NORTH SAILS BLOG

BAYVIEW MAC STRATEGY Tips on Sail Selection, Routing and More for Upcoming Bayview Mac © Martin | Photoelement On Thursday March 14th, North Sails Detroit finished up their Winter Seminar Series with a stop at Bayview Yacht Club. Once again Bill Gladstone from North U was the featured speaker with Karl Kuspa from North Sails Detroit joining him to discuss Bayview Mac Strategy, Sail Selection, and Routing. North Sails and Bayview Yacht Club are pleased to be partners for this event and the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race. “When you partner with the best everybody wins,” said Commodore Sandy Fullerton of Bayview Yacht Club. Commodore Fullerton goes on to say “North Sails shows up bringing the brightest and the best. They pack your house! Everybody gets charged up. You learn something new, confirm what you know, shake off the winter and get jacked up about Sailing! Thank you North Sails.” With a full house of 150 people on hand it is easy to understand the enthusiasm. Sailors traveled from across the entire region to attend this two hour event. “Attending the recent North U seminars at BYC was amazing. As the Race Chair, I was particularly pleased to see the area’s that attendee’s came from. We had racers from Buffalo NY, Cleveland OH, Chicago IL and Toronto Canada. It was great to witness this kind of interest from other sailors working to hon their skills for the upcoming sailing season and 2019 Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race” states 2019 Race Chair Bob Nutter. © Martin | Photoelement The three seminar series was a first for North Sails Detroit with the first two events being held at their new loft. “With the way our loft is laid out, it is a no brainer for us to host events like this.” says Loft Manager Karl Kuspa. “Throughout my entire 30 years in the marine industry I have always tried to give back. I am just happy that I work for a company that allows us to continue to do so.” In all, over 300 people attended the three events covering topics such as sail trim, tactics and of course, the Mackinac Race. While most people have their thoughts towards Summer, North Sails Detroit has already started the planning process for next Winter's Seminar Series. We have a lot of ideas for next year. It is going to be great! READ MORE

CRO JEDRA FENOMENALNA NA EUROPA CUPU U KOPRU foto: Franjo Jurić Čak pet medalja na tri postolja u generalnom plasmanu su hrvatski jedriličari donijeli iz Dežele! Sve tri kategorije klase Laser su zastupljene u ovoj brojci, a riječ je o prvoj ovogodišnjoj regati iz ciklusa Europa Cupa. Pa da krenemo po redu: Laser Standard - ukupno 24 natjecatelja: - Mario Novak (JK Split, Split) - 1. mjesto generalno - Marko Smolić (JK Val, Šibenik) - 2. mjesto generalno i 1. mjesto U21 - Dominik Perković (JK Labud, Split) - 2. mjesto U21 i 4. mjesto generalno - Juraj Radačić (JK Val, Šibenik) - 1. mjesto U19 i 15. mjesto generalno - Lukšić Antonio (JK Opatija, Opatija) - 2. mjesto U19 i 20. generalno Laser Radial - ukupno 88 natjecateljki i natjecatelja: - Karmen Perković (JK Labud, Split) - 1. mjesto generalno i 1. mjesto U21 - Roko Copić (JK Val, Šibenik) - 3. mjesto generalno i 2. mjesto U19 Laser 4.7 - ukupno 101 natjecateljka i natjecatelj: - Ursula Balas (JD Val, Crikvenica)- 1. mjesto generalno i 1. mjesto U18 - Nika Manestar (JD Val, Crikvenica) - 2. mjesto U18 i 4. mjesto generalno Ovako velik broj natjecatelja je izgleda pozitivna posljedica promjene sustava bodovanja. Ranije se koristio sustav koji je u obzir uzimao i nacionalne regate u pojedinim državama, pa su se koristili koeficijenti u kojima je značajan element bio i broj sudionika na njima, pa su u konačnici najviše profitirale države s velikom bazičnom flotom poput Italije, Francuske, Njemačke. To je bilo vrlo nepovoljno za one s manjim brojem jedriličara u klasi, pa je zbog toga jedno vrijeme Europa Cup gubio na popularnosti. Sadašnji sustav boduje vrednuje samo regate Europa Cupa i to na način da se uzimaju po tri najbolja rezultata. Posljedica je da se prije održavanja natjecanja poput Europskih i Svjetskih prvenstava dobije mnogo realnija slika o formi natjecatelja, a i općenito o očekivanjima na tim velikim regatama. A kako je Hrvatska domaćin jednoj od regata iz ciklusa, kao što je i postojanje nekoliko regata u susjednim nam državama, to je odlična prilika za mlade natjecatelje koji tek stupaju na međunarodnu scenu da na njima skupljaju iskustvo natjecanja u velikim flotama. U tri dana regate standardi su uspjeli odjedriti 5 plovova, dok su radiali i 4.7 odjedrili po plov manje. Lako razumljivo s obzirom da su ove dvije skupine zbog broja jedriličara bile podijeljene u po dvije grupe. Vrijeme ih nije posebno mazilo, jednako kao što ni na ostatku sjevernog Jadrana vrijeme nije bilo baš bajno za jedrenje. U isto vrijeme se u Opatiji trebalo odjedriti Prvenstvo Hrvatske za klasu IOM, ali nisu imali nikakve sreće s vjetrom. Za to vrijeme na srednjem i južnom Jadranu je puhalo umjereno i jako jugo. Ali prepustimo riječ treneru šibenske ekipe, inače tajniku juniorskih klasa, Teu Piasevoliju: Kopar je područje u kojem su uvijek prevladavali lagani vjetrovi, uglavnom sa zapada. Slična prognoza je bila i za ovu regatu, lagani zapadnjak i jugo u dolasku. A s druge strane jugo u Kopru nije baš dobra prilika zbog geografskog položaja. Ne puše paralelno s obalom kao kod nas, već na svom putu nailazi na Istru preko koje treba prijeći, pa se ne uspijeva probiti. Tako da je to jugo tamo specifično, promjenjivog smjera, rupičasto, različitih pritisaka na različitim mjestima regatnog polja. U tim uvjetima je ključ ostati stabilan, održavati koncentraciju i izdržati to u glavi. Ovaj put je dodatna otežavajuća okolnost bilo i to što se prvi dan nije napravio niti jedan plov, a drugog dana samo jedan plov po termičkom zapadnjaku. Tek trećeg dana je prevladalo jugo koje je imalo snagu oko 5-6 čvorova, pa do refula od petnaestak čvorova. Na kraju se ipak uspjelo napraviti 4 i 5 plovova, jer je vrlo važno imati odbacivanje u takvim uvjetima jedrenja da bi se dobila što realnija slika. Ja sam super zadovoljan nastupom mojih jedriličara. Marko, Juraj i Roko su mladi i u naponu snage, a ovaj rezultat im je došao kao vrlo lijepa nagrada za naporne treninge koje smo imali tijekom ove zime. A što se tiče hrvatskog jedrenja mogu reći da smo apsolutni pobjednici ove regate jer smo odnijeli pobjede u svim kategorijama! Mislim da program rada sa sustavom kampova i zajedničkim treninzima svih laseraša pokazuje svoje rezultate. Npr. u Radialu je vrhunski doživljaj vidjeti da u jednom plovu u grupi pobijedi Copić, onda idući plov pobijedi Bruno Gašpić, pa plov odnese Božo Golubić... stvarno vrhunski za gledati to sa strane. A opet, iza jedrenja svi dolaze jedan do drugog i sportski i prijateljski čestitaju jedni drugima. Mišljenja sam da tako trebamo nastaviti i dalje i da se naši jedriličari još više zbliže, zajedno treniraju. Uvjeren sam da je to jedini način da naši jedriličari ostanu u vrhu i budu među najboljima u svijetu. Ako se zatvorimo u sebe i svatko krene individualno trenirati imat ćemo regate samo između nas samih a to nigdje ne vodi. Teo Piasevoli, JK Val - Šibenik U Laser Standardu bodovna situacija je bila takva da su se već od starta naša tri jedriličara našla na vrhu. To su bili Mario Novak, Marko Smolić i Dominik Perković. Između njih se još ubacio i slovenac Matej Valič i samo su nijanse odlučivale. Najbolji primjer je da su Novak i Smolić nakon 5 jedrenja imali jednak broj bodova, a odlučilo je to što je Novak uknjižio jedno prvo mjesto, dok je Smolić samo imao dobar bodovni skor, a da bi drama bila još veća do uspoređivanja rezultata na taj način je došlo u posljednjim metrima posljednjeg plova: Uvjeti su bili baš teški i stvarno je bilo teško održavati konstantne rezultate, pogotovo u nedjelju. Vjetar je mijenjao smjer doslovno po stotinjak stupnjeva. Svaka orca je bila drugačija, ali često sam jedrio u Kopru pa sam očekivao takve uvjete i odluke Regatnog odbora da će puštati regate po svemu. Tako da sam bio spreman na to i to sam pokazao tog posljednjeg dana regate. Koncentracija mi je bila na odgovarajućoj razini u cijeloj regati. Posebno mi je drago što sam značajno popravio starteve. Na svakom startu sam se uspio pozicionirati u vodećoj grupi i tijekom jedrenja ići naprijed u poretku. Jedini kiks se desio u zadnjem plovu kad smo se zadnju orcu spojili s flotom Lasera 4.7. Taj plov sam bio vodeći i kad smo se spojili s tom drugom flotom ostao sam u vakuumu između dvije jedrilice i tu su me dvojica uspjela prestići. Moram pohvaliti i konkurenciju. Znao sam da je Dominik po ovim uvjetima vrlo opasan, Mario je isto bio vrlo konstantan, samo je jedan plov loše otvorio ali mu se to na kraju odbacilo. A zadnji dan je Valič napravio dva prva mjesta i dodatno zakomplicirao situaciju na vrhu. Marko Smolić, JK Val - Šibenik Osim spomenutih jedriličara u ovoj grupi treba spomenuti i solidan nastup Jurja Radačića i Antonia Luksića, najmlađih jedriličara u floti Standarda. U floti Laser Radiala Karmen Perković je bila neprikosnovena. Izuzevši drugi plov (koji se odbacio), do pobjede je došla s jednim trećim mjestom i dvije pobjede. Koliko je dobro jedrila govori i podatak da je ona u kategoriji U21, a u floti je bilo i vrlo iskusnih seniorki. Na drugom mjestu je završio finski jedriličar Otto Dahlberg, a na trećem mjestu član JK Val iz Šibenika, Roko Copić: Bili su dosta zeznuti uvjeti. Prvog dana nismo jedrili jer je bila bonaca, a drugog dana jedva jedan plov. Polje je tada bilo vrlo teško. Vladali su različiti pritisci na različitim mjestima, a tek trećeg dana po dosta težim uvjetima uspio sam biti konstantan i dobro jedriti. Konkurencija je bila vrlo jaka. Svatko je mogao naći uvjete koji su mu odgovarali, od teškaša pa do laganijih jedriličara. Karmen je regatu vrhunski odjedrila. S njom sam zadnji dan bio u istoj grupi. Prvi plov dana kada sam ja pobijedio ona je otvorila 17. mjestom, ali je nakon toga složila dvije pobjede za redom. Bila je stvarno konstantna na čelu flote i stvarno je zasluženo prva. Roko Copić, JK Val - Šibenik A među najmlađima, u inačici 4.7 jedrilo je čak 20 CRO jedara. Slično kao i na hrvatskim regatama, najbolja je i ovaj put bila Ursula Balas, a klupska joj je kolegica Nika Manestar završila na 4. mjestu s jednakim brojem bodova kao i trećeplasirani talijan. Koliko je matematika nemilosrdna pokazuje detalj da je Nika, nakon odbacivanja, na četvrtom mjestu završila samo s trećim mjestima. Zato je Ursula imala lakšu jednadžbu i do pobjede dolazi s dva prva mjesta i jednim drugim. Naš najbolji momak u skupini bio je Luka Vuković (JK Labud, Split) s 8. mjestom u generalnom poretku. Ostali naši juniori su se većinom ravnomjerno rasporedili po ljestvici. Slijedeća regata Europa Cupa se jedri u Švicarskoj u Luganu. READ MORE

THE SCURRS AND THE WILD GOAT ADVENTURE Dipping Their Toes Into The Cruising Lifestyle We caught up with our clients, Shari and Robin Scurrs to hear about their cruising adventure down in the BVI's and how this is just the beginning of their lifelong dream as live-a-boards. What inspired you to start cruising? Shari: Robin’s brother owns a 36 ft Beneteau, which was apart of a charter program in the BVI's, not having any clue, never ever been on a sailboat. After that we started sailing yearly with Robs brother in Puerto Rico. One of the last trips, New Years Eye, had gone to a small island in Belize. They started chatting with the boat next to them and end up meeting husband and wife couple that live on the boat. Where ever they go, next town, next country, the whole sailing community ends up there too. There is this sailing community of live a boards up and down the Caribbean. Robin: After that night, Shari started on this idea; "Hey, we could do this more," and that was five years ago. People thought we were talking garbage and didn’t think we could pull it off. What steps are you taking to prepare for this journey and what kind of resources will you be utilizing in the prep stage? Robin is in a position where he’s been in the schools for over 30 years - and he can now retire at 55. We can go anywhere; we have a home that we inherited in Florida, which we keep as a home base and we rent the property when we're not there. Between the pension and the condo, things kept falling into place for us to start living the cruising life. Can you elaborate on your planned route? How did you decide on it? Sailing through the Apostle Islands then south along the east coast to a destination in Florida. Robin: We’re planning on casting-off sometime in July, since I retire in June. We’re going to sail around various ports in Michigan and eventually get down to the Bahamas for next winter. I'll go due east until the temp starts to drop, and then turn right. From there, we'll head due south, depending on the winds, there's multiple places to check-in and make landfall. Shari: In July, we're going to go up to the Apostle Islands and Lake Superior along the Pictured Rocks. From there we'll hit Isle Royal back down the channel in CA, lake Huron and the Georgia Bay Area, then eventually make our way out of the St. Lawrence Seaway. What made you choose a 1981 S-2 11.0/36 ft, and why do you think it's ideal for your new cruising lifestyle? We started our hunt for a boat with a short list; friends found a boat and recommended it. Well kept freshwater boat, kept in Lake Michigan, made in Holland, MI. Good solid fiberglass with no coring of any kind. Robin: It was an older boat, and the couple that owned it had planned to live a board and had fixed the boat up on a budget. They added dinghy davits, they added solar, an inverter, and refrigeration. They refinished everything, and added a chart plotter and radar. It really had all that it needed for us. The minute I went down below, I was done. What's attractive about it is it’s an older boat, it has all this wood. This boat reminded them of Robin's brothers cottage - all wood. Shari commented, "I go below and I’m in my happy place. I’m at the cottage." They had never sailed it, but they bought the boat, a year ago in December. The boat purchase happened sooner than they had expected. They added AIS, changing the ports and using the additional budget to continue to outfit the boat. After much debate, they decided upon Wild Goat as the name due to Shari’s fondness to goats. What is your background/experience in long distance offshore sailing? Robin: We have no offshore experience other than watching other people on YouTube do it. They make it look like if you pick your routes and choose your weather wisely it’s not that bad. It’s obviously a very intimidating thing for the first time. People are afraid of it which is a perfectly valid response because obviously bad things happen to boats in the ocean. We have a wealth of weather information for help to do route planning and communications options that simply didn’t exist even 20 years ago, so I’m not terribly concerned, but it is something new for us and will be learning experience. What led you to the Detroit team of North Sails to inspect and repair your sails in preparation for the trip? Shari saw the North Sails logo on one of the sails that came with the boat and did a web search. She found North Sails Detroit and filled out an online request form. She knew North was a big company with a good reputation. When we called her back she was impressed with how we took the time to answer all of her questions. On her first visit to the loft, she was greeted with a tour which left a good impression on her. She said she felt like we treated her like family from the first phone call to the completion of the service work on their sails. Not to mention the mutual connection loft manager Karl Kuspa had with a good friend of hers associated with Two-Hearted Ale. How long do you anticipate this trip lasting? What are your plans once you arrive at your destination? Shari has big plans. She is eyeing up the many maps she has plastered on her walls with places like Bimini and the Galapagos circled. Robin is helping with the logistics aspect. She is very optimistic about making it to many far flung places. Robin has to remind her about the logistics aspects, but won’t rule out any ideas right away. What is the biggest motivation that keeps pushing you onward to make this happen? Robin: There is that magical moment when you pull out of the slip, or wherever it may be, and you head out and turn up and you raise the sails, fall off and get the boat propelling under there, and then you turn the engine off. It’s the magical moment where it's just the sound of the waves and the wind and the boat moving, it's like silence and it's calm. Shari: I wanna say by sailing you’re not flying into an airport, you’re not being taken to the touristy areas. When you come in on a sailboat, you come in to the same place that the fisherman do. You're immediately gonna see the local part of it…the real stuff. You open yourself up to really seeing what a place is about. Traveling by a boat, you are just automatically a couple steps ahead. We love to travel and the adventure that comes from being on the road. READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: TOM PEASE Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert How long have you been sailing? What classes do you compete? I was introduced to sailing when my dad bought his first boat, a Flying Dutchman, when I was about five years old. I really started to get involved when he moved up to a 26 ft keel boat and joined the local yacht club and started racing on the weekends and in the Wednesday night beer can series. Going through the club’s Jr program, I sailed and raced many different single handed and crewed centerboard and keel boats. What boats/classes do you sail? As a Jr we had access to and raced Butterfly’s, Lasers, Flying Juniors, 470’s, Lightnings and International 210’s. As part of the North Sails team, my focus had been primarily offshore racing on the Great Lakes in MORC, PHRF, ORR (and IOR back in the day) and one design offshore classes. What got you into the marine industry and what do you like about it? North Sails Midwest was our local loft and one day I walked in and asked for a job to make some money to go to school. I started as a shipper and worked my way through the ranks of handwork, service manager, designer, and sales. The new challenges always kept the job fresh and there were plenty of opportunities to learn from the talented North Sails team. Because of the connections, I've had the chance to sail with numerous clients on many different boats across North America- which has been quite rewarding. How long have you been working in the industry? What keeps you coming back for more? I’ve been in the industry for nearly 40 years, starting in the 70’s in boat yards and at North Sails. I took a 10-year break from 1995 – 2005 to see what the ‘real world’ was all about. I discovered neckties and suits were not my thing and rejoined North Sails where I get to work with clients that are passionate about their hobby and the sport. What's your favorite aspects about sailing? There’s no one single answer to this question; If it’s cruising with my wife, it’s the freedom and relaxation of going with the flow and throwing a timeline out the window. When I’m racing it’s the competition and working with the team to show our best for the day or event, and the satisfaction of coming into the dock and being able to say we gave it our all and it was pretty good. READ MORE

CHICAGO MAC STRATEGY Perry Lewis And Bill Gladstone Of North U Share Advice For The Chicago Mac The lake was still frozen in patches around the old ice breaker home of Columbia Yacht Club. Our Midwestern sailors can't wait for winter to be over, and 120 of them trekked out for this sold out race seminar. We had a wide range of experienced sailors attending and it was a great opportunity for all to dust off the snow and salt in anticipation for the 111th CYC RACE TO MACKINAC - JULY 13, 2019. Continuing our North U. winter seminar series, Perry Lewis and Bill Gladstone hosted the Chicago Mac Strategy seminar at Columbia YC last Wednesday. Perry shared his 40+ years of knowledge and expertise of racing the Chicago Mac and Bill took us through the very useful routing software, Expedition, to plan strategy for a race like the Chicago Mac with his many years of experience also racing this one-of-a-kind event on Lake Michigan. Want to make sure your sails are ready for the race? Connect with our team from the Chicago loft to see how they can help you and your sails be race ready! READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: KEITH CHURCH Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert What background do you have in sailing? I learned how to sail a Sailfish and Sunfish in Barrington Rhode Island. As a boy I was fortunate to be able to go to sailing camp at Camp Monomoy on Cape Cod. While in High school, I built a 110 foot Sloop, “The Sloop Providence”, in Portsmouth, RI. While in college I sailed on the Black Pearl, Barclay Warburton’s H-Brig Schooner out of Bowen’s Wharf in Newport RI. Mr. Warburton assigned me to civilian crew; sailing the Coast guard Ship the Eagle out of Groton, CT to the port of Baltimore, MD. What boats/classes do you sail? I have sailed in PHRF regattas on many boats, my favorites being the Express 37 , GL70’s, and most recent enjoyed cruising on an XP 55 out of Chicago. I’ve always enjoyed the level of competition of One Design sailing on Penguins. I have raced on J/Boats, Sydney 38s, Farr 40s, Farr MUMM 30s, and more. What got you into the marine industry? When I was very young I would go to the boat yard in Barrington, RI and hang out in the ship’s store glazing over the shinny marine hardware and listening to the stories being told by the old salts. While in grade school I built models of hydroplanes. In high school I built, during the summer, a 110 foot Sloop, “The Sloop Providence” in Portsmouth RI. I started boat shows in Chicago in the mid 80’s and managed the Ship’s Store in the largest boat yard in the Midwest. A number of years ago I helped bring the 33’ daysailer; the e33 to market. How long have you been working in the marine industry? I've been in the industry for 45 years, and I've been selling sails for 10 years. What do you love most about sailing and what keeps you coming back? At first I was driven by the idea that I could move anywhere and do this kind of work. I felt like I had something to offer and contribute to this industry by making old technology products more desirable or by bringing new products to market. Ultimately, my goal is just making our customers happy with the best available options, which is North Sails. The people keep me coming back. I enjoy the interaction on the boat whether I am learning or teaching someone else, or competing for the prize. READ MORE

M32 SAILING IS HEATING UP The Road To The Worlds Is Always Exciting In These High Adrenaline Cats 📸 M32 World / Felipe Juncadella Eight M32s will meet in Miami for the fourth and final event of the 2019 class Winter Series. A single point separates the top two boats, who have their eyes on the “Rooster” series trophy. After Miami, M32 seasons are heating up on both sides of the Atlantic. In North America, the fleet will compete at Charleston Race Week before heading north to Newport, Rhode Island, for the NYYC Annual Regatta, the inaugural Midtown Cup. Meanwhile, the European fleet will start their season with two regattas in Italy before heading north to Holland and Sweden. Both European and North American seasons culminate with the 2019 World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy at the end of August. The M32 is a fast, fun, one design catamaran class. Designed in 2011, this dynamic class saw dramatic growth two years later when Aston Harald Composite, under the leadership of sailing enthusiast Hakan Svensson, acquired design and production rights. Through his involvement with the Volvo Ocean Race, Hakan knew North was the right choice to supply one design sails for the class. Since 2014. North Sails have provided fast, consistent sails for the entire class. 📸 M32 World / Felipe Juncadella “The North 3Di RAW mainsail has been an excellent product,” said Dave Doucett, Director of M32 North America. “It’s a great value because owners are delivered a fast, yet bombproof sail that is competitive for several seasons. Class sails are built to the exact specifications of the strict one design class rules.” With an owner-centric mentality, the class has planned a sailing schedule that provides easy logistics to amazing sailing venues. Owners in both North America and Europe are able to hone their speed and boat handling skills during a full regatta schedule in global sailing hotspots, and also close to home with their local fleets. A strong M32 fleet is expected on the start line at the 2019 Worlds. Located at the northern end of Lake Garda, Riva del Garda is one of the best-known yacht racing venues in the world. Northerly wind in the morning and the southerly Ora kicking in the early afternoon, combined with the funneling effects of the mountains, provide the perfect flat water, strong wind sailing conditions for these high-performance catamarans. 📸 M32 World / Felipe Juncadella Throughout the 2019 M32 European Series, manufacturer Aston Harald will have two circuit boats available. The first will be loaned to a ‘development team,’ which might be a youth, women’s, or local team looking to try a professional racing circuit. The second will be a test boat for teams coming from monohull classes who wish to experience high adrenaline racing against a mix of pro and owner-driver teams. The M32 Europen organisers can set up potential owners and teams with M32 crew, as required: Contact Mattias Dahlström: mattias.dahlstrom@astonharald.com In North America, potential new owners and teams will have the opportunity to test sail an M32 at the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta (June 14-16) and The Midtown Cup (July 12-14) in Newport RI. Test sailing will also be available at the North American Championships in Miami FL (November 15-17). Contact Dave Doucett: dave.doucett@astonharald.com For more about M32 sailing in 2019 Race Schedule | M32 Web | Facebook | Instagram @m32official   📸 M32 World / Felipe Juncadella READ MORE

Building on over 45 years of tradition and heritage, The Ocean Race is the world’s premiere, fully-crewed, around the world race. Since the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973, through 20 years of the Volvo Ocean Race, this offshore classic has always attracted the world’s best sailors. Now known as The Ocean Race, the next edition is set to start from Alicante, Spain in 2021, with two classes of boats: the fantastic, foiling IMOCA 60s and the one-design VO65s, which produced the closest race in history in the last edition. To catch up on the latest developments and learn what’s been going on behind the scenes since the last race, join The Ocean Race for its online launch on March 21st at 1900 UTC. Bookmark These Links: Web | YouTube | Facebook | Facebook Live READ MORE

STAR CLASS LEADER ERIC DOYLE After Three Decades, Eric Keeps Coming Back To The Star © Bronny Daniels Even after almost three decades in the class, 2019 Bacardi Cup champion Eric Doyle thinks there’s still plenty left to figure out. “It’s the best platform for learning about sail shape and rig tune,” he says. “There’s quite a bit of pumping and kinetics involved. And there’s a bit of keeping the rig upright as well.” Combined, those challenges have kept him in the Star boat—and, between regattas, doing long bike rides to improve fitness and focus. Eric started sailing as a kid on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, “Because it was so bloody hot you kind of had to be on the water in order to survive.” During college in Mobile, Alabama, he sailed Stars for the first time with the local fleet. “When I got out of college and was done racing small boats, I thought that the Star was just the coolest thing ever and started racing them.” “When I got out of college and was done racing small boats, I thought that the Star was just the coolest thing ever and started racing them.” That led to an Olympic campaign ahead of the 1992 Games, and that in turn led to an important phone call.“Vince Brun called me and said, ‘Hey, why don’t you come work for North Sails in San Diego, there’s a great Star fleet out here. I think it’ll help your career.’ So I packed up, pulled my Star boat out here, and started working for him.” In 1999, Eric won the Star World Championship and his first Gold Star. “129 boat fleet, that was a highlight for sure.” More recently, he and crew Payson Infelise won the 2018 North Americans. “We’re feeling pretty strong right now. So, hopefully we can continue rolling along.” © Bronny Daniels Since first starting at North in 1992, Eric has done some big boat sailing as well, including an America’s Cup campaign with Dennis Conner and two with Oracle. But in 2017 the opportunity came to return to the Star—and to San Diego. Now, as Class Leader for North Sails, he’s brought his Cup experience back to help improve one design sails. “It’s taken me two years to get the sails where they are now. We have made some nice improvements.” For 2019, North is offering a completely new Star product line. As class leader, Eric is responsible for identifying the improvements he wants to make and communicating them to the design team. Then he tests the sails with a tuning partner to quantify if the changes worked. “We did quite a bit in the lead up to the 2018 North Americans,” he says. “And it all turned out pretty good. We were much faster in lighter air.” (For more about the process and results, read Star Sail Design R&D) Eric’s plans for 2019 include two regattas in Europe: the Star Europeans on Lake Garda, and the Worlds in Porto Cervo. “We’re going to try and do those, and hopefully have a good result. And keep on in the fall after that.” Because even after thirty years in the Star, Eric knows there’s still plenty left to learn. © Bronny Daniels READ MORE

STAR SAIL DESIGN: R&D Upgraded 2019 Sail Inventory Explained By Eric Doyle And Mike Marshall © Martina Orsini North Sails has been making fast Star sails since the very beginning. “The first sail Lowell North made, was a Star sail,” 1999 Star World Champion Eric Doyle points out. “And we’ve been refining them ever since.” As the Star Class Leader for North Sails, Eric devoted the past two years to figuring out how to make this hundred-year-old class go just a little bit faster. Recently he proved that was time well spent with a decisive win at the 2019 Bacardi Cup. “We were really pleased with our performance throughout the wind range,” Eric explains, adding that he used the new M-25 mainsail for the entire event. “The mast section is quite small and the sail area is quite big,” he continues. “So small changes make a big difference. “It’s such a great platform for learning what changes you can make and the effects they have on sail shape and boat speed.” Matching Sails to Rig and Smoothing After a few years away from the class to work with the Oracle America’s Cup team, Eric says it took more than a year for him and his crew to get back up to speed with the top teams. “The rigs are stiffer now. So they’re a little easier to control and they don’t break as often.” That meant sails had to evolve as well. “We’ve revamped the whole product line this year.” North Sails designer Mike Marshall adds some detail. “We matched the luff curve to the new masts and made a couple other little design tweaks here and there to really up the range of the sails, and fix some issues they were having when they would trim too hard,” Mike says. “Certain areas would be closing, so we made a couple of tweaks. And then we made some panel layout changes.” In addition to making the sails fit on a stiffer mast section, another goal was to reduce any bumps. “Aesthetically smooth sails are key,” Mike says. “So we made a couple of changes, especially in the jibs and some detailing. Such minor things that can really cause a problem, it’s impressive sometimes how small it can be. We worked hard on that.” Also, improvements in technology have made it possible for designers to reduce weight without threatening the sail’s structural integrity. “What if we don’t like the weight of the aluminum headboard?” Mike asks. “Can we put something in there that’s going to give the stiffening but be a quarter of the weight? How do we make that smooth? You’re making the sail as light as you can, without compromising the loaded structure.” And as Eric and Mike agree, all those little changes add up to a faster Star sail. © Martina Orsini Sail Testing Sail testing done right—two well-matched boats, and a coach—is time-consuming, but it’s the only way to quantify improvement. First, says Eric; “We have to do a lot of sailing to get as fast as the top guys and feel comfortable throughout the wind range, and with our settings. Then we have to identify our weak spots, and what we think the problem and/or solution is.” An example is the stiff mast he was using when he stepped back into the Star two years ago. “We were pretty fast in the medium conditions, but when it got really windy, we struggled to make the sail flat enough. So, we analyzed the sails with a sail digitizing program, and compared them to what we had in the past. Then we changed the sail and went back out to find the same conditions. “We had a big problem in really light air,” Eric continues, “and we really weren’t sure if it was the mast or the sails. At the 2019 Midwinters we changed both at the same time, something we normally don’t do, but we had a pretty good idea of what was needed. The sail was a little bit knuckle forward, so we reduced the luff curve a bit. The pictures and the coaching showed us that was the thing to do.” The result? “We were much faster in lighter air.” Eric feels lucky to have John McCausland as a tuning partner. “He’s a great sailor, former world champion. We’ve been tuning together for 20 years. I don’t like to leave the dock without him, because we’re super-efficient. We know how to set up, and make changes, and wait for each other. And he shares everything openly, so it’s really great.” Mainsail Design Details The M-25 mainsail “Our standard M-25 main, we had to get it to fit the stiffer mast and not give away too much on older masts that are more flexible. It is slightly flatter then the previous M-16 model, and it has a little tighter mid-leech with a bit more twist in the top. It’s a good all-around mainsail for the entire wind range.” The M-25 is the only mainsail Eric used to win the 2019 Bacardi Cup, though it’s not the only model available. For the lighter winds of North America, there’s a North mainsail M0-5, made entirely of minimum weight cloth. “It’s a little more powerful to help get the crew over the side a little quicker, which is key in the Star. If you can get the crew over, you’re going pretty fast.” Jib Design Details All of the redesigned jibs are radial, which improves both longevity and wind range. “The J-115 Full Radial Jib really excels in flatter water,” Eric says, adding that it was their choice for most days at the Bacardi Cup. “It can sheet really hard for maximum pointing.” On one of the light days in Miami Eric used the J-6 Wave Jib, which is better in bumpy water. “It powered through the big fleet chop with ease.” He recommends the J-6 for West Coast sailing, where they often get swell overlaid with chop. “It has more power down low and a wider entry angle to help make a wider groove when you’ve got to steer around the waves.” There’s also a J-2, “for one of those days when you’re wondering if they’re going to send you out or not in 20 or 25 knots. It’s heavier cloth and full radial construction, and it’s quite fast. It’s really nice when you don’t want to destroy your light jib-which you can do pretty easily on a big breeze day.” North has been winning Star world championships since 1957, so making already fast designs even faster takes a lot of effort. “We’ve improved what we felt was already pretty good,” Eric says. “It’s a lot of time and testing. But I think we made some nice steps this year.” READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: BLAY SHOENHERR Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert How long have you been sailing? In what classes do you compete? Sailing has always been in my family and I started at at seven in the junior program at Grosse Pointe Club. By age nine, I was ready advance to a more serious program and joined the Bayview Yacht Club junior program where I raced competitively in Optimists, Flying Juniors, and 420s. I joined the Grosse Pointe South Sailing team when I started high school and raced 420s all four years competing in both fleet and team racing. At the same time I raced actively in local Detroit fleets including, J/35s, Beneteau 36.7 (Multiple North Americans), J/120s, NA 40s, J/105s etc. I have completed 15 Port Huron Mackinacs (1 overall, 1 first in class, and 12 Chicago Mackinaws-with one first in class finish in 2018 in the J/111 fleet). Over the years I have race on many performance boats including, Ultimate 20s, Melges 32s, Melges 24s, TP52s, and Santa Cruz 70s. I currently am active in the Melges 24 class and 'll be racing a TP52 this summer in the Great Lakes circuit. What's your background in the marine industry? What do you like about it? I started working on race boats at age 17 and continued with various race programs in the summers through college. I currently work as a marine technician focused on sailboats and rigging at a local northern Michigan boat shop. My favorite aspect of working in the marine industry is the technology and the people. There is always something new to learn as the industry evolves. Being able to share my knowledge and solve problems with clients and the community is truly rewarding. What keeps your coming back for more? The competition and family nature of the sailing community keeps me coming back. Every time I'm on the water I learn something new. What's your favorite thing about sailing? My favorite thing about sailing is the camaraderie. It’s an amazing community and has rewarded me with lifelong friendships. READ MORE

ETCHELLS SUCCESS FOR NORTH SAILS IN GEELONG Top Of The Fleet Powered By North Sails At Victorian Championship Regatta While the Etchells Victorian Championship regatta in Geelong, Australia last weekend brought mixed conditions, the results for Magpie, skippered by Graeme Taylor and his crew Richie Allanson and James Mayo, remained consistent. Finishing top of the podium, they won four out of six races, (placing second in the other two), followed closely by North’s own Charlie Cumbley in Tango with Chris Hampton and Sam Haines. Third was Jean-Claude Strong’s 1435, with Tom Slingsby, Marcus Burke and Kate Devereux crewing. Charlie Cumbley, Etchells Class Expert: ''North Sails light and heavy air jib designs proved their versatility and success during the regatta, handling well in a range of wind strengths, from 5 to 35 knots.''. Visit our Etchells class page for the latest results, tuning guide and to contact your local expert. READ MORE

NEW STAR DESIGNS DELIVER IN MIAMI Eric Doyle Wins Bacardi Cup With M-25 Mainsail And J-115 Full Radial Jib Eric Doyle and Payson Infelise, 2019 Bacardi Cup Champions. © Martina Orsini Eric Doyle and Payson Infelise won the 2019 Bacardi Cup Invitational, beating out seven World Champions and multiple Olympic medalists by never crossing the finish line worse than fourth. Coral Reef Yacht Club and the beautiful Biscayne Bay host this prestigious event every year, and Miami did not disappoint; sailors had warm weather and great breeze almost the entire week. THE RACING Racing began on Monday with a shifty southerly breeze. Defending champions Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi showed they were serious about winning again by decisively taking the first race. After a day off with not enough wind for racing, Polish Olympic champion Mateusz Kuszierewicz/Frithjof Kleen redeemed themselves from a first race OCS to take the gun in race two. Great breeze arrived Thursday, and the French duo of Xavier Rohart/Pierre Alexis Ponsot won a hard-fought victory in race three. Midway through the series, Doyle/Infelise hadn’t finished out of the top four and were leading the series by a nice margin. On Friday, Paul Cayard and six-time Bacardi Cup champion Magnus Liljedahl really hit their stride and won races four and five by comfortable margins. Doyle/Infelise had not yet won a race, but with no finish worse than fourth they went into the final race with only Cayard/Liljedahl a mathematical threat for the championship. When they rounded first and spotted Cayard/Liljedahl uncharacteristically far from the leaders, Doyle/Infelise were able to retire early and enjoy a quiet victory sail back to the dock. Kuszierewicz/Kleen won a hard fought battle against the always fast team of Eivind Melleby/Josh Revkin, and those two teams filled out the other podium spots. The Star Class is known to have a deep fleet of very talented sailors from all over the World ©Martina Orsini THE CREW A good crew is critical to winning Star regattas, and Eric says he’s lucky to sail with Payson. “We always have a good time on and off the water. He basically runs the show downwind. At the bottom, it’s just a basic question: do we go left or right? What do you like? And we go that way. It’s great to have someone to bounce ideas off of, and it’s almost always correct. We’ve been sailing together five or six years, so everything happens automatically with very few distractions. Anything goes wrong, it’s no big deal. We just move on.” Eric and Payson celebrating after the final race. © Martina Orsini LOOKING AHEAD According to Eric, 2019 is going to be a really big year for the Star. “At the European Championships in Garda in May, there’ll be the traditional Star racing until the last day, and then the top ten boats go into a Star Sailors League knockout series. Then we have the Star Worlds in Porto Cervo, which everybody is excited about. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect 100 boats at each of those events.” And the North Sails product line will be ready to perform. “We had 5-20 knots and we used one main the whole time,” Eric says. “I felt as fast as anybody throughout the whole wind range. Many customers commented on how well it worked in all conditions, easy to trim and set up and most importantly, fast. And that’s what we’re aiming for.” The awards ceremony © Martina Orsini READ MORE

NORTH SAILS AT NEWPORT SHIPYARD New East Coast Sales Office Opens May 1 In Response To Growing Demand North Sails is pleased to announce the opening of a new sales office in Newport, Rhode Island. Located in the heart of the vibrant Newport Shipyard, the team believes that this location will give Grand Prix, One Design, Multihull, Cruising and Superyacht customers an easy and bespoke solution for all their sailmaking needs. The new office will work alongside the expansive North sales and service center only 15-minutes away in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. As Newport Harbor and the surrounding area are hosting even more major events, many of which are based from the Shipyard, the new office allows clients easier access to a North Sails expert. They can also drop sails off, have them repaired and pick them up without ever leaving the Shipyard. Mike Toppa, a North Sails Superyacht specialist will head up the team. A two time America’s Cup winner, Toppa combines his vast knowledge of the industry, the players, and the products available across a broad spectrum of the market making him the perfect fit for this new venture. Mike Toppa commented: “This office in the Newport Shipyard will be an advantage for our clients. It makes so much sense to enable them to drop in to talk about their needs and their sails in a place that is so easily accessible. We believe a drop-off and pick up point here eliminates a time-consuming step and makes it easier for our customers, and gives them more time to enjoy their sailing while in Newport. It’s hugely beneficial to be at the heart of where our clients are, to ensure that we continue to understand what they need, both now and also for the future.” “This office in the Newport Shipyard will be an advantage for our clients. It’s hugely beneficial to be at the heart of where our clients are, to ensure that we continue to understand what they need, both now and also for the future.” Ken Read, President of North Sails, added: “Newport is a dynamic sailing hub and where our global head office is also based. It is the right time to be offering this sort of service to our clients, with so much going on this summer in Newport, including the 12 Metre Worlds, the New York Yacht Club 175th Anniversary Regatta and so many other world-class events. Our vision as a company has always been to pair industry-leading products with unmatched client support. The Shipyard office reaffirms our commitment to provide the best possible service to all types of sailors. We look forward to seeing old and new customers, and also friends and colleagues over the coming months.” READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: JOE PARKER Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert How long have you been sailing and what classes do you compete in? I have been sailing for 40+ years. I have sailed in many PHRF events over the years on boats from 22' to 70'. I have sailed in the IOR One-Ton NAs and Worlds. I've also raced Beneteau 36.7s, Catalina 22s, Tanzer 26s, J/24s, J/35s, International 110's, MORC and Great Lakes 70' fleet. I have competed in five Key West Race Week events, a number of Harbor Springs regattas, more than 20 Bayview-Mackinac races, 15 Chicago-Mackinac races, three Ft Lauderdale to Key West races, six doublehanded Lake Huron Challenge races. I've also raced in multiple Detroit NOOD regattas and countless local PHRF races on Saginaw Bay and Tawas Bay. My wife Debbie and and I have cruised all over the lakes and along the eastern seaboard as well for 40 years. What's your background in the marine industry? What's your favorite aspect of working in the industry? I have been in the Marine Industry for 36 years. I started a small boat repair business (Bay Boat Works) in 1982. I built small boats and repaired boats of all kinds. I added sailboat rigging into the business in 1988 and still do rigging today. I started selling sails as a local rep in 1986 and have done that continuously since then. In 1990, Meade Gougeon asked me to join the team at Gougeon Brothers Inc (makers of WEST SYSTEM Epoxy) as a Technical Specialist. While there, I helped boatbuilders around the world develop and implement improvements in boatbuilding technology. During that time, I also continued to operate Bay Boat Works and sell sails locally on Saginaw Bay. I retired from Gougeon Brothers as PRO-SET Epoxy Product Manager in mid 2014 but operate Bay Boat Works today. I am very enthusiastic about the Marine Industry as it provides many challenges for the technically-minded individual. My interest spans the entire range of the marine industry from materials to boatbuilding methods to cordage and rigging and of course to sails and sailmaking. What keeps you coming back for more? I truly love being on the water. Every day is somehow different than every other day. Often I am asked how long it took me to learn to sail and I simply respond with: "my entire life; I am not done learning how yet" What's your favourite thing about sailing? I guess I do not have one favorite thing about sailing. I love to cruise and see new (and old favorite) places. I love to race, particularly with fun people at any level of competition. And as unusual as it may sound, I love to work on boats and find the most elegant solution that I can to any problem at hand. READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: DAN FIEN Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert How long have you been sailing? What classes do you race? Over the past 50 years, I have sailed with numerous fleets including IC dinghy, Lightning, Laser, Thistle, J/24, Farr 30, Soling and PHRF. My experience has lead me to three One design National titles and a US Sailing Championship of Champions gold medal over the last five years. I also have a Professional Mariners 50-Ton, Near Shore, Masters License, with Sailing and Towing Endorsements from US Coast Guard. What's your background in the marine industry? What's your favorite aspect of working in the industry? I have coached beginners and Olympians and enjoys supporting sailors at all experience levels. When consulting I hope to increase racers and casual cruisers enjoyment of sailing by making their experience simple, safe, and successful. Further, as a member of US Sailings Diversity and Inclusion Committee I believe that awareness of and access to, sailing by all socioeconomic groups should be our sports' main priority. What's your favourite thing about sailing? I enjoy the competition and camaraderie in this sport but is fascinated by how sailing challenges many fields of science and every engineering discipline. As a professional engineer by training, I view the opportunity to solve problems in our sport as a life long and even infinite endeavor. READ MORE

BLOCK ISLAND RACE WEEK 2019 North Sails Returns With Expert Coaching, Weather Forecasts & Pop-up Service Loft North Sails is excited to continue our support of Block Island Race Week. The race, entering its 28th edition in 2019, is one of the Northeast’s most anticipated and attended regattas. The expansion of racing formats is set to attract a wider variety of boats this year, with the regatta estimating over 150 entrants, ranging from grand-prix teams to family-friendly cruisers. North Sails has a long history with Block Island Race Week, outfitting and supporting a significant number of boats, including many clients with race victories. In the last edition, North clients took the top podium spots in 11 fleets, including first place J/105, Bruce Stone's Good Trade and first place in ORC, Lincoln Mossop's The Cat Came Back. Partnership, Seabiscuit, and Ranger took home 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the PHRF 1 division and the One Design fleets saw great success, with north clients claiming 1st – 3rd in the J/109 Corinthian fleet. Expert Coaching The PHRF and the performance cruising fleets will have the chance to take advantage of North Sails expertise on the water. Our coaches will be out to provide guidance, tips, and post racing debriefs, focusing on boat handling and sail trim. Find out more and register for our Three Free program. Daily Weather Forecasts Partnering with Gowrie Group, North Sails will be providing complimentary daily weather forecasts, available to all entrants. Register to receive daily weather briefings sent directly to your inbox each morning. Regatta Repair Our Certified Service team will be returning this year with our pop up sail loft, located in the Block Island Maritime Institute, adjacent to Payne’s Dock, from June 22nd – 29th. Open to all boats for overnight sail repair, the North Sails service loft offers every crew the peace of mind when it comes to sail care matched with expert service. Storm TRYathalon 5K Switch your sailing shoes for running shoes on the lay day. Part of the Storm TRYathalon, North Sails is hosting the first annual 5K at 8:30am on the designated lay day. No excuses not to take part in this short morning jog OR sprint. Starting at the North Sails pop-up service loft in the Block Island Maritime Institute, the race loops 5K and ends at the regatta tent at the Narragansett Inn. For those with a competitive streak, the winners will be greeted with North gear awards. Register fast as the first 100 entrants will receive a North Sails hat. READ MORE

GO BEYOND AT BLOCK ISLAND RACE WEEK Expert Analysis With Winning In Mind North's sailing and technical experts will be on-hand to provide free expert analysis, race commentary, and coaching at Block Island Race Week, June 23-28. Crews in the Performance Cruising fleets will be able to take advantage of North's live race commentary and our Three Free program, specifically designed to help improve boat handling and sail trim. Those who register for the Three Free complimentary coaching will receive photographic analysis on at least three angles of boat handling and sail trim taken during racing. Crews can then follow this with an in-person consult with the North Sails experts on the morning of the next race day. Combined with our daily weather forecasts, delivered to you in partnership with Gowrie, our North experts can walk you through the race day on what to expect weather wise and can help you improve your boat and sail performance for the next race. READ MORE

DAILY WEATHER FORECASTS Powered By North Sails & Gowrie Group For Block Island Race Week READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: PERRY LEWIS Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert What got you into sailing? My dad is a nuclear physicist who also loved fooling around in boats, and designed & built his 1st 33-footer. When I was six years old, he bought a 1947 wooden S&S 40. My family vacations all through grade school and into high school were to jump in and take off for several weeks. Most afternoons after we anchored, I’d sail the Dyer Dink around the harbor. I got my first taste of racing when I was in college. What boats/classes do you sail? I have been very lucky to be associated with great teams in grand prix classes like the 1D 48s, Mumm 30 & 36 and Farr 40s – where the talent levels & learning opportunities were highest. What got you into the marine industry? I graduated from University of Chicago with a degree in mathematics and with no idea what I was going to do with it. Within two weeks-by accident actually- I stumbled into a job of “captain” (boat boy) for Don Wildman’s converted Americas Cup 12m Heritage. For the next three years, one race boat job led to the next. How long have you been working in the industry? Most of the boats I worked with are clients of North Sails, including Heritage, who the famous America's Cup veteran John Marshall came to take care of. On the last, 3/4-tonner Chocolate Chips, Gerry Gavin joined us from the Pewaukee, Wisconsin loft for the 1978 Worlds - and afterwards asked if I had thought about sailmaking. I gave it a try at the ripe age of 25 and never left! READ MORE

WHY SPREADER PATCHES ARE YOUR FRIEND Advice On Avoiding Chafe and Protecting Your Sails © Mark Dobson You don’t need to be a sailor to know – chafe is not a friend. While this holds true in other places as well, it can be detrimental to your sails. It doesn’t take very long for a chafe point to become a more serious problem, especially if you’re out sailing in good breeze. Spreader and stanchion patches protect your expensive investment at a very low cost, and prevent early wear and tear on the sail. The only time your sails should be flown without chafe patches is when you are measuring where to install them, with the exception of non-overlapping jibs. Ideally, hoist your sail in a place where there is not a lot of wind. On your genoa, mark the sail where it meets the stanchions and mark any spreaders that would come into contact during a tack. Your North certified service expert can professionally install rectangular patches in these areas. For your mainsail, mark where it meets the tip of the spreader. Here we can install a circular patch to prevent chafe during broad reaching and running when your main is pressing against the spreaders. For in-mast furling sails, a rectangular patch may be installed, similar to the spreader patch we use for an overlapping genoa. Did you know? Spreader and stanchion patches are included with your new sail purchase. If we’ve measured your old sail, they will be installed before delivery and you will be ready to sail as soon as your sail arrives. Learn more about chafe with traditional fabrics. READ MORE

OTVORENA JE ORC SEZONA foto: Hrvoje Duvančić – www.regate.com.hr Broj od pet ORC posada koje smo naviknuli uvijek vidjeti na ovim regatama od ove zime se smanjio na četiri, jer se jedrilica Yellowpad prodala i uskoro odlazi za Grčku. Srećom, čast CRO ORC D-Marin Cupa spasila posada jedrilice Sky. Kao i uvijek, u najavi je bilo desetak jedrilica, ali s približavanjem dana zakaznog za susret u Sukošanu krenuli su stizati i otkazi. To nije obeshrabrilo ekipe s Gringa, Mareusa, Orce, X-Citea i Sky da naprave jedan vrlo kvalitetan trening po stvarno raznim uvjetima na moru. U subotu, prvog dana regate puhao je lagani maestral, do oko 10-12 čvorova. Po njemu su se odjedrila tri plova, a kako je vjetar bio vrlo stabilan nije bilo potrebe za mijenjanjem regatnog polja, pa je Regatni odbor najviše posla imao oko spredstarnih procedura i kalkulacije rezultata. Uglavnom, svi su ugodno proveli jedan od prvih pravih predproljetnih dana. foto: Hrvoje Duvančić – www.regate.com.hr Slična situacija po pitanju stabilnosti vjetra je bila i u nedjelju. Razlika je bila u smjeru i u snazi. Tada je puhalo jugo. Iz prva umjereno, da bi u drugom plovu preraslo u jako s udarima preko 22-23 čvora s umjerenim valovima. Suma sumarum, izvrsna lepeza različitih uvjeta za korištenje skoro cijelog seta raspoloživih jedara, a kad se jedra spominju treba istaknuti potez ekipe Gringa 2 koji su se u ovoj sezoni odlučili na drastičnu promjenu u jedrenju. Oni su se ove sezone odlučili na upotrebu genakera umjesto spinakera. Naravno, nije im ovo prvi put da jedre s ovim jedrom, ali u ORC konkurenciji ipak jest. Da cijela priča bude zanimljivija pobrinuo se njihov službeni jedrar, North Sails, koji je uspio isporučiti novi genaker do starta regate. Za razliku od onog kojeg su do sada koristili na Open regatama ovaj je oko 20m2 veći! Inače je Open logika da se podigne što više "kvadrata", a da se u ORC-u pazi na brojeve koje će izbaciti računalo, te se ne pretjeruje s površinama jedrilja, ali ekipa Gringa očekuje da će im brzina po laganim vjetrovima biti dovoljno povećana da se na taj način poništi teret nepovoljnijih koeficijenata u kalkulaciji. Po laganom subotnjem maestralu se pokazalo da ovo novo jedro ima potencijala. Do tada je X-Cite bio praktički neuhvatljiv i po ovim uvjetima, ali Gringo ga je u krmu uspješno hvatao, a u drugom plovu je čak i realno ušao prvi u cilj. Istina, nakon korekcije X-Cite je i dalje bio ispred Gringa, ali sad je ta prednost s prosječnih više od dvije i pol korigirane minute u sezoni 2018. sad smanjena na oko minutu. Subota je posebno dobar dan bila i ekipi Mareusa II. Oni su korigirano pobijedili u prva dva plova, dok su u trećem završili na drugom mjestu. Taj plov se posada X-Citea se trgnula i upala u pobjednički niz koji je trajao i po jugu u nedjelju. Za razliku od ove tri posade koje su se izmjenjivale na vrhu, ekipe na Orci i Skyu su se uglavnom nalazili u donjem dijelu tablice. foto: Hrvoje Duvančić – www.regate.com.hr Orca je najveći hendikep imala u tome što je za razliku od ostalih četrdesetica jedrila s genovom, dok su oni koristili flokove. U sklopu priprema za Svjetsko prvenstvo u Šibeniku Orca najavljuje par novih jedara tako da bi i oni trebali još ubrzati. A Sky nije imao sreće u subotu jer je riječ o jedrilici koja svoj forte ima po jačim vjetrovima. Ta činjenica se pokazala točnom kako je vjetar jačao. Nakon tri 5. mjesta u prva tri plova krenuli su uzlaznom putanjom već u četvrtom plovu. Njega su završili jednu stepenicu više, a u petom plovu su dojedrili do 3. mjesta. Vikend na Zadarskoj rivijeri nije prošao samo na moru. Udruga ORC jedriličara je u sklopu subotnjeg druženja koje je organizirano u prostorijama kluba organizatora, JK Uskok, organizirala predavanje koje je vodio glavni ORC premjerač, a ujedno i glavni premjerač u Hrvatskoj, Zoran Grubiša. Uz objašnjavanje elemenata koji su mnogima bili u zoni apstrakcije odgovarao je i na mnoga konkretna pitanja koja su pripremili kormilari i vlasnici koji su se okupili u velikom broju. foto: Hrvoje Duvančić – www.regate.com.hr Treba li napomenuti da je 80% flote jedrilo s North Sails jedrima? READ MORE

KEN READ HEADLINES SAFETY AT SEA COURSE March 30 | Annapolis, MD "The sea is relentless, you never know when it's going to come out and bite you. You simply have to be prepared. The more prepared the better." - Ken Read, North Sails President Let's face it, with safety comes confidence. Keeping safe is paramount on a yacht, so whether you're in a dinghy racing on Wednesday nights, or taking on the 2225 nautical mile Transpac, we should all be in the same boat when it comes to ensuring ourselves and our crew are safe. US Sailing's Safety at Sea Course is designed to prepare you for whatever challenges the sea throws your way. To celebrate the 40th year of curriculum, North Sails President Ken Read will attend the seminar as Keynote Speaker. One of the world's most accomplished sailors, Ken has 200,000 offshore miles under his belt, and his first and foremost goal for any race has always been safety, which has been put to the test numerous times. Join Ken, Saturday March 30 at the United States Naval Academy where technical experts, premier ocean racers and sail training professionals blend their experience into what has become the most complete and comprehensive safety training course. Storm sails Care & maintenance of safety equipment Damage control & repair Heavy weather Seamanship Overboard prevention & recovery Hypothermia Weather forecasting USCG SAR & communications March 30 | 7:30am | United States Naval Academy | Alumni Hall READ MORE

GET READY FOR THE SEASON AHEAD North Sails Toronto Teams Up with LOOR North Sails Toronto and Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR) are teaming up to provide racers with a measurement and certification event to help racers prep for the upcoming 2019 season. Join the team for a morning of fun and preparation! No limit on the number of sails you can bring in; our team will help ensure your PHRF and IRC certificates are signed off and you are race-ready. READ MORE

My favorite aspect of the industry is the ability to meet other people with a similar passion as mine. READ MORE

I have competed in over a dozen Lake Erie Interclub regattas and ILYA Bayweek regattas. In addition to handicap racing I have raced in the J35, J24, Beneteau 36.7, and the Lightning. READ MORE

A PASSION FOR SAILING AND 3Di Kim Piller's Secret Weapon On The Race Course Are you a racer or cruiser? 90% of my sailing is on the race course. The other 10% is with my wife entertaining family and friends sailing around Port Credit. That’s the great advantage of a J/109, J Boats design group did a great job combining the amenities and comfort for family cursing with a very competitive racing design. My race schedule is pretty full as with most boaters in the great lakes. At most, we only get four months to sail, we need to make the most of it. The majority of my racing schedule is planned around single-handed races. Luckily there are several options in Lake Ontario for anyone up to the solo challenge. LOOR (Lake Ontario Offshore Racing) is the racing entity run out of Port Credit Yacht Club (by a great group of volunteers) that manager all the single-handed races I participate in. These include the Susan Hood, The LOSHRS’s (Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series) and the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge. Last season I did do some crewed races in the LORC (Lake Ontario Racing Council) series. My first challenge was to find crew, next was for me to get comfortable with having others on the boat with me while racing. After I realized that I didn’t need to drop the asym by myself I started to get comfortable with the extra bodies. We ended up doing pretty good in the series coming in 2nd. Kudo’s to everyone that crewed for me. How has 3Di helped your performance? Hands down -my 3Di sail from North is my secret weapon. Sailing a J-109 single-handed can have its challenges. Sailing up wind is one of the challenges. Keep in mind that fully crewed I’d have six to seven crew. Fully crewed with a good upwind breeze I can have bodies sitting on the rail. When I’m by myself, theirs no one on the rail. This is where the 3Di comes in. I met with Mike Wolfs from North to find out the best sail combination for going upwind in a good breeze, single handed. Mike came back and suggested a 110% 3Di headsail. What difference did you notice in your old sails vs. 3Di? When I first got the 3Di 110% delivered I was wowed. Hey, black sails have that stealth look to them. Maybe that’s a competitive advantage? Normally in a good upwind breeze I would opt to furl my old number one. This was never a great option. As soon as you furl the sail all the natural shape built into the sail is gone. The biggest difference with the 3Di was having the right sail up in the right conditions. Specific to the 3Di, the sail was designed perfectly right out of the bag, there were no adjustments to make. It is a furling sail with soft furling battens. The furling makes it super easy for me when setting and dropping the asym. The 3Di is my go-to sail. At 110% it’s perfect for me going upwind in breezes starting around 13 knots. The boat sails flatter and tracks to weather with ease. Helming is easier with the 3Di 110% as I can find that optimal balance and trim in a good breeze. There is no fighting with the helm. Overall the boat just drives better to weather with a lot of power. It feels great. Walk us through the process you took in making the decision to buy 3Di. Making the decision to purchase the 3Di took a few weeks. First, I knew that I needed to do something, I was not competitive upwind in stronger breezes. It was great to have the resources of the North staff to speak with. I had several discussions with Mike to gleam any tips, and to understand the features of the different sail types. Mike in turn spoke with North Sails Toronto's Hugh Beaton to get his suggestions. At the end of the day Mike gave me three different options which I appreciated. Basically, three different material & price options. I choose the 3Di based on the new technology, certainly price comes in as a factor but I felt if I was paying any money for a new sail, I wanted to get the best and newest technology. I also feel that the 3Di will stand up and give me additional years of use compared to other materials. At the end of the day, Live Wire had a pretty good sailing season. I can’t say that the new 3Di was responsible for all the results, but I do know that some podium positions would not have happened without the 3Di. Final comments are to thank the staff at North Sails in Toronto. They are extremely supportive to me and the sailing community locally and around the globe. If you’ve never stopped by the loft please do, they are very friendly and welcoming. READ MORE

NORTH SAILS EN EL FESTIVAL SAIL IN La pasada semana North Sails estuvo presente en el Festival SAIL IN de Bilbao, donde tuvo lugar diferentes y muy interesantes charlas. Junto a muchas personalidades de la élite de la vela, como Santiago Lange o el Equipo Mapfre de la Volvo Ocean Race. Nuestro responsable en la Zona Norte de España, Jorge Martínez Doreste, impartió una Master Class sobre las últimas tecnologías en fabricación de velas y trimado en ceñida. Todo ello acompañado de una fantástica organización por parte de todo el equipo de SAIL IN, a los que agradecemos enormemente su invitación y esperamos volver el próximo año. READ MORE

STARTING, TACTICS, AND SET UP Strategies From the 2019 Midwinters In Tampa, FL 2019 Midwinters Champion, Rossi Milev neck and neck downwind with Robby Brown, 2018 National Champion © Chris Howell On the first two days of Midwinters in Tampa, the breeze built from a 5-8 knot SE to the ‘normal’ SW seabreeze. On the final day, the breeze filled first from the south and shifted southwest much sooner, eventually strengthening to 12-15 knots. Every day, the strategy remained the same. Daily debriefs after sailing provided some great insights from sailors at the top of the fleet, including: North Sails Expert and J/24 World Champion Tim Healy, Hydra Sailing Solutions coach and Old Dominion All-American Marty Kullman, and Brown University Coach and Collegiate All-American John Mollicone. Marty was tactician for Bangor Packet. Tim Healy was tactician for New England Ropes. John Mollicone was Tim’s helmsman. Take notes! Using your prostart properly Q: When you tack onto starboard, how do you judge how far away from the line? A: Time and distance using your Velocitek, ask yourself: how many meters- how many seconds? Example: Your Velocitek reads 50 meters at 60 sec., so you are travelling at roughly two knots, which is actually pretty slow. When you are that slow, it’s hard to control the boat once you get on the line. tip: You want to be a touch further away from the line so you’d be approaching at about one second per meter. Q: How much time do I have to burn so I’m not over early? A: It depends on what shift you are in at the start. Main Point: Get out there early and practice your accelerations, then distance and time from the line. This will help you figure out the best place to start accelerating and you can trust what the velocitek is telling you. © Chris Howell Q:How do you properly ping the line? A: When you get your pings, you want to cross the starting line close hauled. Come in on starboard at the same angle you would be close hauled. That’s where your bow is on the line. Do the same at the pin. The far side is easiest for the bow guy. tip: The slower the better when you do your pings. This is so you can do it the same every time and you can trust what the tool is telling you. When you get comfortable with that, one guy is in charge of meters, one is in charge of time, and you can figure out fast if you need to be coming up to the line faster. Main point: Always come in on starboard/port at the right angle, your true close hauled course, so your ping is accurate. Do it the same every time. At some point you’ll develop a routine and it will all become easier each time. You’ll learn to trust what the velocitek is telling you. Strategy at the start After you get comfortable with all the prestart tasks you develop a routine. For a port approach you are looking for a place to tack at 1:30 or closer to 1:00 . When you do decide, if you have someone behind you and they may tack below you. It’s good to go behind a couple boats and tack so you can guarantee yourself a hole. Think about it this way: In the light air, when the wind goes left you are racing earlier, maybe even trying to make the pin end. When the wind goes right you are burning speed at the start, going head to wind more, keeping in mind that you can’t set up too early. You really need to know what shift you are in. Right shift, starting on starboard, you are going to get to the line faster. Left shift? It will take longer for you to get there. Main Point: Know what shift you are on before the start Example: If you are 20 meters away from the line and get a 10 degree right shift there is less distance to cover to get to the line because you are now able to sail more perpendicular to the start line and will take less time to get there. In a 10 degree left shift, there will be more distance to sail to the line because you will be sailing much more parallel to the starting line and will take more time to actually get to the line. . Tip: Your tactician needs to articulate to the skipper: “We need to get going, go quicker, it’s a left phase, etc.” © Chris Howell Prestart Sail Setup & Technique Tip: Make sure your traveller is preset, even if you are on port at the time (port approach) Don’t have a lot of backstay on, but you can preset if you need it (in windier conditions). Mainsheet and final genoa trim is all you need to focus on as skipper at the start. Average Genoa Trim: You want to go 3” off the spreader tip on average. Sometimes a little tighter or looser but 3” average. You can trim tighter when it feels right. Main Point: Trimmer on final approach needs to be in sync with skipper to get up to speed. Make sure your main comes in tight, trim in, and how tight you trim in all depends on my lane off the line. tip: Another thing that’s important is to make sure your mainsail is up all the way. We mark it so we can see if it slipped. It will always stretch the first time, so you gotta tighten it before the first race and between races. At The Start Q: Is there a boat to leeward of me off the start? A: If there is, you need to put them away. Foot over them at the start to get them out of the way early. This only applies to a threat to leeward. If your tactician tells you that you have to pinch off someone to windward that’s when you revert to high mode. Ask yourself: Am I in height mode? If yes, you trim the main in hard. Then you can pinch off the guy to windward before he has the chance to roll me. Your trim all depends on how much space to leeward you have. Should you climb or foot? Sailing higher is slower, but sometimes to pinch off the guy to windward you can get away with sailing your high mode to get rid of them. Main Point: At the start, think about what mode you are in and get over-top the leeward boat ASAP © Chris Howell Strategy beyond the start Local knowledge is great but you have to sail with what you see. On day one, we hedged right but the pressure was left. Day two you had to connect the pressure, but don’t spend time sailing to it in a header. Sail on the tack that’s pointing at the pressure if you can to get there quicker. Q: Why is it important to go upwind early when you get to the race course? A: So you get to know what’s happening. To get a good idea of the shifts that are happening, you have to give yourself time to sail upwind so you can figure it out. You have to go with what you feel and where the pressure is strong. Make sure your boat is set up correctly for speed. Main point: You have to go with what you feel and see. Q: When you are in the middle, and you feel light. What’s the next best step? A: Be patient and get to an edge. Sail towards the pressure if you can, but get to an edge. Once you are at the edge, you want to make sure you are into the pressure all the way before you tack. If you are too shy of the pressure, you won’t get the full effect. © Chris Howell Technique off the line and on the beat Q:If you are deep in the fleet, and you’re thinking about shifts vs. clear air, which do you choose and why? A: You can’t be in bad air, you need to find a shift so you get out of there. The amount of air that twists off a J/24 sail is major. Sail in bad air for three minutes? NO, it’s better to do two tacks. There are times where you’ll have to hold out for a short time, but you don’t want to be in bad air for long. You need to maintain your boat speed as often as possible. Example: It cost us five boat lengths in one race, but we double tacked because we could keep our speed. It was worth it. Tip: As tactician, you ask the skipper, are you starting to feel it? Are you having a hard time? Then you have to tactically decide how to get out of there. Sometimes it can be worth sticking it out, but your skipper will tell you if they can hang on a bit longer. This can bide you some time if you are looking for a clear lane, but you can’t wait that long. Main point: Your skipper will tell you if they are struggling. Then you can decide what the next best thing is. Tip: The lighter it is the more bad air affects you. If you feel like you are getting affected, foot or tack away. Ask yourself: “Is it really painful worth tacking away? Or not so bad where you can hang a bit longer?” Main point: You need to have a high mode. Yes high mode is slower, but, if you can sail fast in high mode you can stick out the situations where it’s necessary to wait for a lane to clear. © Chris Howell © Chris Howell READ MORE

KIWI BIANCA COOK JOINS NORTH SAILS Following her latest circumnavigation, Cook joins the world's leading sailmaker for her next challenge 📸 Turn The Tide On Plastic / Volvo Ocean Race North Sails is excited to announce the addition of Bianca Cook to its sales force. Based out of New Zealand, the talented sailor will focus on the local New Zealand market. She is a key hire who will be looking at further enhancing the depth of knowledge and expertise within the loft ensuring the best client experience possible. Starting out in dinghies but quickly progressing to Classic yachts, match racing, and superyachts, Cook has an impressive CV for a 29-year-old. Hailing from a boat building background, she understands the need for early inclusion of sails into a design and development program to ensure optimum performance. With her wealth of knowledge and significant experience on large boats, having accumulated over 100,000 offshore miles, Bianca realized a lifelong dream to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race when she was selected to race on Turn the Tide on Plastic in 2017-18. She most recently was part of the first professional all-female crew to compete in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race with the Ocean Respect Racing Team on Wild Oats X. 📸 Sue Ellen / Live Sail Die As one of the world's most exciting young sailing talents, she will be an important part of the North Sails team who will continue to help deliver a premium and unrivaled customer service, and ensuring that the company continues to stay at the forefront of innovation and performance. Richard Bicknell, North Sails New Zealand General Manager commented: “Bianca is a well-known and hugely respected sailor, not only in New Zealand but around the world. She has a considerable amount of ocean miles under her belt and has sailed in a wide range of classes and events. We are delighted that she has decided to join us to bring her knowledge, experience, and infectious smile to the team - we know that she can help us further develop our network across New Zealand. She also brings with her the ability to grow our younger market and show the North range of product to the next generation." Bianca Cook commented: “I have used North Sails across most of the boats that I have sailed on in recent years and there is no doubt it is a quality brand with outstanding products. Sailing around the world in the Volvo Ocean Race was the greatest challenge of my life but this is an exciting next phase in my career. The team at North Sails are second to none and I look forward to joining them and all that we can do together in the future.” 📸 Turn The Tide On Plastic / Volvo Ocean Race 📸 Turn The Tide On Plastic / Volvo Ocean Race READ MORE

FLAVIA TOMISELLI: SAIL DESIGN Key Roles Played By Women Within The Leading Sailmaking Brand © Nico Martinez Flavia Tomiselli is looking to make a big splash this coming season in the design world. Not only is she in the business of grand prix, she’s looking to break into the superyacht segment at our largest manufacturing facility in the world, as an up-and-coming sail designer. As a teenager in Italy, Flavia got a taste of racing through a local summer camp. At the University in La Spezia, she studied ocean engineering surrounded by sailors. At 50 kilograms, her size makes her perfect for small one designs (420s, 29ers) and keelboats (Melges 24s, Este 24s, Melges 32s). Her weight helped earn her some pro racing opportunities early on, and now she combines a design-trained eye with sailing talent. This year, Flavia will join Alegre for the TP52 Super Series. “I love racing. I learn more every time I get to sail. There is always a discussion about what could be better. It’s good for me to see what we do and how things work, both on and off the water. I try to be involved as much as possible in the performance debriefs, which helps me apply it to my every day at work.” © Nico Martinez When North Sails expanded in Palma, Flavia was a superyacht project manager. After the expansion, Flavia joined the design team. For 2019, she’s excited to gain more experience with superyachts and grateful for the chance to be a part of such an excellent team. Flavia works closely with Heine Sørensen, a Dane who’s designed North Sails for 18 years. “Heine comes to Palma once a month, and we are always making sure we are on top of the current projects. He has taught me a little bit of everything about sail design. I enjoy learning from him because he is calm and precise, and a great teacher. It’s nice to learn from someone who is so articulate because everything makes sense and has order. He’s got a ton of experience, working on superyachts for many years. He is my mentor; we’re having fun.” “Flavia is very dedicated and easy to work with,” Heine says. “She is eager to learn and working with Future Fibres and Southern Spars has given her a wide range of technical knowledge within our industry. She is a keen sailor in the RC44 and TP52 too. She doesn’t say no to a good Italian lunch either, which we all are benefitting from!” -Heine Sorensen “I’ve always looked for a job that could allow me to keep sailing and that wasn’t going to work with engineering,” Flavia responds. “I like my job with North Sails because it allows me to do what I love, but still all ties together. One day we are fitting new sails, then measuring the boat, then we go out and see how the sails look. “Designing sails isn’t just what you see on a computer screen. You see how the whole boat revolves around sail power which for me is the big picture. The two come hand in hand.” This season, Flavia will be sailing on team Alegre with mainsail trimmer and North Expert Noel Drennan, and lead Sail Designer Kevin George. “I learn from what I see on the boat,” she explains. “Being on the water helps me relate to North Design Suite back at the office. Applying all the little things discussed on the boat gives me a much better understanding of how to be better designing sails. © Nico Martinez “Winning is always a great feeling,” she continues, “whether it’s a little regatta or world championship. When each team member is doing their job and doing it well, it helps create a positive atmosphere. In this level of sailing, a big part of our job is making sure the owner is happy, and that’s also the feeling of winning. Last year we placed third at the 52 Worlds and it was a great achievement.” When asked about being one of only a few women in sail design, she replied; “I’ve never had any doubt that I could do the same work that a man could do, whether sailing competitively or designing sails. I knew that it was what I wanted to do and I managed to make it happen. I still work hard every day to get better.” As a female sailor, Flavia has had unique sailing opportunities that have helped further her career. “To excel you have to be confident,” she says. “For girls, it may be hard because we are not always the strongest physically, which could exclude women from many jobs onboard; that doesn’t mean there are not jobs that a woman would be perfect for.” © Nico Martinez When Flavia isn’t learning about sail design or on the water racing, she focuses on building and maintaining the strength she first found as a gymnast. This year she’s added running to her workouts, including training for a marathon later this year. She also loves hiking, cycling, and rollerblading. “That’s one of the reasons why I moved here ,” she says. “During the winter it’s quiet and I can focus on various things to keep me in shape. Palma has excellent terrain for outdoor activity, so I easily keep myself busy year-round.” Flavia starts training for the TP52 Super Series season later this month and is excited to get back on the water. “We worked hard last season and got better each time. I hope that we’ll be able to start from where we left off at the Worlds. This year I’ll be more prepared from a design standpoint, and can learn more about what I am looking at onboard.” Flavia knows she’s in the right place. “The good thing about North is that you are surrounded by so much knowledge. Their technology is very advanced. There are many people within the company that specialize in all sorts of things. From small boats to superyachts, there is an expert that knows it well. Having advanced knowledge of sailing is what makes me proud to work for a company like North Sails.” Her advice to girls trying to break in? “Don’t ever give up,” she says. “Do what you like and keep doing it, stick to the plan, keep learning, and you’ll get where you want.” © Nico Marinez READ MORE

JOSIE GLIDDON: ACCOUNTING Women Who Play Key Roles Within The Leading Sailmaking Brand © Mark Jardin Josie Gliddon is Global Finance Transformation Lead at North Sails, based in Gosport, UK. Day to day, you can find her making sure our numbers can be reconciled. After work and on the weekends, you’ll find her on the water. How did she start sailing? At eight, Josie went to sailing camp with her sister and got hooked. Her dad bought her a wooden Optimist, which she named Snoopy. Her parents had a Norfolk Dinghy, but racing as a family was nothing compared to the independence of sailing an Opti down the river with friends, playing pirates and having a great time. Josie she will compete at the J/70 Worlds this year. She will also be racing the Fastnet on a J/122, her second year with the team; she is hoping to be navigator again because she enjoys that role. “You feel like a complete beginner again, and foiling tacks are difficult. Being able to make it around the racecourse in 25 knots of breeze is extreme.” © Mark Jardin “I’m not top 10 of the Moth fleet yet, but I’m fully mixing it up with the rest of the sailors. Being able to foil around the course and properly race the Moth to its full potential is the best feeling in the world.” Josie is small, so she uses a “kiddy” rig to compete against larger sailors. Josie’s next big Moth regatta is Foiling Week in July. Last year six women registered, and Josie placed first overall in the women’s division; she also finished in the top third overall, “which is more of the win in my books because I don’t necessarily compete at a female level. I compete on the same start line like everyone else.” The boat’s developmental approach gives plenty of opportunities for women to be competitive once they get the technique down. © Martina Orsini Josie gets out in her Moth as much as she possibly can. Her husband Paul also races Moths, so she is grateful to have his support and time with a good teacher. “He’s a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so he likes his mountain bike, windsurfing, and he loves the Moth. It’s great. We can go sailing after work, and we can also go sailing at weekends and spend much time all week together.” Since accounting jobs never disclose the company in the job specifications, Josie says; “Try and find a company that you’re passionate about is almost unheard of. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and someone rung me up and said, “Are you looking for a job?” This was my dream job.” Asked what she likes about working for North Sails, she said she enjoys the challenge. “Yes it is hard sometimes but everybody’s really passionate about doing the right thing. Whether it’s the Design team, Sales, Manufacturing or us in Finance, we’re all trying to do our very best, and that doesn’t exist in many companies that I’ve worked for in the past. I believe in the brand. I believe in the company. I want the business to grow. That’s why I like working here. “Everybody’s passionate about doing the right thing,” she says. “Whether it be the design team or the sales team or the manufacturing team or us in finance, we’re all trying to do our very best, and that doesn’t exist in many companies that I’ve worked for in the past. I believe in the brand. I believe in the company. I want the business to grow. That’s why I like working here.” Josie , top female at 2018 Moth Europeans © Martina Orsini Josie enjoys her job for many reasons and enjoys working to help get more women into the sport of sailing. Knowing she has many sailmakers to choose from when she goes out on the water, she sticks to North because “The results speak for themselves. The thing which stands out for me from a client perspective is that there’s this element that North Sails gives that perhaps isn’t the physical, tangible thing that you buy. What you’re buying are these added intangible services. North provides expertise across the board. The services teams go beyond to assist clients globally, as well as North’s designers and experts, who are also excellent sailors and spend time on the water to create the best possible products. You can’t put a price on that, and that’s what sets North apart from the many other sailmakers.” Juggling her day to day job and her passion? “The answer is I work hard to play hard,” says Josie. I immerse myself in everything I do. I’ve always had this philosophy that if you have two passions that both inspire you, it makes you more efficient at both.” When Josie isn’t at work or on the water, she’s staying fit. She works out five days a week, with her Spotify playlist as her gym buddy. Other than her goals of staying fit and keeping her head in the game both in the office and on the water, her goals for this sailing season other than to be top female finisher are to break into the top 20 at Foiling Week, Top 20 at J/70 Worlds, and to complete the Fastnet. We are excited to see what her 2019 season brings, and we’ll keep an eye out for her on the starting line, where she is known to take an occasional port-tack flyer. 📽️ Day Three of Moth Worlds in 2017, Josie races in from the port end of the line in big breeze. Go Josie! READ MORE

POLISH TRIFECTA OF TRADES: SAILMAKERS Women Who Play Key Roles Within The Leading Sailmaking Brand At one of two North Sails production sites in the United States, three female sailmakers are devoting their highly trained eyes to building the best products for our clients. Regina, Margaret, and Basha all moved from Poland to Milford, CT to raise their children and make a career out of their lifelong love of sewing. Thirty-plus years later, they continue to form a “Polish trifecta of trades,” specializing in prefabrication, finishing, and assembly. They’ve even helped with larger projects like the Volvo Ocean Race and the America’s Cup. “The expertise that Regina, Margaret, and Basha bring to our company is enormous,” says Steve Gruver, Floor Supervisor. “They are outstanding employees and a delight to work with. They enjoy working hard and do an excellent job with any project they are assigned. Whether it’s prefabrication or in the pits perfecting larger-scale projects, we can trust they will go above and beyond. We are very lucky to have them here- part of our Milford family.” -Steve Gruver, Floor Supervisor Regina Golimsek was the first to start working at North Sails in 1980. Trained to make clothing, she says at first that sailmaking was a lot harder. “The material is much stiffer, not like a dress. My first time I couldn’t sew in a straight line, and I almost quit! They told me to take my time, and I’d get used to working with the materials. They were right; I’m still here.” 2019 marks her 38th year at North Sails. Another challenge was learning the sailing language to understand what each project required. “At our old facility in Stratford, I remember having to work with a furling sail and we had half of it inside, and the rest went out the door, where we tied it to the van to pull it tight. There we could get it furled up, and I could see how it worked. It was interesting to see the finished product, how it worked, how it should look, and also very funny to see everyone looking at us like we were crazy.” Since the larger loft as built, there’s enough space to work inside. “Having more space to be able to take on the larger scale projects was what everyone was excited about. Providing the right tools allowed our staff to be the best it could be.” Today you’ll find Regina in prefabrication, where she collects the correct parts for each sail— choosing rings, tapes, cords, cutting reinforcements for headboards, clews, batten pockets, snaps, and covers. She takes pride to make sure every box is checked, and each tack, clew, and headboard has the correct fittings and proper reinforcements. “I like this job because it allows me to use my brain. Creating something, making things fit together; I get to figure out how to do it and make it perfect.” Margaret Skakacz also left Poland to raise her family and start her career. “Raising a child and balancing work is hard. Childcare is not affordable. North Sails made it possible for me to work and take care of my children, and I’ve been very successful because of it.” Before moving from Poland in the early ’80s, she attended school for physical therapy and prosthetics. Though her hobby was sewing and making clothing, she never thought she would make sails. 31 years later, she’s the leader in Quality Control at the Milford loft. “I make sure everything is right before it leaves the building,” she says. “I check every detail, make sure each sail has exactly what was requested. I make sure it looks good. It’s satisfying. Seeing a project through from start to finish is what I like the most. I can say ‘I did that’ and it looks good—like, America’s Cup good.” Margaret gained a more technical understanding of sailmaking when she spent three years helping build 3DL string sails in Minden, Nevada. She worked alongside mentors like Jeff and Dan Neri to develop the original 3Di finishing standards. She says Mark Taylor, a North designer, was also very helpful. “To make the best sails, for certain projects they’ll bring in the best from all over the world to get the job done,”she says. Margaret also thanks Lucio Bolognani, who focuses on superyachts and specializes in hardware. “He came up with new ideas for bigger sails, which has made an impact on how we manufacture them today.” “3D sails are much harder to work with,” said Margaret. “They come out from the factory in one piece, and are very stiff. It can be hard to work them through the machines, especially when the headboards, tacks, and clews are reinforced with webbing and much thicker. Reefs are by far the hardest since there are no sections to connect, it leaves no room for error.” Margaret likes seaming panels the best. “Each sail order comes with a blueprint, and you see what the sail needs to look like finished. All cut into sections, and each section is numbered. How wide the seam allowance is, what thread weight to use, and what color to stitch with are all significant details. On each ticket, the details are listed in Blue Book codes, everything you’d need to know to make sails. The main goal? To make every sail look seamless.” She also worked with PUMA in the Volvo Ocean Race and for one of Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup teams. “Margaret is one of our master sailmakers,” North Sails CEO Dan Neri says. “She has built thousands of North Sails, ranging from One Design to Superyachts, and nylon to 3Di. I had the chance to work with her for a few years in Minden. She always had a better, simpler idea.” “What I like about this job is that it’s challenging,” Margaret says; “New improvements processes, new designs—that’s what makes it hard but fun at the same time. We have a great crew here in Milford; we’re perfectionists. You know you’ve got a good thing going when they want America’s Cup sails made here.” Part three of the Polish trifecta is Barbara “Basha” Balikowsky, who has been assembling sails on the North Sails floor for 30 years. “I like this job because it is always interesting,” Basha says. “There is always something to learn.” Most of the sails that get made in Milford are custom, so no two projects are the same. The most critical part about sailmaking, explains Basha, is following directions. “Even if you think you’ve seen it before, you can’t skip it. I read the ticket two times first, always. You cannot repair a 3Di sail like you would a paneled sail. With 3D it’s all one piece—which means no mistakes. “The North Sails logo stands for quality,” she continues, “and that’s what you get. Seeing the products from start to finish is what makes us proud to work for a company like this, and has allowed us to contribute what expertise we have. Even if it’s just sewing, we are proud of each sail that goes out the door and know our customers are getting the best sails.” “I love this job,” she adds. “It’s like a big family. It makes it worth coming to work. I may not be able to sail, but I can run a sewing machine and make a great product for sailors. Not many sailors can do that.” READ MORE

SPEED READING: TIPS FOR TEAM BUILDING Forming A Team Is Just Step One For the past three years, Hillary Noble– North’s content marketing manager— has called tactics for the Women’s Seabags Sailing Team. Successfully sailing a J/24 with six women requires a strong team, both mentally and physically. “We’ve come a long way since the 2017 Worlds,” Hillary says of the team’s first big regatta, where they won the Yaeger Women’s Trophy. “It’s been very rewarding in many ways.” Along the way, all six women have learned what it takes to be a great teammate, in order to make their next regatta more successful than the last. “It’s so much fun to race with these amazing women!” she says. “They are powerful, and we keep getting better together—it’s a lot of fun.” The team competes on the J/24 circuit year-round, and they are currently preparing for the 2019 World Championship in Miami, which they qualified for at the district one championships at Kittery Point Yacht Club, NH in 2018. “It felt great to qualify on the water for this upcoming Worlds,” Hillary says. “This has opened two spots for other women’s teams to compete.” “We are working hard this season,” she continues. “Making sure we have the right players for each event is really important. There will be plenty of opportunities to improve and we are always looking forward to the next regatta together.” Hillary has collected five tips that form the basis for the team’s success. They apply equally well to her day job as part of the North marketing team—or to a mixed or men’s J/24 team. As Hillary points out, “We all want to win and get the most out of our experiences together.” © Chris Howell Hillary’s Tips for Team Building: Focus on your individual job. Each team member can contribute to the team’s success. Many hands make things easier! Know your team’s strengths, make a plan, communicate it early, and put your team in situations where they can shine. Always work together towards a common goal. Any contribution by another set of eyes is valuable. If you see something, say something. Help each other out. Any job on the boat can get difficult from time to time. Look out for your teammates and prevent them from failing. Debrief after each race, but keep it short. Focus on the good things; admit mistakes, and learn something from your teammates. It’s all about growing together. © Chris Howell © Chris Howell © Chris Howell READ MORE

MEET THE WOMEN OF NORTH SAILS TORONTO Talented & Experienced, Our Teams Focus Is Maximizing Your Sailing In the sailing industry we're faced with intense seasonality on the Great Lakes (compared to other areas who can sail year round) which means the season is short and the pressure to maximize results is high and a guessing game of conditions. A shorter season means most racers want to achieve the greatest results they can within the 4 or 5 month span of Summer, which is usually flagged by lack luster wind (sorry Mother Nature, it's true). Cruisers want to maximize their time on the water, enjoy the sunshine and breeze as well. Everyone's trying to maximize our short season, so our job at the Toronto loft is vital as we try to keep sailors on the water as much as possible and manage the stress of sails in for repair or delivery of new sails. Kyann is on the floor majority of the time servicing sails while I spend most of my time upfront working on marketing and interacting with customers. Come Summer we spend more time outside the office than in, helping customers install sails, picking up sails or delivering them, measuring boats or doing sea trials. Last year at the 2018 Susan Hood Trophy Race, we installed a new mainsail on a Perry 57 - with hardware - hours before the skipper meeting and start of the race. Not something you see everyday - both the install or the two women doing it. Not something of the norm yet in the community (yet) which results in a little bit of surprise when we are seen coming down the dock with battens or sails. It is a great feeling when someone asks who they should talk to for a quote or a new sail and you respond by saying they can talk to you. You can quote them - then delve into questions about what they're looking for, what type of sailing they do and what the best options are for them and the technology in the sails. This feeling continues when delivering sails; most people are pretty surprised to see a young female lugging sails down the dock or up a mast fixing things. To say we're used to it would be an understatement however we enjoy surprising customers and helping with all aspects of sailing + sailmaking. While sailing has historically been a male dominated industry, there are a great numbers of female sailors and athletes who can a) sail and b) help customers with their sailing needs, especially at a company like North Sails. Kyann and I both have the experience. Kyann has been sailing since she was 11 years old, starting in junior sail at Etobicoke Yacht Club, working here way up to racing by the age of 13. She's also raced down south on Open 60's in places like Malta and Antigua while also sailing 8 Metre's, Shark's, Beneteau's and Soto 40. I have nine years in the marine industry with lots of experience in event coverage, management and support for sailors. I've also sailed Beneteau's and J/Boats, growing up sailing a Beneteau 36.7. It's a wonderful thing to work for a company that recognises this experience and work ethic; aiding in the continued growth of our skills and knowledge. Beyond our office, athletes like Sally Barkow, Marie Riou and Carolijn Brouwer are competing in the Volvo Ocean Race, America's Cup and World Match Racing Tour. Riou is the only sailor competing in the Sail GP event with the French Sail GP team while Brouwer is looking to be the first female skipper in the America's Cup and Barkow is trying out for Stars + Stripes Team USA. Additionally, we’ve seen teams like Team SCA from the 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race to Team Magenta 32 who competed in the World Match Racing Tour have helped change the stage for women in professionally yachting. We're both fortunate to work for a company that supports women in sailing and the marine industry as a whole. North Sails has welcomed our enthusiasm and supported our drive to get out on the water more, supporting customers as much as we can. We love the industry that we both never thought we'd ever be working in and it's fantastic to witness the growth over the last couple of years for female sailors. Kyann and I are both looking forward to the season ahead with our North Sails team and customers. Happy International Women’s Day to all! Check out more leading ladies changing the tides in sailing. READ MORE

HELLY HANSEN NOOD REGATTA SAN DIEGO The Kick Start To The Season | March 15 - 17 The Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta is coming to San Diego March 15 - 17, and our San Diego and Long Beach teams will be there for all your sailing needs. Local experts will be on hand during the regatta for any sail care issues you have and our overnight regatta repair will ensure you're back on the racecourse without any worries. Overnight Repair It's the last thing you want to deal with after a day of racing, so let us. Our Certified Service experts will be on shore for you after each race day to collect sails for overnight repair. The North Sails van will be at CYC after racing on Friday and at SDYC on Saturday. You can pick up your sails at 8am on Saturday and Sunday at SDYC. If you have any questions, contact Bobby Richards: 619-846-3967 Dock Talks North Sails experts, Eric Doyle, Brian Janney and Chris Snow will be holding a series of dock talks, focusing on the immediate feedback from the race course. Look out for the North flag and crew and join your class dock talk to work on how you can improve, or keep on doing it right, for the next race day. Friday March 15 | Coronado Yacht Club J/70 with Chris Snow RS21 with Brian Janney Viper with Jay Golison Saturday March 16 | Corondao & San Diego Yacht Club Etchells with Eric Doyle RS21 with Brian Janney North Sails Rally Race Back for its 5 edition, the North Sails Rally Race is the perfect event for all types of cruisers. Rally racers are able to get all the benefits of a regatta with one day of racing. To top the day off, the NOOD after party at SDYC is the place to be for the Rally Race prize giving. Make sure you attend and claim your award and spot on the podium. READ MORE

TOM DODSON RETURNS TO NORTH SAILS Kiwi Sailing Legend A Key Hire For Supporting Superyacht Clients Following a long career in sailing spanning two Olympic Games, numerous America’s Cup cycles and everything in between, native Kiwi Tom Dodson has rejoined North Sails as a Sales Expert with a particular focus on the vibrant superyacht segment. Based out of New Zealand, Dodson will bring his knowledge and expertise to an already impressive team and will work with superyacht owners and crews around the world including regattas in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, ahead of the expected influx to the Pacific in time for the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland. Having first joined North Sails New Zealand as Managing Partner back in 1986, he left to join Team New Zealand in 1998 then joined Southern Spars as President in 2004. The well-known sailor has retained his connection with North Sails over his years as a professional in the sport, and now brings his wealth of experience back to the company to help to continue to grow the highly successful superyacht sails part of the business. “In some ways, I never really left,” Dodson says. “I’ve always supported the company, its products, and people. The North team has been doing a great job, but what we see in the next few years is that there is going to be a lot more traffic coming down to New Zealand around the America’s Cup, and definitely lots more superyacht activity in the region. Through sailing on boats like Velsheda and Silvertip I have kept up with the latest products and what’s happening in these fleets and I am really looking forward to working with the team at North Sails on how we can help clients have the very best sails for whatever sailing they want to do.” Ken Read, President of North Sails, commented: “We have an unrivaled breadth and depth of talent here at North Sails, from designers and materials experts through to sailors and our sales team. Tom Dodson is a consummate and seasoned professional, who ever since he first joined the company in the 1980s has remained part of the wider North Sails family. As a business we have focused on building for the future and investing in technology and innovation so that we stay at the very forefront of the industry but we have also invested in our people, and Tom Dodson coming back to join us is testament to this long term relationship we have with the people that work with us.” Jens Christensen, North Sails superyacht segment leader, said: “We are pushing boundaries in the superyacht industry, leading the way with new products and striving for the ultimate customer service experience. But we can only deliver the type of world-class service to complement the hardware if we have the best people working for us. We pride ourselves on making sure that we understand the individual needs of all types of boats and sailors, and are able to support them across the world with continuity and consistency of product offering and maintenance. We are delighted that Tom joins us to help us continue our work at our superyacht centers of excellence around the world, showcasing the best of the best talent in the superyacht industry.” READ MORE

NORTH U AT NORTH SAILS DETROIT North U Expert Bill Gladstone Stop By To Discuss Sail Trim And Boat Speed We had 54 people (near capacity of 60) attend North U's full day Seminar Feb. 23rd on sail trim and boat speed. This on the heels of the 110 people that attended the January Thursday Evening Seminar covering tactics and trim. Everyone who attend the Full Day Seminar seemed to enjoy it. How can you not, Bill Gladstone is an excellent speaker! The local loft provided coffee, water, soda and snacks throughout the day. We even had beer out during the last break. This was not included in the price of the seminar. We did have a donation can out to benefit DRYA Jr Sailing. Karl Kuspa, loft manager, personally committed to match dollar for dollar for the first $150. We raised $120. At the next seminar we will be asking for donations to benefit the Bayview Mackinac Foundation. The next free seminar is March 14th, from 7-9pm covering Mackinac Race Strategy, weather and routing. This is event will be at Bayview Yacht Club. Please RSVP to Detroit Office Manager, Chelsie Strong at chelsie.strong@northsails.com. READ MORE

SPECIAL VISIT AT NORTH SAILS LOFT A thank you from Emirates Team New Zealand, to welcome North aboard on their journey toward the 2021 America’s Cup. Not everyone gets to touch the America’s Cup — but the lucky team at North Sails’ Auckland loft recently had the privilege, where the historic trophy came and paid a visit. A group from Emirates Team New Zealand, including the Cup’s own personal ‘bodyguard’, brought the silverware from its home at Auckland’s Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron to the Glenfield loft, where the staff were able to hold and be photographed with it. The special visit was a thank you from Emirates Team New Zealand, to welcome North aboard on their journey toward the 2021 America’s Cup. North Sails is the international supplier of choice for not only Team New Zealand but also the Luna Rossa Challenge, Stars & Stripes Team USA and INEOS Team UK. Blanks for the new sails will be made at the specialist North Sails three-dimensional moulding loft in Minden, Nevada, and finished and detailed to Team New Zealand’s specifications in Auckland. The North Sails Auckland team will work closely with Rob Salthouse from Emirates Team New Zealand, himself a former sailmaker with years of experience in Cup competition. The Cup made its trip over the Auckland Harbour Bridge in a case specially designed and built by North Sails, from 3Di fabric, for its journey to London jewellers House of Garrard for a check-up last year. The 2021 event is seeing a return to the use of more ‘traditional’ sails than the hard wingsails used in Bermuda and San Francisco, but the new America’s Cup 75 foiling monohulls will still break new ground with their innovative ‘softwing’ double-skinned mainsails. Long-time North Sails designer Burns Fallow, who is currently embedded with Emirates Team New Zealand, was a key member of the team developing the AC 75 class rule and was instrumental in developing the new softwing system. The North Sails team has a busy few months ahead, with the first new Cup boat to be launched in late winter. "It was a great chance for our team to get to see the 'Holy Grail' and to really show them why we do this," says North sales and marketing manager Andrew Wills, who got his own 'selfie' with the silverware. "We are very proud to be part of the campaign — it’s going to be an exciting few years coming up." READ MORE

NORTH SAILS TRIM SEMINAR AT HOWTH YACHT CLUB Training Provided By Your Local Experts North Sails Ireland had the pleasure of presenting their latest sail trim seminar at Howth YC last night for its members and guests. I counted over seventy people in the audience and my colleague Maurice "Prof" O'Connell took the lead backed up by Shane Hughes the newest member of the North Sails Team here in Ireland. Both Maurice and Shane as well as being top level sailors are exceptional coaches both on and off the water. Not only do they know their subject inside out they have a really nice way of presenting that makes the complicated subject of sail trim understandable for expert and beginner alike. One of the big features of the latest talk is the use of North Sails Trim simulator. Please take a look at the link to download your own copy to experiment with at home: North Sails Trim Simulator This fantastic training tool was developed by Bill Gladstone and his Team at North U, the training and teaching arm of North sails. The simulator uses real information from the North Sails Design Suite to produce a really accurate presentation of the real changes to sail shapes when you make a change to the set up. You get to view the changes from on board and off the boat all in the comfort of your own home without getting your feet wet! The North Sails Roadshow has been all over the country during the last few weeks and Prof is in action again this weekend in The Royal St George YC Saturday, March 2nd at 12pm. Then we are off to the East Antrim Boat Club on the following Wednesday, March 6th. "Keep an eye out for a North Sails Talk near you! Sail Fast and have fun!" -Nigel Young, North Sails Ireland READ MORE

SPEED READING: ETCHELLS MAST LEVER Tips From Expert Andrew “Dog” Palfrey The Etchells is one of the most competitive and prestigious one-design classes in the World. Sailors have been challenged to find the boat’s extra speed for over fifty years. We had a chance to interview two-time Etchells World Champion Andrew “Dog” Palfrey, the developer of the popular Mast Lever System. Dog, thank you for all your great contributions to the Etchells class. Compared to a few years ago, the boat sure seems easier and more fun to sail. Being able to make some very simple, but substantial adjustments easily makes the boat easier to sail fast across the wind range. Many thanks for the nice comments and also for the opportunity to help spread the good word to our fellow Etchells sailors. It is gratifying for me to go to Etchells events and see almost universal take-up of the Lever system. As you mention, it does make life easier for the teams to extract best performance from the aero package. Focusing specifically on the use of the mast lever, in simple terms: What is the correct move with the lever and the mast at the deck as you go from light to moderate breeze to stronger breeze during a race? Along with the sheets, the traveller and backstay, the mast lever control is a primary control in helping to get the best from the mast and sails. The most challenging thing about the Etchells mast and rigging geometry, is that we lack direct control of the headstay (via runners). Also, we can only declare one mainsail and two jibs for the big events, so the ability to power-up and de-power both sails is fundamental to extracting the best performance from an Etchells across the wind-ranges and sea-states we sail in. I primarily consider the lever system to be a tool that either stiffens or softens the bottom two-thirds of the mast. In basic terms, we want to stiffen the mast in heavy airs and soften in lighter airs. So, to answer your question, on a day where the breeze is strengthening, we would progressively move the mast (via the lever) aft at the deck – thus stiffening the lower two-thirds of the rig. We need to remember that the effectiveness of the lever is limited by the position of the mast, relative to the mast partner hole (in the fore-aft plane). Headstay length and mast-step position are the variables here. “In an ideal world, we are always going upwind with the mast all the way back in the partners hole. Why? This gives us the ability for the mast tip be as far forward as possible on the downwind leg. We know this to be fast in all but very windy conditions.” If we are sailing upwind before the start, and the perfect position sees a gap between the trailing edge of the mast and the back of the mast partners hole, I will consider going aft on the step or lengthening the headstay to close that gap. However, if the forecast is for the wind to increase, I will make sure there is a gap there. This way we have the ability to effectively stiffen the mast by pushing the mast back with the lever. So, having the step a little further forward and/or the headstay length a little shorter than perfect is good insurance in a building breeze. © Onne Van der Wal As you either move the lever back or let it forward, what changes are happening to the headstay sag and lower mast bend? Really good question. In basic terms, moving the lever alters where the maximum bend is allowed to happen vertically in the mast, with the application of backstay and/or mainsheet load. Simply put, if the lever is pushing the mast aft at the deck, the bend will occur higher up the mast (and vice versa).The effect of a stiffer lower section of the mast also sees the headstay become firmer with the application of backstay and/or mainsheet. When looking for power, we are generally looking to induce headstay sag. So we allow the mast to bend below the hounds (this also helps the mainsail shape in light airs). The lever will either be pulling the rig forward at the deck (creating pre-bend), or in a neutral position. The mainsail is designed so that minimal backstay is required in lighter winds. Sometimes we are looking to sag the headstay more without changing the mainsail shape at all. This is possible with subtle changes of the lever, backstay and mainsail changes together. When it is windy and we are looking to de-power, we are generally looking for a firm headstay. This generally means stiffening the mast below the hounds, so the effect of backstay and mainsheet more directly tightens the headstay. “When I look around the fleet when I’m sailing or coaching, the biggest variances I see are in headstay sag. When I am sailing, I find the hardest thing to set up accurately is the headstay sag. This is because it is not easy to see and replicate and there is no way to accurately reference the sag directly with a mark. But it is one of the key drivers in extracting best performance out of an Etchells.” I look closely at the entry angle of the jib. If it is very fine, we probably need more sag. Likewise, if it very blunt, I will either ease more jib cunningham or look to remove some headstay sag with the application of mast lever and a little backstay. I also carefully observe the dynamic behavior of the headstay. If it’s windy and wavy and the headstay is moving around a lot, I will prioritize firming it up with more aft lever, tighter backstay and mainsheet. Is there ever a condition where you leave the lever uncleated? Just allowing the mast to float in the partners? Never. Allowing the mast to move, or “pump” over every wave will be constantly changing the shape of both sails in a subtle, but counter-productive way. However, in light to medium winds, I do like to know where neutral is. In our tune-up, I will ease both the forward and aft control lines and observe where the mast is happy sitting. That tells me where the step is positioned relative to the gate and helps me make decisions on whether I should think about moving the step or the headstay length. But then I will cleat the lever controls off again. Regarding the boat hardware: In 2014, when I first set up the lever in an Etchells, there were lines on both the forward and aft controls. But for the past three years I have set up the forward puller with shock-cord, so that is automatic. The advantage of this is that you only have to deal with one control line (the aft puller). I set the shock cord system up with a cleat, so I can disengage it in heavy air (when it is not required). I also disengage it when checking where neutral is. The disadvantage is more weight, as you do need heavy shock-cord to offset any “pumping” and a 6:1 system. But I think the weight is worth it. Being able to adjust the important controls easily (and from the windward rail) is key. Is there a good rule of thumb that can be used for how much “gap” behind the mast to start with? Say at the dock with light tension (10 the the Loos gauge) on the headstay and the mast floating? Yes. As I mentioned above, one of the hardest things to accurately quantify is headstay sag. So any tools that help me replicate fast settings are valuable. The “gap” you mention is one of those tools. On my personal tuning guide, I have the shroud calibration numbers to suit the North Sails tuning guide tensions. But I also have a column for the “gap”. It’s really important, as it is a key indicator of exactly how the mast will behave in the fore-aft plane when sailing upwind and down. When on the dock, I will set the backstay up so it pulls the headstay firm. Making sure the lever controls are uncleated, I then apply more backstay and watch the mast at the partners. When it moves forward slightly (the mast starts to bend), I stop pulling the backstay and then ease a small amount so that the mast moves back to its neutral position. This is approximately 10 on the Loos Gauge, but I find this method is better than measuring the headstay with the Loos Gauge (as they are inherently unreliable at low loads). I then look at (and measure) the gap. I also check shroud tension and headstay length at this time. In light airs, I am looking for no gap at all – even to the point where the mast is hard against the aft edge of the mast gate and bending around it by a factor of 5 or so mm. In heavy airs I like the gap to be around 20mm, or 3/4’s of an inch. The gap is controlled by both the step position and headstay length. Personally, I adjust both step and headstay. But there are many ways to skin the same cat. John Bertrand rarely changes his headstay length and does more adjustment on the step. I would say the most important thing is to develop your own boat’s tuning guide. When racing, make sure you know where you are relative to that. So, if conditions change, or you are lacking speed or height (or have too much – or not enough power), you are best armed to make high percentage decisions on what to change. “Keep in mind that the sails are a living organism. As they age, they do grow a little. This generally means they become a little deeper and a little rounder in the aft sections. This may not be a negative thing in lighter winds and a bumpy sea. When you add a new sail to the boat, be prepared to exercise some flexibility to your setup to achieve the same effect.” We are engaged in a wonderful game that is both complex and yet quite simple at the same time. Our sport rewards experience, so don’t be afraid of trying things. But try to keep a record of what works and what doesn’t. Above all, don’t stop asking questions! Andrew sailing with John Bertrand Andrew “Dog” Palfrey is a two-time Etchells World Champion, professional sailor and America’s Cup coach. Follow Dog’s blog at www.sailing.dog READ MORE

CARNAVAL EM VILAMOURA A North Sails vai estar presente em Vilamoura, durante o Torneio de Carnaval. Procurem-nos para Tips & Advices sobre a vossa North Sails e também para qualquer informação sobre as nossas velas. Velejadores de Optimist e Snipe não percam a oportunidade de saber mais sobre as campanhas em vigor, válidas até ao dia 11 de Março de 2019! Se não nos estiverem a encontrar podem sempre ligar, pois estamos por perto: Vicente Pinheiro - 916 857 896 Joana Pinheiro - 916 830 166 Good Luck & Sail Fast! READ MORE

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD Five yachts enjoyed close racing throughout the three-day regatta in the Bay of Islands at this year's Millennium Cup. 📸 Jeff Brown / Breed Media This year’s Millennium Cup superyacht regatta was just a taste of what is to come in the next few years, as momentum builds towards the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland. Five yachts, including stalwarts Tawera and Silvertip, enjoyed close racing throughout the three-day regatta, but they could be joined by more than 25 others as numbers grow over the next two years. All five yachts competing this year had sails by North, and many had North Sails experts aboard. Coming out on top after five races was the Ron Holland design Tawera, which also won the event in 2016 and 2017, skippered by Mike Mahoney and with Chris Dickson as tactician. This year her main competition was provided by Swan 90 Freya, a first-time entrant in the Millennium Cup. Also competing were Silvertip, with veteran Kiwi sailors Tom Dodson and Tom Schnackenberg calling the tactics and navigating, Thalia and Sassafrass, which unfortunately had to withdraw after the first day with gear damage. 📸 Jeff Brown / Breed Media North Sails Auckland superyacht specialist Matt Smeaton says exciting times lie ahead for the regatta and for the superyacht industry, as owners start planning a visit to New Zealand to tie in with the America’s Cup regatta and its lead-up. This was the first year the event had been run using the ORC superyacht handicapping system, to bring the regatta in line with international regattas. "ORC is a great thing for the event," says Smeaton. "A team of handicappers came to New Zealand from Italy and sailed a race on each of the boats, to make sure the ratings were accurate, as most of the yachts competing here haven’t raced under the rule before." Smeaton says ORC is “really going to grow the regatta”, hopefully even beyond the size it was during the 2000 America’s Cup, when 36 boats competed in the event. A motor yacht division is also going to be added. This was also the first year the regatta was held separate from Bay of Islands Sailing Week, giving race organisers more scope to lay courses around the islands of the bay and in differing wind directions. Veteran race officer Harold Bennett was at the helm of the race committee, and on shore “the voice of New Zealand yachting”, Pete Montgomery, took on MC duties for the social events, based at Russell’s historic Duke of Marlborough hotel. Unlike during the 2000 and 2003 America’s Cups, when the Millennium Cup event was held in Auckland, future regattas will stay based in the Bay of Islands, giving visiting owners and crews the chance to enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful sailing grounds. Smeaton says he and the North Sails team plan to work closely with superyacht owners and crews over the coming years to ensure they are getting high-quality service. "We are already looking at the boats that are going to follow on from this and come next year," he says. "We are expecting to start seeing more people come down next season, so there will probably be double the number of boats at the Millennium Cup next year. We are really looking forward to seeing these boats coming down into the Pacific, and are going to look after them as best we can." 📸 Jeff Brown / Breed Media READ MORE

RACE RECORDS, LINE HONOURS, AND TOP PODIUM POSITIONS Caribbean 600 Is A Showcase of Success for North Sails Powered Entries 📸RORC / Arthur Daniel / Tim Wright The 2019 RORC Caribbean 600 proved successful for North Sails clients, who captured top podium positions, claiming multi and monohull line honours, and setting a new race record. The 600-mile non-stop race is the Caribbean’s premier offshore ocean race and a highlight of the winter sailing season. Peter and David Askew’s VO70 Wizard claimed monohull line honors and also the coveted RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy, scoring the best corrected time under IRC in their event debut. Skippered by two-time Volvo Ocean Race veteran Charlie Enright, Wizard was powered up and planing around the islands in what the Askew brothers agree is a great race. Starting the year with an early victory sets Wizard up for an intense 2019 sailing schedule which includes the Transatlantic Race, Rolex Fastnet, and Rolex Middle Sea Race. Multi 70 Maserati, skippered by Giovanni Soldini raced around the islands in a record-breaking 1 day, 6 hours and 49 minutes. Soldini and crew had a formidable opponent in Jason Carroll’s Mod 70 Argo who made a quick recovery from a training day capsize and followed Maserati less than ten minutes behind. In a race that almost didn’t happen, Soldini commended Argo for an all-hands-on-deck effort to make the start line on Monday. “It was the first time in history that a multihull so big came back from a capsize like that – incredible,” commented Soldini. I was very happy to agree to delay that start, to race against one of the best teams in the world.” Wizard claimed first place IRC overall, with TP52 Tala up in second. The Caribbean 600 was the first event in the ex-Spookie for David Collins who recently outfitted Tala with the North Helix sails. Tala deployed their Helix Fractional Zero on the first leg North and launched their Helix Masthead Zero on the way to Saber and Rodonda. Gunboat 62 Chim Chim sits on top of the podium with the best correct time under MOCRA in the multihull class. Owner John Gallagher was quick to comment on having a great regatta, crediting mother nature for putting a Super Moon on display for the fleet. Second place Fujin was back for the 2019 race after experiencing a capsize and safe rescue off Saba Island in 2018. Back on the dock in Antigua, Fujin owner Greg Slyngstad remarked that crossing the finish line was emotional, and a milestone in moving past the events of 2018. After CSA time correction, the overall winner of the CSA Division was Wizard. Franco Niggeler’s Cookson 50 Kuka 3 skippered by veteran ocean racer Chuny Bermudez claims second place. Todd Stuart’s Carkeek 47 White Rhino 2 rounds out the CSA Overall podium with third place. Class 40 Earendil from France won their class against a record number of entries in 2019. This is the second consecutive win for skipper Catherine Pourre who said the race was stressful and boils her team’s success down to smart sail selection. “The key factor was having the right sails for the different legs,” remarked Pourre. “It was match racing all the way, especially at the end and we were really under pressure all of the time. Superyacht Nikata saw 12-18 knots of boat speed as they dashed around the Caribbean islands. Navigator Askel Maghdal remarked, “the Caribbean 600 is super busy, we’re turning corners all the time. We didn’t get much sleep, but this race is a must do to put on the calendar.” READ MORE

CONSEJO NORTH SAILS ¿Qué significa NPL? NPL es el acrónimo de North Panel Laminate y hace referencia al material producido utilizando el laminador de tejido más avanzado del mundo. La magia de nuestras velas NPL se encuentra en el proceso integrado Exact, que permite la aplicación instantánea de x-scrims de ángulo variable (hilo unidireccional entre dos films). Nuestro proceso exclusivo permite una magnífica adherencia con la mínima utilización de adhesivos. El resultado son velas más ligeras y robustas, con menor rango de estiramiento y una durabilidad superior a la de otros laminados. Nuestra gama de velas laminadas NPL ofrece tres versiones: NPL Sport, NPL Tour y NPL Downwind. Para más información, contacta con tu agente North Sails, visita www.northsails.com o escríbenos a info@es.northsails.com READ MORE

REUNIÓN DE DISEÑADORES La localidad estadounidense de Marblehead (Massachusetts) acogió la reunión anual de los principales diseñadores de velas de North Sails. Durante tres jornadas, 23 expertos de ocho nacionalidades compartieron ideas sobre los avances realizados en 2018 y los proyectos de 2019, con especial énfasis en el desarrollo de velas, el perfeccionamiento de la herramienta de diseño North Design Suite y los paquetes básicos para equipos de competición, donde se aplican innovaciones que una vez probadas en regatas de alto nivel se podrán aplicar a las velas que comercializa North Sails. "Contamos con diseñadores de talento apasionados por hacer que los barcos naveguen más rápido", explica JB Braun, director de diseño e ingeniería de la firma. "North Sails nos ofrece una oportunidad única en software, maquinaria y organización, permitiéndonos operar a un nivel súper alto, fabricar velas y conseguir opiniones inmediatas de regatistas profesionales". READ MORE

STARS & STRIPES TEAM USA TAMBIÉN ELIGE NORTH SAILS El equipo estadounidense Stars & Stripes Team USA ha elegido North Sails como diseñador y proveedor oficial de velas para su desafío por la 36 America’s Cup. 📸 Stars & Stripes Team USA Este anuncio se une a los de los desafíos italiano Prada Luna Rossa y británico INEOS Team UK, y del defensor neozelandés Emirates Team New Zealand, quienes también confían en el líder mundial. JB Braun, director de diseño e ingeniería de North Sails, será además el director técnico de Stars & Stripes Team USA. "Llevo más de 18 años involucrado en la America’s Cup, y en ese tiempo he visto cómo tecnología e innovación han cambiado las cosas a niveles irreconocibles", explica Braun. "Pero una cosa permanece invariable: siempre gana el barco más rápido. Nuestro desafío esta vez, con un barco nuevo y tanto por aprender, es cómo asegurarnos de que navegamos con trimado óptimo un mayor porcentaje de tiempo que nuestros rivales". READ MORE

NORTH SAILS ESPAÑA, AL SERVICIO DE LA VELA North Sails cuenta en España con cuatro velerías, incluyendo la mayor en servicio para superyates y una de las siete que fabrican velas de la firma en el mundo. Una estructura de más de 70 profesionales al servicio de la vela. 📸 Ian Roman Las plantas estadounidenses de Milford (Connecticut) y Minden (Nevada), la neozelandesa de Auckland, la esrilanquesa de Colombo, la británica de Gosport y la española de Cuntis cubren la demanda mundial de velas North Sails, que asciende nada menos que a 33.000 unidades anuales. La firma cuenta con 1.600 empleados, 110 velerías con servicio certificado y 150 puntos de venta. En España, la estructura de North Sails está compuesta por cuatro velerías en Palma, Valencia y Cuntis, además de las oficinas comerciales ubicadas en Barcelona y Málaga. En total, algo más de 70 profesionales, incluidos 40 comerciales, que en 2018 vendieron cerca de 700 velas en nuestro país. Pero la labor de North Sails España es mucho más que la de vender las mejores velas del mundo. "Nuestra vocación es la de dar servicio al cliente, que esté contento y conseguir fidelizarlo para mantener con él una relación que se prolongue en el tiempo", explica Luis Martínez Doreste, director comercial de North Sails España. "La calidad de las velas North Sails es innegable, pero la clave del éxito está en el servicio". El equipo liderado por Martínez Doreste comercializa todas las referencias del extenso catálogo de la firma, desde Óptimist hasta superyates, desde clásicos hasta monotipos, desde crucero hasta vela de alta competición. "Por número de unidades, lo que más vendemos son productos de vela ligera, pero por facturación los más importantes son el nicho Premier Race –barcos de serie utilizados en regata– y los One Design". Cuntis, una de las siete La velería de Cuntis (Pontevedra) es uno de los siete centros de producción de North Sails en el mundo, uno de los tres de Europa y el único que fabrica velas en España. Sus instalaciones constan de tres plantas y cerca de 4.000 metros cuadrados que incluyen una espectacular sala diáfana de más de 1.000 metros cuadrados. Al frente se encuentra toda una institución, Manolo Lastra, auténtico gurú del sector con más de cuatro décadas de experiencia. Aunque fabrica también velas de portantes, la velería de Cuntis es una de las dos plantas North Sails especializadas en clásicos, junto a la estadounidense de Milford. "Fabricamos del orden de 400 velas al año, de las que alrededor del 25% son velas de clásicos", explica Lastra. Para responder a la demanda del mercado, el personal de la velería recurre al saber hacer de entre 20 y 30 expertos veleros en función del ciclo de producción. Superyates, en Palma Gracias a su posición estratégica en el Mediterráneo, Mallorca concentra prácticamente la mitad de la estructura de North Sails España. Sus dos velerías de Lluchmajor y Palma suman 6.500 metros cuadrados de superficie, y su plantilla asciende a 42 trabajadores, erigiéndose como referencia absoluta entre las velerías especializadas en superyates del mundo. "Nuestro objetivo es que los capitanes de los barcos no se preocupen de nada desde que llegan a puerto", explica Marc Patiño."Descargamos las velas, las transportamos hasta la velería, realizamos un informe detallado de cada una de ellas, completamos las reparaciones o modificaciones que nos pidan, y las devolvemos al barco". Por las velerías de North Sails Palma pasan una media de 180 velas al mes, y sus instalaciones tienen capacidad para almacenar más de 2.000 velas. "Damos servicio a barcos de todo tipo, desde Óptimist, windsurf o crucero regata, hasta colosos con velas 3Di de una tonelada de peso". La estructura de North Sails en la isla incluye una veintena de veleros, diez comerciales y diez especialistas en logística. Multiservicio, en Valencia La velería de North Sails Valencia cuenta con una ubicación privilegiada junto al Real Club Náutico de Valencia. Sus instalaciones constan de aproximadamente mil metros cuadrados de superficie donde se ofrece todo tipo de reparaciones y modificaciones de velas para todo tipo de embarcaciones. "Ofrecemos desde asesoramiento técnico hasta confección", explica Nacho Braquehais."El servicio es prácticamente integral, e incluye desde desmontar, revisar, reparar, modificar y limpiar velas, fundas y capotas, hasta almacenarlas para hibernar o probarlas con el cliente". La actividad de la velería no cesa durante todo el año, aunque los meses con mayor carga de trabajo se concentran entre marzo y junio. Al final de la temporada, North Sails ofrece un interesante servicio de chequeo "que permite detectar con tiempo las reparaciones o modificaciones que requerirá la vela para aumentar su rendimiento y vida útil, y así poder programarlas de manera que la vela esté en perfectas condiciones cuando el cliente la necesite". Las cuatro velerías cubren la demanda del mercado nacional, pero la ambición de North Sails España es no sólo consolidar su posición como líder del sector en nuestro país, sino incrementar su presencia por las costas españolas y fidelizar al cliente con una relación todavía más directa y cercana. "De cara a 2019 queremos evolucionar en oferta de servicios y ampliar nuestra red de puntos North Sails para cubrir todos los puertos y marinas de la costa española", concluye Martínez Doreste. READ MORE

PRVO PH U 2019. JE USPJEŠNO ODJEDRENO foto: Hrvoje Duvančić – www.regate.com.hr Jedriličarski klub Val iz Šibenika i Wave Sailing Center bili su organizatori Prvenstva Hrvatske u dvobojskom jedrenju, na regati koja je ujedno bila i uvodni događaj u ovogodišnji ciklus European Match Race Toura. Sudjelovalo je sedam ekipa iz Hrvatske, Slovenije i Danske. Iz Danske je stigao, Downhill Sailing Team, mladi momci predvođeni Emilom Kjaerom (ISAF rank: 100), kojem je ovo bio treći nastup na jednoj match race regati u Šibeniku. Od slovenskih jedriličara tu su bili Jure Jerkovič (ISAF rank: 226) i Bojan Presen (ISAF rank: 142) koji su sa svojim posadama već odjedrili nekoliko regata u Šibeniku. A Hrvatsku su predstavljale lokalne zvijezde u usponu, posada WSC Sailing Team-a, sastavljena od srednjoškolaca i brucoša kojima je glavni i odgovorni Marko Smolić (ISAF rank: 169), turbo iskusni Murterski jedriličari koje je nakon duže pauze još jednom okupio Tonko Rameša (ISAF rank: 333), te dvije posade iz Splita. Posada Tome Stipanovića (ISAF rank: 803) koji je već ranije krenuo sa skupljanjem bodova za ISAF match race ljestvicu, dok je premijeru u match raceu imala posada splitskog Pomorskog fakulteta koju je predvodio Toni Bušić. Od standardnog termina u kojem se PH jedrilo nekoliko prethodnih godina, odustalo se nakon problema s organiziranjem istoga za 2018. godinu. Zato je iskorišten termin EMRT-a, a regata je ujedno dobila i na dodatnoj kvaliteti nastupom iskusnih inozemnih posada. Program regate je predvidio kvalifikacijski dio s dva Round Robina, te finalni dio s King of the Castle, polufinalom i finalom. Regatu su otvorili parovi Kjaer - Bušić i Rajar - Stipanović. Jedrili su po buri koja je konstantno puhala oko 20 čvorova. Snaga vjetra i čudljivost burinih refula bili su razlog mjere predostrožnosti koju je zadao Regatni odbor natjecateljima. Riječ je bila o obaveznom prvom kratu i nekorištenju spinakera. foto: Hrvoje Duvančić – www.regate.com.hr Uvjeti na moru su malobrojnoj publici uskratili pogled na više atraktivnih situacija u predstartnim nadmudrivanjima. Uglavnom su se jedriličari držali na sigurnim udaljenostima jedni od drugih, ali svejedno su se desila dva manja sudara. U jednom je ekipa Gibanca udarila jedrilicu Panja i zaradila pola kaznenog boda, dok su u drugom incidentu Panji imali bliski susret s brodom RO-a. Tek nakon 15 sati bura malo slabi i podižu se kompletna glavna jedra, a u posljednja dva odjedrena flighta dozvoljava se i upotreba spinakera. Ali unatoč svim pokušajima ostaje neodjedren posljednji match prvog Round Robina. Vodeća ekipa na kraju dana su Panji s impresivnim 100 postotnim učinkom! Iza njih petak završavaju danci s 83% i domaćini iz WSC-a sa 67%. Sutradan jedriličare dočekuje prekrasan sunčan dan, ali s minimum vjetra. Odmah nakon izlaska na more, po laganom maestralu, uspijeva se samo završiti započeti Round Robin. Jedini potez koji je tada RO-u ostao na raspolaganju bio je izlazak kroz kanal Sv.Ante i prebacivanje regatnog polja pred Jadriju. To se već za vrijeme prolaska pored tvrđave Sv.Nikole pokazalo izvrsnim potezom jer je maestrala bilo više nego dovoljno za nastavak regate čim se postave bove. S obzirom na količinu vjetra odlučeno je da se drugi Round Robin jedri do kraja dana, bez prekidanja i započinjanja finalnog ciklusa. Jednako tako je i vremenska prognoza obećavala dovoljno vjetra i u nedjelju, pa nije bilo potrebe za forsiranjem završnog dijela. Spomenuti prekid je bio opcija jer je u match raceu dozvoljeno da se prekine Round Robin na sredini, kad sve posade imaju jednak broj odjedrenih matcheva, a također je uvedeno i novo pravilo o polovičnim bodovima koje je iskorišteno u ovom slučaju. Naime, maestral koliko god je bio dobar dok je puhao ipak je sa smirajem dana počeo smanjivati svoj intenzitet. Uspješno se kraju privelo 8 flighteva, a neodržanih ostaju tri (u stvari dva i pol, jer je u kombinaciji 7 posada posljednji flight samo s jednim matchem). Da bi se dobilo konačno bodovno stanje za formiranje finalnih parova trebalo je usporediti tablice prvog i drugog Round Robina. U njima je trebalo pronaći matcheve u kojima su bili isti parovi i tu se pobjednicima dodjeljivalo za pobjedu po pola boda umjesto dotadašnje upisivanih jedinica. To je razlog malo neobičajenijoj brojevnoj slici koja se može vidjeti u rezultatima. U odnosu na petak, redoslijed se promijenio samo po pitanju vodećeg dvojca. U posljednjem subotnjem matchu susreli su se upravo Panji i Downhill Sailing Team, uvjerljivo najbolje ekipe regate. Ovaj put je pobjedu odnijela danska ekipa i tako se bodovno izjednačila s murterinima, ali kako su klinci iz Danske bili bolji u kasnijem dvoboju po pravilima preuzimaju ulogu lidera na bodovnoj ljestvici. foto: Hrvoje Duvančić – www.regate.com.hr Nedjeljno jutro je bilo jednako subotnjem i regata se odmah nakon napuštanja veza uputila prema Jadriji. Nije više bilo maestrala, već je puhalo lagano oštro. S obzirom da se nije očekivalo značajnije jačanje vjetra tijekom dana program je skraćen na minimum. Za pobjede u King of the Castle srazovima bila je dovoljna samo po jedna pobjeda, dok su se polufinala i finala jedrila na dvije pobjede. Prvi match derbija začelja imali su 6. i 7. s rang ljestvice. Kao bolje plasirana, posada PFST-a je u match ušla pod žutom zastavicom, odnosno s desne strane s mogućnošću dočekivanja protivnika na favoriziranim desnim uzdama. Protivnička ekipa, s Tomom Stipanovićem na kormilu ulazi s lijeva, s plavom zastavicom i u zanimljivom nadmudrivanju po vrlo laganom vjetru starta s par sekundi prednosti. Cijelu prvu orcu i prvu krmu jedre jedni blizu drugih, izmjenjuju se u vodstvu, ali u posljednjem duelu, Stipanović iskorištava preklapanje s kojim iizgurava Bušićevu ekipu dovoljno daleko od željene rute da se uspije prvi spustiti do bove od krme i u drugu orcu ući sa značajnom prednosti koju ne ispušta do kraja. U drugom matchu iz ciklusa King of the Castle, Stipanovićevu ekipu dočekala je petoplasirana posada, slovenci iz Gibanca tima. Na nešto kraćem regatnom polju mnogo iskusnija posada iz Slovenije nije dala puno šanse našim mladićima. Od početka do kraja dvoboja imali su inicijativu i ostvarenu prednost su uspješno održavali do kraja plova. Nakon što se ovako razriješio redoslijed od 5. do 7. mjesta ostalo je još da se odjedre polufinalni matchevi. Po pravilima je vodeća posada izabrala svoje protivnike, a i ovaj put je bilo kao što se to najčešće radi, izabrali su četveroplasirane slovence iz posade Eureke. U drugom matchu su jedrile preostale naše dvije posade. U oba polufinala rezultat je na kraju bio po 2:0., a u finale su otišli Rameša i Kjaer, dok su se za treće mjesto nadmetali Smolić i Rajar. Jednaki rezultati, po 2:0, su bili i u posljednja dva flighta. U srazu za prvo mjesto uvjerljiviji su bili murterini, dok je Smolićeva ekipa odnijela pobjedu za treće mjesto. Osim titule apsolutnih pobjednika European Match Race Tour - stop Šibenik, posada Panji ovjenčala se i titulom prvaka Hrvatske za 2019. godinu, dok su drugoplasirani završili momci iz Šibenika, a na trećem i četvrtom mjestu su posade predvođene Tomom Stipanovićem i Tonijem Bušićem. foto: Hrvoje Duvančić – www.regate.com.hr Nakon ove regate EMRT se nastavlja na još šest regata po slijedećem rasporedu: Tivat (Crna Gora), Neusiedl See (Austrija), Limano (Rumunjska), Gothenburg (Švedska), Swinojuscie (Poljska) i Ledro (Italia), a finale za 2019. godinu će ove godine biti po prvi put u Šibeniku. Rezervirani termin je 4 - 6. listopada, tjedan dana prije seniorskog Europskog prvenstva koje će se jedriti u istom akvatoriju. READ MORE

A LONG TIME COMING How Client Stephen Jones Won The 2018 Shark Worlds Stephen shares how he and his crew, comprised of North Sails expert Geoff Moore and Breck McFarlane, took home the 2018 Shark World Championships in Kingston this past August. While the crew had minimal amount of training together before the Worlds, the crew was able to come together in tough conditions and sail smart. That said, the crew did do a lot boat prep work and preventative maintenance to the boat before the event started after they arrived in Kingston. Included in this was time spent mast tuning, specifically individual shroud tuning matrix, which Moore says contributed to their success. The maintenance continued throughout the event, each day before and after racing; allowing them to ensure the boat, the rig and the sails were in the best condition for racing. Tell us about how the journey to the Worlds and what steps you took to ensure success? I got to Worlds because my brother said, “I can't make it, but you can take the boat if you want.” He started a new job, and he didn't have any vacation time. So I said, “Okay, great!” and I immediately contacted Geoff and I said, “Geoff, do you want to do the Worlds?” And he said, “Sure, I'm in.” Then we recruited Breck McFarlane who has also done lots of different Shark events with us. And I've raced with him on J/22s and he raced on my J/22s. How were the conditions in Kingston? Usually it can either be raging winds or light air. It blew hard all week. Moderate on the last day, but we were on the jib for, I think, the first four days. The distance race, the squall came through where, reportedly, the Kingston Yacht Club's weather station reported 37 knots. For the first six races we had nothing worse than a three, so we were looking pretty good. Then we won the distance race, more just by keeping our heads together in the squall, and then for Friday, the last day of the event, we just kind of lifted the foot off the pedal a bit. I think we had a 6 and an 11, then we dropped the 11. It was an 11 and then a 6. Tell us about the squall and the distance race more. We actually changed from the Blade to the Genoa, that kind of moderated halfway through the race, and then we dropped to the low mark and we went back to Genoa, cause that's what was hinked up, the squall came through and it jumped from 18 to 38 knots. Boats were wiping out all around us. One guy went bare-headed and one guy dropped main and jib just to ride out this storm. Meanwhile Geoff was able to keep the boat going, keep the boat upright. And he told me to do something that I would not have done; he said, “Let the jib out.” I said, “Okay, are you sure? He says, “Yeah!” and then he said, “Let it out more, more.” Like, I let it out a meter, a meter and a half. I just thought, “That can't be right.” But we ended up actually still making progress upwind, where everyone else was basically just being bumped backwards, or sideways. we went from 8th or 9th in that race to winning it. North Sails expert Geoff Moore recalls the distance race was 4.5 hours and required the team to switch from little jib to big jib upwind (bare handed). Moore said "When the squall came thru most people left jibs over trimmed so they couldn’t fly their mains. We let out the main then eased the genoa so we could fly both sails at the same time." In addition to expert boat handling in the windy conditions, Moore also doubled up on battens in the mainsail to allow for better control, going so far as to "hand stitch battens into pocket." How would you say the sails have contributed or have they contributed to your success over the years, especially at the Worlds? We've always been loyal with North and I just think that the Shark sails won't let you down, they're known commodities, there's nothing radical about them. I had North on my Shark, well, I had actually a mixed inventory, but I came 2nd in the '06 Worlds, which is a very light air event. It's like how back in the day they'd used to say that no one would get fired for choosing IBM. You're not going to go wrong choosing North. Moore shares how “Our jib fit the boat beautifully” and the conditions required them to trim their sails perfectly throughout racing. For more information on our Shark products and how you can win the next Worlds, check out our inventory and contact your local experts today! READ MORE