURANCE sails are suitable for both cruising and racing – with a balance between low stretch shape-holding and added durability. Q: Which 3Di OCEAN sail is right for me? A: 3Di OCEAN comes in three distinct styles, for an increasing range of boat sizes: OCEAN 330 is 100% NORDAC Polyester and suited for 25’-45’ cruising boats OCEAN 370 is for boats larger than 45’ including many cruising multihulls which require the lower stretch and greater strength of Ultra PE blended with 3Di NORDAC polyester OCEAN 700 serves boats larger than 60’ with a high modulus blend of UltraPE and aramid Q: How long has North been building 3Di cruising sails? A: 3Di technology has been around for over a decade, and 3Di sails are in use on thousands of boats that have sailed millions of miles. Q: What are some specific benefits of 3Di OCEAN sails? A: 3Di OCEAN is beneficial because it is durable. 3Di NORDAC Polyester and UltraPE fibers are more UV and flex-fatigue resistant than other fibers used in upwind sail materials. The product composite construction with thermoset resin means no mylar, eliminating the problem of delamination associated with laminates and string sails. 3Di OCEAN has a specialized outer surface tape, that provides chafe and abrasion protection–which is great for in-mast or in-boom furling. Q: Are 3Di Ocean sails good for racing? A: Not as good as an ENDURANCE or RAW sail! OCEAN is not engineered specifically for racing. Sure, if you want to join an occasional race or rally, 3Di OCEAN sails will be fine. If you are looking for dual-purpose “crossover” sails – that can be found with 3Di ENDURANCE. And of course, 3Di RAW is racing. Q: What about other materials? Does North still make cross-cut cruising sails? A: Yes, North has other paneled cruising sail options available. NPC Cross-Cut sails feature traditional woven polyester. NPL Tour sails are made of proprietary laminated sailcloth to match a variety of applications and price points. Depending upon your needs and expectations, North has a cruising sail that is right for you.   Explore Materials Find a Loft Request a Quote READ MORE

THE NEW NORMAL First Sail Of The 2020 Season Getting out on the water earlier this week felt like a dream. During a normal season, we’d be well into the thick of sailing by now with lots of regattas under our belts and cruising trips taken. We’d be sunburnt with racoon eyes, beat up by the boat and cycling through sailing gear faster than we could wash it. With the threat of not being able to even launch boats at the end of March and mid April, the majority of sailors were questioning what the 2020 season would look like. Fast forward a couple weeks and most of us are in the water, following government regulations and yacht club rules. A lot of back and forth about what would happen for racing is still being discussed, it begs the question - why are we so focused on racing? Our boats are in the water (for those of us that can be) so why not go sailing? For the most part, any organized racing is not allowed, as per Sail Canada’s outline. While disappointing, it's OK. Racing is an aspect of our sport, yes, but it is not the only thing. Sailing is so much more than racing. The simple fact is yes we can go sailing. The love for the sport has not been cancelled, sailing has not been cancelled. It’s gone back to the most basic form that is sailing with family, cruising, double handed or even solo sailing. I can honestly say that yes it’s refreshing to not have the weekend grind of regatta after regatta after regatta. Do my family and I miss racing? Yes, more my husband than me but yes racing is missed. Does it mean that sailing, as a sport, is cancelled? No. Try taking this time to fix things on the boat that you’ve been putting off, trying some solo sailing or just enjoy being on your boat. More importantly though, go enjoy sailing for the sake of sailing. Talking with a friend recently about the sailing situation in particular the number of people upset about no racing, they commented saying they are disappointed but it doesn’t mean sailing is cancelled. The more interesting comment, which has stuck with me since our conversation, was “maybe it’s just me but I just enjoy sailing for the sake of sailing. A lot of people seem to be missing that with the uproar of no racing.” What this afternoon on the water really did was reaffirm my love for the sport, the activity and being out on the water. I can’t remember the last time I was this giddy when it came to going sailing. A somewhat laughable thought given I work in the industry yet maybe something that was needed to revive the love for sailing. Being able to go sailing with no pressure about getting photos, delivery sails, getting repairs done or trying to get a certain spot in a regatta was refreshing. Coming back to the docks post afternoon sail, we ran into a fellow member, us in the boat and them on the dock. They also commented how this year was different and they are adapting but it felt good to get back out on the water. He mentioned he "took the racing jib sheets off and put a furler on" to go cruising. An attitude that is going in the right direction for enjoying the 2020 season. It means we have to adjust our own perspective and how we approach this summer on the water. In layman's terms: be appreciative if you can get your boat in the water and go sailing, according to your local government and sailing authority guidelines. Go cruising with your family, go for an afternoon solo sail or better yet, enjoy being on your boat. Sailing is not cancelled. Learn more about North Sails lineup of cruising products here. READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: SARAH UNWIN Get To Know Your Local Team Member Sarah Unwin joined North Sails a year and a half ago as the office manager of North Sails Vancouver. She is born and raised in Vancouver at 38 years old. She first learned to sail in an Opti at RVYC summer sailing program. Sarah was 16 when she competed in her first race, Silva Bay Layover on a Dragon with her now Husband, James. What is your favourite local regatta/race and why? Round Bowen, it is such a fun race and has a great party! Where is your favourite spot to go cruising and why? Desolation Sound, I have been cruising in Desolation Sound since childhood and you can't beat the beaches, scenery and wildlife. What is it about sailing that you enjoy the most? You are always learning and the freedom of cruising to places most people have never visited. B.C. has some of the best cruising grounds in the world and we feel very fortunate to be able to explore the B.C. coast. What activities do you enjoy outside of sailing? My husband, James, and I are avid skiers. How have you been keeping busy since all racing has been cancelled? We have been doing boat work and going for day sails. We look forward to racing and cruising again. READ MORE

ONESTAR CHALLENGE 2020 Med Jan B. Hansen fra North Sails På vej mod Farø med A2 Onestar Challenge er en singlehand sejlads med start fra Køge, rundt Møn via Bøgestrømmen. 103 sømil. Det er 4. gang sejladsen sejles, men jeg har ikke sejlet den tidligere, da den altid har ligget på samme tid som en af de store Fyn Rundt sejladser. Nu er det andre tider og årets eneste Fyn Rundt bliver formentlig Silverrudder til september. Der var tilmeldt 33 både, som startede i passende Corona-afstand. Der sejles ikke efter respit, udelukkende i klasser efter overaltlængde. Min klasse var alt over 32 fod. Første start kl 9:00, min start kl 10:30. En fin start med Code 0 mod Stevns, derefter en åben bidevind mod Møn. Vindstyrken omkring 10-15 knob og høj sol. Humøret var lige så højt som solen, da de samtidigt startende både forsvandt lige så hurtigt agterud, som de foran startende blev indhentet. Næstsidste båd blev hentet mellem Møn og Hestehoved (Indsejlingen til Grønsund). Tilbage foran var en tysk T 24, sidste første båd i mål. En rigtig lille skrapsag, hurtig båd og dygtig sejler. Gennem Grønsund og mod Farø, var det plant læns. Det udløste en del bomninger med den blå A2, men ingen større udfordringer. De blev taget på rutinen. Udfordringerne kom lidt senere da vinden fra Farø op mod Peters værft var lige ret i trynen med 10-15 knob, toppet op med 1 knobs modgående strøm. Inden jeg kom til Farø, måtte jeg tage en lidt længere sørejse end de forfølgende både, da min dybgang på 2,10 satte en naturlig begrænsning for vovemodet. De betød desværre at, det meste af mit forspring til de nærmeste forfølgere blev sat overstyr. Men det er en del af spillets ved den slags semiautonome sejladser. Her er stort ingen mærker der skal respekteres og ingen målerregler. Alle kan tages deres chancer og spiller man sine kort rigtigt er muligheden for en sejr altid til stede, uanset hvor svage ens odds er fra starten. Tilbage til krydset mod Peders Værft: Her kom en velsejlet Drabant 38 forbi mig med en 100 meter. Vendinger i The Beast er som sådan ikke svære, men igen sætter dybgangen en grænse for længden på krydsbenene og båden, med sin meget smalle køl, driver en del sidelæns, indtil den kommer op i fart. Flot sejlet af Drabanten. Nå, men efter Kalvehave (kl 21:30) kom der lidt slæk på og vinden øgede op til 20-25 knob. Drabanten blev hurtigt nedkæmpet. Næste levende billede var T 24’n, som flaksede noget forvirret rundt ved renden til Nyord. Så snart han fik øje på mig, faldt han direkte ned i mit kølvand og forsvandt hurtigt agterud. En efterfølgende molesnak med skipperen, opklarede at han både havde miste sin kortplotter og sin autopilot. Hatten af for han overhovedet fik den sprælske båd hele vejen til mållinjen. Som mørket lukkede sig omkring os, friskede vinden yderligere op til 30-35 knob ved udsejlingen omkring de Nordre Sæløer. På det tidspunkt havde jeg alt for meget sejl på, den største fok og fuldt storsejl. Men der var ikke plads nok til hverken et forsejlsskifte eller til at rebe storsejlet. Så det var fuld vandballast og fuld knald på hækstag, udhal, cunningham og lidt slæk på fokken skødepunkt, så den blev lidt mere åben i agterliget. Det er meget betryggende med nogle 3Di Raw sejl, som jeg ved kan tåle mishandlingen. Alm. stringsejl var blevet 3 år ældre på de 30 minutter. Et par meget spændene slag op mod selve renden. Det sidste hvor jeg vendte til stb for at kunne holde renden op kiksede. Fokkeskødet kom i bekneb omkring spillet og fik 10-15 tørn i en meget flot benlås. Renden kunne med lidt pineri, lige præcis holdes op. Lidt heldigt, da en vending med det låste skøde, havde givet sine udfordringer. Efter renden var det med 5 cm slæk i fokkeskødet afsted mod Stevns for sidste gang. Præcis som der skulle justeres på kursen ved nordøst rundingen af Stevns, kom der et markant vindskift fra NØ til SØ, toppet op med lidt ekstra tryk på vinden. En kvik bomning i 35 knobs vind og vi fløj afsted med op til 14 knobs fart mod Køge downtown. Som jeg sidder der i nattemørket og kun kan se det hvide flade vand agterude i lanternes skær, funderede jeg lidt over hvordan passagen af mållinjen kunne ske. 10-14 knobs bs, vindvinkel på 120 twa og knap 100 meter fra linjen til land, kunne det nok blive presset. Men vinden aftog den sidste halve times tid. Det samme gjorde dramatikken, så målgangen foregik kontrolleret kl 02:42 som første båd i mål. Flere både stoppede klogelig op i Kalvehave og Nyord for ikke at komme ud i den friske vind mod Stevns. Respekt for at skipperene kender deres egne og bådens begrænsninger. Det er godt sømandskab. Tak til arrangørene, Køge Sejlklub, for kunne afholde sejladsen med tidens prøvelser og tak til konkurrenterne for at møde op. Og ikke mindst tak til min elskede shorecrew, Helle Jespersen, som stod ved både Hårbølle og Nyord og heppede. Jan B. Hansen The Beast himself Til dem med skarpe øjne: Konkurrenterne agterude. READ MORE

I nakon Covid 19 pauze North Sails klijenti nastavljaju s pobjedama FOTO: DRAGAN DRŽANIĆ Rekordno izdanje najdugovječnije regate za dvočlane posade s hrvatske strane Jadrana uspješno je završila s 85 postotnim učinkom... od 54 jedrilice na startu završilo ih je 46! Zbog vremenskih neprilika i vrlo jakog juga start regate je prebačen s petka na subotu, a zbog najave vrlo slabih vjetrova na regatnom polju organizatori su subotnji start zakazali za 10:00. Tako su jedriličari dobili dodatna dva sata za jedrenje i s tim bonusom čak 14 jedrilica je dobilo priliku da u regularnom vremenu završi regatu. Vrijeme na startu bilo je u skladu s prognozom, jedva primjetni povjetarac iz smjera zapad - jugozapad, po kojem je flota u slow motionu jedrila prema bovi od orce postavljenoj ispred Sustipana. Nakon nje jedrilo se prema bovi koja je uz Galebove predstavljala startnu liniju i potom je jedina obaveza jedriličarima bila ostaviti Sušac desnim bokom. Pokazalo se da je najbolje odabrala skupina jedrilica postavljena malo desnije od sredine startne linije, a do bove od orce najbrže je dojedrila Fatamorgana koja je startala iz trećeg reda. FOTO: REGATE.COM.HR Fatamorgana je maksimalno iskoristila svoje mogućnosti i u ovom dijelu regate pratnju ostavila iza sebe stotinjak metara. Nesmetano je nastavila jedrenje bliže Sustipanu i održavala prednost sve do Splitskih vrata. Prvi nakon nje su bili budući pobjednici regate, dvojac iz JK Orsan na jedrilici Dubrovnik. Oni su na bovi od orce predvodili ostale pretedente na dobar plasman, a među njima svakako treba spomenuti čak četiri jedrilice Club Swan 36, maleni Otto e Mezzo, Magnum X3, IMX 45... U ovom početnom dijelu regate među njih se umiješala i Strilica, Melges 24 koji se orci prišuljao od Sustipana. S obzirom na uvjete u ovom dijelu regate to se još moglo i razumijeti, ali dvojac Jurišić-Perhat je svoje opasne namjere i vrhunsko jedrenje održavao do kraja regate, pa su čak i do pred sam finiš bili izraziti favoriti za pobjedu u korigiranom vremenu po Sušac Openu. Ovaj prvi dio regate, brojnoj publici na lukobranu i Sustipanu, definitivno je bio najzanimljiviji. S obzirom na malene brzine jedrilica mnogi kormilari su se odlučili na rizik i ubacivanje u gužvu, pa nije nedostajalo poziva s isticanjem prednosti prolaska i srećom sve je prošlo bez kontakta i štete. Nakon prolaska ovog filtera i obilaska druge oznake krenulo je rastezanje flote i izdvajanje najbržih na čelu. U principu su se svi držali najkraćeg puta prema Vratima, bez ekstremnih otklona, osim u finalnom dijelu ove etape kad se vodeća Fatamorgana izdvojila prema Šolti, a ostali su vjetar tražili na punti Brača. Odluka dvojca Arapov-Mrduljaš na kraju nije donijela očekivanu prevagu, jer ih u samim vratima Dubrovnik prestiže, a ostatak potjere opasno sustiže. Sve jedrilice su u Splitskim vratima naišle na probleme i svaka je na svoj način tražila izlaz. Muka po Vratima trajala je do 16 sati, otprilike kada je i Bob 'n' Rock kao posljednji izašao na relativno otvoreno more. U tim trenucima vodeća petorka (tri Swana, Dubrovnik i Fatamorgana) je na desetak milja od Sušca. Njihov pritisak jednih na druge za zauzimanje vodeće pozicije priča je za sebe, pa je najbolje da je čujete iz prve ruke. Detaljno kako je regata izgledala ispričali su članovi posade Dubrovnika, pobjednika regate i u realnom i korigiranom vremenu: Na startu smo nešto zapeli, napravili smo jednu pojalabandu nekih 4-5 minuta prije starta i nismo se maknuli s tog mjesta sve do signala starta. Tako da smo startali s mjesta gdje nismo planirali. Tek kad se malo raščistila prva linija i stiglo malo vjetra uspjeli smo krenuti prema Sustipanu. Tamo je bilo dobro, lijepo je vuklo i do prve bove smo stigli kao drugi, odmah iza Mate. Na kraju je dobro ispalo iako nije bilo dobro u samoj proceduri. Na početku smo jedrili s genakerom jer sam planirao da jedrimo malo više prema Braču. To smo i napravili nakon obilaska pina, koji je bio druga obavezna bova. Kad smo već bili u blizini Brača učinilo mi se da smo previše nisko pa smo se prebacili na drifter. Lijepo smo krenuli, jedrili smo odlično i došli smo u situaciju da smo trebali prebaciti jedra koja nismo dignuli na novo mjesto na palubi, malo više prema krmi. I sve je bilo dobro dok nisam uhvatio vreću s olujnim jedrima koju dok sam prebacivao uspjevam baciti u more! Onda brzo akcija rolanja driftera, pojalabanda i natrag po jedra da ih spasimo prije nego potonu. Uspjeli smo ih uhvatiti taman prije nego je vreće potonula, ponovo pojalabanda, odrolaj drifter i idemo dalje. Dalje je sve bilo kako sam i mislio da će biti. Splitskim vratima smo prilazili od Bobovišća i Milne od kuda su nam dolazili neki refuli i vrlo dobro smo se izvukli. Iz Vrata smo izašli prije Mate. Prije samog izlaska vidjeli smo da vani pjeni, pa smo se odmah pripremili za flok i skidanje driftera što smo i napravili odmah čim smo izašli vani. Od tuda je bilo jedrenje pun gas. Prvi plan je bio da idemo oko Vodnjaka od kuda bi se samo spustili prema Sušcu, ali dolje, malo prije Pelegrina pali smo prenisko i odlučili smo da ne idemo forsirati, pa smo se spustili prema Ždrilcu. Iz te pozicije smo vidjeli da ni drugi brodovi nisu bili u boljoj poziciji, već su i oni bili nisko i da su i oni morali za nama. Kad smo došli do Pelegrina ponovno smo se prebacili na genaker s kojim smo jedrili do Ždrilca. Kako ranije nisam nikad prolazio na jedra kroz Ždrilac, već samo motorom, nisam znao kako tu puše. Mislio sam da prebacuje preko, pa smo se tu vratili na flok. Međutim, nije trebalo ništa dirati... tu smo vidjeli Bambija da je on tako samo doletio s 12 milja i prošao bez problema. Mi smo se onda na izlazu vratili na genaker i onda smo i mi nastavili pun gas prema dolje. U toj zoni nas je Bambi prošao. On je vozio dosta oštrije i većom brzinom, a mi to nismo mogli pratiti. Onda smo rekli... OK, idemo jedriti našu regatu, bez pariranja i izvuči maksimum iz Dubrovnika. Tako da smo mi vozili malo više prema Vela Luci... kako je vjetar slabio dizali se, kad je jačao spuštali se i to je dosta dobro ispalo. Nismo puno zaostali za Bambijem, a do punte Sušca stižemo s druga dva Swana (Rameša - Šangulin, Hrvoj - Škrlj). Bambi nas je tu čekao u bonaci, ali uhvatio je jedan reful prije nas s kojim se izvukao iz zavjetrine, a nas troje se tu vrtilo još nekoliko minuta... ono, reful lijevo, reful desno... pa s kraja, pa krma, pa orca... Kad smo se napokon izvukli u čisti vjetar plan je bio da se držimo više na zapadu i malo bliže Visu jer je izgledalo da je s te strane malo jači vjetar. Tako da smo prvo napravili malo duži repiket prije nego smo okrenuli prema Paklenjacima. Kad smo napravili taj manevar i krenuli uzbrdo vidio sam da sustižemo Bambija. Negdje na pola puta do Paklenjaka vjetar je naglo skrenuo prema levantu. Udarilo nam je u provu i morali smo pojati i jedriti prema Vela Luci. Tu smo virali i jedrili opet prema Visu. Tu je i vjetar malo pao, pa smo se prebacili na drifter i nastavili odlično voziti... imali smo odličan i kut i brzinu. U tom smjeru smo jedrili dok vjetar ponovno nije dao od poje, pa smo onda virali i smjer je bio takav da smo se nadali s njim dojedriti do Paklenjaka. Kako smo jedrili vjetar je ponovno malo okretao i na kraju smo završili na Pokonjem Dolu. Ovog puta nisam htio da idemo kroz Ždrilac jer je već bila noć, a par sati ranije mi je bilo prvi put da sam uopće projedrio kroz njega, tako da odluka nije bila teška... Kako smo prvi ušli u Hvarski kanal onda su se ostali mogli ravnati po nama i vidjeli su kako nam puše i onda su vjerojatno zaključili da im je bolje okušati sreću kroz Ždrilac. Ali tu smo se opet škapulali, nakon par vira uhvatili smo neki vjetar s kraja zbog kojeg smo se držali bliže otoku i onda smo s tim refulićima orcavali kroz cijeli kanal. Izgleda da je ovaj potez bio stvarno važan, jer od ostalih samo je Bambi uspio proći kroz Ždrilac, a ostali su se morali okrenuti i jedriti oko Paklenjaka. I dok je Bambi došao do punte Pelegrina mi smo bili skoro pa pred Splitskim Vratima. Inače, kad smo okrenuli Pelegrin očekivao sam da će nas dočekati neki levanat, ali bilo je stvarno slabo i više smo išli na kurenat nego na vjetar, ali kad je vjetar stigao stvarno brzo smo prešli preko kanala. Onda kad smo stigli pred Vrata opet je bilo pitanje što ćemo i kuda ćemo. Zbog kurenta smo izabrali da u sama Vrata uđemo od Šolte i stvarno su nas iz Livke dočekali dobri refuli s kojima smo dosta dobrom brzinom prošli unutra i uspjeli se prebaciti ispod Mrduje. Tu smo oko sat vremena čekali vjetar. Prvi refuli su krenuli iz Milne... puhali bi pa stali, pa opet tako i iz Bobovišća... i tako smo se nekako u zoru dokopali punte Brača. U kanalu, iza Brača, u to vrijeme počela se formirati crta za koju sam pretpostavljao da je od levanta, ali kad smo stigli do nje ispostavilo se da se formirao vjetar s krme... nešto sa zapada. Tu smo se vrtjeli dosta dugo, nismo se uspjeli maknuti, a za to vrijeme su se počeli Bambi i Mate približavati. Znao sam će Mate opet ići pod Šoltu, ali sam očekivao da će ići zapadnije i da će u cilj dolaziti uz Čiovo, ali srećom nije bilo tako, a i do nas je stigao neki mali refulić s kojim smo parirali ekipi iza nas i držali se ispred njih. Najnapetije je bilo pred samim ciljem jer je vjetar dolazio sa svih strana. Bambi je uhvatio neki crni raz koji kao da je bio od tramuntane i s Code 0 je jedrio ravno prema cilju, a Mate i mi smo bili više prema sredini kanala. Tu smo onda i mi opet vratili se prema sredini da pokušamo i mi uhvatiti tu tramuntanu, ali ipak je nadjačao ovaj vjetar s istoka, tako da smo s tim jednim refulom uletjeli ravno u cilj dovoljno brzo i za realno i za hendikep. Stvarno je bila zanimljiva regata, nije bilo ni jednog trenutka kad smo se mogli opustiti. Denis Vukas, jedrilica Dubrovnik FOTO: DUJE PETRIĆ Drugi koskiper na jedrilici Dubrovnik bio je Ivo Kvestić: Regata je bila toliko napeta i zahtijevala je puno rada, tako da nije bilo nikakvog spavanja, jednostavno se nije stiglo, a nije nam niti palo napamet. Stalno je ili netko nas ugrožavao ili smo mi nekog napadali. Ali nije bilo nikakvih problema po pitanju sna. Što se tiče hrane, svaki je pojeo po tri sendviča, svakih 5-6 sati, pa neke čokoladice... Adrenalin je stvarno bio jak i nisu se javljale potrebe ni za hranom ni za snom. Stalno je bilo samo naprijed, naprijed... odlučili smo pobijediti regatu ili "poginuti" pokušavajući. Vrebali smo svaku grešku protivnika i stvarno smo dobro iskorištavali sve prilike koje bi nam se ponudile. Istina, tih prilika nije bilo puno... svi što su bili u vrhu su stvarno vrhunski jedriličari i svi su imali cilj jednak kao i mi. Inače na brodu je sve odlično funkcioniralo, nije bilo nikakvih tehničkih problema, a puno smo radili s rasporedom mase. Jedra koja nisu bila podignuta smo po potrebi prebacivali po palubi, a jedini peh je bio kad je vreća s olujnim jedrima upala u more. Tad smo se morali okrenuti i vratiti po njih i bilo je već u posljednjim trenucima. Vreću sam zgrabio kad je krenula tonuti, a kako smo vozili stvarno ju je bilo teško izvaditi. Na kraju smo je morali udvoje izvlačiti i tu sam izgleda istegnu neki mišić i par sati nisam bio u svom najboljem izdanju. Procijenili smo da smo u toj situaciji izgubili sigurno jednu milju... zezali smo se kasnije da smo imali "man overboard" situaciju. Ali u svakom slučaju drago nam je što smo se vrlo dobro nosili protiv tehnološki superiornijih brodova, pogotovo u dijelu od Ždrilca do Sušca gdje su Swanovi s krilima i sa po dva kormila mogli skroz drugačije jedriti od nas, ali dočekali smo inkrmaniju situaciju zbog koje smo im se priključiili na Sušcu. Najvažnije je da ćemo ovu regatu pamtiti po dobrome! Ivo Kvestić, jedrilica Dubrovnik Što se tiče ostalih sudionika ovogodišnjeg Sušca ni većini njih nije bilo dosadno. Dapače, s ovolikim odazivom svatko je mogao pronaći sebi ravnog protivnika, a na moru je atmosfera bila slična onoj na regati Jabuka, kad je veliki broj jedrilica na istom mjestu i već sama takva koncentracija ne dozvoljava popuštanje, jer ako neki vaš propust neće iskoristiti prvi susjed, možda hoće onaj iza njega. Ogromna većina sudionika je na putu prema jugu izabrala prolazak kroz Ždrilac, poput vodeće nekolicine. Samo pet jedrilica je izabralo kompletni obilazak Paklenjaka. To je najviše iskoristio jedini Class 40 - Crazy, koji je s obzirom na svoje tehničke karakteristike imao značajne probleme po slabom vjetru nakon starta, ali na Sušac zato stiže drugi nakon vodeće skupine. Ispred njega je bila jedino Strilica - Melges 24 koji je odlične pozicije nakon starta izvrsno iskoristio sve do Sušca i pri tome bio najozbiljniji kandidat za pobjedu po "premjeru". Strilica Sušac uspijeva obići prva ispred ove skupine, ali zato je Crazy zapeo, a njegovo mjesto je zauzeo Magnum X3 uz kojeg su vrlo blizu bili Munjek F koji se u vodeću skupinu ubacio praktički iz drugog plana, te Otto e Mezzo. Uz neočekivano velik broj sudionika regata je posebna i po tome što su se mješovite posade počele javljati u nezanemarivom broju. Bilo ih je pet! Najbolje plasiran je bio par na Crazyju, a iza njih su ostale mix kombinacije na Ramoni, Runawayu, Liberi i First Loveu. Inače, na Liberi, miniju 650, jedrili su Ivica Kostelić i Petra Kliba, a ova regata im je bila prvi službeni nastup u sklopu priprema za kvalifikacije u miješanim dvojcima za olimpijadu u Parizu. Istina, izostao je rezultat, ali ovo nisu bili uvjeti za njihovu jedrilicu, koja bi se pokazala mnogo boljom da je start bio u petak, po jugu zbog kojeg je regata bila i odgođena jedan dan. Od ostalih sudionika svakako treba istaknuti i nastup vjerojatno najmlađe posade na ovogodišnjem Sušcu, Opatijaca Marka Vuksanovića i Luke Skokana na jedrilici Bokeljka koji su u cilj ušli kao vrlo dobri 16. Raspored ulazaka u cilj s pripadajućim vremenima možete pronaći na ovom linku, dok se ovdje nalazi raspored nakon obavljene korekcije po Sušac Openu, kao i po THC-u, a bogatu fotogaleriju sa starta možete pronaći na ovom linku. Posebno poglavlje priče o Sušcu iskusni veterani na Barki veloj - Dejan Velimirović i Marko Švent kojima je ovo 23. nastup na Sušcu, kao i Miljenko Nikolić koji je ove godine ovu regatu odjedrio po 20. put! READ MORE

Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert Ross in the Canadian flag bearing hat on the right. Ross MacDonald has been with North Sails for 14 years; 4 years with One Design and 10 years with the team at the Vancouver loft. He is 55 years old and was born in Vancouver. The first boat he ever sail on was his family's boat in 1969, an Alberg 30. What is your favourite local regatta/race and why? Round The County is my favourite race. It's great to meet up with old friends from all over British Columbia and Washington State. Where is your favourite spot to go cruising and why? My favourite spot to go cruising is Manson's landing off Cortes Island; sunsets and great swimming! What is your favourite design of boat and why? The Star class. It's a timeless design that has its attributes such as bulb keep as well as chined, high righting moment hull shapes that are finally seen on cruising boats today - 100+ years later. What is it about sailing that you enjoy the most? Getting the most out of the rig and sails. Being out on the water as well with friends and family is a big plus. What activities you enjoy outside of sailing? I enjoy skiing and bike riding. Tell us something interesting about yourself that most people would not know. I use to have red hair! How have you been keeping busy since all racing has been cancelled? I've been working on our boat, an X-41, and tidying the house. There's also quite a bit of planning going on for when we are allowed to travel and compete again, which I'm looking forward to. READ MORE

SHORTHAND SAILORS TAKE OVER THE SOLENT SORC Kicks Off with the Covid Shakedown Regatta Peter and Duncan Bacon’s Sunfast 3300 Sea Bear 📸 Rick Tomlinson Single and doublehanded sailors took to the water for the first time in months last weekend for the Solent Shakedown Race organized by the Solo Offshore Racing Club. 36 participants took to the Solent, welcomed by warm weather and a building sea breeze. Every sailor was happy to finally get out on the water to enjoy the sport they love. With North clients claiming the top seven places in Class 1 Solo IRC, it was Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada who took the overall win, made even sweeter as it was the boat’s first outing since returning from the Caribbean at the end of May. We spoke with Palmer to find out how it felt to return to racing on home waters: “With winds building from 8 to 14 knots throughout the day, the conditions were ideal for checking the rig set-up. Starting with the J1.5 and staying in the tide off Gurnard, I had slightly over-stood the first layline, which actually put me in a position to control the fleet. I used the S2 to the next mark, soaking low to avoid having to jibe. I then took the call to hold onto the J1.5 in the building breeze, twisting the leech open slightly to help me depower. Despite many thousands of miles, my North sails are holding up well and I am still competitive. I am very pleased with the results.’’ North expert Ronan Grealish with Nick Lee’s Projection 920 Wee Bear North expert Ronan Grealish was on the water in the North Sails RIB, offering coaching, sail trim tips, and support to all. Based on our experience last weekend, we’ve come up with three key tips for shorthanded sailing: Sail Trim: Optimize your sail controls so you can control the mainsail and headsail from the same position. Cross sheeting the headsails is a good option to allow both sails to be trimmed from the windward side. It is important to have your sheets marked for average upwind trim so you can quickly pull them to the mark before fine-tuning once settled on your new tack. Planning Ahead: Thinking two steps ahead will mean you are always ready and anticipating the next manoeuver, reducing the likelihood of sailing past a turning mark. Sailing the shortest distance will pay more than keeping the sail up until the last moment. Having an Autopilot: A good autopilot is crucial, allowing you to concentrate on sail trim which powers the boat and gives you the best speed. Keeping your head out of the boat to look for changing conditions and tactical decisions will pay dividends when paired with effective sail trimming. Did you miss our doublehanded webinar with renowned offshore sailor Armel Le Cléac’h and phenom Clarisse sur l’Atlantique? The duo joined North Sails President Ken Read for an inside look into the trials of doublehanded sailing and the grit it takes to race shorthanded. Watch here. Winner of Class 1 Solo IRC, Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada 📸 Rick Tomlinson Ole Bettum’s Grand Soleil 34 Almara IV sailing against an impressive backdrop 📸 Rick Tomlinson The fleet of single and doublehanders on the downwind leg 📸 Rick Tomlinson James and Charlie Owen’s J/99 Jet 📸 Rick Tomlinson Sam Cooper sailing the J/88 Tigris 📸 Rick Tomlinson Sign Up for North Sails News READ MORE

SAIL1DESIGN + NORTH SAILS 420 CLINIC Sailors Joined S1D and North Experts in Maryland 📸 North Sails Organized soon after the State of Maryland lifted boating/sailing restrictions and careful to mind all social distancing policies and procedures, the 29-31 May North Sails “C&I” 420 Clinic found some very eager participants, who could not wait to get out on the water and get back to sailing. Limited to six top local teams, chosen by experience and resume, the clinic featured Coach Lior Lavie, an Olympic-level sailor and a highly experienced and successful coach, and North Sails rep Tom Sitzmann. The Clinic was held at Sail1Design, a private venue on the Magothy River, just north of Annapolis, MD. 📸 North Sails As many know the 420 class sailboat has, in fact, two separate organizing classes, the International 420, and the Club 420. Coming soon will be a detailed article on these two classes, compared, so stay tuned. For now, and very briefly, here is a quick look: International 420 Class • Truly an international class, with fleets around the world • Tapered spar, high performance foil and sailmaker options. The class maintains strict rules but does allow sailors to buy their own favorite brand of foils and sails. • Rig tuning includes allowing spreader adjustment • Minimum hull weight is 176.4 lbs. • Boat will plane upwind and downwind in moderate wind conditions • Class organization is very strong; USA class participation is good, attracting many of the most talented youth sailors in the country • The choice for the US Youth double-handed championship Club 420 Class • USA only • Non-tapered spar, can use only class foils and class sails (North Sails is the sailmaker for the C420 class). Hull must have rail bumper. Rules are designed to promote durability. • Minimum hull weight is 230lbs. • Boat will plane downwind, not nearly as much or as often upwind when compared to the i420 • Class organization is very strong, class participation is excellent, often with 60+ boats attending major National-level events. 📸 North Sails One of the goals of this clinic was to expose sailors, first-hand, to the distinctions between the i420 and the C420. North Sails expert Tom Sitzmann, who is currently working on an all-new NS i420 tuning guide, shared some of the tips and tricks that make the North Sails i420 sails set up as they should be (for more information on North Sails i420 options, contact Tom) While both classes offer incredible opportunities for youth sailors, their tuning, trim, and focus points are distinct, and successful teams know these differences. Ultimately, the difference in each boat’s performance characteristics requires teams to dial in to the boat’s capabilities, and recognize tactics must change with boats that go different speeds. On the first day, 2 i420’s rigged up along with three C420’s, and teams interested in trying out the i420 were able to do so. Coach Lior had both C and i420’s do the same drills, and it was really neat to see the boats out training together. One sailor commented “The i420 was planing upwind for us, almost right out of a tack; I was amazed at how that boat accelerated and seemed to lift up right away.” Graeme Woodworth, whose son Luke participated in the clinic and was himself a top youth i420 and All-American collegiate sailor, noted that these two classes, back in the 1990’s, did have some overlap, and that the c420 National champion used to be given a spot at the i420 World Championship. For the rest of the weekend the group all sailed C420’s to make things even, and Coach Lior had the group work relentlessly on boat-handling, and spinnaker sets, jibes, and take-downs. It’s quite likely that the teams did more spinnaker work in these three days than at any other time in their lives, and the improvements were noticeable and impressive. In the end, the group had three days of near perfect weather conditions, and all learned a great deal. For more information on 420 sailing and i420 sails, contact North Sails today! 420 Tuning Guide Contact Tom 📸 North Sails READ MORE

2020 NORTH A-CLASS INVENTORY Optimized Designs for Boat Types, Masts and Sailor Weight The North A-Class Catamaran inventory is customized to complement your gear. Find below our sail selection charts which shows the sail that best suits your weight, mast and sailing conditions. Foiling Boats SAILOR WEIGHT All 14 & 15 Untapered Fibrefoam DNA Tapered Fibrefoam 6.3 to 6.5 Hounds Height Saarberg Mast Above 78 kg Decksweeper 2F Decksweeper 2 Decksweeper 2 Below 78 kg Decksweeper 2F Decksweeper 2F Decksweeper 2F Classic Boats SAILOR WEIGHT All 14 & 15 Untapered Fibrefoam DNA Tapered Fibrefoam 6.3 to 6.5 Hounds Height Saarberg Mast Above 78 kg Classic Decksweeper 1F Classic Decksweeper 1 Classic Decksweeper 1 Below 78 kg Classic Decksweeper 1F Classic Decksweeper 1F Classic Decksweeper 1F SAIL MODEL BOAT TYPE Classic Decksweeper 1 Classic Classic Decksweeper 1F Classic Classic Decksweeper 2 Foiling Classic Decksweeper 2F Foiling SHOP SAILS READ MORE

INTRODUCING A COMPLETE 3Di PRODUCT LINE FOR CRUISING 3Di OCEAN is Available for Order Now After an exhaustive research and development program, North Sails is thrilled to launch 3Di OCEAN 370, our latest innovative sail product that completes a line-up of 3D molded sails dedicated to cruising. This new product is built on the success of North Sails revolutionary 3Di NORDAC polyester for smaller boats and OCEAN 700, the ultimate superyacht cruising sail. 3Di OCEAN 370 sits between those two products to meet the unique needs of cruising boats in the 35-60 foot range for both monohulls and the growing multihull cruising community. North 3Di sails are the patented sail technology shaped on 3-dimensional molds originally developed for racing, and now revolutionizing the cruising market with 3Di OCEAN. As the industry leader, North Sails is at its best when applying energy and resources to developments that eventually reshape a product segment. In 2017 North Sails saw an opportunity to revolutionize the cruising market by re-inventing the traditional woven Dacron cruising sail. Utilizing robust Dacron 3Di tapes and 3-dimensional molds, North introduced the first real cruising material innovation since Dacron replaced cotton in the 1950s. Award-winning 3Di NORDAC quickly reset the benchmark for cruising performance, while maintaining the traditional look of Dacron sails. North Sails took the 3Di molded sail cruising concept into superyachts in 2018 with 3Di OCEAN 700 for larger yachts who were looking for improved handling and long-lasting beautiful sails. The addition of OCEAN 370, the third modern cruising product release from North Sails in three years, is a testament to the brand’s pledge to supporting the cruising market with leading-edge sail technology. “Our company culture is driven by an innate desire to continually develop sail technologies that allow sailors to have a more enjoyable experience”, says North Sails President Ken Read. “Cruising offers an outlet to escape life on land, and the North Sails commitment to the cruising community is stronger than ever. We front-footed our cruising product development and brought forward almost a year the expansion of our product line. We’re looking forward to having more sailors experience the next level of cruising sail durability and performance with the 3Di OCEAN range.” The use of North innovative and proprietary 3Di technology and build process produces sails that are both stronger and easier to use. This technology produces sails that provide an enhanced cruising experience by reducing heel in a breeze and adding power in light air. 3Di OCEAN sails are seamless, one-piece sails that are uniquely strong, beautiful, and long-lasting. This means enhanced safety onboard for you, your friends, and your family. Simply put, a more enjoyable sailing experience. 3Di OCEAN sails are available for order now. Get in touch with your local North Sails loft to learn more about this new product and summer delivery. Learn More Find A Loft Request a Quote READ MORE

Beneteau First 18 SE & Seascape 18 Quick Tuning Guide. QUICK TUNING NOTES TWS 0-4 4-8 8-12 12-16 18+ Mast Rake 8,64m Shrouds Tension Loos Tension Gauge 91 Model A 34 36 Base Setting 38-40 42-44 45-46 Shroud Turnbuckles (Full Turns) -1 0 +1 to +2 +3 to +4 +5 to +6 JIB Cunningham Light Light/Medium Medium Medium/Tight Tight Clew (Older option) Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Traveler (New option) Middle Middle Middle Middle Middle Twist Medium Minimum Minimum/Medium Medium Medium Cross Sheeting No No No No No MAINSAIL A-Frame (distance - blocks) 5-10 cm 1-3 cm 1-3 cm 3 cm Play in puffs Outhaul (mid-foot from boom) 8-10 cm 8-10 cm 5-8 cm Tight Tight Vang (Kicker) Snug Snug Medium Hard Hard Cunningham No Light Light/Medium Medium/Max Max Twist Medium Minimum Minimum Minimum/Medium Lots Keel Position 88° - 85° 85° 85° 85° 85° Downwind (App. Wind Angle) 85° - 100° Speed 90° - 130° Speed & Soaking 110° - 140° Speed & Soaking 120° - 150° Speed & Soaking 100° - 130° Speed & Soaking Seascape 18 Speed Guide UPWIND TWS BS VMG HEEL AWA AWS TWA TACK 6 3.9 2.9 9° 25° 9.3 42 90 8 4.7 3.5 10° 25° 12 40 86 10 5.1 4.0 12° 25° 14.4 38 84 12 5.2 4.2 15° 25° 16.5 36 80 14 5.3 4.3 16° 26° 18.5 36 75 16 5.3 4.3 16° 27° 20.6 35 75 20 5.4 4.4 18° 28° 24.6 35 75 DOWNWIND TWS BS VMG HEEL AWA AWS TWA JIBE 6 3.9 3.2 5° 109° 3.5 147 85 8 4.8 4.1 5° 115° 4.7 148 80 10 5.4 4.7 6° 122° 6 150 70 12 5.8 5.0 6° 128° 7.5 150 65 14 6.2 5.4 6° 130° 9.1 150 65 16 7.6 6.1 7° 118° 11 143 75 20 12.1 8.8 10° 100° 14 137 80 READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: CHRIS WALTER Get To Know Your Local Service Expert Chris Walter is part of the service team at the Vancouver loft and has been with North Sails for seven years. He is 34 years old from Vancouver and the first boat he sailed on was a Cooper 353. What is your favourite local regatta/race and why? Too many to choose from, I love them all. The top would be the Columbia Gorge One Design Regatta (CGOD). Who doesn't love 20 knts, temp in the mid 30s and bathtub warm water? All in a spectacular Venue. The Vanisle 360 is also a favourite. The scenery is amazing and it's a real challenge both physically and mentally. Where is your favourite spot to go cruising and why? Anywhere I can get to. The whole coast of B.C. is beautiful. What is your favourite design of boat and why? The IMOCA 60 is my favourite design because of the forefront of design in ocean racing; plus the crazy people who sail them! What is it about sailing that you enjoy the most? I enjoy being outside and enjoying nature in addition to the power of the elements. What activities you enjoy outside of sailing? I enjoy skiing. I've been skiing since I was a kid at various resorts. Now a days, I ski with my brother at Sun Peaks. Tell us something interesting about yourself that most people would not know. I have never lived on land. I was born and have lived on a sailboat my entire life. First we lived on a Cooper 353 them a Brandlmayr 48. We had a dog growing up who lived on the boat with us, a schipperke, as well as a couple of hamsters. How have you been keeping busy since all racing has been cancelled? I've been fixing up my old boat, a C&C 32, mostly replacing all the things that slowly break on a nearly 40 year old boat. I added lazyjacks and sail bag, similar to what boats in ocean races use. I still have a regular sail cover for when I'm not sailing but this new one will contain the sail better while I'm out sailing. I've never raced the boat however was planning to do the Round Bowen race this year and perhaps a single handed race; we'll see what happens. READ MORE

NEW SAILS FOR SUMMER ON A SWAN 80 Sail Expert Brad Favelle Shares His First Impressions Brad Favelle, North sail expert based in Palma de Mallorca runs us through the delivery of some new sails which is always a refreshing experience. We met with Brad after installing a set of Swan 80 sails ready for summer cruising. He provides us with an on-the-ground view and shares his first impressions. Explain the sail installation process. Once the client picked the sails, what was the first step to getting them on the boat once production concluded? The sails are quite large on an 80-footer, so there was a fair amount of planning to get the sails to the boat and loaded on board. With the help of a forklift and the North Sails crane we lowered the sails onto the deck as the boat hit the water. Once the sails were safely on deck we started with the preparations of un-rolling in the correct position, then we used shackles and lashings to ensure the attachment points were set up correctly. Afterwards we loaded battens and applied the correct tension along with halyards to ensure all were hoisted ready for furling and boom reefing systems.This time is well spent along with the fine-tuning, which allowed us to create the best loading profiles for the sail and usability for the rig and deck systems onboard. We can assess the results of the product and sail setup by conducting sea trials, which are beneficial to us as sail designers and experts, and to the crew. We enjoy sharing our expertise with the crew so they can help make their owner’s experience even more enjoyable whilst onboard. What was it like seeing the new sails hoisted for the first time? To see the sails hoisted for the first time was not only rewarding but highly pleasing from a sail design and production point. Making sure the design was optimal and that the sails fit perfectly was one of my main goals when taking on this project. What were the client’s first remarks once they saw the sail up? As any sailor knows, the best way to judge the result is through the enjoyment of a balanced helm and smiles as we powered through the perfect sea conditions. As we trimmed in the sails, we quickly picked up speed and the level of enjoyment set in for all on board. We were all delighted to be out on the water again. What kind of conditions did you have for the first sail? For our first sail, we had roughly 14-16 knots with a slight sea state. We had two crew: two North Sails Experts and an additional Industry professional. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions, which helped to make the entire experience productive and fun for the captain and crew. Why is 3Di OCEAN 700 best for this type of yacht? Explain the features and benefits. 3Di OCEAN 700 is optimized for this size yacht as it delivers an exceptional level of modern cloth engineering. The blend of the internal tapes uses custom layouts and the chafe resistant surfaces provides the balance between durability and performance. I feel that OCEAN 700 is a great package for the client because of its user-friendly handling and trim characteristics. Also, its color looks particularly great against the white hull. 3Di OCEAN 700 is the right choice for blue-water superyachts, with aramid and UltraPE filament tapes, making her highly durable and strong. Everything about 3Di OCEAN 700 is for cruising performance perfection. What was the total production time once the order was placed to when they arrived on the scene? SY Swan 80’s sails were ordered in mid-December of 2019. Once the new year arrived, North sail designers Flavia Tomaselli, Heine Sorensen and myself went through the details with the boat captain Kelsey, allowing us to configure the sail design and specification in January of 2020. In May, the sails were delivered to the boat.We’ve built a positive relationship with the boat captain, through our after-sales care and service team approach which helped confirm the order. How long did it take to install the new sails once delivered? Once the sails were delivered 3 North Sails Representatives help make short work of this process. The headsail did not contain battens, so that was straightforward. We attached a hoisting halyard and adjusted the halyard while attaching the sheets. The mainsail required the battens and cars to be fitted, and then we got the foot lashed on. The cars are then attached to the rig one at a time, then the reef lines which completes the loading onto the boom. All in all, the entire process took roughly five hours. Our external team delivers the onboard support to ensure this is a fluid process for the crew and captain. Describe your first sail. What were the three main things you noticed? Our first sail went great, 3Di will look good on any Swan. The finishing points on the sail were perfected with utmost detail and care. The flying shape of the new sails works in hand with the balance, feel and characteristics of the boat. How long have you been working with the Swan 80 client? I’ve been working with the boat captain for eight years. Kelsey and I have worked together on multiple projects for different boats, so it was a natural fit for him to continue his relationship working with North Sails here in Palma. Through the industry-leading local port facilities and superyacht sail service hub, we are positioned perfectly to support all of the client needs for many years to come after the sails are delivered. Meeting the local demands, along with the high expectations of every client we see passing through the island, is our primary goal. We have a passionate team that works hard to achieve these types of results. Delivering new sails is always a great way to spend a day in Mallorca! As sailmakers, we are ever-evolving the ways we provide the best for our clients. READ MORE

BATTENS 101 How To Install Three Common Batten Types North Sails expert Tom Pease of North Sails in Milwaukee shows us how to use the three most common types of batten closures: velcro stuff, lace in and wing tip. To learn more about tensioning and installing battens for cruisers, see here. READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: DENNIS LEFEAUX Get To Know Your Local Service Expert Dennis Lefeaux has been a staple at North Sails Vancouver for years. He has worked for North Sails for over 40 years and is currently the service manager for Vancouver. He was born in Vancouver and is 59 years old with the first boat he sailed on being a T-Bird. What is your favourite local regatta/race and why? English bay scramble as it's fun and hard to figure out. Another favourite is Whidbey Island because it's tough racing but also has a fun social aspect once we're off the water. Where is your favourite spot to go cruising and why? Gulf Islands, the sailing is great and it's such a relaxing place. What is your favourite design of boat and why? Davidson 40 Teddy Bear, it's just a long time love affair. I also like the Martin 242 because it's simple, inexpensive, easy and fun. What is it about sailing that you enjoy the most? I would say it's a combination of being outside, the people, and the always changing playing field. What activities you enjoy outside of sailing? I enjoy hiking and fishing. Tell us something interesting about yourself that most people would not know. I was on the 1987 Canadian Americas cup team and coached soccer for 10 years. How have you been keeping busy since all racing has been cancelled? I’ve been keeping the loft running and getting service done for our customers while also working in the yards at home. READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: DREW MITCHELL Getting To Know Your Local Sales Expert Drew Mitchell was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has worked at North Sails for nine years as a sales rep and loft manager for the Vancouver loft. He is 32 years old and the first boat he sailed on was a Bluenose Sloop. What is your favourite local regatta/race and why? Van Isle 360. I enjoy this race as it is a pretty neat mix of sprint and distance racing with such amazing scenery. The stopovers are always fun as you get to mingle with other racers and chat about successes and failures on the race course. Also as an east coast kid it's a pretty neat way to some neat spots on Vancouver Island. Where is your favourite spot to go cruising and why? I've only ever cruised once in my life so I would have to say Alexandra Island RVYC outstation. It was on a 242 my buddy owned so it was more like camping on the water. What is your favourite design of boat and why? Bluenose Sloop. It is a classic Nova Scotian design that has been modified with fibreglass for racing. Currently it is the most competitive one design fleet in Nova Scotia with 25 + boats showing up for Chester Race Week. I am lucky enough to race on borrowed boats in the fleet with my brother. I hope to own one with him in the future. What is it about sailing that you enjoy the most? I enjoy all the uncontrolled variables that sailing has to offer and trying to manage them better than the competitors, it is like no other sport. I also enjoy the team aspect of sailing especially when I get to sail with my brother and close friends. My favourite type of sailing is large one design fleet racing. What activities do you enjoy outside of sailing? I enjoy hockey, surfing, snowboarding, powerboating and now golf. What is something interesting about yourself that most people would not know? Before moving to BC I played on both the Nova Scotian Box and Field lacrosse teams. I played in two founders cups (Jr b box national championship) and 1 Art Ross Victory Cup (Senior field national championship). I also played for STFX University team for 5 years, winning back to back MUFLL (league) championships and received league awards such as Rookie of the year, couple 1st team all stars and also won the league scoring title. How have you been keeping busy since all racing has been cancelled? I picked up golf, I am currently not very good but am really enjoying learning a new sport that I find is very difficult. Looking to shoot under 100 before sailboat racing ramps back up! READ MORE

YOUNG CRUISERS: TAKING CHANCES CREATES OPPORTUNITY A Story About Living Each Day to the Fullest By Caroline Gentry Rowell Imagine, if you will, it is the late summer of 2010. I am 21 years old, just graduated university, have taken a respectable office job and just moved into my new, cute and cozy two-bedroom apartment– as my parents threatened to never help me lug all of my stuff in a U-Haul again. Well, now picture three months later, when I come blazing into my parents’ suburban home, telling them that I have met someone- more specifically have “fallen for” my college sailing instructor and… I am quitting my job, breaking my lease that they reluctantly cosigned, hopping on a plane to St. Maarten, and planning to sail the Caribbean and Pacific…with him. Honestly, I am still wondering how my dad didn’t have a heart attack on the spot?! “I eagerly wanted to trade stability for adventure. So here I went…” Had we only been dating for a couple of months? Yes. Did I know how to sail? No, I was too busy being wooed to grasp more than the basics of rigging a 420 and had never sailed before college. Was I scared of the unknowns? Duh– but I knew that I had to do this or I would always look back with regrets (and we need none of those in our lives). I can still feel the butterflies, a mixture of excitement and nerves, and remember the tears as I told my family and friends goodbye before I boarded the plane. But I knew that this was me living my dreams– I eagerly wanted to trade stability for adventure. So here I went… It’s been ten years. That aforementioned “sailing club president” is my husband, we have a beautiful almost 2-year-old who is growing up spending his time between the mountains of North Carolina and cruising the Bahamas, and we hope to inspire others to live out their dreams and trust the unknowns (especially if they involve sailing/ cruising). In the past 10 years, we have collected enough memories to last us a lifetime. Our travels have taken us all over the globe where we have had the highest of highs and the absolute lowest of lows (as many cruisers will also tell you). We have met our best friends bought a business, made new towns feel like our hometown, retrofitted boats, grew a baby in paradise, but we have also lost mentors, been away from family for holidays, and been struck by lightning, all on this cruising journey. “Change is uncomfortable, the path less paved is bumpier, but life is so much sweeter when you live each day to its fullest.” READ MORE

What distinguishes a great cruising sail from average? You know when it feels right. It’s that moment when you could almost let go of the wheel and the boat would steer itself. A boat in perfect balance. READ MORE

Phantom sailing can be made as simple or as technical as you want to make it, this is one of the main reasons for its success as a class. Onshore Setup Due to the adjustments available in a modern Phantom the onshore setup is really only a base on which to develop your own tuning notes. SPREADER LENGTH This is measured from the outer tip to the side wall of the mast = 420mm. If you are under 85kg you can shorten the spreaders to 412mm, likewise if you are heavier than 99kg then you can lengthen them to 425mm. This adds more support to the middle of the mast, essentially stiffening the mast section. SPREADER ANGLE This is measured with a batten or straight edge across the aft side of the shrouds, the distance from this batten to the back of the mast is the spreader angle, this should be 145mm. MAST FOOT POSITION The mast foot is measured from the aft edge of transom bar to the aft edge of the mast = 3280mm. RIG TENSION Rig tension is actually one of the least important settings due to the fact that the Phantom is such a powerful boat that you are easing forestay to depower in relatively low wind speeds so the rig tension is actually only used for light conditions of under 6kts (dependent on helm weight). One of the main reasons for measuring rig tension is to have a constant measurement for setting up the mast rake. Therefore I set the rig up with 300lbs of rig tension using a rig tension gauge on the shrouds. The rake should then be as follows: Helm Weight < 91kgs – Rake 21’7Helm Weight 92 – 100kgs – Rake 21’10Helm Weight > 100kgs – Rake 22′ Sailing Set-up (Adjustable Lowers)I have added the lowers to sailing setup because they are key factors to setting up the sail shape once afloat. In the light airs (sub hiking) they should be slack, this allows the lower mast to bend with normal mainsheet and kicker tension, in turn this takes out a little of the excess shape from the luff of the sail. This is required because the wind doesn’t have enough energy to flow around deep sail shapes so it’s best to limit it’s effort and flatten the lower part of the sail. As the wind increases and kicker tension is added the lowers are then tightened, this is so it acts as a brace against TOO much lower mast bend due to the kicker. Less lowers tension is needed on flat water where a flatter luff entry helps, than in rough sea conditions where a fuller luff helps to make the boat more forgiving and easier to steer fast. FORESTAY The forestay is the first control to ease once the breeze increases into a ‘hiking’ breeze, this helps to bend the rig and flatten the sail, although you may lose a little pointing ability, however the speed you gain from raking the rig will outweigh this, don’t be afraid to see the leeward shroud swinging wildly in the wind! This is very much an individual preference so find settings you like and use a calibration strip on the deck or the forestay adjusters to make easy reference marks ( IMPORTANT: remember when you are max rake in windy conditions to pull on the forestay downwind and prior to tacks so you can get under the boom!) OUTHAUL The outhaul should be used in conjunction with the lowers, so in very light airs flatten the foot so there is just 50-60mm gap between the sail and the boom at max. depth. Gradually ease this as the wind increases to a maximum of 150mm gap when looking for max. power, and then pull on the outhaul until you have a crease running along the foot when you are looking for max. depower mode. KICKER The key control for most singlehanders it is doubly important in the Phantom due to it’s large roach mainsail, don’t be afraid to keep pulling it on as long as the top tell tail is flying 50% of the time. Sub hiking conditions you should mainly be using mainsheet to control the leech tension with the kicker adjusted to hold this tension whenever you ease the mainsheet, then as the breeze increases the kicker should be tensioned to keep a firm leech and aid pointing. Continue to pull on more and more as the wind builds as its much quicker to sail with the mainsheet eased (boom out beyond the quarter) and a lot of kicker than the reverse of boom near the centreline with an open leech. CENTREBOARD In sub hiking conditions under 5 knots you can have the board right down, but as you rake the mast you will need to raise the centreboard to maintain the balance, as soon as you feel you have too much weather helm raise the board some more, you will be surprised at how little board you need to maintain height once you are flat out hiking especially when needing to steer a lot in choppy conditions. DOWNWIND When reaching pull on the forestay so the leeward shroud is under some tension, this helps to power up the rig, ease the outhaul too , raise the board two-thirds, and as soon as you are close to planing move your weight back and go for it! The same applies on the run where sailing by the lee can be very quick as long as you ease enough kicker to twist the head of the sail, beware this is very twitchy in anything above a moderate breeze! The Phantom rewards hard work downwind so keeping the boat flat and constantly trimming and steering for any waves will pay dividends. Good Sailing! READ MORE

North Sails stands behind our products. When you buy a North Cruising Sail, you can expect quality. READ MORE

NORTH SAILS PARTNERS WITH WORLD CRUISING CLUB Supporting Bluewater Around the World Adventures with Expert Support and Global Service North Sails announces an exciting new partnership with leading sailing rally organizers World Cruising Club. The aim of the partnership is to inspire sailors around the world to embark on a cruising adventure, using North Sails experts and resources to guide the way. World Cruising Club are organizers of Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and World ARC circumnavigation adventure, helping thousands of sailors annually cross oceans safely. North Sails is excited to provide the bluewater cruising community with access to its 110 sail and service lofts around the world and support to help advise them at every step of their journey. With over six decades of experience, North Sails is the industry leader in sailmaking and service. Reliable equipment is paramount for cruising safely. North Sails can provide that comfort to cruising customers, who know their experts are never more than a satellite call, cell phone call, or email away. "Welcoming North Sails as our preferred sailmaking partner for World Cruising Club rallies will benefit cruising sailors on their journeys across the Atlantic and around the world." This partnership comes at an exciting time, as North Sails has fast-tracked its development for an expansion of key cruising products. These are strictly for sailors who want to look at and trim beautiful, modern, and incredibly durable cruising sails. In a typical year over 1.5 million ocean miles will be sailed by boats in World Cruising Club’s rallies, so having the right sails is vital for successful ocean voyages. “North Sails is extremely proud of their cruising products, and we make more cruising sails than anyone in the world.” Said North Sails President, Ken Read, “We have always been a part of the cruising community and we are committed to serving our cruising customers in the same capacity we support racers. I, personally, am looking forward to local racing, yacht club cruises, and day sailing this summer.” World Cruising Club Managing Director, Andrew Bishop says “Welcoming North Sails as our preferred sailmaking partner for World Cruising Club rallies will benefit cruising sailors on their journeys across the Atlantic and around the world. Our partnership means the experienced North Sails team will be on hand to provide reliable advice about the selection, care and maintenance of sails for long-distance cruising at our forums and seminars supporting our participants, as well as delivering a long-lasting, quality product to help our participants achieve their sailing dreams with our rallies.” Cruising boats are a unique sanctuary in which to escape from day-to-day pressures on land. The pure fun of time spent away from shore with family and friends is of greater benefit than ever before. A partnership with World Cruising Club is just one of the ways that North Sails is supporting its customers in new and innovative ways. Keep an eye on your inboxes as North Sails has an exciting product announcement on the horizon. Join the waitlist today. 📸 Amory Ross / North Sails READ MORE

NORTH SAILS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS But the fact is, we never closed It’s still a complicated time in many places around the world, and a huge thank you to our entire North Sails team, clients, and friends who have pulled together in a way that is quite frankly remarkable. Our summer calendar may not be filled with the normal regatta schedule, and local guidelines are certainly making us look at all aspects of our lives, but sailing remains a unique way to escape from day-to-day pressures on land. Many new and creative events are popping up around the world: single-handed, double-handed, social distance crewing. Our calendars are filling up with a unique style of racing, alongside day-sailing and cruising of course. Simply, “getting out there” is our new normal. So what’s been going on at North Sails? North Sails have 110 sales and service sites, and seven manufacturing facilities globally. We did have limited production for a time but are now running at full capacity at our manufacturing sites, and have been since mid-May. Some of our delivery times were pushed out a bit because of government restrictions at specific locations. Still, our manufacturing team has kept safety at the forefront while getting back on schedule. The great news is, we have already caught up to the point of taking new orders for delivery as early as July. As always, your local North Sails sales and service team are on hand to help and to answer questions as we help get you back on the water. Pre-season service, measurement, new sails, tuning, sail checks, we are simply a phone call away. Our Certified Service facilities are open globally, with many facilities offering curbside pickup and drop off. Use our loft finder below to access contact details and get in touch with your closest North Sails. We spend every minute of every day, making beautiful sails that improve your sailing experience. Take advantage of the North Sails expertise, and find out how much more fun you can have on your boat. FIND YOUR LOFT TALK TO AN EXPERT REQUEST A QUOTE READ MORE

NORTH SAILS PARTNERS WITH WORLD CRUISING CLUB Supporting Bluewater Around the World Adventures with Expert Support and Global Service North Sails announces an exciting new partnership with leading sailing rally organizers World Cruising Club. The aim of the partnership is to inspire sailors around the world to embark on a cruising adventure, using North Sails experts and resources to guide the way. World Cruising Club are organizers of Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and World ARC circumnavigation adventure, helping thousands of sailors annually cross oceans safely. North Sails is excited to provide the bluewater cruising community with access to its 110 sail and service lofts around the world and support to help advise them at every step of their journey. With over six decades of experience, North Sails is the industry leader in sailmaking and service. Reliable equipment is paramount for cruising safely. North Sails can provide that comfort to cruising customers, who know their experts are never more than a satellite call, cell phone call, or email away. “Welcoming North Sails as our preferred sailmaking partner for World Cruising Club rallies will benefit cruising sailors on their journeys across the Atlantic and around the world.” This partnership comes at an exciting time, as North Sails has fast-tracked its development for an expansion of key cruising products. These are strictly for sailors who want to look at and trim beautiful, modern, and incredibly durable cruising sails. In a typical year over 1.5 million ocean miles will be sailed by boats in World Cruising Club’s rallies, so having the right sails is vital for successful ocean voyages. “North Sails is extremely proud of their cruising products, and we make more cruising sails than anyone in the world.” Said North Sails President, Ken Read, “We have always been a part of the cruising community and we are committed to serving our cruising customers in the same capacity we support racers. I, personally, am looking forward to local racing, yacht club cruises, and day sailing this summer.” World Cruising Club Managing Director, Andrew Bishop says “Welcoming North Sails as our preferred sailmaking partner for World Cruising Club rallies will benefit cruising sailors on their journeys across the Atlantic and around the world. Our partnership means the experienced North Sails team will be on hand to provide reliable advice about the selection, care and maintenance of sails for long-distance cruising at our forums and seminars supporting our participants, as well as delivering a long-lasting, quality product to help our participants achieve their sailing dreams with our rallies.” Cruising boats are a unique sanctuary in which to escape from day-to-day pressures on land. The pure fun of time spent away from shore with family and friends is of greater benefit than ever before. A partnership with World Cruising Club is just one of the ways that North Sails is supporting its customers in new and innovative ways. Keep an eye on your inboxes as North Sails has an exciting product announcement on the horizon. Join the waitlist today. 📸 Amory Ross / North Sails READ MORE

NORTH SAILS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS But the fact is, we never closed It’s still a complicated time in many places around the world, and a huge thank you to our entire North Sails team, clients, and friends who have pulled together in a way that is quite frankly remarkable. Our summer calendar may not be filled with the normal regatta schedule, and local guidelines are certainly making us look at all aspects of our lives, but sailing remains a unique way to escape from day-to-day pressures on land. Many new and creative events are popping up around the world: single-handed, double-handed, social distance crewing. Our calendars are filling up with a unique style of racing, alongside day-sailing and cruising of course. Simply, “getting out there” is our new normal. So what’s been going on at North Sails? North Sails have 110 sales and service sites, and seven manufacturing facilities globally. We did have limited production for a time but are now running at full capacity at our manufacturing sites, and have been since mid-May. Some of our delivery times were pushed out a bit because of government restrictions at specific locations. Still, our manufacturing team has kept safety at the forefront while getting back on schedule. The great news is, we have already caught up to the point of taking new orders for delivery as early as July. As always, your local North Sails sales and service team are on hand to help and to answer questions as we help get you back on the water. Pre-season service, measurement, new sails, tuning, sail checks, we are simply a phone call away. Our Certified Service facilities are open globally, with many facilities offering curbside pickup and drop off. Use our loft finder below to access contact details and get in touch with your closest North Sails. We spend every minute of every day, making beautiful sails that improve your sailing experience. Take advantage of the North Sails expertise, and find out how much more fun you can have on your boat. FIND YOUR LOFT TALK TO AN EXPERT REQUEST A QUOTE READ MORE

North Sails expert Derek Scott answers your Elliott 5.9 speed and boat handling questions. Your new North sails are designed with an “all around” philosophy in mind. As we learn more about the Elliott 5.9, or any other One Design Class, new information regarding setup, tuning and trimming techniques will be updated on the class page. Sign up online for our North Sails e-mail updates and receive all Elliott 5.9 news and updates directly by e-mail. PRE-RACE PREPARATION TRAILER & BOAT Make sure when transporting the boat that the keel bulb always sits perfectly in the keel platform of the trailer. If the boat is sitting where she belongs on the trailer, the bulb should rest perfectly in the keel bed and the keel fin should sit free in the keel case. Packing pre-cut foam between the keel edges/sides and the keel box will help prevent any movement of the keel when trailing. Tying the fin forward and back is a good idea to restrict movement and it is also important to ensure that the boat stays forward against the bow guide when trailering. HULL, KEEL & RUDDER For travelling to regattas to ensure good general care of your boat, the investment of a trailer skirt is well worth the protection it affords.Make sure your hull, keel, bulb and rudder are clean and free of major dings and scratchers. Your rudder should be kept in a padded bag for protection. MAST SETUP & TUNING Before stepping the mast, check all ropes and halyards for general wear and tear and replace if any halyards are damaged. Check the wire stays for any fried strands or any nasty kinks. Pull the main, jib and spinnaker halyards down and tie off to pole ring. It is always good to have a windex at the top of the mast and now is a good time to attach it before the mast gets lifted. INITIAL RIG SETUP Most of the time, it is just the forestay which needs to be wound on as most boats will not need to adjust the side stays and lowers to drop the mast. To measure mast rake, tie the end of the tape measure onto the main halyard. Pull it right to the top of the mast. Measure to the middle where the deck meets the transom – a good starting mast rake is 9.580m. From here you can see how the boat feels and performs and adjust the mast rake accordingly. EXAMPLE: If the rudder feels heavy and the boat is trying to round up into the wind (excessive weather helm), you may need to move the mast forward. On the other hand, if the rudder feels very light or the boat is trying to bear off (excessive lee helm), you might need to rake the mast back.  In the Elliott 5.9, it is important to have a small amount of weather helm as this helps with your height and pointing in the light winds – just be careful it is not too much in the windy conditions. BASE MAST TUNE SETUP To set the base rig tune, use a PT-1 Loos Tension Gauge to check tensions on the side stays and lowers. Firstly, adjust the side stays to 40 on the tension gauge and then set the lower shrouds to 25 (be sure to go back and double check the uppers and then the intermediates in the process because they will both change when you tension or de-tension one of them). TUNING CHART (New Loos Gauge Pro Model PT-2): Step Windspeed (kts) Uppers (PT-2) Forestay (PT-2 Forestay turns from Base Lowers (PT-2) Lowers – turns from base -1 0-5 38 38 -6 25 +6 0 5-10 40 40 0 25 0 1 10-15 38 38 3 22 -3 2 15-20 36 36 6 20 -6 3 20+ 34 34 9 20 -9 SAIL TRIM MAINSAIL AND TRAVELLER In light airs keep the traveler about 200-300mm above the centre line and make sure the mainsheet is eased enough so the telltale on the top batten is flying nearly all the time. This will ensure your boom will stay on the centre line and give the boat good height. Once your crew is sitting on the side, the traveler should be in the middle and you will be able to sheet the mainsheet a bit harder whilst keeping an eye on the top telltale – it should now be flying 50% of the time. In the windy conditions when the crew is hiking hard, the aim is to keep the boat as flat as possible – remember, flat is fast! Use the traveler when the boat heels over and in the big gusts you might have to ease the mainsheet. If the mainsail starts to back, put the traveler higher, and ease the mainsheet. Twist is your friend – when in doubt, ease it out to get the boat going through the water. Keeping the mainsail trim soft and very twisted to keep the boat sailing flat is often fast. It is important to experiment with different heel angles and mainsheet tension in different conditions to see what works best for your boat and crew. OUTHAUL In light to medium winds, the Elliott 5.9 likes to have some power in the lower section of the mainsail, so the outhaul should be eased 20-30mm in from the black band. In heavy airs, aim to flatten the sail by pulling the outhaul out to the black band, especially in flat water. In rougher seas, it can be fast to keep the outhaul a bit looser to make the main fuller in the lower section. CUNNINGHAM The cunningham on the Elliott 5.9 acts as a depowering tool and is thus not used until approximately 12 knots. In this wind, it is used until wrinkles in luff are just removed. Above 15 knots, the cunningham can come on 75%. VANG The vang is used upwind as soon as the boat is overpowered. At the early stages of being overpowered, simply snug the vang to help induce mast bend and flatten the mainsail. As the boat becomes increasingly overpowered, pull the vang harder to flatten the mainsail. When sailing downwind, adjust the vang so the top batten telltale is always flowing; twist is generally good. When sailing upwind in light airs (0-8 knots), keep the vang loose. In 8-15 knots, pull on to remove all slack (just snug). Above 15 knots, pull on firmly. REMEMBER to let half of the vang off when you get to the top mark in windy conditions or the boat will struggle to bear away. JIB TRIM The jib on the Elliott 5.9 is a high aspect sail (tall and skinny), making it very sensitive to small adjustments in jib sheet tension. Tightening or easing the jib sheet by just 15mm can have a big effect on boat speed and pointing. Generally, in light to medium breeze, set the jib lead so that when you are luffing slowly into the wind the luff breaks evenly. As the wind builds, move the jib lead up or jib car aft to flatten the foot and twist the head of the jib to depower. In the windy conditions, if the mainsail is backwinding and flapping, this could be because: 1. The jib sheet is too tight or the jib lead is too low, meaning the jib leech is too closed and thus back winding the main. 2. The main traveler is too low, closing the slot between the main and the jib. We have placed a telltale on the upper leech (near the spreaders) of the jib to help you judge how tight or loose the sheet should be. The general rule of thumb is to trim the sheet hard enough so that the upper leech telltale is just on the edge of stalling, but never stalled. Just as with the mainsail, it will be easy to stall the telltale in light air and very hard to stall in heavy air even with the sheet trimmed. SPINNAKER TRIM Always sail your North spinnaker with a 10cm – 20cm curl in the luff making careful concentration necessary! Use short, smooth, in and out motions on the sheet to keep the spinnaker trimmed correctly, trying to not jerk the sheet if the spinnaker begins to collapse. Set the pole so it is nearly perpendicular to the wind. A telltale on the topping lift a foot up from the pole works great as a reference. Keep the clews even at all times through adjustments to your topping lift (pole). If the top of the spinnaker breaks high first, lower the pole. If the bottom luff breaks first raise the pole slightly. In light, puffy conditions, the pole height will be adjusted nearly as much as the sheet and guy. IN CONCLUSION We hope all of the tips we mentioned are helpful to your Elliott 5.9 sailing program. Please get in touch with the North Sails Elliott 5.9 Class Expert, Derek Scott, for further details and help. KEY POINTS Always sail the boat as flat as possible, except in very light air where a slight louward heel is advantageous Do not be afraid to change settings if you are slow Set up a tuning chart and use it Have open and positive communication on board Sail fast and have fun! READ MORE

LET'S TALK ABOUT SPEED WEBINAR Trimm Tips Daniel Schroff, Inhaber der Firma North Sails Schweiz GmbH, spricht am 27. Mai um 19:30 Uhr CEST über den Segeltrimm, und zwar von den Grundlagen bis zu den Feinheiten. Es geht dabei nicht nur ums Regattasegeln, sondern ihr bekommt einen Trimm-Refresher. Moderiert wird das Webinar durch Claudia Böhm, die eure Fragen aus dem Chat an Daniel weiterleitet. Wir freuen uns auf viele Teilnehmer und eure Fragen. Natürlich steht euch das North Sails Schweiz Team jederzeit für Fragen, Anregungen oder Bestellungen mit Rat und Tat zur Seite. Anmelden READ MORE

CRUISING YOUR MULTIHULL More On Downwind Sail Designs, Handling Options and Techniques Multihull cruising has become a lifestyle by even the most competitive racers. These boats are great platforms for the outdoor living we enjoy in our moderate climate as well as being easy to cruise short-handed by couples. North Sails cruising experts share how techniques vary on multihull cruisers, and provides his tips on how you can make the most of your next sail. The design for these boats has evolved to maximize cabin space with taller, more powerful rigs and self-tacking Jibs. These sails and systems have significant sail handling benefits with tacking becoming a straightforward process; however, by not overlapping the mast like a traditional genoa, these sail plans often lack area leading to sluggish performance in lighter conditions. At North Sails, our designers have been working hard to offer solutions for all styles of multihulls that improve performance but still allow ease of handling. Understanding Your Usage Chart Plots change depending on the performance of the boat. Faster boats may not see the broader angles that the G2 offers. A stable flying G Zero can be designed with enough overlap to gauge into the G One zone. Usage chart for a Lagoon 52 How do you explain the difference? Determine the mid-girth of the sail. Using your usage plot, you’ll see the ranges of each sail, determined by apparent wind angles and wind speed. The Code 55 Screecher For a boat that does not have an overlapping Genoa, the Code 55 screecher is the first sail to consider. This sail is set from the bowsprit and is constructed in laminate materials to mimic a traditional Genoa in light winds and can sail within 15 degrees of the Self-tacking jib TW angles for a considerable gain in light air performance. The Code 55 is engineered to cope with the considerable loads generated when being used close to the wind even in light conditions with the added benefit that they can then be used at wider angles as the wind increases, increasing the range of use considerably. Recommend options are a high-quality torque cable with a bottom-up furling system. A clew velcro to stop accidental unfurling gives an extra level of security and safety. If your preference is to store the sail hoisted, a lightweight UV can be added. 📸 Amory Ross The G-Zero The G Zero is the most popular cruising multihull downwind sail offering great versatility over a wider range of wind angles. The G zero is a best-of-both-worlds sail for ease of handling and successful downwind miles. G Zeros feature a deeper shape and wider girth compared to a screecher. they are generally designed to sheet outside the main shrouds and excel at the beam close to reaching. G Zeros are compatible with both Top-Down internal and bottom-up furling systems or can be used with a snuffer. These sails can have lightweight UV strips, but because of their lightweight, we recommend lowering the sail when not in use and have no UV for the optimum performance. Cruisers sometimes use these sails without the Mainsail hoisted, and utilizing the width of the multihull and tweaking the sheet forward and outboard can achieve surprisingly low sailing angles. 📸 Amory Ross The G2 Asymmetrical Runner For Cruisers wanting the ultimate in downwind efficiency but less focused on ease of use, the A2 Asymmetrical Spinnaker is the answer! These sails are designed full in-depth and girth to achieve the best-running speed and VMG to cover the most miles. Due to being specifically optimized to deeper sailing angles, we would suggest a seamless inventory should have an additional reaching option to fill the gap between the headsails and this sail. For short-handed ease of use, we recommend either a spinnaker Snuffer or a Top-Down Furling system. The use of a tweaker or handy billy system to alter the sheeting can significantly increase the range of sailing angles and wind ranges. If the upper luff is folding first as you ease the sail and run deeper, you should deflect the sheet forward and outboard to stabilize the sail, so the luff breaks evenly, particularly important when using under autopilot for minimal trim adjustments. It is common for cruisers to use these sails with no Mainsail hoisted but always remember to use the Main topping lift and mainsheet combination as an additional backstay for added security and support to the mast. The Tweaker or Handy Billy for Cruisers These are reasonably lightweight purchase systems, typically ranging from 2:1- 6:1. They have a range of uses aboard any boat, but for downwind sails with a fixed sheeting position, they give the ability to change the twist and set of the sail easily while still sheeting the main load through the standard sheeting block and winch location. The system works best with a snatch block that allows the lowest possible friction for the deflecting sheet; however this can be as simple as a friction ring, snap shackle, or carabiner. In the simplest of forms and even without a purchase system, once you get to know your deep sailing mode requirements, this tweaking can be achieved by a fixed webbing or rope length forward of the stay and can be set up before the sail is even hoisted. A purchase system that can be adjusted under load, however, will give the best performance and stability as well as doing double duty to act as a boom preventer against an accidental gybe and also keep the Mainsail stable if you don’t have a vang. 📸 Amory Ross Sailing angles and techniques for best handling outcomes Whether it be a spinnaker Snuffer or either a top-down or bottom-up furling system, there are things you can do to make the process of sail setting or retrieval as successful as possible. The first thing to establish is the best angle to have the boat heading in relation to the true wind. This will be a sliding scale through the wind range with a closer angle required in lighter winds and a deeper angle in heavier winds. If you are too close to the wind with any of the above options, the sail will deploy too rapidly and not at a controlled pace, causing higher sheet load and flogging of the sail, and making sheeting -in much more drawn out and labor-intensive. 📸 Amory Ross The same goes for the furling away or snuffing of a sail; the heading must be far enough away from the wind to relieve the pressure in the sail. With a Snuffer, there is plenty of sheet that is perfect to have pre-set on the winch or in a tailor or cleat for the deployment of the sail. Once you have decided upon the best angle of sail, you should experiment with the sheet setting, and you will come to a conclusion that in some wind ranges to see the sail fill with air and set close to the required sheet setting with only a small trim on required. If you are unfurling a sail by being deep enough, you will be able to release the furling line and tail in the vast majority of the sheet without significant load. From this point, you can then change the course and trim the sail as required without flogging. At the same time, sailing an angle that is too deep could make the sail unstable and risk either accidental gybe or wrapping of the sail fabric around the forestay. Furling line paths that are simple and run cleanly are a must for the best outcomes Consider furling or snuffing for gybing, especially in higher winds, and decide to take sails down before the bad weather hits, not when you are already in the grips of a storm! My suggestions for A2 setting and retrieval angles are as follows if you log these from your own experiences on your boat and always go back to them, your downwind sailing will not only be more enjoyable, but you will prolong the life of your sails and rigging. 0-5 knots- Heading at 145 degrees of true wind 5-12 knots- Heading at 155 degrees of true wind 12-18 knots- Heading at 165 degrees of true wind Above 18 knots of wind most Multihulls will not require an A2 to achieve great downwind VMG. Other suggested valuable information to log and keep on hand to refer to are; When to add the reefs in the Mainsail When and how much tweaker to use in various wind ranges and angles of sail When to partly furl headsails and so on Through consultation with your North Sails Multihull Expert, we can provide you with a range of downwind sail options to match your needs. 📸 Amory Ross READ MORE

LET’S TALK J/111 Optimize Your J/111 Handicap North Sails J/111 experts Seadon Wijsen, Jeremy Smart, Allan Terhune, and Jack Orr combine their knowledge to bring you a webinar on how to optimize your J/111 racing experience. With multiple podium finishes under their belts, they have acquired a powerful collection of tips and tricks to maximize your boat speed and increase your performance in this competitive one design fleet. Topics covered include: 1:39 Kite Hoist 6:14 Downwind – Hoist and Set 12:43 Heavy Air Bottom Mark Rounding 15:30 Rig Tuning 20:17 Handicap Sailing with the J-111 23:15 Sail Inventory 28:19 Outboard Leads 34:13 HELIX 0A expected wind targets 35:09 Code sails choices 48:40 What Is HELIX Load Sharing Technology? 52:15 Bobstays & Code Zeros 55:36 Tweakers & Code Zeros 57:41 Spinnaker Staysail 1:02:54 Jibtops Learn more about North Sails fast J/111 designs. READ MORE

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: MIRO BALCAR A Discussion With Everyone's Favourite Frenchman Hugh Beaton from North Sails in Toronto chats with Quebec area representative Miro Balcar on his sailing career and what motivated him to join the North Sails team. What was it that attracted you to become a sales rep for North Sails? Love the sport, want to learn, appreciated the company's quest to build the best sail. What motivated me to become a North Sails rep. was that after many years of performance sailing on Lake Champlain, there were only a few sailors purchasing from North Sails a product developed using advanced technology well suited for any type of sailboat . It has been a very good 10 years - did you have any idea that it would be so successful? Over 400 sails since we started our partnership on Lake Champlain is quite an accomplishment. Quebec - Lake Champlain territory allowed me to work on many interesting projects in cooperation with Beneteau dealer Gosselin Marina, mainly with support of Guy, Christina and Martin Gosselin. The market seems particularly interested in our Performance Cruising products and wanting to get the most out of their boats. What is the ideal inventory for a 45 ft cruiser that wants modern sails to give the boat a boost in performance? To highlight some of these was supplying 3Dl sails for 5 Beneteau First 36.7 and First 40 and lately the new generation of Beneteau Oceanis from 40 to 58 feet. This new line of boats have modern sail plans benefiting greatly from three choices of the North Sails product line: NPL Tour, 3Di Nordac or 3Di Endurance and introducing Vertical Batten option to the Mainsail and 105% Jib helped profoundly to the sailing quality of these boats. I have worked with you on some very interesting projects including several of the new Beneteau's that require a Code Zero. How important do you think this sail is for the latest generation of cruisers? My customers are also interested in purchase of Code 0, which they discover makes these boats sail well in lighter wind conditions and because of the furling system we facilitate to sell with the Code 0 , it is very easy to use by the crew of husband and wife. Lake Champlain is certainly a beautiful cruising ground - for you, what is the perfect day on the water? My perfect day on the water is sailing my X yacht 46 in light wind conditions in around 5 kn TWS, in flat water, without any preconceived destination where there is quiet anchorage waiting to enjoy nice single malt whisky with good friends , before making plans for tasty meal. READ MORE

PHRF RACING SPRING REFRESHER Conseils de mise au point pour les courses de nuit de nos experts 📸 Cate Brown Les experts en voile Tom Castiglione et Jack Orr basés à Milford, dans le Connecticut, ont organisé un webinaire PHRF Spring Refresher qui aidera tout coureur de semaine / guerrier de fin de semaine à améliorer son jeu pour la prochaine série. Voici quelques points à retenir du webinaire qui s'appliquent à tout coureur de club. Comment obtenir un réglage optimal du gréement. Vous devriez utiliser le même processus à chaque fois que vous réglez de votre gréement pour des conditions données. Voici comment vous assurer de bien faire les choses, à chaque fois. Notez tous vos paramètres: votre réglage de base, petit temps, moyen, brise Familiarisez-vous avec votre guide de réglage et soyez à l'aise pour ajouter / reprendre des tours à quai et sur l'eau lorsque les conditions changent Pendant que vous êtes au ponton, rendez le mât droit en ajustant les diagonales et les haubans. Gardez à l'esprit que vous essayez simplement d'obtenir votre réglage de base. L'utilisation d’un tensiomètre de type « Loos » vous aidera à rester sur la bonne voie avec des ajustements incrémentiels. Fixez votre tensiomètre à environ 2 mètres du pont (au niveau des yeux) Dupliquez vos paramètres au fur et à mesure et mesurez toujours au même endroit à chaque fois Si vous avez passé une belle journée sur l'eau, prenez-en note. Il est bon de revenir au réglage de base à la fin de chaque journée, mais assurez-vous de savoir où vous vous trouviez dans ces conditions dans lesquelles vous avez bien navigué afin de pouvoir répliquer à nouveau ces paramètres le jour suivant. Les outils de réglage varient pour des bateaux de tailles différentes. L'utilisation de ruban électrique pour marquer vos barres de flèches et un marqueur pour que vous puissiez prendre des notes sur le pont aideront vos régleurs à trouver le bon réglage sans se poser de questions. Comment le réglage du gréement influence-t-il la forme des voiles? Gréement mou - Voiles plus creuses Gréement tendu - Voiles plus plates Essayez d'équilibrer les deux voiles Un pataras réglable facilement vous aidera à affiner vos voiles sur l'eau. En savoir plus sur la façon d’équilibrer votre plan de voilure. Changer de braquet Il existe quatre modes de navigation. Ces modes sont importants à comprendre pour que vous puissiez « allumer » lorsque vous en avez l'occasion, ou maintenir votre cap lorsque vous en avez absolument besoin. Mode bas:: conçu pour générer de la vitesse. Chute ouverte de 4-5cm par rapport au réglage de base sur les barres de flèches. La drisse est relâchée, le pataras est mou, le chariot de GV est sur l’axe-bateau ou légèrement en dessous. Mode normal: ne pas se battre pour préserver son cap, naviguer sur sa meilleure VMG, naviguer sur la cible. Chute ouverte 1-2 cm par rapport aux barres de flèches. Mode haut:: vous avez besoin de hauteur (cap), limite lay-line, un bateau sous le vent que vous essayez d'éviter. 0 cm du réglage max sur les barres de flèches = chute tendue. La drisse est tendue, pataras (continuez à pomper le pataras), le chariot de GV est sur l’axe-bateau ou légèrement au-dessus, la latte haute alignée sur l’axe ou légèrement en dessous de la bome. Mode de-power: pataras tendu, drisse tendue, hale-bas tendu pour garder la bome basse. Si vous voyez des plis provenant du mât se diriger vers le point d'écoute de GV, vous avez trop cintré votre mât et trop de pataras. Petit conseil: utilisez vos barres de flèches comme point de référence. Marquer vos barres de flèches au préalable vous aide à atteindre chaque mode, rapidement. 📸 Paul Wyeth Déplacement des poids Attribuer à un membre d'équipage la gestion de ceci pour chaque manœuvre Gardez votre équipage proche au rappel Dans le petit temps, envoyez votre équipage en bas et en avant. Si vous restez sur le pont, restez bas! Assurez-vous que votre équipage reste au rappel pendant les passages de marque. Il est essentiel de garder tout le safran dans l’eau! Trop de gite réduit l’efficacité de votre quille, ce qui vous fait dériver. Cela peut également vous forcer à lofer dans une risée. Choquez bien les voiles à la marque au vent, pour vous aider à abattre. Si vous utilisez bien votre poids et vos voiles, vous ne devriez pas avoir besoin de beaucoup de barre pour diriger le bateau. Attendez que le bateau soit stabilisé avant de commencer à ranger le pont, sauf si vous vous préparez à une manœuvre rapide. Au portant, l'équipage doit avancer dans le petit temps. Si le vent est plus fort, faites reculer l'équipage ; assurez-vous de ne pas avoir l’étrave trop profonde ou au contraire trop cabrée. Le placement des poids sur le pont peut aider votre bateau à mieux garder le bateau à plat et à être prêt lorsqu'une risée frappe. Si vous êtes à l'aise, vous vous trompez! 📸 Cate Brown / BIRW 2019 Communication Il devrait y avoir un flux constant de communication entre les régleurs et la barre. Un dialogue constant maintient les voiles réglées ensemble et en même temps. Si vous êtes à la recherche de plus de puissance, le régleur de GV et celui de voile d’avant doivent être informés afin qu'ils puissent régler / choquer / border en conséquence. Si l'un est choqué et que l'autre est complètement bordé, ce n'est pas rapide. En savoir plus sur la communication avec l'équipage et la chaîne de commandement appropriée à bord. Learn more about crew communication and proper chain of command onboard. Que faire au ponton: Nettoyez votre bateau. Si vous n'avez pas besoin de ces diverses choses pour courir, vous n'en avez pas besoin sur le bateau! Vérifiez votre coque. Les algues et l'usure de la coque sont une perte de vitesse. Même peu fait la différence! Assurez-vous que vos instruments fonctionnent correctement. Vérifiez vos instruments pour vous assurer qu'ils sont correctement calibrés et assurez-vous que tout le monde à bord sait comment les utiliser. La dernière chose que vous voulez, c'est que quelqu'un appuie sur le bouton «off» lorsque vous essayez de marquer 5:00 minutes ou bien cibler la mauvaise extrémité de la ligne. Réglez votre gréement. Sans un mat correctement réglé, vous ne pourrez pas contrôler le comportement de celui-ci sur toute la gamme des conditions de vent. Heureusement, le réglage des gréements est un processus pas à pas simple pour les gréements en tête de mât ou fractionnés. Apprenez-en plus sur la façon de régler efficacement votre gréement. Learn more on how to effectively tune your rig. 📸 Richard Mark Dobson, Adina Reacher & trinquette Une trinquette de genois peut être installée à l'intérieur d'un foc Un Reacher peut également être conçu pour s'installer sur le beaupré, ce qui ajoute des performances Modifications du beaupré pour simplifier votre navigation (pour le côtier et l'offshore) Idéal pour les angles lorsque vous ne naviguez pas souvent plein vent arrière. Si vous naviguez en banane à 15 nœuds, vous aimerez peut-être mieux l'option symétrique. En général, passer à l’asymétrique peut augmenter les performances du bateau, augmenter la vitesse, mais tout dépend du type de parcours que vous naviguez et cela indiquera ce qui vous convient le mieux. Il est essentiel de s'entraîner avant l'heure de la régate. Lorsque vous arrivez dans votre zone de course, que pouvez-vous ajouter à votre check-list d'avant course? Passez une journée à debugger les diverses manœuvres Chronométrer la ligne de départ Spinnaker envois et affalages Virements et empannages Utiliser votre poids d'équipage pour aller vite Les bateaux qui s’entrainent gagnent les courses! Missed our PHRF Spring Refresher webinar? Catch up and learn more from our experts on how you can enhance your performance on your next weeknight race / weekend regatta. Watch PHRF Webinar Have questions about optimizing your boat for weeknight racing? Contact PHRF experts Jack Orr or Tom Castiglione. Email Jack Email Tom Want to know how to choose the best sails for your next club race? Learn More READ MORE

LET’S TALK J/70 Downwind Boat Handling With visual support from images and video, North experts Allan Terhune, Eric Doyle and Alex Curtiss analyze downwind techniques in different wind strengths, including displacement modes and planing in heavier air. Pick up new techniques to improve your J/70 racing experience! Topics covered include: 1:26 – Setting the J/70 spinnaker 12:50 Soak VMG Jibing 21:00 Jibe Kite to a Wing 32:31 Jibing boom to wing on wing 41:40 Lazy Planing Jibe 47:25 Planing Jibe 56:23 Blow Through Jibe 1:01:28 Take Down Learn more about North Sails fast J/70 designs. READ MORE

IMOCA CORUM L’ÉPARGNE CELEBRATES HER LAUNCH First Impressions From North Sails France 📸 Matthieu Hacquebart / CORUM L’Épargne After a year of construction and the launch in Port-la-Forêt (Britany, France) last week, CORUM L’Épargne, French skipper Nicolas Troussel’s brand new IMOCA, made her first tacks on last Saturday equipped with North Sails to reach her home port of Lorient la Base (Britany, France). The latest foiler designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian and built by Michel Desjoyeaux’s Mer Agitée will soon be fitted with its foils. Nicolas Troussel is looking forward to starting the reliability phase, getting up to speed and familiar with his new boat. Here are the first impressions since the launch. A Colorful Grand Prix Monohull “The launch of CORUM L’Épargne was both a great moment and a relief, as we were keen to move on to a new stage in our campaign, to finally be able to sail and test the boat’s performance once the foils are fitted,” expressed Nicolas Troussel, the two-time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (2006 and 2008), and one of the 37 candidates to take part in the 9th edition of the Vendée Globe. “The boat is in line with what was expected in terms of cockpit ergonomics, deck shape and maneuvers.” “We’re proud of this boat,” adds Greg Evrard, Director of CORUM L’Épargne project. She is singular, her colors are beautiful and harmonious. There’s not much that hasn’t been thought out in her design. Nicolas was involved in all phases of the project, from hull construction to sail design, to create a boat that resembles him. From the outset, we considered strong biases to respect Nicolas’ choices. “There’s nothing that has not been thought of for this boat.” This launch represents a beautiful chapter in our project, which is coming to an end after one year of construction,” continues Greg Evrard. We’re going to write a lot of other pages now. The next essential step is to spend as much time on the water as possible, with priority being given to the boat’s reliability and the validation of the technical choices, including the final inventory of sails by the end of June.” Also, in June Nicolas will have to complete his qualifying course for the Vendée Globe, a 2,000-mile course off the coast of Brittany, which has to be validated by the race organizers. This will be followed by a first race on the water at the start in Les Sables d’Olonne on 4th July, which should bring together all the racers entered in the Vendée Globe. Fully Suited with North Sails CORUM L’Épargne is the latest new generation IMOCA boat to be launched, the eighth since the previous Vendée Globe and the seventh to be equipped with a complete 3Di wardrobe from North Sails. With five and a half months to go before the start of the Vendée Globe, nothing should be left to chance for Nicolas and his team to make the most of this precious time. That is why, right from the start, the team has incorporated a strong time constraint into the project with the aim of strengthening its ability to adapt and its agility. “As far as the sails are concerned, it’s a real upstream preparation work which was done in the initial phases with strong choices made,” explains Evrard. “We anticipated the sailing part, taking into account this time constraint. This first set of sails will enable us to tackle the following stages with serenity.” 📸 Matthieu Hacquebart / CORUM L’Épargne The shape of the sails, a crucial parameter for the balance of the boat Nicolas Troussel has been actively involved with Nicolas Lunven, sailing and boat performance project manager for CORUM L’Épargne in the design of the sails. The first exchanges with Quentin Ponroy and Gautier Sergent of North Sails started a year ago. “Sail design is a subject that interests me and is an integral part of the performance as well as the feeling of the boat when sailing,” says Nicolas Troussel. Even though the boat was still under construction, we used our experience and the tools put in place by the designers. We tried to project our ideas and imagine ourselves on the boat to come up with an inventory of sails that meet all the sailing conditions. It also had to be in line with my sailing style and the Vendée Globe program. All the choices were made with that in mind.” With the addition of foils, which accelerate the boat, the shape of the sails has become an even more important parameter than before for the boat’s balance,” explains Nicolas Troussel. For the moment, the first impressions are in line with the specifications. The triangulation as well as the shape of the sails are satisfactory. We’ll have to confirm our initial choices with numerous sessions on the water to perfect the sail trim and consequently the boat’s balance. And this selection phase remains tricky even if the set of sails is limited to eight (including the storm jib) and it is all the trickier for downwind sails, which require more complex thinking,” continues Nicolas. Indeed, there are many compromises to be made. Sometimes they are small details, but 10, 20 or 30 meters squared difference between the sails can change the game. It’s on the water that we will definitely validate our selection. We will still have the possibility to adjust, but without considering major modifications. In the approach to sail design for CORUM L’Épargne, the goal was not to create radical sails that involve a long development on the water,” confirms Quentin Ponroy, designer at North Sails. It was necessary to set a framework to design an efficient first set of sails based on our expertise and know-how. Serenity, Reliability and Performance For the moment, Nicolas is feeling rather serene and is looking forward to racing on the water. “I’m not apprehensive, the stress will rise soon enough, and that’s far from being the case today. I’m surrounded by a very competent and quality team, which is reassuring for the preparation for the Vendée Globe. I can’t wait to try out the boat with its foils and get a feel for its behavior, as last year, I sailed on a daggerboard boat, Jean Le Cam’s IMOCA. The sensations are inevitably different. “During my training sessions with Jean Le Cam, we talked a lot about sail trimming. He had just acquired a set of sails, also designed by North Sails, which enabled me to explore different configurations, reefing, how to handle the sails single-handed and the particularities of sailing in a Vendée Globe. We also focused our attention on the small details that can quickly get out of hand if you’re not careful. It was an enriching learning experience.” The next few days will be dedicated to structural, systems and gauge testing. Then Nicolas will begin the performance and technical phase alongside experts, Nicolas Lunven for sailing and boat performance, and Sebastien Josse and Thomas Rouxel for technical and sports training. “Time on the water is the key to this preparation for the Vendée Globe,” concluded Greg Evrard. To date, the start of the Vendée Globe is still scheduled for 8th November and two thirds of the fleet taking part in this solo round the world race without assistance are equipped with North Sails. 📸 Matthieu Hacquebart / CORUM L’Épargne READ MORE

SELECTING THE RIGHT DOWNWIND SAILS FOR YOUR MULTIHULL Make Off-the-Wind Sailing More Fun! Fast and fun off-wind sailing is what multihulls are all about. High speed, high stability and close wind angles require unique sail choices. Cruising multihulls in particular benefit from specialized sails that are versatile and easy to use. Understanding downwind sail types and selecting the right sail will help you achieve top performance from your boat and enjoy your time on the water. The fastest sail on the market won’t do any good if it’s going to spend all its time down below on the bunks because it’s too difficult to use. Sails for multihulls are not one size fits all. Figuring out the performance gaps, what the boat is set up for, what you already have are all important in determining what sails are best for you. We have a ton of options and we can customize to meet your needs. Which sails are best for me? That will depend on your experience and how your boat is set up, but it does help to understand the wind angles and geometry of downwind sails. We’ll discuss those in detail below, but first here’s a diagram that explains sail range: What to consider when choosing your ideal sail Wind Angles Knowing the optimal wind angle for your boat is the first step to choosing the right downwind sail type. Wind angle is the single most important factor in downwind sail design, but the terminology can be confusing. Many sailors think in terms of True Wind Speed (TWS) and True Wind Angle (TWA). True Wind combined with Boat Speed creates Apparent Wind, which is what really matters for downwind sail size and shape. You can find your boat’s predicted Apparent Wind Angle (AWA) and Apparent Wind Speed (AWS) in the boat manufacturer’s Polar Diagram, or ask your North Sails expert to calculate it for you. Most cruising multihulls like to sail around 90° AWA in a range of true wind conditions. Faster boats will sail closer AWAs, while slower boats will sail wider AWAs. Your own experience will also help figure out your boat’s optimal AWA; just look up at your wind indicator when sailing in the “groove.” Geometry Multihulls offer unique opportunities for setting and sheeting downwind sails. The wide deck platform provides outboard sheeting points that makes downwind sails more efficient. Similarly, the windward hull provides a tack location when sailing deeper angles is desired. The wide shroud base also creates some downwind sail sizing and sheeting restrictions. Downwind sails are sheeted either inside or outside the main shroud. ‘Inside’ sails are generally optimized for AWA closer than 90° and are called code sails. ‘Outside’ sails are generally optimized for AWA greater than 90° and are called either gennakers or spinnakers. Code Sails Code Sails are flat, furling headsails that provide maximum power for light air and close reaching. Code Sails sheet inside the main shroud and are used at or near upwind sailing angles. Code Sails require tough, low stretch and lightweight material for durability, shape holding, and and ease of handling. If stored when furled, Code Sails may incorporate leech and foot covers. If your boat has a small upwind headsail and you need more power for upwind and very close reaching, a Code Sail could be a great addition. Code Sails can also be combined with ‘outside’ sails for a two-sail downwind inventory. Sail Handling: Structural Furlers, Free Flying Furlers with Anti Torsion Luff Rope UV Material: UV paint for select styles, UV material for heavier weight sails Gennakers G Zero Gennakers are the most popular cruising multihull downwind sail because they offer great versatility and cover a wide range of wind angles. G Zeros feature a deeper shape and wider girth compared to Code Sails, sheet outside of main shroud, and excel at beam to close reaching. G Zeros are compatible with all furling systems or can be used with a snuffer. All cruising multihulls benefit from added downwind sail area and the G Zero is optimized to provide easy to use sail power. The most convenient thing about a G Zero is sail handling. Most of the time, it’s on a furler with a sun cover. It can be lightweight, and we can customize them for deeper sailing angles. They can also be built to sail as high as 60 degrees, which requires more stretch resistant materials and custom sail engineering. The G Zero is strong, and great for sailing fast in breeze. What’s the design difference? G Zeros have a higher clew. We’ll figure out the geometry based on measurements taken from your boat, as well as what type of furling gear you have, your sheeting angles, usage, and depth. Main Points: G Zeros are the most versatile downwind sail available in the widest range of fabrics. They are highly customizable, with many cloth and design options. Sail Handling: Free Flying Furlers with Anti Torsion Luff Rope, Top Down Furlers, Snuffers UV Material: UV paint for select styles, UV material for heavier sails (UV covers are not available for nylon or polyester spinnakers) Asymmetric Spinnakers If you are looking to optimize for deeper wind angles or plan to carry more than one downwind sail, North Sails offers a wide variety of asymmetric spinnakers. For example, the A4 spinnaker has broad shoulders to maximize sail area, while an A1.5 is designed to generate optimal downwind VMG. A G2 Gennaker is the go-to option to simplify deep running and lighter wind sailing. Sail Handling: Top Down Furlers, Snuffers Symmetric Spinnakers The tried and true sail for dead downwind offshore is a symmetric spinnaker. Sheeted to the bows, this is a stable and extremely safe form of downwind sail power. Sailing dead downwind in the tradewinds offers self correcting directional course stability and better alignment with offshore swells. Sail Handling: Snuffers Why would someone have two downwind sails on a cruising multihull? By filling a specific gap in the wind range and sailing angle, you’ll get the most efficient sail. Having only one downwind sail compromises either end of the range, so it’s best to cover your downwind sailing with two sail options. Want to learn more on off-wind multihull sailing? Contact your North Sails experts today and get the most out of your experience. In the Southern Hemisphere, contact Ben Kelly at North Sails in Brisbane, Australia. In France, please contact Hugues Destremau based in Vannes. And if you’re in the Western Hemisphere, contact Bob Meagher and Peter Grimm, based out of North Sails in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Missed the North Sails Multihull Webinar? Press Play! READ MORE

NORTH SAILS IRELAND: SAIL DESIGN WEBINAR TONIGHT Live With North Expert and Head of Design Jeremy Elliot North Sails Ireland will be running the next of their local Irish webinar series on Wednesday the 13th May at 8.30 pm. During this live, interactive webinar, the experts will discuss the North Sails design process, "From Concept to Reality", and explain how we go through the various stages of design from start to finish. Presenters Nigel Young, Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell and Shane Hughes will be joined by friend and collegiate, Jeremy Elliott. Originally from Kinsale and now residing and working in the UK, Jeremy is Head of Design for North Sails and has been involved in many Irish projects and sailing teams over the years. The team at North Sails Ireland have all had the pleasure of working and sailing with Jeremy over the years and are delighted to have him as the guest for the presentation on Wednesday evening. Please sign up in advance using the registration link. The webinar is free and open to all Irish sailors. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday the 13th May at 8.30pm and in the meantime, check out a short preview clip below of what to expect. READ MORE

THE NEXT GREAT FRONTIER Interview with Noel Drennan on Etchells Racing Noel Drennan with Billy Merrington, and Lewis Brake during the 2019 Etchells Australian Championship at RQYS © John Curnow The overall concept for conducting the North Sails Etchells Webinar, was to educate the fleet on the entire sail and mast package that Iain Murray (Havoc) and Graeme Taylor (Magpie) have been using, and to show it’s not just about the in hauling of the jibs. We have reviewed the questions received during and after the webinar that you can watch again, and have prepared these answers specifically to match them. Article republished from Sail-World / Etchells Australia, courtesy of John Curnow. Do I have to change my current mast and sails combination to the same as Iain Murray and GT? NO is the answer. The standard mast set up, (Sparcraft/Smidmore/Selden) with spreaders straight out, and LM series Jibs, is still very competitive. At the Australian Championship, both Mark Roberts and Kirwan Robb demonstrated this superbly, and both also won individual races over that very strong fleet, placing 4th and 6th overall, respectively. The important thing is to know your settings, regardless of the sails/mast combination, which is only solved by sailing and racing. Note that at the nationals, where Graeme Taylor was first, Iain in second, and then John Bertrand in third place, probably would have had the same result if they were all using the standard LM series Jibs without inhauling. Should I alter my Etchells to in-haul? I do believe it’s worth fitting an in hauling system, and it does not have to be the complete system change matching Iain and GT, but there is value in at least having the ability to in haul to the cuddy cabin edge or just inside. Do I have to move my shrouds for different conditions? There is value in moving the shrouds on the chainplates for different conditions. If you have a standard spreader set up mast, for example a Smidmore mast, I would only move the shrouds in top and bottom of the wind ranges, and only by one hole. That is to say that the Cap shroud should be in the front hole under 8 knots, and then hole position three over 18 knots, and for rest of the time in the standard hole #2. If in doubt about the possible sailing conditions, I would leave the shrouds in the standard #2 and #4 slots. It is important to remember that with the standard Smidmore mast, the spreader configuration is forward of straight out from the side of the mast, so quite different to Iain’s and GT’s masts. Should I try the MAL jib without the full in-haul jib sheeting system? This will work, but you’ll probably get even better results by in hauling to at least to the cuddy cabin, since you would be setting up with a slightly straighter forestay than a LM2L, or GM style jib, and the leech would be very open, or twisted leech, without any form of inhauling in place. Please have a look at Billy Merrington’s videos of how he economically retrofitted his Etchells to have an inhauling system, using many parts from his original set up. Part 1 Part 2 Can I compete with Iain and GT in my standard set up Etchells? The easy answer is yes, but can you then answer the following: Is your hull finish the same standard as Iain’s? Are you starting as well as GT and Iain? Are your sails in as good condition? Am I going the right way consistently, and hiking hard, with solid crew work? The Etchells class in Australia is the top end of one design racing, and there is a reason guys like JB and Iain Murray have raced the boat for 30 years. The impressive thing is they are both as keen to improve today as they were when starting in the Etchells class. Let’s look at Iain and his crew: Iain has been at the forefront of Australian sailing forever, from the 18s to America’s Cup, and the Star at the Olympics, etc. Richie Allanson has an incredible, long time and broad base of experience in racing and sailmaking, and living Etchells everyday. Then you have Col Beashel, a six time Olympian, three time Etchells World Champion and winner of a small regatta in Newport in 1983. Graeme Taylor’s Magpie team have many regatta wins over the last years, and the scary thing is that GT is the only one on Magpie that has not won an Etchells Worlds, with both James and Tom previous Etchells World Champions! That is all pretty impressive, and yes, hard to compete with, but that’s why we race Etchells. The best thing about Etchells you can go to any fleet club race in Australia, and you will have to sail well, start well, and go the right way if you want to win. It is not easy. The zoom format has opened up a new world for sailor education, and is definitely going to be something used in the future. The Melbourne Etchells fleet and Adrian Finglas have been using zoom for coaching sessions during our COVID-19 downtime, which is just awesome, and a great way to educate the fleet. Zoom debriefs, for example a few days after the regatta has finished, will be an incredible tool for developing your Etchells sailing. READ MORE

RACING RESTART It's Time To Get Back On The Water! Ervin Grove from North Sails in Charleston shares how they are helping local sailors get back out on the water safely and within government guidelines. For many of us “racers” our sailing style could be defined as analytical, obsessive, competitive and most importantly, passionate. Whether its an International event, an Offshore event or the Charleston Wednesday Night Summer Series– as soon as we leave the dock for a race, we have reached our happy place. In South Carolina we have been fortunate to see less boating restrictions compared to other parts in the world. While public access was closed for several weeks, we never saw the boating scene shut down. Since we were lucky enough to have access to our waterways although under certain restriction, we've taken up a new love for cruising. John partnered with an old College of Charleston Sailing teammate, Joe Pitcavage last year on a J/105. Since then, his boat partner has used the boat regularly for harbor races. John has also used the boat extensively, but for family cruising. The J/105, like many racer-cruisers, can be set up to do both well. However, a month into this crisis our discussions turned to the unknown fate of sailboat racing. John commented; "Things have changed and the events aren’t coming back– until we bring them back. Our local sailing community is in the process of a full restart, as many of our friends already have boats. There are some clients that have boats that haven't been as active on the water as they are more into the racing aspect of the sport. Our goal is to get all sailors out on the water, and we've got a good reason to!" The drafting began and with the help of North Sails cruising expert, Bob Meagher out of Ft Lauderdale. We have now published our Notice of Cruise (NOC). The “Cabin Fever Cruise” is a 7-mile race around government marks in Charleston Harbor. Along the cruise you pass landmarks such as Battery Park, Ft Sumter, the USS Yorktown and the Ravenel Bridge. The start, much like the New England favorite, “Figawi”, is a pursuit style start with starting times published in the NOC. This distance cruise usually takes between an hour and a half to two hour total. This new style of sailing event has brought much interest to the sailors of Charleston and we have seen competitors join in in all types of boats, ranging from a Catalina 22 to a Gunboat 55. The last three Saturdays we had 15 to 20 boats out cruising and we expect to see that number to continue to grow. You can find our Notice of Cruise below and we hope you will adapt along with it to fit into your local communities guidelines when the time is right. We will see you back on the water soon! And for all the local Charleston Cruisers, we'll see you out there at noon on Saturday! Cabin Fever Cruises Sailing Instructions READ MORE

THE SCIENCE BEHIND YOUR SAIL TRIM Induced Drag and Mainsail Leeches 📸 Jeff Brown By Tom Whidden One of the goals for our book, The Art and Science of Sails, is to connect the theoretical with the practical. An understanding of the physics of aerodynamics will help us better trim and set our sails. To illustrate this, I’ve chosen a seemingly obscure topic – induced drag and how to minimize it – by splicing together a few excerpts from my new book. As a tactician, I need to ensure the boat is fast. Otherwise, we’re not going to win, regardless of how well I do my job. And, since the main was always front and center for me, I was constantly studying it, ensuring my mainsail trimmer was doing his/her job. I hope the following will help you better understand the connection between the science and sail trim—and there’s plenty more detail in the book. ******** By far the largest and most destructive drag for sailing performance is induced drag. The root cause of induced drag is the changing of the direction of the air flow by the foil. With airplane wings that change is downward; with a sail it’s to weather. The change in flow direction is the beginning of the process of lift. So, induced drag is a direct result of the creation of lift. In more technical terms, induced drag is the varying coefficient of lift (Cl) across the span. In other words, the differences in lift across or over the total area of a sail or wing cause induced drag. 📸 Bronny Daniels / Joysailing.com How does induced drag relate to real life on a sailboat? Assuming the boat is well trimmed and properly set up, about 80 percent of the total sail area will experience relatively constant Cl. However, in the aftermost 20 percent of the sail, the velocity of the flow rapidly decreases; and with it, the lift. The rapidly changing Cl results in significant induced drag, some on the leech and some at the head and foot. This induced drag forms the vast majority of the total drag. There are two variations of induced drag: off the trailing edge (leech) off the tips (head and foot) 📸 Eagle 53 in St Tropez Induced Drag off the Leech These are vortices, spinning counterclockwise-off that trailing edge. A deeper head section, compared to the bottom, minimizes the flow of air trying to find the shortest path from the high-pressure windward side to the low-pressure leeward side. Leech twist is very significant for the optimization of upwind speed. It’s been said that the only reason to have a front of a main is to be able to attach the leech area to the mast! The leech of the main not only ensures that the air bent around the front of the main is allowed to exit with the least interference (induced drag), but also to help steer the boat. So, how should the trimmer adjust the leech to best attain the above two goals while sailing upwind? With a well-designed and relatively new main, the answer is to sheet the main until the top telltale (preferably hanging off the back of the top batten) just begins to stall. If it’s constantly stalled (hidden to leeward), it’s a sign drag is too high. The lift-to-drag (L/D) ratio is lowered. If the telltale is flying straight back or there is an excess of backwind, it’s a sign that the sail could be sheeted tighter to allow the boat to sail closer to the wind. In this case, the L/D ratio is reduced for the opposite reason. This screen shot, from a RANS-code CFD analysis, illustrates the tip vortices emanating primarily from the top leech of the main on a fractional-rigged boat. The orientation is looking back at the top of a rig and sails from just to leeward and forward of the onset flow. Induced Drag off the Head and Foot The second variation in induced drag is tip vortex. On a plane, these flow off the ends of the wings; on a sail, they flow off the head and foot. There is a pressure difference, or delta, from the lee side of the sail to the windward side. Nature abhors pressure deltas. It’s why we have wind. And, it’s why the flow on the high-pressure side of a sail wants to escape over the top or end to help equalize this pressure. Almost all modern race boats employ a fractional rig. At the hounds, the main’s chord on the fractional rig is still quite long and therefore helps shed the headsail’s tip vortices. On a masthead rig, the tip vortices of the headsail are matched with the tip vortices of the mainsail. Not good! ***** We cover this topic (and many others) in much more detail in The Art & Science of Sails Revised Edition, written by myself and Michael Levitt. If you enjoyed this short overview you’ll enjoy the book even more. READ MORE

HURRICANE SEASON PREP North Sails Experts Share Their Tips Once again, the experts have predicted an active hurricane season this year, but in 2020, preparations will be made within the context of COVID-19. As a result, boat owners must consider changes to their annual plans to address threats to their boat and their health, as the season begins June 1. Run or Hide? The decision to run from a storm or hunker down is easier for some. Boats on trailers can be protected in a number of ways. A rented warehouse can cost far less than damage from blowing debris. If a boat's left outside, consider filling the cockpit or bilge with water to help weigh it down, place blocks beneath the trailer frame on either side of the wheels, and then deflate the tires completely. Twist or drill auger-type tie-down anchors into the ground, tie the boat to the trailer, tie the boat to those anchors, and remove everything you can. For larger keelboats, finding shelter often requires more planning. According to BoatUS, "the choice of locations is the single most important decision a boat owner has to make before a storm. It dwarfs all others." Boats on the hard are less likely to suffer serious damage on shore, even if toppled. If you'll stay afloat, investigate a marina's piling height and depth, floating vs. fixed docks, and the comprehensiveness of its operator's storm plan. Additionally, owners need to know their marina's policy and state law very well to ensure they understand their rights and responsibilities in a storm with regard to the facility. Many insurance policies require cruisers to exit latitudes perceived to be more hurricane-prone. In a year when the Bahamas and many Caribbean countries have discouraged visitors with quarantines and lockdowns, marinas in the Carolinas, Chesapeake and further north may have less availability. Of more concern, in April, states like Rhode Island took a hard line toward anyone arriving on the water from out of state, either prohibiting transient boaters or imposing a two-week quarantine before coming ashore. If your insurance requires to you leave one part of the world, make sure you have well-thought out plans for arriving at your destination in case such policies resume. Supplies In the past, hurricane preparation involved hours inside West Marine or other chandleries buying rope, bumpers, and other supplies. Any specific hurricane threat will likely overcome this year's social-distancing concerns, but advanced preparation can mitigate both risks. Dust off last year's list of all the materials you will need to prepare your boat. Combine resources with others to buy spools of mooring rope or chain at deep discounts. After familiarizing yourself with your vendor's return policy on hurricane-related items, buy online, for home delivery or curbside pickup. Sails Without question, plan to remove your sails from your boat long prior to the storm. If you're familiar with the process you'll know how long it takes, but if it's been a while, anticipate two people will need at least an hour total for the main and genoa on a 40-footer, double that on a larger mainsail with full battens. If your sails haven't been serviced in a while, most North Sails facilities will be open leading up to the storm and able to store them for review and regular repair after the threat has passed, but call ahead to ensure staff isn't securing their own homes when you want to drop by. If curbside drop-off remains the preferred practice, you may be asked to provide all your contact information and work required ahead of time. If you wait too long and have to leave the sails in place, wrap them tightly, using a spinnaker or spare genoa halyard to "barber-pole" the furled genoa, and spare line to lash the mainsail tightly to the boom. Remember, even tightly-wrapped sails like this greatly increase the boat's windage and load and chafe on mooring lines so consider this a last resort. Personal Safety The loss of life from 2019's Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas will never be fully known. A stationary Category 5 storm wreaked unprecedented devastation on even well-fortified structures, and should remind us all that personal safety comes ahead of protecting our boat or other replaceable items. Liveaboard cruisers in the path of a storm may have to rely on local hurricane shelters for this last-resort protection, and in the era of face-masks and hand sanitizer, should have plenty of each to increase their safety when enclosed with dozens of area residents during a storm. Next Year Hopefully 2020's preparations will be time well-wasted, and storms will stay out to sea. If so, learn from the experience. Just like after a regatta or long passage, as you let down your guard in the Fall, ask yourself what you did well, and what could have been improved, and make notes for next year. Hopefully the 2021 hurricane season will just be another typical "above average" season without the parallel viral threat complicating our plans. READ MORE

LET’S TALK MELGES 24 Upwind Trim with Special Guest Federico Michetti North Sails Melges 24 experts, Olympians and World Champion sailors Maurice ‘Prof’ O’Connell and Giulio Desiderato joined by five-time World Champion, Federico Michetti in an interactive webinar focused on maximizing your downwind speed. 5:45 Light Wind (3-6 knots) 9:55 Jibe Technique: Late Main Jibe 14:36 Light to Medium Wind (7-9 knots) 18:56 Medium Wind ( 9-14 knots) 27:55 Jibing Techniques – Normal or “Mexican”? 41:26 – Strong Wind (15-20 knots) 48:21 Super Strong Wind (25+ knots) Learn about the North Sails fast Melges 24 sails. READ MORE

ROYAL VICTORIA YC SUPPORTING SAILING Maintaining Social Distancing While Keeping Local Sailing Alive Drew Mitchell, North Sails expert from our Vancouver loft, check-ins with Andrew Madding from Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Madding shares how they are getting members on the water and racing during these unprecedented times. Words on the docks is that the Royal Victoria YC are running sailboat races. What are the new rules in terms of crew members with social distancing regulations in effect. All boats must be sailed with only crew and skippers living in the same household, there shall be no socializing before or after the race(s) and no burdened vessel shall come within one boat length of an advantaged boat. In terms of on shore etiquette, participants are encouraged to allow plenty of time to launch or prepare your boat, wipe all public surfaces (gates, crane controls, knobs, etc.) before use and wear gloves, stay six feet or more away from anyone else. We encourage anyone showing flu-like symptoms to stay home and remind everyone that respecting social distancing on and off the water will help ensure that sailing and racing remain available during this difficult time. Social distancing deniers are not welcome. What do you think the average crew number is ? Single Handed or Family members...so hard to say average. as one can be crew or a Family with kids might be 7 in all. Looks like you guys have quite the attendance when/what time is the racing and how many boats are you getting out? The race shall start at 12:00 GPS time, usually on Sundays. The SI’s sent out ahead of time include all the specific start time + date information. The first race had about 20 boats and now it is growing as word spread. How are the races started and finished, any different than normal? The start/finish line shall be between the Northern most barber pole on the breakwater and the white mooring buoy in the center of the bay. There are no flags or signals however boats can communicate on channel 9 if needed. All boats shall return on reverse course once the fastest boat has reached the furthest outgoing mark. All boats shall reverse course if no vessel has reached the furthest mark within one hour. There may be more than one race and spinnakers are optional. Has the Corona Virus saved sailing? Royal Victoria Yacht Club has had 35 boats out racing the last three Sundays for the Single Handed/Household family members racing, this is way up from the 10-15 boats we have been getting out for club racing over the past few years. Maybe sailing has gotten to competitive even at the club level for most, no results, everyone turns around when the fastest boat reaches the halfway mark of the race. - Fraser McMillan Why do you think you guys are getting such a good turn out? The first race had about 20 boats...once the word got out..from me putting the images that I took on the Clubs Facebook Racing Page and from word of mouth, I started getting emails as to how do we find out about the next race. Is the yacht club open and or services available? Friday, Saturday and Sunday they have a take out menu that you can access on line and they will bring your order out to your car once a time is set when your order will be ready. via email/phone calls. From the pictures I saw and the attendance record why do you think racing is so important to a sailing community at a time like this? I don’t like having to stay at home all the time. In my case my boat is at a marina half a block from my house, so I’m isolated on it most days. This time of year there were races happening every weekend, and it was suggested that although no one was out sailing it would be nice to remember what we did in pictures. So it began, sailors would send in to the Club’s Facebook page pictures of them out sailing. As I have been one of the Photographer’s for the club for many years I have thousands of pictures of Yacht Races, not just from this Club but from the lower part of the Vancouver Island going back to the 1990. I started going back many years of racing and pulling out images I thought people would enjoy....it wasn’t long before Don Sargent a Club member came up with the idea of a single handed race...He sent out invitations via email to various skippers and the first race Happened April 5, 2020. And the rest is history. READ MORE

PHRF RACING SPRING REFRESHER Weeknight Racing Tune-Up Tips From Our Experts 📸 Cate Brown Sail experts Tom Castiglione and Jack Orr based in Milford, Connecticut hosted a PHRF Spring Refresher webinar that will help any weeknight racer/ weekend warrior up-their game for the next series. Here are some take aways from the webinar that apply to any club racer. How To Achieve Optimum Rig Tune. You should try to have the same process each time when getting your rig set up for given conditions. Here’s how you can make sure you do it right, every time. Record all of your settings: Your base, light air, medium air, heavy air settings Be familiar with your tuning guide, and be comfortable adding turns/ taking turns off at the dock and on the water as conditions change While at the dock, make the mast straight by adjusting the diagonals, cap shrouds. Keep in mind you are simply trying to get your baseline. Using a Loos gauge will help you stay on track with incremental adjustments. Attach your Loos Gauge about 2 meters from the deck. Eye-level is always a good place to start Duplicate your settings as you go, and always measure from the same place every time If you have a great day on the water, make a note of it. It’s good to go back to base at the end of each day, but make sure you know where you were in those conditions you did well in so you can replicate settings again the next day Tuning devices vary for different sized boats. Using electrical tape to mark your spreaders, and a marker so you can make notes on the deck will help your trimmers get to the right trim setting without question. How does rig set up affect sail shape? Softer rig- fuller sail Tighter rig- flatter sail Try to balance both sails Adding an adjustable backstay to make your sails pull tighter will help you fine-tune on the water. Read more on how to achieve balance in your sailplan. Changing gears There are Four modes of sailing. Modes are important to understand so you can power up when you have the opportunity, or maintain your lane when you absolutely have to. Foot mode: designed to generate speed. 4-5” off. Halyard is soft, backstay is soft, trailer and sheet is CL or slightly below CL Normal mode: not fighting for a lane, sailing your best VMG, sailing on target. 1-2” off Point mode: you need height, shy of layline, boat to leeward you are trying to avoid. 0” off the spreaders= tight. Halyard is hard, backstay (keep pumping hydraulic backstay), the traveler is CL or slightly above, sheet top batten on CL or slightly below the boom. De-power mode: backstay on, halyard on, vang on hard to keep boom level. If you see wrinkles coming from the mast going to the clew, you’ve inverted your mast, and you have too much backstay. Quick Tip: Use your spreaders as a reference point. Marking your spreaders before you leave the dock helps you achieve each mode, quick. 📸 Paul Wyeth Weight placement Assign a crew member to help manage this for each maneuver Keep your crew close together on the rail In light air, send your crew down below and forward. If you remain on deck, get low! Make sure your crew is on the rail during mark roundings. It’s essential to keep your rudder in the water! Too much heel reduces your keel depth, which causes you to go sideways. It can also force you to round up in a puff. Ease the sails at the mark, to help you steer the boat down. If you use weight and your sails, you shouldn’t require much helm to steer the boat. Wait until the boat is settled before you begin to clean up unless you are preparing for a quick maneuver. The crew needs to move forward in lighter air and on the downwind. If breezy, you run the crew back downwind, but make sure you are not too bow or stern heavy. Equal body weight placement on-deck can help your boat get through the wave state better, and help you keep the boat flat and not over flatten when you are coming down a wave, or when a puff hits. If you are comfortable, you are doing it wrong! 📸 Cate Brown / BIRW 2019 Communication There should be a constant flow of communication happening between the trimmers and the helm. Constant dialogue keeps the sails trimmed together, and at the same time. If you are looking for more power, the main and jib trimmer needs to know so they can ease/ trim on accordingly. If one is eased and the other is fully trimmed, that is not fast. Learn more about crew communication and proper chain of command onboard. What to do at the dock: Clean out your boat. If you don’t need it to race, you don’t need it on the boat! Check your hull. Any knicks, growth, wear and tear on the hull is speed lost. Even a little makes a difference! Make sure your instruments are running properly. Check your instruments to make sure they are correctly calibrated and make sure everyone on board knows how to use them. The last thing you want is for someone to hit the ‘off’ button when you are trying to mark 5:00 minutes or ping the wrong end of the line. Tune your rig. Without a properly tuned rig, you won’t be able to control your mast’s behavior over the full range of conditions. Fortunately, rig tuning is a straightforward step by step process for both masthead and fractional rigs. Learn more on how to effectively tune your rig. 📸 Richard Mark Dobson, Adina Jib Top & Genoa Staysails A Genoa Staysail can be set inside a Jib A Jib Top can also be designed to set on the bowsprit which adds performance Bowsprit modifications to simplify your sailing (for inshore and offshore) Great for angles when you are not DDW often. If you are sailing a W/L in 15 knots, you may like the symmetric option better. In general, shifting to asym can increase the performance of the boat, adding speed, but it all depends on what type of courses you are sailing that will dictate which choice is best for you. It’s essential to practice before it’s time to race. When you get to your racing area, what can you add to your pre-race checklist? Spend a day getting the bugs out Time the starting line Spinnaker sets and douses Tacking and jibing Using your crew weight to go fast Boats that practice win the races! Missed our PHRF Spring Refresher webinar? Catch up and learn more from our experts on how you can enhance your performance on your next weeknight race / weekend regatta. Watch PHRF Webinar   Have questions about optimizing your boat for weeknight racing? Contact PHRF experts Jack Orr or Tom Castiglione. Email Jack Email Tom   Want to know how to choose the best sails for your next club race? Learn More READ MORE

CALENDARIO DE SEMINARIOS WEB Durante esta temporada de confinamiento, North Sails ofrece una serie de seminarios web sobre diferentes temáticas, de acceso totalmente libre. A lo largo del mes de abril se ha hablado de navegación en empopada, de vela oceánica, de reglamentación en paso por boya en regata, de navegación en multicascos, de enrollado, de navegación en Dragón y en Etchells,.. Nuestros expertos están diseñando los contenidos de nuevos e interesantes webinars que iremos anunciando puntualmente. El programa completo de seminarios web está disponible en el perfil de North Sails en Facebook. Ante cualquier duda, puedes consultarnos directamente en info@es.northsails.com. Durante esta temporada de confinamiento, North Sails ofrece una serie de seminarios web sobre diferentes temáticas, de acceso totalmente libre. A lo largo del mes de abril se ha hablado de navegación en empopada, de vela oceánica, de reglamentación en paso por boya en regata, de navegación en multicascos, de enrollado, de navegación en Dragón y en Etchells,.. READ MORE

CRUISING TO THE 1000 ISLANDS George Jackson Shares His Favourite Must-See Attractions While self-isolating, dreaming of sailing again, open up your favourite navigation app, Navionics, perhaps. Or Google Earth. Scroll over to eastern Lake Ontario...Take note of the north shore of eastern Lake Ontario. Within a long day's sail, the varied and vast cruising grounds of eastern Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence river await. Beginning in Brighton and ending passed Brockville, there are so many coves, harbours, open reaches, and terrific freshwater sailing to be had. So many different itineraries could be plotted. A great feature of cruising these waters is flexibility due to changes in weather. Protected waters can be found easily, no matter the wind direction. Last summer, asked by a former Royal Canadian YC commodore to join a portion of his summer cruise to the 1000 Islands, my backyard, I could not refuse his invitation. He sailed his Niagara 35 down from Toronto to Belleville. I took the train from Kingston. A VIA train is a great way to shuttle back and forth along this cruising route. Also joining us was another friend of the Commodore, a former BC Ferries captain who had long wanted to sail among the 1000 Islands. My skipper's goal was to get to the granite-featured, historic 1000 Islands straight away. Had he wanted to explore "the county" as Torontonians call it, Prince Edward County is an impressive cruising ground -- Picton. Adolphus Reach. Waupoos Island. Prince Edward Bay. Prinyer's Cove. A region distinguished by limestone cliffs, fresh, clear water, gravelly beaches and good anchorages. Instead, we pressed on. Towards Kingston, Amherst Island provides excellent protection from the swells but ample water to sail back and forth between the mainland and the north shore of Amherst. Here too are some lovely anchorages -- Kerr Bay, Loyalist Cove, Preston Cove and Collins Bay – all before Kingston is even in sight. For the more adventuresome, pass through the Upper Gap and make Main Duck Island and School House Bay a destination before heading back to Kingston on what could be a downwind sleigh ride from The Ducks given the prevailing southwest winds. I'll pass over Kingston for now. But let me say this, try to book ahead if you want to stay at any of the clubs or marinas in the area. Spots get booked up. This holds for the marinas in both the US and Canadian waters along the St. Lawrence. Kingston is called the Limestone city, yet you quickly leave the grey rock behind and begin to sail through what is known as the Frontenac Arch or Axis. The Axis is an exposed strip of Precambrian granite rock that links the Canadian Shield from Algonquin Park through to the Adirondacks. It's this feature that makes a tour of the 1000 Islands so unique yet like Manitoulin Island or the East Coast. Once again, so many options. So little time. A word of extra caution. No doubt, you have had a proper study of the charts as you have sailed or motored to this point. In these waters, safe, damage-free passage making requires vigilant navigating. Use the guides. Use your mobile Navionics app, use your eyes and binocluars but know where you are and where you are going. As they say, the water can get hard fast if one is not paying attention. What attracts many mariners is the Thousand Islands National Park system, established in 1904, formerly known as the St. Lawrence Islands National Park. The park consists of 21 islands plus many smaller islets. Depending on the island, there may be a dock or a mooring ball or a quiet cove to anchor. Life on the hook is idyllic. But be sure to have screens, it's a little buggy at dawn and dusk. On either the north or south mainland shores are pretty towns and villages each with services but also fun things to do. For instance, Gananoque has its 1000 Island Playhouse, a summertime, waterside, theatre. Clayton, NY, has the Antique Boat Museum. Grab your guide book or search Google and plan away. As you cruise into the islands, there are abundant sailing opportunities, but they may be limited depending on wind direction, strength and your next destination. Even with good winds, you may find yourself motoring more, so keep an eye on your fuel, oil levels and water discharge although the water is pristine, there is floating debris, like plastic bags lurking to clog water-intakes. The 1000 Islands are really closer than you think. The sailing is good, with lots to see and do. All this to say, go! Go as soon as you can. Who knows when, but plan and go. Learn more about cruising sails to help with your adventure here. READ MORE

UNSUNG HERO'S: A TRIBUTE TO YOUR SERVICE North Sails Ireland Salute Richard Marshall and Team for Front Line Supplies Here at North Sails Ireland we are delighted to work with Richard Marshall and his Marshall Marine Textiles Team for the service arm of our business. Richard is a very experienced sailor in his own right and a magician when it comes to repairing sails or working with any type of fabrics. Our local team has been working with Richard since 2004, when North Sails Ireland was founded. It quickly became apparent to me that there is nothing that Richard and his team at Marshall Marine Textiles cannot do with fabrics. It was no surprise to me to find him supplying PPE to the front line long before anyone else had even thought about it! Not one to blow his own trumpet, Richard was very slow getting the message out to the World about what he was up to as he was unbelievably busy Now in a very short time Richard and the team have produced thousands of items with many more on order from the HSE. It's hard to keep up with him in number terms but I normally talk to him a couple of times a week just to check in. This week he passed a major milestone having sewn over 10,000 pieces of PPE equipment in record time! Here at North Sails Ireland we would like to salute Richard and his team for the amazing work and we are extremely proud to be working together for the last 17 years. We have had some very interesting times together over the years but I have to say that this current period is one that none of us will ever forget. Keep up the great work, you guys are truly amazing! READ MORE