NORTH SAILS BLOG

The North Sails seasonal sail care package will be available at select Safe Harbor locations starting today. This package includes a 10-point sail inspection, annual maintenance upgrades, and six months of storage in a North Sails Loft. READ MORE

North Technology Group continues to expand its family of best-in-class marine brands by adding two of the world’s most respected sailmakers, Doyle Sails and Quantum Sails. READ MORE

North Sails is the official class sailmaker for 49er and 49erFX classes. After three years of collaborative sail development 3Di will make its Olympic debut at the Paris Games this summer. READ MORE

From July to November, the North Sails store within Time Out Market Barcelona promises to be a must-visit destination for sailing enthusiasts and ocean lovers.   READ MORE

Sarissa, Zemi & Raven were recognized at the awards ceremony hosted by Boat International. All three boats benefited from the joint expertise of the North Technology Group throughout the design, build and testing phases. READ MORE

North Kiteboarding is teaming up with a leading paragliding designer to join the race for Olympic gold in the Formula Kite Class. In partnership with Hannes Papesh, North will submit its first RAM-Air kite design for registration next month with the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Quadrennium. “Hannes approached us with this unique opportunity to leverage our combined decades of data-driven experience and venture into the Olympic arena together. We’re confident, and we have the right cards,” says North Brand Director Mike Raper. “Our North Formula kite design is super light, extremely stable, and has a slightly different bridling system, refined to deliver speed and performance to the far edge of fast. We’re proud to celebrate our sailing heritage and join the other North Sails classes dominating the worldwide racing podiums.” Hannes Papesh started flying paragliders in 1986. Coming from sailing, he immediately tried to change the trim of his lent paraglider. “I designed my own computer program, got material and webbing, and made my first wing,” says Hannes. From that first paraglider design in 1988, he used self-programmed software to calculate the sail cut and 3D geometries and later did a lot of simulations (CFD, FSI). Today, this software workflow is used by other brands to develop leading products. “Challenges are our strength, backed up by modern digital solutions,” says Hannes, for whom the Formula Kite special project has been a dream for some time. “This venture with North ensures we can set extraordinary new standards in the Formula Kite world.” Formula Kite, a high-performance hydrofoiling class using regulated series production equipment, has been selected by World Sailing for the kiteboarding event of the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Capable of speeds up to 40 knots, foiling kiteboarders have become the fastest athletes in the history of Olympic sailing. Formula Kite is also a class in Regional Games (like the Panamerican and Asian Games), the World and Continental Beach Games, the World Sailing World Championships, the World Sailing Youth World Championships, and the Youth Olympic Games. Since 2012, only registered production equipment is eligible for any Formula Kite course racing events. Manufacturers must submit equipment license applications for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics before March 15, 2024. Formula Kite racing has a ‘Box rule’ where riders can choose from registered equipment. In the class, each athlete can register four different kite sizes. You’re allowed to take out any of the four, and you can come in to change sizes depending on the wind strength. The kites are more like paragliders than your classic inflated “tube” kites. Known as RAM-Air kites, the air fills the pockets when you take them out - you don’t need to pump them up. Four lines attach the kites to the bar, and the bar connects to you on a harness. North will register the new Formula kite (aptly named the “North Formula”) in sizes 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15,17, 19, and 21m, adding the familiar NS logo to the arena in the fastest Olympic class. North Kiteboarding is part of North Sails Group, a pioneering force in sailmaking. North Sails boasts an impressive legacy marked by groundbreaking innovations that have revolutionized sailing. Recognized as the preferred sailmaker for prestigious events like the America's Cup and amongst Grand Prix, Ocean Racing, Olympics, and Superyachts, North Sails offers a comprehensive range of sails underpinned by an unwavering commitment to all sailors. Further solidifying its position as the world's leading sailmaker, North Sails proudly holds an unmatched track record of one design National, World, and Olympic Class victories, surpassing all competitors combined. North Sails has been chosen as the official supplier of sails for the 49er and 49erFX classes. North 3Di will be making its Olympic debut in Paris 2024 as the official one design sails to these classes. READ MORE

North Sails proudly announces the opening of a new loft in Victoria, British Columbia. Spearheaded by local experts Stuart and Joy Dahlgren, and supported by their expert team of sailmakers, they seamlessly integrate into North Sails Canadian operations. READ MORE

To sail like a girl is about finding your voice amidst the roar of the ocean and standing tall in the face of adversity. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a novice adventurer, it's about pushing boundaries and knowing the horizon is not a limit but a new beginning. READ MORE

A total of 29 teams, representing 9 different nations, engaged in fierce competition across six events this year. While Cape 31s have attracted some of the world's best sailors, the class rules, which limit the crew to three professionals, also create an environment where owner-drivers race with friends and family. READ MORE

North Sails is proud to be a new major partner to The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. This partnership sees North Sails become RNZYS’ Official Sailmaker for the next three years and the supplier to the club’s new Emirates Team New Zealand Elliott 7 fleet, due to launch in early 2024. READ MORE

North Sails Apparel is unique. As a company with roots in sailmaking, it embraces the spirit of the ocean - from the demands of the Southern Ocean to the joys of waterside living.  READ MORE

Located just east of Lake Tahoe, Minden, Nevada, may seem like an unlikely spot for North Sails’ 3Di manufacturing hub, a sailing industry flagship center. However, it is true that is home to North Sails’ cutting-edge 3Di technology. READ MORE

Full Service Sail Repairs North Sails is pleased to announce the opening of our new, expanded facility in San Francisco, California. Our new location on the East End of Alameda at 2526 Blanding Avenue, Alameda, CA, 94501, offers full sail care and sail repair services, sales, support, and a variety of new products, including the new North Sails Performance Clothing foul weather gear. This purpose-built sail loft is over 6,000 square feet and features skylights for energy-efficient lighting. With state-of-the-art equipment, the new facility allows for sails of all sizes, from one design and racing keelboats to daysailers, global cruisers, and superyachts. Ms. Aimee Daniel, formerly of Pineapple Sails, has joined North Sails as the new San Francisco Loft Manager. An experienced and trusted sail expert focused on meeting customer needs and providing exceptional customer service, Aimee is a trusted name in the community. Please join us in welcoming Aimee to the North Sails team. North Sails expert Seadon Wijsen shares, “Having Aimee Daniel lead the North Sails San Francisco loft brings a new era to our presence and professionalism in San Francisco. Aimee is a dedicated and passionate sailor and provides all of the experience and expertise needed to support the San Francisco sailing community. I have known and sailed with Aimee since junior Sailing, and I am pleased to pass the torch to her in this new role while I continue to sail with and service our San Francisco clients.” In addition to Aimee, customers enjoy the full support of our entire West Coast Team for all their sail care needs. Seadon Wijsen – Sail Expert Brian Janney – San Diego Loft Manager, Sail Expert Alex Curtiss – One Design Sail Expert Pike Harris – San Diego Service Manager, Sail Expert Cheryl Bauman – West Coast Office Manager Marnie Jenkins – North Sails Administrative Leader John Rivera – Master Sail Maker Derek Stakelum – Service Sailmaker Charlotte Hinman – Service Sailmaker Zach Maxam – Sales Expert Our doors open on May 1st, and your local team looks forward to assisting you with all your sail care needs. Connect with a team member today to learn more: 415-339-3000 CONTACT THE LOFT   READ MORE

World’s Leading Sailmaker continues its support of the Fast Growing, Owner Driver One Design Class North Sails is proud to have worked closely with the Cape 31 Class since launching the first boat in 2017, developing the optimal sail wardrobe for One Design and IRC racing. The Cape 31 is a high-performance grand prix design, asymmetric boat designed by internationally renowned yacht designer Mark Mills. The boat has proven itself as an exhilarating one design boat that planes downwind in over 13 knots and rates well under multiple rating systems, making it attractive to many sailors. The Cape 31 Class began racing beneath Table Mountain in Cape Town, SA but has taken the global sailing scene by storm in the last two years. With over 30 boats racing in the UK and several heading to the US, the Mediterranean, and Hong Kong, there are now worldwide class calendars forming for 2023 and beyond. David Lenz, North Sails designer, notes; “It’s awesome to have been involved with the Cape 31 class in the UK since the start. Picking up from the excellent work done in Cape Town, we had a great starting point for the sail designs. Since then, as with any new class, there has been tremendous progress as we work to understand what makes these boats go fast and how to use our technology, experience, and passion to produce the fastest sails in the fleet.” David Lenz is not only a Cape 31 designer but has also been very successful racing in the class, including winning the 2022 Race Circuit overall on Russel Paters’ Squirt. Additionally, the class is filled with North Sails designers and experts, which results in theories being tested firsthand with developments and advancements being made weekly. Commenting on the partnership, Tor Tomlinson Cheney, of Cape 31 Class, shares; “North Sails has worked closely with the class since its inception and has been a major factor in the success of the class in the UK. Their support is invaluable, and we are pleased to extend our partnership with North Sails to an International level.” The North Sails Cape 31 inventory is fully optimised for handicap and one design class racing and consists of one all-purpose 3Di Raw Carbon Square Top Mainsail and three 3Di Raw Helix Jibs. All 3Di sails have carbon leech battens and come ready to race. Downwind there are four spinnakers which all use a string drop system: an A1, A2, and A4 for running, plus an A3 for reaching. As the class expands globally, North Sails is working to ensure that the best sail package can be provided to teams worldwide. Get in touch with North Sails expert Ben Saxton, Cape 31 class leader at North Sails, to learn more about the class and available sail options.   READ MORE

RUARIDH WRIGHT WINS INAUGURAL RICHMOND AWARD North Sails introduced this award in memory of Sam Richmond, who passed away in 2022 after a tragic yachting accident Ruaridh Wright, based at our Gosport, UK loft, is the recipient of the inaugural Richmond Award. North Sails introduced this award in memory of our friend and colleague Sam Richmond, who passed away in 2022 after a tragic yachting accident. The Richmond Award is peer-nominated and given in Sam’s honor to a North Sails employee under 35 who exudes many of the same traits as Sam. Wright was selected for this year’s award from 42 candidates. The selection committee included North Sails CEO Richard Lott, President Ken Read, COO John Welch, Grand Prix Leader Paul Westlake, and Sam’s wife, Colette Richmond. North Sails COO John Welch commented: “For those lucky to work alongside him, Sam was the best of North Sails and an example of confidence and leadership in the loft and his community. He spotted Ruaridh early in his career and brought him into our sales team. Ruaridh always goes beyond expectations to help out customers and colleagues alike, whether it’s working through the night to repair a sail or driving across the country to a yacht club. He’s been a fantastic addition to the NSUK team. and it seemed fitting that the first recipient of the award had close ties to Sam.” Colette Richmond on the meaning of this award and Sam’s legacy: “Sam was immensely proud to work for North Sails, and whilst he had earned his achievements through hard work, he was grateful to the role models and mentors who had supported him throughout his career. Sam found it highly fulfilling to do the same for others and motivate those around him. He thrived off other people’s energy in all areas of his life. It was these supportive and aspirational characteristics that were reflected in Ruaridh’s nominations that made him stand out to me. I hope the Richmond Award continues to inspire the younger employees of the business as Sam would have done and maintains his legacy of championing others. I found all the nominees extremely impressive and think Ruaridh is a worthy winner. ” Ruaridh Wright’s passion for sailing began at age seven when he first raced with his dad on a Swan 44 in Largs, Scotland. He has since gained valuable experience from Sydney Harbour and San Francisco Bay to his current home on the Solent. Wright joined North Sails in 2018 after graduating with a degree in Naval Architecture. He started as a Laser Plotter Operator and later moved onto the loft floor as a sailmaker, working in both Production and Service. In 2019, after a summer of professional sailing on TP52s, Fast 40s, and a Z86, Wright moved to Sydney, Australia to work as a Service Sailmaker at the busy North Sails loft in Mona Vale. Whilst out there, he also raced some noteworthy events onboard the JV62 Chinese Whisper, including a fifth overall in the Sydney to Hobart and Port Lincoln Race Week. In 2021 Wright returned to North Sails Gosport as a sailmaker and by September he was asked by Sam Richmond to join the sales team. Wright is now focused on the club race segment and is very active in the Solent sailing community. Wright now manages the Performance 40 class and races in the Grand Prix 0 and Cape 31 classes. He also competes offshore in the RORC series as well as the Volvo 65 class. Ruaridh Wright on the honor of being named winner of the 2023 Richmond Award: “I am shocked and deeply grateful to receive the Richmond Award. Sam was someone who looked after me wherever I went. Whether I was working for North Sails in Gosport or Sydney or traveling around the world sailing on various boats, he always kept an eye on me. He encouraged me to throw myself at whatever challenge lay ahead. He brought me back into the Gosport loft as a sailmaker after the pandemic and eventually brought me into the sales team. I now find myself in a job that I love at the heart of a great company. In repayment, I hope that I have gone some way to emulate those good qualities Sam embodied. I hope this award might encourage those eligible to win it and everyone within North Sails to continue to work with each other as a team. To compete with each other in the most positive way, and to push each other to be better than we were yesterday. Thank you to my colleagues for this nomination and the selection panel, especially Sam’s wife, Colette. This really is an honour.” About The Richmond Award: North Sails is proud to introduce the annual Richmond Award in memory of our friend and colleague Sam Richmond, who passed away after a tragic yachting accident. The award will be given annually to an under-thirty-five-year-old employee within any division of North Sails companies who showcases passion and expertise and has exceeded expectations. The Richmond Award highlights our brightest young stars who exude confidence, dedication, hard work, and leadership on or off the water- all of the attributes Sam carried with him. READ MORE

North Superyacht Expert Quinny Houry reflects on a recent trip to Minden, Nevada, and reinforces why 3Di is light years ahead of the competition. It’s a long way from Minden, Nevada to the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca. “It’s a 26-hour flight,” Quinny Houry told me, when we talked about the trip from Palma to the western edge of North America’s Great Basin. They may be geographically far apart, but the two places are inextricably linked; Minden is home to North Sails’ 3Di manufacturing hub. And Palma is often cited as the center of the Superyacht world, a world being turned upside down by the landscape-altering sailmaking technology coming out of the Minden facility. It’s something that Quinny Houry knows all about both as Director of North Sails Palma, and one of a small group that coordinates the North Sails Superyacht products. “I always knew that 3Di sails were good and I knew that molded technology was better, but I questioned how much better it was… And then the last four years have completely converted me to North Sails, by way of understanding the engineering, and the North Design Suite software that’s used by our sail designers. I already understood how far ahead it is compared to what other sailmakers can offer, but it wasn’t until I went to Minden and saw the molds and saw the process firsthand, that I understood that North Sails is lightyears ahead of the other guys. Our competitors have got a long way to go to get there.” 📸 Atilia Madrona / North Sails Quinny started out rather more humbly, doing his apprenticeship in Portsmouth, on Britain’s south coast. He quickly rose through the ranks, working as a designer and head of production at lofts in Palma and then New Zealand. He returned to Palma to start his own business, eventually joining North Sails in 2018 when he merged his loft into the North Sails group. The 3Di construction process starts when pre-preg 3Di tapes are taken from an industrial fridge. And at that moment the countdown begins, as the thermoset resin begins to cure. “I’ve watched it go from raw fiber to filaments to a molded composite, ready to go onto the curing floor, all in one day. The speed that the sail structure moves through the factory is the most surprising thing about building a 3Di sail,” commented Quinny. The tapes are loaded into the tape heads, which track back and forth, printing the sail’s designed structure. The process blends the materials in a precise configuration that’s been engineered by the sail designer to match the loads in the sail. “The utopia is to have every filament being load-bearing, with no weight that’s excess to what’s required – so no extra weight to hinder performance, and no unnecessary materials such as Mylar film that’s added solely to hold the structure together. When you go to the 3Di factory and you see the filaments being spread into the thin ply 3Di tape, you realize that each filament is being laid specifically to do a job and that there’s nothing else.” After the sail’s structure has been created by the tape machines, the sail is inspected and then rolled up, for transport to the 3D mold. On the mold, infrared heat is applied to kick the chemical reaction to consolidate the composite structure and set the sail shape. The completed sail then sits for seven to ten days until it’s cured before moving over to the finishing floor. “When it goes over the mold it gets vacuum bagged and cooked into the shape of the sail, and you realize that there’s no guesswork as there is with 2D sails… The shape we design is the shape that comes off the mold. The fiber is mapped to the modulus that you require, and the elasticity or the movement that you require, and the stability that you want to build up. And that’s where the software is incredible, it’s so refined about exactly what modulus is required in every part of the sail, and to calculate the angle of the tapes and the stiffness of the tapes, the resistance, elasticity,” explained Quinny. The potential for the Minden facility to build every 3Di sail precisely to the needs of an individual sailor and their yacht has led to the introduction of a bespoke new Superyacht product. There are no longer categories for Superyacht 3Di sails that define cruising or racing sails, there is just North Sails 3DiSY. A custom sail that’s engineered to be exactly what the client and their yacht needs. Quinny explained, “In this segment of the industry there isn’t a single part of a yacht that’s off-the-shelf. The sails should be the same, and so the 3DiSY product precisely matches the client’s requirements. A matrix of performance versus durability is created using the fiber blend and layout, the sail’s shape and the surface finish to match the client’s expectations. This is done with the client in a conversation that is unique in the sailmaking industry. “The conversation starts with, ‘How do you want to sail your boat?’” explained Quinny. “Where do you want to sail it? What’s fun for you? What’s the most enjoyable part of the whole program of owning a Superyacht? Once we know that, we will make a sail to suit. We will make the best possible sails, defined by our team in discussion with the client’s team – their captain, their manager and all their decision-makers – and then we’ll make the sails that perfectly suit their needs. “If you’re going to go cruising in Antarctica or the Arctic, then we’re going to have heavy duty surfaces that are highly durable, that weigh a lot more. We’re going to be putting a low modulus material in there to allow the sails a lot of elasticity, so it’s not transferring loads instantly to your boat and potentially pulling blocks off the deck. “Or if you’re doing regattas, we’re going to use high modulus 3Di tapes. We’re going to create flat-backed sails. We’re going to create light surfaces. We’re going to do everything to transfer the load to your boat as fast as possible so that you accelerate as fast as possible. And that’s essentially what North Sails 3DiSY is – a conversation between the client and ourselves to determine and then produce the best possible sails for the yacht.” And all enabled by the unique 3Di manufacturing process tucked away in the Nevada desert. It’s a long way from the marinas and sail lofts of Palma and the Mediterranean, but going there and seeing it was, for Quinny Houry, believing. READ MORE

NORTH SAILS PARTNERS WITH NAJAD YACHTS Collaboration for two long standing industry leaders. North Sails Sweden are proud to announce a partnership with the true bluewater cruising yacht builder, Najad Yachts. This collaboration is an investment in sailors as Najad Yachts further refine and improve the sailing experience in all new boats that leave the yard in Henån. By working with North Sails, Najad Yachts customers now have access to North 3Di technology; a unique, patented sailmaking design that sets us apart from the competition. Not only do “North Sails 3Di sails provide very good performance, but what impresses the most is that they also have fantastic durability,” says Fredrik Malmqvist, CEO of Najad. “We know that’s very important to our customers.” Both North and Najad know that it’s behind the scenes where true craftsmanship is found and the dedication to quality from both partners can give confidence to any cruiser. North Sails worldwide network of lofts means service options are just around the corner and for Najad Yachts, “It both simplifies and increases security for our customers,” says Fredrik. “North Sails has long had a strong position among the world’s cruising sailors”, says Henrik Ottosson, CEO of North Sails Sweden. “It is very nice that Najad, as the first Swedish boatyard, now chooses North Sails as a supplier. The combination of the highest quality and first-class sailing characteristics is something that really unites us. ” North Sails Sweden are excited to note that the first Najad Yacht to be delivered within the North Sails partnership will be a new Najad 450 CC Next Generation, due to set sail this summer. For questions, please contact: Fredrik Malmqvist, CEO Najad Yachts: info@najad.se, +46 304 30 800 Henrik Ottosson, CEO North Sails Sweden: henrik.ottosson@northsails.com, +46 31 388 08 01 READ MORE

RIGGING THE 3Di HELIX MOTH SAIL Featuring North Sails Moth Expert Rob Greenhalgh Follow Rob Greenhalgh, a National and European title holder in the International Moth Class and the North Sails Moth Class Leader as he demonstrates rigging the 3Di Helix Moth Sail. Released in 2022, this 3Di molded sail features a fully integrated Deck Sweeper and luff tube along with Split Batten Technology developed by North Sails for a smooth sail shape. Greenhalgh was instrumental in the two years of development that went into creating this fully molded seamless sail. So between his intimate knowledge of the performance potential of this sail and its relation to the boat, Rob is the perfect person to walk through rigging your sail for optimal results. Have questions about Moth sails or how to rig for speed? Contact Rob for more information. READ MORE

NORTH SAILS NAMED SAILMAKER TO 69F 69F Partners with the World’s Leading Sailmaker to Power the Foiling Class North Sails is proud to be named the exclusive sailmaker to the revolutionary 69F class. The 69F is the only one-design, full-foiling monohull for teams. With state-of-the-art design and construction, the 69F has introduced a one a kind of class format. This format features a six-pack charter boat program and a robust events schedule across Europe, the United States, and the Youth Foiling Gold Cup open to sailors under 25. 69F Co-Founder Giorgio Benussi commented on the partnership with North Sails: “Bringing North Sails on board as our sailmaker is the natural next step in the evolution of the 69F. North Sails is the industry’s top player. From dinghies to maxis and now foiling, North Sails has a reputation for expertise that is renowned worldwide. We all look forward to working together, learning, and expanding the success of the 69F.” North Technology Group President and North Sails President Ken Read: “The 69F is a fantastic new class offering a foiling experience to many who have never experienced or may not have even considered foiling. Access for young sailors, owner drivers, pros and amateurs alike–the 69F is an all-inclusive foiling option. Today, the North Sails design tools and sail technology power the AC75, the AC40, IMOCAs, Ultimes, and dominate small foiling boats like the Moth. The 69F opens the door to so many more and helping expand the sport.” North Sails and the 69F team have undergone sail testing in Miami to review and finalize the new sail designs. The North Sails 69F inventory consists of three sails; a 3Di Square Top Mainsail, a 3Di Helix Jib, and a Helix Code Zero. In line with the objectives of the class, the 69F has a hi-tech, high-performance inventory that showcases the latest innovations from North Sails. The first sail set under the partnership will be delivered before the start of the 2023 European season in April. North One Design Expert Giulio Desiderato (ITA) will lead the client management and service as the primary North Sails contact for this exciting partnership. He’ll be directly supported by sail designer Mike Marshall (USA), and they’ll also draw on the broader resources within the North Sails network. To learn more, contact info@69fsailing.com. READ MORE

Featuring a North Sails Engine-Above-Deck for a Y Yacht’s Y7 Miss Shell’s story starts with a Gulf Stream epiphany. “I was out on a boat one day with my buddies fishing off the coast of Florida. I always judge each day; if it was a good sailing day or not… and I looked at my buddies and I said, ‘You know what guys? I quit”’ “And they said, ‘You quit? You quit what?’ “I said, ‘This. I quit fishing, I quit powerboating, I quit it all… I’m going back to my roots; I’m going back to sailing. Guys, I’m not a fisherman, I’m a sailor.’’ “They didn’t really get it until I actually sold my boat and I bought the Y7, this beautiful 72-foot sailboat and they understood. It was literally that moment I just had to get back to sailing. I mean, that’s my happy place.”   The speaker is Eric Leiner, a sailor since he was ten years old, and a man whose enthusiasm would refresh even the most jaded devotee of the sport. “I took a long break from it. Coming up, I really enjoyed sailing with my father, but then when I got married and had kids, I stopped sailing because nobody in the family wanted to sail.” And just a year after his Gulf Stream moment, Eric Leiner was the owner of Miss Shell, a Y7 from Michael Schmidt Yachtbau (MSY), or Y Yachts. Schmidt is the storied boat-builder who founded, and then sold Hanse Yachts before moving onto this new project – launching the stable of the Y7, Y8, Y9 and YC to considerable acclaim. It was the equally well-known American yacht designer, Bill Tripp, who was instrumental in Leiner’s choice of the Y7. Tripp designed the yacht and set up a demonstration. “I flew to Spain and sailed the boat in Palma,” said Leiner. “And at that moment, decided that was the right boat for me… The Y7 just has this classic, modern look to it, which I really liked… and of course, when I sailed it, I just thought it sailed beautifully. And from there, we negotiated a contract to build a new one with MSY yachts, up in Greifswald, Germany. And we executed that deal and a year later I was sailing….” “Just the act of purchasing the boat created this incredible adventure,” he continued. “So here I am an American living in Palm Beach, Florida, and I’m having this boat built up on the Baltic. So… how do we get from the Baltic back to the United States?” Leiner decided to sail her back and was in the middle of the adventure when I spoke to him, touring Italy while Miss Shell was in Spain, being prepared for the Atlantic crossing. Over the summer they had sailed 4,000 miles from the Baltic, down the North Sea and the English Channel before heading south, “It was just a mad dash across the Bay of Biscay down the coast of Portugal, making a left into the Med and then just doing the entire coast of Spain, France, Italy, all summer long. “I went to North just because of the reputation,” explained Leiner, “the manufacturing process of building the sails. I just thought that North Sails were a better sailmaker than anyone else. I wanted to build with the best… So, I selected North Sails and with Mike Toppa because he’s just a great representative of North Sails, and did a great job building our sails.” Mike Toppa has been involved with North Sails since leaving college, starting as a spinnaker designer, then opening his own North loft in Fort Lauderdale and winning a couple of America’s Cups along the way. He’s now based out of the Newport, Rhode Island loft, focusing on superyacht, classic yacht and grand prix classes. “It was the first time working within Y Yachts and the people there, which was a really nice experience,” said Toppa. “We did very limited sailing in Germany and it wasn’t until middle of September that I met up with Eric and Bill after the boat had sailed from Holland down to the Med; four thousand miles later, after a summer of delivery and cruising, we met up and did the Y Yachts Regatta in Ibiza, all three of us, which was great. So, it was fun to see the boat perform, see the sails perform and see how it all worked together.” The sails onboard are 3Di Ocean. Mike Toppa explained the thinking, “3Di is how we make most of our sails. It’s a technology unique to North Sails, coupled with a unique manufacturing system that allows the flexibility needed to customize sails to precisely fit the specific requirements of any type of sailing. In Eric’s case, we agreed that the Ocean line of sails was the best fit, because of the sailing he was going to do, which was very little racing and mostly worldwide cruising. So, longevity trumped all the other factors. When I got on the boat in Palma, after 4,000 plus miles of sailing, the sails looked like they just came out of the box. It was really remarkable. The whole idea was to make a super easy-to-use and very versatile sail inventory, and we were able to do that, allowing him to sail transatlantic, long distance cruising.” “We didn’t produce a complex inventory,” said Leiner. “We did four sails. Obviously, we did a main, we did a roller furling jib, we did a storm jib and we did a gennaker… I said to Mike one day, I said, ‘Mike, I think maybe I want another set of sails to cross the Atlantic, so we preserve the sails that you built.’ He looked at me like I was crazy. He said, ‘Why would you need another set of sails? That’s what these sails are for. Cross the Atlantic with them, don’t worry about it…’ So, I’m like… that’s what we’re doing then.” 📸 Atila Madrona Glenn Cook, from the Marblehead loft, was the sail designer on the project. “The 3Di technology that we’re using is eliminating film in the sail, which is essentially just parasitic weight, so we’re left with just the structural material and the glues that hold it all together. And the resulting structure is just incredibly robust compared to anything else out there… The structural stability of the resulting sails is pretty incredible. I think cruising sailors can undervalue performance sails, not realizing that a sail that’s very low stretch and very stable and holds its shape across a wide wind range, is going to be a better cruising sail because you’re going to heel over less, you’re going to have to reef later. And generally, it forges the opportunity to have a more comfortable experience on the boat rather than being overpowered all the time.” Once the big decisions on materials and inventory were made, a lot of detailed work began to ensure that the sails fit perfectly. “To do that, you have to do your homework and that meant getting the most recent updated plans from Bill and his design team, whenever there were deck layout changes or locations of hardware and things like that, you just have to know where all that is precisely,” said Toppa. Glenn Cook picked up on his end of the process. “The main work that’s done with something like this is verifying mast bend from the spar builder… that’s obviously a very critical component to the success of the mainsail design…. We’ll get the structural characteristics of the rig and the rigging as well as a tuning guide on how the rig should be set up. And we essentially tune the rig within our software and then simulate the sailing of the boat to come up with a mast bend output. They’ll will also provide a similar table of offsets from their software.” After that, the sail is designed to match the fore and aft and sideways bend characteristics of the mast. There were a couple of novel details that had to be assimilated into the design for Miss Shell’s furling boom, accounting for a ramp fitted to the back of the mast which had the effect of increasing the mast bend. And the luff curve on the mainsail had to be balanced top to bottom so that as the sail furled down the rig, it would remain matched to the mast bend. The mainsail also has a square top, and allowance had to be made for this to flake onto the boom, as it was too stiff to roll. All the attention to detail really paid dividends. “The project went as you always hope they do,” said Cook. “To me, it’s always fun that we can build all these parts separately. It’s a different spar builder, a different boat builder, a different sail maker, and just through the communication of the process, we can have everything come together and have a really good result at the end.” “It was really fun for me because Eric was so enthusiastic,” added Mike Toppa. “It was really fun to feed off that and make sure that he had the best and all of his targets were met… And then of course working with Bill , and Michael , they’re really good sailors and anytime you are working with really good sailors on a project, there’s a lot of good thinking and good work… it’s really experienced, good sailors working together and coming up with a really great product for the owner. The boats are fantastic and any premier boat like that should have premier sails, it’s a natural fit.” And there’s no doubt that Eric Leiner is happy with the results. “Every inch of that 4,000 miles to me was spectacular… I’m just chomping at the bit to get back on board and do the next 5,000 miles that we’re about to do.” And would he recommend North Sails to other owners embarking on a project like this? Leiner didn’t miss a beat. “Hundred percent, yes, of course.” 📸 Atila Madrona READ MORE

FAREWELL TO BRAD WHITE Mourning The Loss of Long Time North Sails Team Member Brad White Left to right: Brad White, his wife Janet White, Dru Slattery, Jack Slattery Long time North Sails team member Brad White passed away on October 15th. Brad, a lifelong sailor, grew up in Cohasset, MA, and began racing at 8 years old on Massachusetts Bay. He attended and sailed for Boston University, was recognized as team captain his Junior and Senior years, and helped to win several National Championships. In 1980 Brad was selected as an All-American. After college, Brad was instrumental in founding the North Sails loft in Salem, which has successfully operated for over 30 years. For most of those years he was the Service Manager, though he easily made the transition to sales several years ago. “There are a few people in my sailing career that I always thought I would never be able to pay back and Brad was one of them,” said North Sails President Ken Read. “Brad was the team captain at Boston University when I arrived as a freshman. He had a very understated way of getting his message across to everyone he ever dealt with. In my case it was just a few subtle comments that really opened my eyes to pushing far harder with my own sailing ambitions than I ever thought possible. He didn’t have to do it, he just did because he said what he felt. And at North Sails he continued the tradition; there was no bigger team player. Brad would do anything for anybody. He will be incredibly missed by those of us at North Sails as well as the entire sailing community in the Northeast US”. Jack Slattery, long time friend and colleague, shares fond memories of Brad: Brad had a true passion for sailing. He not only had a multitude of racing victories, including the 110 National Championship and (as my crew), six Interclub Dinghy Nationals but he also won the Mallory Cup and the US Men’s Sailing Championship, and competed in a variety of big boat regattas from Block Island to Hawaii. His enthusiasm for the sport, and Chinook, his rebuilt Pearson 33-2, were always worked into any conversation. He eagerly shared his favorite cruising spots along the East Coast with advice on how to improve your sailing or take care of your boat. The consummate team player and a kind-hearted soul, he never failed to make you smile. Brad brought that same kind spirit to work every day and was always customer focused. He thought nothing of driving 10 hours round trip to take care of a small issue for a client. He was also a lifelong educator. Through his college years, he was head instructor at various yacht clubs. At North Sails, he ran countless in-person and online seminars. Brad was always giving his time to others, and he loved every minute of it. Brad enjoyed over 35 years of marriage with his wife Janet and was the proud father of Ben and Lizzie. The family enjoyed sailing Chinook together, and also spent lots of time at their rustic camp in New Hampshire: hiking, skiing, and all things “mountain”. Brad’s love of the mountains led to lots of travel out West and to Europe, including a recent trip to Alta Utah to enjoy his son’s wedding just a few short weeks ago. I will miss Brad tremendously. The past 40 plus years of adventures together were fantastic. Sail on, pal. -Jack Slattery READ MORE

NORTH SAILS ON-SITE AT LES VOILES DE SAINT-TROPEZ A photo journal from this spectacular sailing festival 📸 Gilles Martin-Raget Les Voiles de Saint Tropez is a much anticipated annual regatta – it has a certain “je ne sais quoi,” if you will. Split across two weeks, hundreds of boat owners and their crews fill the docks and the harbor, and thousands of spectators descend upon the coastal town on the French Riviera for this sailing festival. From wooden classics to high-performance race boats, Les Voiles de St Tropez offers a spectacular display of sailing, and it showcases the best and the breadth of North Sails. During a morning coffee run, you’ll likely navigate around multiple signature blue North sail bags along the sidewalk as they wait to get loaded on board their respective boats. On an afternoon stroll you can pop into one of the three harbor-side North Sails Apparel stores, which house performance sailing gear and or our event space that offers official race merchandise. Or stop by our pop-up loft and watch our event service team put the finishing touches on racing sails that needed overnight repair. LVST 2023 even served as a launch pad for We Are North Sails, the latest campaign from North Sails Apparel. On the water or shoreside, this regatta offers it all. Racing concludes on Saturday, October 8th. Follow along with the event and North Sails as we wait for new #NSVictoryList entries. READ MORE

EASY FURLING GENNAKER CLAIMS THE ACCESSIBILITY AWARD IN NEWPORT North’s newest cruising sail is award-winning North Sails is proud to announce that the recently launched Easy Furling Gennaker has won the Accessibility Award in this year’s Newport for New Products program at the Newport International Boat Show. The North Sails team is equally honored to be the only sailmaker featured amongst the distinguished list of award winners. “The Accessibility Award is brand new, given this year for the first time,” commented Sally Helme, Group Publisher for Yachting, Cruising World, and Sailing World, who presents the awards on behalf of Newport for New Products. “We introduced this award to celebrate new products that open up sailing to more people, make it easier for sailors of all levels, or let them spend more time on the water. The new Easy Furling Gennaker makes a traditionally difficult task on a boat easier for short-handed crews. We think it’s a special award, and we hope that North Sails and the wider sailing communities agree.” “It’s an honor to receive this award because accessibility is the exact reason we introduced this sail,” said Tim Healy, North Sails Global Head of Sales. “Our entire product and design team worked incredibly hard to engineer a cruising sail with the reliability of top-down furling without sacrificing the ability to sail deep downwind. We launched the Easy Furling Gennaker just a few weeks ago, and it’s already proving to be our most in-demand downwind cruising sail.” To learn more about the Easy Furling Gennaker, browse product features and benefits on northsails.com, contact your local North Sails Expert, or visit the North Sails booth at Dock N-0 E during the Newport Boat Show. READ MORE

My passion for sailing grew and I was hungry for knowledge, so a friend suggested I look into being a sail maker. READ MORE

Three new North Sails World Champions, just one place short of a sweep for the nine podium positions and all achieved at one regatta, the Swan One Design Worlds in Valencia.  READ MORE

North Sails and Sea Bags teamed up on a sustainability initiative to divert retired sails from the landfill and pave the way for the sailing community to collectively reduce waste. READ MORE

NEWS UPDATE: NORTH SAILS GROUP SUPPORTS YACHT SCORING North Sails Group is pleased to announce the addition of Yacht Scoring to its family. Founded in 2006 by Luiz Kahl, Yacht Scoring is an easy-to-use yet powerful web-based race management and scoring tool used by hundreds of yacht clubs and race organizers around the globe. Kahl, who passed away unexpectedly in 2021, was a software developer by trade, a competitive sailboat racer, and a passionate race committee volunteer. This addition to North Sails Group is part of an ongoing mission to support the sport of sailing and increase participation. Yacht Scoring is a race management and scoring system that simplifies the task of event registration and communications while allowing for complete results in near-real-time. The single online data-based platform streamlines regatta management and eliminates the need to maintain multiple independent spreadsheets for entry lists, scratch sheets, ratings, and competitors’ information. For sailors, Yacht Scoring’s quick and easy sign-in and live scoring program delivers immediate race results, helping sailors know the score before they return to the dock. ​​ “Luiz uniquely blended an innovative business model with an unmatched level of customer support,” comments Ken Read, President of North Sails Group. “It was not uncommon to see him working hand-in-hand with race committees to ensure the success of their event. He didn’t do this because it was a requirement of using his services; Luiz did it because he was committed to helping sailors at all levels of the sport. It is our intention to follow his lead with this same service that he prided himself on.” “Yacht Scoring is a tool to help race committees focus on what’s important, letting sailors have fun on the water,” says Gui Kahl, Luiz’s brother. “In just ten years, Luiz grew Yacht Scoring into a must-have regatta management platform used by thousands of sailors. Beyond his business, Luiz was an avid supporter of Warrior Sailing, youth sailing, and Bayview Yacht Club, his home club, which will continue to be supported by Yacht Scoring.” Gui further explains, “The continuation of Yacht Scoring by the North Sails Group preserves Luiz’s legacy and will keep building on his vision.” The ease and accuracy of Yacht Scoring for race committees, sailors and volunteers with regard to all aspects of sailboat racing, from entry to scoring, will remain unchanged. The Kahl family extends their gratitude to Rob Bunn for his dedication and time over the last several months. A personal friend of Luiz’s, Rob was instrumental in keeping Yacht Scoring moving forward and operational for sailing and the sailing community. He will remain as interim manager of Yacht Scoring to ensure a seamless transition with the North Sails Group. For more information on: Yacht Scoring: https://www.yachtscoring.com/howitworks.cfm Media Inquiries: Bridgid Murphy bridgid.murphy@northsails.com 📸 CSR / Studio Borlenghi READ MORE

NORTH SAILS EXPANDS PALMA SALES AND SERVICE FACILITY One All Purpose Site Elevates Customer Service to Unprecedented Levels 📸 Ian Roman Palma, Mallorca Spain, April 21 2022 – North Sails has strategically relocated all their sales and service into one Palma location. Effective immediately the secondary loft space in Llucmajor is closed with all loft functions now concentrated within the Palma loft, located minutes from Palma Harbour and the closest facility to STP (Servicios Técnicos Portuarios) where North Sails also boasts a dockside office. The Palma loft has doubled in size by obtaining the space adjacent to the current structure and creating a mirror image of the existing loft space. The newly configured space is now Palma’s largest dedicated sailmaking and service facility. According to Quinny Houry, Site Manager, “the consolidation of the two loft sites in Mallorca into one 4,720m/sq site with 700m/sq of sail storage just 10 minutes from the water has enabled us to focus on client care and raise it to a level that is unprecedented in the industry.” North Sails Palma houses over 30 experts including sail designers, sailmakers and service professionals in a one-stop full-service centralized location. Loft services aim to provide a unique customer experience that include concierge-style sail removal and installation, sail design service, emergency repair, dedicated pick up and delivery services and year-round sail storage. With support available 365 days a year and an extremely convenient location the new loft layout raises the standard of excellence in sail care and customer service for sailors in Europe. “Expanding into the one building to combine the team’s expertise and utilize a more effective and efficient layout. The new loft set up offers unrivaled access to world-class sales and sail care professionals for superyachts and local yachtsmen alike,” says Brad Favelle, Operations Manager. North Sails Palma Poligono Industrial Son Morro, Carrer Ca Na Melis, 11a,b, 07007 Palma, Balearic Islands CONTACT NORTH SAILS PALMA 📸 Ian Roman READ MORE

SEAHORSE TECH BRIEF: NORTH SAILS PERFORMANCE COLLECTION The Fastest Sailors in the World Are Outfitted With the Most Advanced Gear in the Market 📸 Yann Riou Seahorse Magazine has given us special permission to republish the Tech Brief featuring the North Sails Performance Gear. Performance Director Nigel Musto teamed up with Matt Sheahan to talk about how North Performance is innovating foul weather gear and making history by looking ahead. North President Ken Read and Director of Design and Engineering JB Braun, teamed up to provide their insight and explanation on what’s hype, what’s fact, and why we feel the North Sails approach with Helix sails is a massive step forward for customers. ‘Our first year has been an outstanding one for us at North Sails Performance,’ says North Sails performance director, Nigel Musto. ‘We’ve been delighted that several of the world’s top sailors, onboard some of the most exciting boats – like the Gitana Team – have chosen to wear our kit. In particular the performance of 4DL, our “4-layer durable laminate” reinforcement, was way beyond even our expectations and the feedback has been superb.’ Bold talk from the man who heads the North Sails Performance team. In the competitive world of offshore clothing it would be easy to dismiss such enthusiasm as being the talk of the trade. But Nigel Musto’s hands-on approach and considerable racing and clothing experience is well-known in the racing world and means that along with his famously ebullient nature, when he talks of a breakthrough it’s worth taking note. But to understand why the new approach is so effective it’s important to understand a few background matters. ‘When we started the North Sails Performance project in 2018 we set out to solve several issues that the marine clothing industry has never been able to resolve. One was the problem of leaking knees and seats. Historically, when it comes it creating a robust garment that’s resistant to being torn or damaged by the anti-slip treatment on decks, and other snagging points around the boat, it’s been commonplace to put a Cordura patch over the top of the Gore-Tex fabric and then sew that patch into the side seams, but there are several problems with that.’ ‘The Cordura patch is heavy and it holds a lot of water when it’s wet, which makes it even heavier. It also creates a pocket between the patch and the Gore-Tex fabric and when that pocket fills with water it never dries out. Then, when you warm the water in that pocket you get reverse breathability which is why your knees and seat always feel damp.’ ‘Another problem is that when you sew the Cordura into the side seams you create a very thick seam. The result is that when you waterproof tape this seam there’s a significant risk of failure because you’re asking a lot of the pressure rollers on the PTFE tape machine when they are a forced to go over this very thick seam. If the membrane in the tape cracks, you’ll have a leakage.’ ‘With all this in mind we believed that the only sensible solution was to use a completely non-absorbent fabric as the patch and, to apply it in a way that eliminates the pocket and the thick side seams. ‘The logical route was to try and laminate something to the outside because with a laminated patch, you don’t need to go to the side seams. A laminated patch also means that there are no pockets and using a material that is totally non-absorbent means there is no weight gain when the garment gets wet. With all this in mind we went on the search for the ideal fabric and a solution as to how to laminate it to the outside.’ Nigel is tight lipped about the material itself, but when it came to the lamination, the expertise is close to home and not available to the opposition. ‘As many will appreciate from the North Technologies Group’s pioneering work with 3DL and laminated sails, we have a considerable number of experts in this field which was very useful in both finding the right material and then having the knowledge to create the perfect laminate.’ Two years of rigorous testing then followed resulting in some impressive feedback including a serious thumbs up from Imoca 60 sailor Kévin Escoffier. ‘I tested the same North Sails smock and trousers over 40,000 miles of hard sailing including the Transat Jacques Vabre, Le Defi Azimut, Vendee Atlantique – and the kit is absolutely reliable,’ he says. ‘What is just amazing about the North Sails Performance kit is how light it stays even in very wet conditions. The 4DL patches just don’t take in any, any water at all – it’s great and so comfortable.’ And Escoffier is not alone in singing the praises of the new kit. Being lightweight yet extremely robust, 4DL is proving to be popular with offshore sailors and by the end of the 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre in which teams went from cold, dark and wet to the heat of the Tropics in one race, Maxi Edmund de Rothschild’s (Gitana 17) skipper Charles Caudrelier didn’t hold back in his praise. ‘For the Transat Jacques Vabre whenever we did manoeuvres the North Sails gear is just magic,’ he said shortly after taking the Ultime class win in the race. The North Sails Performance Team is understandably delighted. ‘It’s clear that whether they’re racing or training, extreme offshore teams like Escoffier aboard his Imoca or the Gitana Team spend their life on the edge in some pretty serious conditions yet in the last 12 months there were no reported issues, not a single one.’ It’s hardly surprising therefore that North Sails Performance are so bullish and confident about their new product. 4DL has proved already to be robust, effective and by the accounts of those who have been riding the weather rail for hours on end, dry. ‘The funny thing is that because the sport has never had this type of product we’ve ended up accepting what has become the norm. The fact is that people don’t really appreciate what dry is until they’ve experienced being properly dry – they’re so used to being damp that dry is a bit of a new feeling. And this is what we’re bringing to the party. You really won’t get a damp backside,’ Nigel explains. As the testing went on there were other advantages that started to appear. ‘While we hadn’t set out with an intent to make a garment that was significantly lighter than anything else on the market, that’s what we ended up with. This lamination fabric is so much lighter than Cordura we’ve saved 30 per cent in weight on dry trousers when compared with our opposition’s equivalent. And that’s when they’re dry. Because everyone else uses Cordura patches, which hold a lot of water, my guess is that we’ll be at least 50 per cent lighter in very wet conditions.’ Tapping into the French offshore scene proved to be invaluable for the North Sails Performance team. While many of the world’s major events were postponed or cancelled, parts of the shorthanded offshore scene were able to continue, most notably the Imoca 60 scene and the Vendée Globe. ‘There are very few sailors that have clocked up the kind of miles that the French sailors have over the last two years and that’s been great because one of the main things we need in testing is hours on the water because that’s usually what causes failures,’ Nigel Musto says. In some ways the Performance team wasn’t surprised. Secret testing in Australia during training for the 2019 Sydney Hobart Race as well as in the race itself had suggested that 4DL was already delivering more than they had expected. The following year had seen many offshore miles completed in the Imoca scene, culminating in the Vendée Globe. Once their secret was out of the bag, teams took 4DL into the 2021 season and delivered North Sails Performance with plenty of validations and feedback as the wide range of conditions provided the perfect environment to put theory into practice once again. From the punchy, wild upwind start of the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race, to the intensity of the Copa del Rey and Les Voiles de St Tropez it was difficult to imagine a wider range of conditions. North Sails president Ken Read is in no doubt as to just how big a step the new clothing represents and doesn’t hold back. ‘Whenever North Sails sets out to build something, it’s a given that we plan on it being best in show. And the North Sails gear that Nigel Musto and his team have designed and built, for all marine applications, is quite simply better,’ he says. ‘He utilized a number of us who have a bit of time on the water to present what we thought were important features. Combine all of that with the new 4DL technology and voilà… the best foul weather gear, made of the best fabric, that the world has ever seen.’ But while the 4DL project gets a big tick, the North Sails Performance team is working on another area that has been neglected and overlooked for many years, women’s offshore kit. Which takes us full circle because, if you think this is marketing speak, when Nigel explains what the North Sails team has been working on you start to wonder why it is only now that solutions are appearing and those answers are on their way. In the meantime, he remains in no doubt about the significance of the move to 4DL reinforcement. ‘When breathable foul weather gear came onto the scene, many people thought that it was a luxury item, great if you could bear the additional cost. Within a few years, no one was considering anything else. We believe 4DL has the potential to do the same.’ SHOP PERFORMANCE READ MORE

A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN The Road to Monaco with North Sails Experts Giulio Desiderato & Alex Curtiss 📸 Studio Borlenghi Who’s going to win the J/70 Worlds in October? We can’t yet make a prediction, but we do know that the winning team is already well into their preparations—and most likely, they’ve already hired a coach. So we thought it would be helpful to ask two North Sails J/70 experts why they think this adds so much value—even for a regatta when coaches can’t talk to sailors on the water. North Sails expert Giulio Desiderato is a European champion in the J/70, but for the first part of the 2022 season he has stepped away from the mainsail trimmer/ tactician role to coach Elvis—and says he’s learned a surprising amount. “Off the boat, I can see the fleet from outside and also see the dynamics of the team. And every time, I find something that I want to try when I jump back on board. That’s not only interesting, it’s a great way to improve.” Of course no coach can help sailors unless they really want to learn, he points out. “The Elvis guys are a Corinthian team, and they are really motivated to improve and become better overall sailors. As a coach, that definitely makes life easier when you can work with a team with this attitude, I’m sure that they will be on the top soon.” 📸 Studio Borlenghi Data Overload? When he first started working with Elvis, Giulio was concerned about overwhelming them with too much information. “What I tried to do is divide it up into different areas: the start, boat handling, boat speed, tactics, and communication. Then we tried to improve a little in each area every day. It’s been interesting, because compared to a professional team, they were very open to new ideas. We had to decide together: What’s the routine each day? What is the best approach to the starting line? How do we accelerate?” Daily Routine Giulio says he keeps the mornings and evenings pretty much the same for both training and racing. “We have a short morning briefing, which includes a video that is similar to the day’s conditions. I have quite a lot of J/70 material in my database, so I can show a particular maneuver or technique based on the forecast. It’s always helpful to show a video, because it helps the team to visualize what they have to do on the water.” On training days, Giulio helps the team prioritize what to work on, striving for a mix of both boat speed lineups and practice races. He follows the teams closely, taking video and photos that will help him communicate what he sees to the team. On race days, Giulio can’t speak to his team once they leave the dock nor can he get too close during racing. “You cannot go in the middle of the fleet, so you have to find the right moment and the right angle to take a picture. It’s easier to take video at the start or at mark roundings, and then maybe downwind you can follow from the side and do some videos to understand if the technique is good or not. I think a good coach should also take video and pictures of the top boats, in order to copy them. You have to be curious, and think all the time as a sailor. I feel strongly about the regatta and it feels like I’m sailing with my guys too.” After sailing, they sit down for a debrief right away, “to speak immediately about what was most important and show video. Afterward I work on the photos, which help me explain in more detail about the tuning and the trimming. Usually the next morning I send the best pictures to the team, and we might discuss them at the morning meeting, especially if the conditions will be similar.” 📸 Studio Borlenghi From the Sailor’s Perspective Though his team on Good to Go used to send their coach home once racing started, North Sails expert Alex Curtiss says they have already locked in Mark Ivey for the entire Worlds—and for all of their lead up regattas. That’s because they’ve set the Monaco event as a top priority. “Doug Rastello, the owner, really likes it there,” Alex says, adding that they raced there three times over the winter. “It’s a really dynamic place to sail, because it’s a microclimate between the mountains and the Med. And the chop is really big; the whole city is concrete, and there’s a long seawall. The waves come in and hit it, and then you get these crazy reverbs; sometimes you’ll be sailing upwind with five foot waves coming from astern! We’ve had to learn to set the boat up differently on each tack.” Biggest Advantage? Asked to choose the biggest single value of coaching, Alex says it would be optimizing sail shape. “That’s a big thing, especially in a place like Monaco. Just having that outside eye on guys that are faster than us; Mark will say, ‘Okay, they’re slightly flatter than you’ or ‘these guys are slightly fuller.’ And a lot of times when we get off the water, he’s thinking about something he saw that was not even on our radar. I definitely think that if you’re a Corinthian team, and you’re looking to crack into that next group or get in the front of the pack, having a coach for a whole event is wildly helpful.” Be Adaptable When we spoke, Giulio wasn’t yet certain whether he’d be in the RIB or onboard a J/70 for the Worlds. He also says that it will be a “really difficult championship” to forecast. “The only thing that we are sure about is that it will be wavy,” he says. “And for that reason, whether I’m a coach or a sailor, it will be very important to be really adaptable with the sail configuration. At the last Primo Cup regatta, which we consider as a world championship test event, there were 17 North Sails boats in the top 20. Our F1 mainsail and J2+ jib also won the Bacardi Invitational Regatta in much different conditions. That’s for sure a combination that will give a lot of chances to perform.” Interested in buying a new set of sails for the summer, or for the World Championship? Contact a North Sails J/70 Class Expert or order directly from the button below. J/70 CLASS PAGE Alex Curtiss onboard Good To Go | Monaco Act IV 2022 READ MORE

MAKING THE WORLD’S LARGEST SAIL Meet the Designer, Builder, and Cloth Supplier of the Superyacht Perseus^3’s New Spinnaker, a Sail the Size of 10 Tennis Courts 📸 Ryan Borne “It’s substantially bigger than anything else out there,” says Glenn Cook in a typically measured fashion. The North Sails superyacht sail designer is calling from St Barth, where he’s testing the sail out for the first time, a process he says is both “nerve-racking” and “the best part of the job.” Because to bring this 2,604 sqm A2 sail to life, it’s taken a lot of people, time, and resources. In fact, it’s taken a design team in the US, an eight-week custom order from Contender Sailcloth and a team of 10 sailmakers and 2 graphic installers working over 15 days to build this sail. “The boat was specifically looking for a target area from a rating perspective,” explains Cook. “So the design was driven by that. And because Perseus^3 is a huge boat (her length overall is 58.60m), you can’t turn very quickly and trimming adjustments are also slow, so we looked to make a sail that had a very stable flying shape. Plus the sail has to work across a variety of conditions. The design is more forgiving than you would do on a smaller sail.” Handling issues drove the design, too: the luff is so long that it can drop into the water when gybing. “We developed a system above the tack to collect the sail and keep it clear of the water during a gybe.” With no other sail of that size or real benchmark, the chosen base material is a Contender Sailcloth Superkote 350 – the top of their offering – and the ply patching a Superkote 250 to keep some weight off. “These boats are huge, the loads that are involved are pretty exceptional,” adds cloth supplier Duncan Skinner, President of Contender Sailcloth USA. “We go from a fabric that weighs 32 grams per square meter up to something that weighs 150 grams for the Superkote 350 in this kite. As the weight goes up, the strength goes up and that’s what you need in a sail this size. “The fiber selection comes first – it’s high-tenacity Nylon. Second, constructions, ie. how many yarns we weave in each direction. Once the fabric is woven, the finishing comes in – that’s the real trick. You have to dye the product first, then finish it. We finish it with a coating process that gives stability and zero porosity to the fabric. A well-proven chemical process that makes fabrics that withstand the kind of loads you see on these giant boats.” Skinner smiles. “This thing is so big!” Producing a consistent finish throughout is key to ensure the sail’s uniform performance. “On these big kites, the fabric is specifically engineered so that there is a little bit of elasticity built into it. That way, big shock loads don’t run back through the rigging and the boat itself – the kite absorbs a little bit of it.” Surprisingly though, it’s the sail’s custom grey color that caused the most headache. “The coloring took us the longest because you can’t take that amount of material and dye it all at the same time. The machines just aren’t that big. You have to pay a lot of attention to the dye formulation and to the timing… and when you look at the kite, it’s pretty damn close! That was also very good on Manolo’s part when assembling the sail.” Manolo Lastra’s loft in Northern Spain was the last part of this gigantic puzzle. “It took about eight weeks to receive the material,” says Lastra on the phone, explaining how they ordered around 400 linear meters extra to get the panel color right. In total, his team received 3,323 linear meters of material divided into 48 rolls, used 3100, plus another 500 meters of the Superkote 250. With 3,500 sqm over three floors, Lastra’s team assembled the different sections step by step. And to fit the cutting tables, the sail has four sections across its foot, where most sails have two. “Two people were cutting for five days,” says Lastra. “Once cut, the 850 panels were sorted by groups and sent to production to be assembled by sections. Then they went through the sewing machines.” The parts were sewn separately before being put together. “That’s when we started adding the plies in the corners,” he adds. “That took 10 people and 10 days. Two more people were working on the graphics in parallel. “Once the sail and graphics were done, it dried for four days, got folded, and shipped to Antigua.” And it’s on the neighboring Caribbean Island of St Barth that we find Cook testing it out. “I’m down here sailing with them for the St Barths Bucket this week. It took probably 16 people two hours to unfold the sail and put it into the spinnaker sock.” At 550 kilos, did he try lifting it? “We can’t!” he laughs. “We use winches on the boat. We can drag it, but that still takes 10, 15 people to move it. “It’s big.” READ MORE

NORTH SAILS PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THE RC35 CLASS IN SCOTLAND A Busy Season Awaits… North Sails are proud to support the RC35 Class again for the 2022 season. The RC35 encompasses Racer-Cruiser yachts in Scotland with an IRC Banding of 1.010 to 1.040. They also attract teams over from Ireland thanks to the Irish events on the circuit. The class is looking forward to a full season on the water, especially after a difficult two years due to the pandemic. The Scottish IRC Championships at Scottish Series is at the beginning of June, so the class will be blowing away the cobwebs at their first event of the year in May – Kip Regatta. We spoke with Robin Young, Class Chairman and owner of J/109 Jings: “The RC35 class are looking forward to getting back to Tarbert after two years away. With at least two new boats? to the class, everybody is chomping at the bit to battle it out on the spectacular waters of Loch Fyne. Of course, we are also looking forward to catching up with old friends in the local hostelries. Jings – 📸 Neill Ross Animal – 📸 Neill Ross Reigning Scottish Series Overall Champion and three time RC35 Class Champion Animal will undoubtedly be the favourite. However, their rivals won’t make it easy for them as it looks to be another competitive and close series. With the fleet comprising of four J/109s, the ever popular class could present a new winner this season. “The biggest improvement I see with 3Di is durability. On the 36.7 we have overlapping Genoas and with 3Di we are seeing double the life compared to string sails. With North we are fast and they last.” says Kevin Aitken of First 36.7, Animal (RC35 Overall Champions for the last 3 years powered by a full suite of North Sails 3Di RAW). “It’s great for the RC35 Class to be associated with a sailmaker with such an impressive reputation worldwide. Also as a client with a full set of North Sails, I can vouch for the product quality and performance.” Robin continued. With 80% of the fleet using North Sails, we are delighted to continue supporting the RC35 Class in Scotland. Tight competition and a vast array of racing venues means we cannot wait to see what the busy season ahead brings. Who will be crowned RC35 Overall Champion and who will pick up RC35 Celtic Cup? 2022 RC35 Events RC35 Championship 2022, 6 events with 1 discard 14th-15th May – Kip Regatta 3rd-6th June – Scottish Series 23rd-26th June – Bangor Town Regatta 23rd-24th July – RC35 Championship Weekend 27th-28th Aug – Largs Regatta 10th-11th Sept – GSS/CCC North Clyde Regatta RC35 Celtic Cup 2022, 4 events with 1 discard 14th-15th May – Kip Regatta 3rd-6th June – Scottish Series 23rd-26th June – Bangor Town Regatta 11th-15th July – Volvo Cork Week READ MORE

#NSVICTORYLIST: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 A Strong Showing For North-Powered Teams. Here’s Our Race Recap The RORC Caribbean 600 is a much-anticipated event on the winter sailing schedule. With pro teams and amateurs alike gunning for victory, the combination of North Sails products, on-island support, and expertise is proven to deliver results. For the 13th edition of the race, North Sails was on board for a new multihull race record, multi and monohull line honors, and held a commanding presence amongst the fleet claiming 70% of the possible podium positions. And to top it off, Warrior Won’s 3Di sails carried owner Chris Sheehan and crew to the top of the overall leaderboard. A navigational channel in, out, and around eleven islands in almost perfect condition, the race is as much a showcase for sailing as it is for the Caribbean’s beautiful islands. “There is a reasonable amount of reaching in the 600-mile course, and it becomes a real test of a sail’s range,” explains Andrew Dove, manager of North Sails Antigua. “Our Helix Structured Luff Code Sails can make a huge difference here. Many of the legs are challenging, with conditions varying amount different islands; a hallmark of the race and a true test of a sails range. This is where 3Di and Helix sails excel.” We’re incredibly proud of the North-powered results; they’re overwhelming in the best way and inspire us to keep coming back for more. 📸 RORC / Tim Wright / Arthur Daniel READ MORE

OUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE: THE RORC CARIBBEAN 600 A Behind The Scenes Look Into The North Sails Antigua Sail Loft Final prep for offshore races can mean long days and late nights for the North Sails team on the ground. On Monday 21 February, the RORC Caribbean 600 sets off from Antigua’s very sunny (and very warm) waters. The race then loops up, down, and around through the Caribbean’s windward and leeward islands. Antiguan photographer Roddy Grimes-Graeme joined North expert Andrew Dove and his team as they gear up for the days before the start. Located in English Harbour, just a short walk from the docks, the North Sails loft serves as an unofficial pre-race clubhouse stocked with a bench of sailmakers on hand to assist in any way they can. Following Dove from sunrise to sunset, Grimes-Graeme shows us how jam-packed the days leading up to the Caribbean 600 are; sail testing, adding finishing touches, and checking sails, both big and small. “The loft comes alive with this event, and crews seem to gather here often late at night,” Dove explains. “Many North colleagues from around the world are on island too, and we all fly the North Sails logo proudly and with enthusiasm.” Join us on the ground in Antigua for a glimpse into what it’s like to get ready for a signature event of the winter sailing season. READ MORE

Optimize Your Sail with SmartLuffTM Having recently made the Helix design standard on all racing Code sails, North Sails now moves to digitize the Helix range – harnessing the latest wireless technology to maximize the benefits of Helix with this simple upgrade. North Sails is proud to introduce SmartLuff, an easy-to-use Bluetooth smart sensor that optimizes your sail by monitoring sail load in real-time. This exciting new product is manufactured exclusively for North Sails by Cyclops Marine, whose data-driven approach has made them industry experts in load sensing. Installed as an optional upgrade to the tack fitting in North Helix Sails, the SmartLuff sensor quickly connects to your smartphone and onboard displays, providing live load data in a simple, intuitive format. By visualizing sail load, you can adopt a data-driven approach to sail trim, repeatedly achieving the recommended sail/cable load sharing ratios provided with every North Helix sail. The free app continuously logs data, allowing you to analyze performance post-sail for ongoing improvement/fine-tuning. The combination of the Helix design (which relies on optimal load sharing to deliver maximum power), paired with the ability to hit precise load settings with SmartLuff, promises to change the complexion of race fleets across classes – giving teams that adopt the new technology a significant advantage over those left behind. Master Your Helix Sail Since its introduction, Helix has become a widely adopted design philosophy. First applied to the headsails of Artemis Racing during the 34th America’s Cup, Helix has rapidly evolved into a necessity for sailing programs craving steady power across a wider range. Helix’s revolutionary internal structure provides sailors access to another gear, enhancing power potential by absorbing more load, for a proactive, positive sail shape. Now, with the addition of SmartLuff, sailors gain heightened control of their Helix sail to access that power – enabling you to make data-driven decisions in-race, in set-up, and in your overall approach – while adding an element of interactive technology to enhance your sailing experience. Helix is standard on the full range of North Code Sails, and offered as an upgrade on racing headsails. All Helix sails can be upgraded with the Cyclops SmartLuff. To find out more, or to add SmartLuff to your new or existing Helix sail, contact a North Sails representative near you.   More About Cyclops: Cyclops Marine designs and manufactures highly accurate wireless load sensors for marine applications. Since launching their flagship range of rig sensors in 2019 they’ve been helping sailors win racers and move up fleets all over the world. “At Cyclops, we empower sailors to get the most from their equipment and maximize performance, so applying load sensing to North Helix Code Sails is really exciting. Helix is already an innovation that gives sailors more from their boat, so if Cyclops can help provide an extra 20%, then that lives up to our vision perfectly. We’re incredibly excited this collaboration has come to fruition and can’t wait to see the results on the racecourse!” – Ian “Chips” Howarth, CEO, Cyclops Marine   HELIX STRUCTURED LUFF  |  REQUEST A QUOTE  |  FIND A LOFT   READ MORE

NORTH SAILS 2021 TOP TEN Here Are Your Favorite Social Posts From This Year – All In One Place One thing can be said about 2021 – there was no lack of sailors #sendingit worldwide. From the gorgeous blue waters in the Caribbean, Palma de Mallorca and Saint Tropez, to the icy-chill of the Solent and Bassin Paul Vatine in Le Havre, to foiling Down Under – North Sails put it out there for you, but your “likes” decided the top 10 posts of 2021. 10. Starting the countdown off with the great video onboard Gitana Team’s Maxi Edmond de Rothchild, preceding this year’s edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, outfitted with the North Sails Collection‘s Ocean range, constructed in GORE-TEX Pro, their most durable, breathable, and waterproof kit.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by North Sails (@north_sails)   9. Relax and unwind onboard 191.6-foot Kokomo, custom-built by Alloy Yachts and newly outfitted with #North3Di OCEAN sails.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by North Sails (@north_sails)   8. You loved a guessing game, and another video of a superyacht certainly didn’t hurt…   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by North Sails (@north_sails)   7. Superyacht Cup Palma footage always leaves us in awe. It’s too bad you may not have been there in person, but we’ve got the next best way to watch…   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by North Sails (@north_sails)   6. Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios, lived up to the hype and claimed the prestigious monohull line honors at the 2021 #RolexFastnetRace. The largest yacht in the race’s long history, Skorpios set a new course record in her maiden race. This high-performance racing machine fully utilized North Sails #EngineAboveDeck using our revolutionary #HelixStructuredLuff technology.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by North Sails (@north_sails)   5. 2021 Winter Sailing Photo Contest – we all know sailors love a good, healthy competition. Click here for our 2022 Winter Sailing Photo Contest.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by North Sails (@north_sails)   4. It wouldn’t be a top 10 recap without a #FullSendFriday! The Ocean Race never disappoints in this department…   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by North Sails (@north_sails)   3. A little AC75 heat going into the finals of the Prada Cup. Reminisce on the fun…   View this post on Instagram READ MORE

Competitors from all over the World saw conditions range from 15-18 knots and high surf on day 1, to lighter breeze and big shifts as the regatta progressed. READ MORE

Working With The New York Yacht Club To Grow The IC37 Class 📸 Hannah Lee Noll The IC37 has quickly claimed its position as one of the premier one design keelboat classes in North America. Amongst the many class choices, the IC37, with its one-per-boat limit on Group 3 professionals, provides a unique platform for growing amateur sailing as a whole. Additionally, as the exclusive sailmaker since its introduction, North Sails fully supports the recently announced partnership between the New York Yacht Club and Thoroughbred Yacht Sales to expand the class’s domestic and international footprint. North Sails President Ken Read comments: “North Sails has been a part of this class since the beginning, and we’re excited about the future. I’ve known Greg Tawaststjerna and Bill Jenkins for a long time. They are true professionals whose understanding and contacts within the industry are unparalleled. The Thoroughbred team brings renewed energy to the class at exactly the right time. It carries the momentum showcased at the recent Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, an international Grand Prix event for amateur sailors.” First introduced in 2018, the 37-foot Mark Mills design is one of the strictest one design classes sailing today. The boat carries just three sails— a reefable main, a reefable jib, and an asymmetric spinnaker—each built by North to a class standard design. Additionally, the standing rigging must be locked at a prescribed tension for all class regattas. The built-in hydraulic mast step on the Southern Spars package is the boat’s single key tuning variable. The simplicity and consistency across all boats make for a sailor’s race, eliminating the inevitable arms race that comes with near-unlimited variables. “The beauty of the IC37 class is that it provides an even playing field for the 20 New York Yacht Club-owned charter boats and the privately-owned boats,” explains Read. “You have a very high-performance amateur race boat, with a big consideration for inclusiveness and keeping budgets under control. At September’s Invitational Cup, we saw exceptionally high-caliber racing amongst amateur sailors from around the world. They were able to step onto the IC37, get up to speed quickly, and be competitive; that’s exactly what was envisioned for this boat.” 📸 Laura Beigel / Beigel Sailing Media In line with the class distribution changes and the focus on growth outside of the Northeast US, North Sails has updated its IC37 sales strategy to provide more opportunities for its clients globally to buy IC37 sales from their local lofts. North Sails Expert and IC37 class leader Tim Healy will lead the change in expanding from a single centralized location to make information and products more accessible from any local North Sails Expert and site. Read elaborates: “We feel the one-stop-shop idea was successful for local selling in Newport, Rhode Island, but has limited us in reaching out to our clients and supporting the growth of the class. Moving forward, the IC37 is now the fold of all North One Design products, and our clients or those interested in the boat can work with their trusted North Sails expert wherever they may be to become more educated on the boat and the sail package.” “While the IC37 has seen success locally in Newport, the club’s objective is to expand the reach of this boat,” says New York Yacht Club Commodore Christopher J. Culver, a devoted IC37 sailor. “The IC37 is an ideal option for both clubs and private owners looking for a highly competitive class with a strong Corinthian spirit. With a 20-boat fleet at the New York Yacht Club and the initial construction of 15 private boats, the IC37 Class is ready for the next phase in its international growth in partnership with Thoroughbred Yacht Sales and the support of North Sails and the North Technology Group companies as a whole.” The 2021-22 winter circuit will start in late November and include three regattas sailed out of the Lauderdale Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The class’ 2022 summer season will kick off in Newport in early June and will include both the fourth IC37 National Championship and the class’s second North American Championship. For more information on the IC37 Class Association click here. To contact Thoroughbred Yacht Sales, click here. 📸 Laura Beigel / Beigel Sailing Media READ MORE

SOMETHING ABOUT LES VOILES DE SAINT-TROPEZ North Sails was out in full force for this end-of-season regatta To put it simply, there’s a certain “je ne sais quoi” to Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. As North Sails President, Ken Read says, “From wooden classics to flat out racing machines (and everything in between) there’s really no assembly like this in the world.” Les Voiles is two weeks of stellar sailing with a nightlife to match. And, North Sails is at the center of it all helping to propel the legacy of the event to that next level. From managing repairs and working hand in hand with teams to make the best sails available, to outfitting most of the town in our Collection gear, North Sails was in full force in Saint-Tropez. READ MORE

OPTIMIST V-SERIES: FIRST LOOK Speed and Versatility on the Racecourse After nearly two years of development, testing, re-designing and more testing, North Sails is proud to launch the all-new V-Series Optimist sail. We have streamlined our range to three sail options, all following the design philosophy of the V-Series: Optimist V-1 Mainsail, below 34kg (75 lbs.) Optimist V-2 Mainsail, between 34-42kg (75-93 lbs.) Optimist V-3 Mainsail, above 42kg (93 lbs) The V-series features a very unique radial design along with one crosscut panel, which allows both excellent shape-holding durability, and unparalleled tuning potential through the wind ranges. This sail design also reflects a long, in-depth study of all of the new equipment available in the Optimist class (sprits, spars, etc), and also how sailors now sail the boat (much more athletically than ever before). “This is the perfect Optimist sail for racers looking to get the absolute most speed and versatility on the racecourse.” — North Sails Optimist expert Tom Sitzmann. This radial sail delivers unparalleled acceleration and speed throughout a wide range of conditions. A radial sail is more rigid than a conventional crosscut sail. The sail holds its shape and responds more sensitively to trimming and tuning changes. SHOP OPTIMIST V-SERIES READ MORE

24 HOURS IN SAINT-TROPEZ Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend 24 hours in Saint-Tropez during “Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez“? Well, wonder no more. We understand not everyone gets to zip around the city and sail onboard a famous classic yacht so we decided to bring a little bit of the action to you. Enjoy this quick escape and start making your travel plans for next year. READ MORE

OUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE: 2021 MAXI YACHT ROLEX CUP A Photo Journal from Porto Cervo Regattas are long days on the water for the North Sails team, followed by late nights in the sail loft. Content creator Atila Madrona joined North for the 2021 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo to capture the our unique perspective on the action on the water and in the sail loft. His perspective provides a glimpse into what it’s like to participate in one of the most spectacular regattas. See Madrona’s photos from the 31st edition of the annual meeting of the Maxis. READ MORE

NEWPORT BERMUDA RACE 2022 ANNOUNCES NORTH SAILS AS OFFICIAL SPONSOR AND EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE PARTNER Success of Previous Performance Seminars Propels North Sails to Renew their Commitment to the Event and to Supporting Competitors The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (BROC) is very pleased to welcome North Sails in their return as the Official Performance Partner for the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race. The renewed partnership will include running North’s enormously informative and popular Performance Seminars, focused on weather, navigation, sail selection, and performance optimization. As Performance Partner, North Sails will host two race-prep seminars where navigation and weather experts join the North Sails team, and race veterans, to discuss sail choices and weather routing for the race. The seminars will be held online and their dates will be announced in the coming weeks. “While sail design continues to accelerate at a rapid pace, it is great to have North Sails committed to helping racers prepare and optimize their usage of offshore sail inventories through this sponsorship and their seminars,” said Somers Kempe, BROC chairman. Remarking on the strong momentum of 70 registrations so far this year, North Sails President Ken Read said, “The idea of a pre-race support system for the skippers and their crews is the foundation of our Performance seminars. We’re looking forward to taking questions and exploring answers through the webinars to help competitors optimize their race programs as efficiently and practically as possible.” North Sails prides itself on having the best sail solutions and accessible expertise for boats across the spectrum. The world’s leading sailmaker with a vast network of over 100 sales and service sites globally. Newport Bermuda Race always draws an international fleet of yachts of all sizes and will start off the historic coastline of Newport, RI on June 17, 2022. BROC welcomes North Sails with its long history of powering a range of impressive boats—many to podium finishes. “The Newport Bermuda Race is a classic race on par with the likes of the Fastnet, Sydney-Hobart and Transpac.” added Read. “The East Coast can serve up challenging weather conditions in mid-June. With a combination of 3Di and Helix Structured Luff, North offers a smaller sail inventory that can carry you through a wider variety of conditions; a game-changer during distance racing. Our philosophy is simple—provide the fleet with high performance reliability to make the race enjoyable for participants at all levels. Interested in a Performance Seminar? Sign up today and join a community of racers committed to learning and excellence. About the Race: First run in 1906, the Newport Bermuda Race is a biennial event, co-organized by the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. It is managed by the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee, a joint working group which organizes and presents the race for up to 220 boats. Learn more. READ MORE

3 TIPS FOR FUN FAMILY CRUISING Two Fast-Growing Kids Required a Leap of Faith to a Larger Boat, and Now it’s a Lot More Fun for the Whole Smith Family. It was Memorial Day weekend of 2020 when Tracy and Ezra Smith suddenly realized: their family of four had outgrown the Marshall catboat they’d owned for eight years. “We did a lot of overnights on that boat when the kids were young,” Tracy remembers. “But Mailie Rose grew five inches in a year, and suddenly she was as tall as I was. It was obvious that the four of us didn’t fit in that boat anymore.” Tracy and Ezra had both grown up sailing; Tracy finished third in the 1996 470 Olympic Trials, and together they campaigned an International 14 at a world level. Once they started a family, though, their priorities shifted from racing to family cruising with their two daughters, Mailie Rose (13) and Amelia (9). The catboat was perfect for small kids with short attention spans, Tracy says. But their cruising range was only about five miles from their home port of Wickford, RI. She points to a picture of the boat; she’s steering, with a backpack full of baby Amelia and a toddling Mailie Rose pulling on her shirt. Both parents have full-time jobs, so most of their cruising has to fit into summer weekends. Once they decided to buy a bigger boat, Ezra admits he thought about a powerboat first. “I figured with our lifestyle, it would be way more practical. We don’t have to take weeks off to go here, and then go there–” “And I said, we’re not getting a motorboat,” Tracy jumps in. “I grew up sailing around Miami, and I want to sail.” Ezra was fine with that too: “Hello, sailboat.” Going farther afield They were also both keen to extend their cruising territory, so Ezra began sending Tracy boat listings he’d found for sailboats in the 30-35 foot range. Then one afternoon, Onne van der Wal stopped by their house and made a surprise announcement: he was ready to sell his Pearson 36. Within weeks, Snoek moved onto her new mooring in Wickford Harbor. “We both felt pretty honored that Onne wanted us to have the boat,” Ezra says. “He and Tenley spent five seasons cruising with their own kids, and they know we’re going to take care of it. We went for our first sail last August, and then hauled out in October. It’s worked out really well.” Onne had done almost all of the updating needed for 21st century cruising, but he hadn’t replaced the head and holding tank. Ezra (who’s a marine designer) took on that job over the winter. And last spring, he and Tracy decided to sign up for the Wickford Yacht Club’s 2021 midsummer cruise, a full week’s commitment. “I was very nervous,” Tracy admits. “That we were going to be on this boat for eight days, and the kids weren’t going to like it.” Ezra says he was also hesitant at first about their summer plans. “I’m pretty risk-averse, especially with the family, because I know what can happen. You don’t want to get in over your head.” But the kids loved it, Tracy says with a proud smile. “In pretty much every harbor we went into, we instantly found friends to hang out with.” Many of their fellow cruisers were her former college sailing competitors, now cruising with their own kids. “People we only see once a year, but who are on the same page about what we’re doing in life. It was just amazing—the kids had a great time, and we had a great time. Every day got progressively more fun, because sailing is not a sport where you get burned out; it’s something you can do for the rest of your life.” Their eight day cruise took them to Cuttyhunk and several anchorages around Buzzards Bay. On the last day, they set out for the final cruise rendezvous off Third Beach (Middletown, RI), when their kids came up with a better idea. “It was a real stormy day, so we’re bashing upwind hugging the islands,” Ezra remembers. “We’re going along, and Mailie Rose says ‘hey, our friends are in Cuttyhunk. Can we go meet up with them?’” She’s on a chat group with all the other cruising kids, Tracy explains. The entire family happily stopped bashing upwind and instead joined a raft-up in a protected harbor—and best of all, it had been the girls’ idea. Taking the kids’ input is an important part of learning to cruise as a family, Tracy says. “You don’t want to bore them and ruin it; one bad experience, and they’re never going to want to go back out.” For both parents, the best part of the cruise was watching Mailie Rose take on more responsibility. Before they left, she’d gotten her boater’s license, so she was in charge of running the dinghy. She also helped with sails and boathandling on Snoek, thanks to the sailing lessons she’d taken at Wickford Yacht Club. “A big part of us being happy on the boat is that we have a thirteen year old who is a significant contributor,” Tracy says. “A thirty-six foot boat can be super-stressful for two people to handle. Going into docks and anchorages, we needed three people who were competent on the boat. And that third was Mailie Rose. She can steer the boat. She was playing the main, coiling lines, putting fenders away. And she really enjoyed finding out that she has the skills.” Junior sailing is not about your kids going to the Olympics, Tracy continues. “And that’s a hard thing for me to say, because I was so competitive. The purpose of junior sailing is for us to comfortably cruise on our boat for eight days. Doing a passage with young kids can be scary, especially when the breeze is full on. She and Amelia both passed that test.” Nine year old Amelia says her favorite part of the weeklong cruise was visiting a candy shop in Woods Hole on a rainy day ashore. But she likes the sailing, too. “Downwind’s probably my favorite, just because there’s less tipping.” Mailie Rose enjoyed the candy store visit as well, and she also remembers the joy and freedom of swinging from a halyard before dropping into the water. Each one of them has climbed a cruising learning curve this year, Tracy admits. Ezra adds, “The pleasant surprise is that now we’ve really grown into a boat that size. And it’s been really, really fun.” 3 Cruising Tips from the Smiths 1. Plan, plan, plan Plan out both provisioning and packing ahead of time. Tracy made lists of everything they might need well before the start of their cruise. This allows you to really enjoy the process, rather than running around at the last minute looking for AAA batteries. 2. It’s not about how far you go Don’t try to make too many miles each day, especially at first, and adjust plans to fit wind and weather. Sticking to a tight schedule will burn out the kids (and maybe the adults too). 3. Keep it simple The right family cruiser isn’t too complicated. “We kept it very small and very simple before jumping up to Snoek,” Ezra says. “That way, we were ready for it.” READ MORE

HOW TO FOLLOW: NORD STREAM RACE 2021 The longest offshore race through the Baltic Sea sets sail 📸 Nord Stream Race After many months of planning, re-planning, and making adjustments due to travel restrictions, the Nord Stream Race is finally ready to welcome the 2021 fleet to the starting line. The Nord Stream Race began in 2012 with the mission of “connecting the Baltics through sport.” This 1000 mile race starts in Kiel, Germany, and finishes in St. Petersburg, Russia, with stops in Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Helsinki. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nord Stream Race (@nordstreamrace) The 2021 race features teams from five countries with 60% of the sails under 30 years old. Teams from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Russia qualified for the event by winning their respective country’s National Sailing League. Each of the five ClubSwan 50s carries a four sail North inventory. Since 2017, North Sails has worked closely with the event to produce identical sets of sails for the entire Juan K-designed fleet. Here’s how to follow the Nord Stream Race 2021 Save these dates and get to know the teams: https://nord-stream-race.com/en/2021 Read the latest race news and press releases and view images and media on the race website: www.nord-stream-race.com Follow the fleet with the Nord Stream Race Tracker. The track is love for all four offshore legs and the inshore races at each stopover: www.nord-stream-race.com/en/live2021 Make sure to follow and “like” Nord Stream Race on social media: Instagram: @nordstreamrace | Facebook: @nordstramrace | Twitter: @NordStreamRace | YouTube: @NordStreamRace And don’t forget to tag your photos and videos with the official race hashtags: #NSR2021 #ConnectingBalticsThroughSport #NordStreamRace Nord Stream Race Course Route READ MORE

HOW LONG DO 3Di SAILS LAST? North Sails expert Mark Bradford explains that 3Di sails last “longer than you might think” 📸 Cate Brown Most sailors shopping for a new 3Di sail ask, “how long will it last?” Based on years of record-keeping, I can honestly say that the competitive life of a 3Di sail is far superior to any other technology on the market. It’s also much better than 3DL, our previous molded technology. There are far too many variables to predict precisely how long a sail will last, but we now expect race sails to remain competitive for several seasons. That’s a significant change from a decade ago, and it makes perfect sense once you understand how 3Di sails are constructed. The biggest killer of sails is UV. 3Di sails contain zero Mylar (the main culprit of delamination, use environmentally stable thermo-set adhesive (as opposed to thermoplastic hot-melt) and have a UV protectant added to the outermost surface. They’ll stand up better to the sun than any other sail material. The surface might degrade a bit, especially in the tropics, but those top layers protect the basic structure. As a result, when older sails come into our loft for annual maintenance, we often have trouble finding any damage at all. One great example of 3Di’s extended life comes from the annual race from Sydney to Hobart. I sail on Black Jack, and before 3Di, we often carried a spare main in case we blew up the first one. Now we’re doing two or even three races with the exact same sail, all thanks to the longevity and reliability of 3Di compared to either 3DL or our competitor’s so-called high-performance options. Our customer’s buying habits have changed, too. Before 3Di, whenever a customer bought a new race boat, they’d buy three mains: inshore racing, offshore racing, and deliveries. If they took outstanding care of their inventory, they might get three years out of the offshore and delivery mains and one to two years out of the inshore main. But changing mainsails can be a day’s work for several people, so after seeing how fresh the VO65 3Di sails looked after at the end of the last two Volvo Ocean Races, some of the hundred-footer crews got savvy and delivered the boat home again with the race sail. When they realized the main looked exactly the same even after all those extra miles, that one-mainsail trend trickled down to the smaller race boats as well. Today, even our most particular racing customers with new boats are only ordering a single mainsail. So that’s the best vote of confidence we could imagine about how well this product lasts. And it’s also a lot less hassle for them because once they get the sails set up on their boat, they’re not tweaking and adjusting and switching one in for another and vice versa. They’re simply pulling up the sail, using it, and then putting it away. And 3Di isn’t limited to racing boats. In 2020, North Sails introduced 3Di Ocean, a full product line engineered to deliver the benefits of 3Di to the cruising community. For example, we used to tell offshore cruisers that Dacron sails would last for one circumnavigation. Now we tell them they could do two or three laps around the world with the same sail inventory, as long as they have them serviced at one of our worldwide lofts. Whether you race or cruise, your new 3Di sails will undoubtedly last longer than you think. And it will last longer than any of our competitors’ products. What you’ll experience is a greatly extended lifespan, the longevity of a stable sail shape, and fewer replacement sails less often. Yes, 3Di is a premium product and may initially be the more expensive option, but its cost of ownership over seasons is unmatched. For more details, contact your local North Sails expert today. 📸 Cate Brown READ MORE

GEAR TO CONQUER OFFSHORE SAILING Gitana Team Joins Forces with North Sails Performance Collection 📸Eloi Stichelbaut The Gitana Team, an offshore racing stable founded in 2000 by Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild, has announced its selection of North Sails Performance clothing. North Sails Performance is the new game-changing range of technical foul weather gear and deck wear designed alongside technical sailing clothing designer Nigel Musto. During the Rolex Fastnet Race 2021, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild crew, led by their dual skippers Charles Caudrelier and Franck Cammas, had the opportunity to showcase the new technical gear during their second consecutive victory. At the end of this year, the six-strong crew will launch an attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, the ultimate sailing record, which they aim to achieve under the symbolic 40 days mark. However, before that, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild skippers will be enjoying a long double-handed transatlantic – the Transat Jacques Vabre – a 7,500-mile race from Le Havre to Martinique via the Trindade archipelago and Matim Vaz off Rio de Janeiro. The field of Ultimes entered looks set to provide thrilling competition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by North Sails (@north_sails) “To support our ambitious round-the-world racing program, we have chosen to trust North Sails Performance. The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild was the first oceanic maxi-trimaran designed to fly on the high seas; it marks a new generation of multihulls and opens a new way of offshore racing. We are deeply attached to this pioneering spirit, as well as to the innovation and performance that are part of the family DNA of our shipowners Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild. As a result, we have every confidence in the performance of this new generation of North Sails technical clothing.” Cyril Dardashti, CEO Team Gitana . For complete foul weather protection, the Gitana Team has purchased the North Sails Performance Offshore Smock, Offshore Jacket, and Ocean Trousers for their crew. Additionally, Gitana Team has selected the Inshore Race range, which is well suited to the protection offered by the 32-meter giant’s enclosed cockpit. Items chosen include the Inshore Race Hybrid Jacket and Inshore Race Smock. Finally, Gitana Team has also selected items from the GP Aero range, constructed in a slim, stretch fit – ideal clothing for those who view sailing as a truly athletic sport. “We’re very proud that Gitana Team has chosen to wear our kit, we set out to make the best foul weather gear in the world, and it’s a very special day at the office when a world-dominating team like Gitana confirms that you’ve achieved your goal. Of course, all at North Sails will be cheering them on very loudly as they hunt down their targets,” Marisa Selfa, CEO of North Sails Apparel, added. 📸Yann Riou / PolaRYSE / Gitana S.A. READ MORE

THE ULTIMES AT THE 2021 ROLEX FASTNET RACE: TEAM ACTUAL Skipper Yves Le Blevec and Team Actual Aim for Victory After an ankle injury that required a few weeks onshore to recover, French Brittany-based skipper Yves Le Blevec is eager to get back on the helm of his trimaran Actual Ultim 3 (formerly Francois Gabart’s Macif) for the Rolex Fastnet Race. While he wasn’t able to sail, he continued to gather information from his sailing team, which includes: Anthony Marchand, co-skipper of the Transat Jacques Vabre; Yoann Richomme, skipper of the V065 Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team; Hugo Kerhascoët, in charge of Actual Ultim 3‘s electronic foil regulation systems; Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, historical specialist of Maxi Trimarans; Amélie Grassi, sailor; and Anne-Kristell Jouan, mediaman. “It’s great to be back on the boat and prepare to compete on the water,” says Le Blevec. “I feel 100% confident in my ability to be onboard, thanks to the extraordinary work by the medical team at the Kerpape Center in Morbihan.” Last April, the trimaran was relaunched under the Team Actual colors after a five-month refit. To familiarize himself with the new boat, Le Blevec committed to a handful of sailing sessions with the boat’s former skipper François Gabart. “Watching the way François sails is very instructive. You learn something new every day because we don’t operate in the same way. We know how these complex machines work. But the principle of performance is to constantly question and challenge ourselves. This allows us to constantly evaluate what we know. With Mer Concept, who designed this boat, we have defined a feedback program to evaluate performance. When we return from the Fastnet, we will have some joint training sessions with SVR Lazartigue to compare the data from the two boats.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team Actual (@team_actual_officiel) The changes made to the trimaran since she was acquired are minimal, Le Blevec adds. “This boat is a well thought-out design. So we followed the roadmap set out by the previous team to develop the new daggerboard and a new central rudder. There will be some progress, but no major revolution. As we sail, we’ll see how to get the most out of the boat. There are still some subtleties to discover. After the Fastnet, we could change the galley space for the crew, because right now it’s very confined.” The boat was delivered with a set of sails in good condition, notes Le Blevec. “Like the boat, we didn’t make any major modifications to the sails. We spent a lot of time with North designers Alan Pennaneach and Quentin Ponroy, to review each sail and their history, according to the specifications initially set up with MerConcept. The mainsail had been modified for the Transat, and we completed those modifications.” For the Fastnet, they were still deciding which headsail to use. “We have two J1s, one that is tucked inside the mainsheet and the other on the draft point of the J2, and we will have to choose which of these we will take onboard for the race. We will also have to think about it before the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre next November. For that, we need to log miles, which will allow us to identify the gaps depending on the weather conditions. We have some ideas for modifications, but there is no need to change the sails for the moment.” Compared to his previous Ultime, Le Blevec notes a real gain in performance at certain points of sail: “We have entered another mode of navigation! Her target speed upwind in a 25-knot wind can reach 27-28 knots on foils. The crew has already experienced sequences of flying at 40 knots, with a peak of 44 knots. It’s exciting.” He also observes that in heavy seas, the boat is more fluid and hits the waves much less than his old trimaran. “There are still a lot of adjustments to be made, but we are excited to be sailing against the other competitors,” Le Blevec says. “Alone in training it’s always difficult to evaluate your performance, especially since these Ultimes are by nature very fast machines.” The Rolex Fastnet Race remains a classic among classics, he concludes, and it’s always a pleasure to return, even if there can be only one winner in the end. According to him, the finish in Cherbourg, France, represents a great demonstration of freedom from borders. “The course is significantly longer, even if it remains short for the Ultimes. But to complete the Fastnet in just 24 hours is an extraordinary thing.” North Sails equips three Ultimes taking part in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. We spoke to the crews about their project, the evolution of their boat and sails, as well as their Fastnet training program and their expectations for this edition. You can access our other stories via the links below. Edmond de Rothschild Sodebo Other Fastnet Stories 📸 Thomas Deregnieaux READ MORE

THE ULTIMES AT THE 2021 ROLEX FASTNET RACE: TEAM SODEBO Offshore Veteran Thomas Coville Expects Intense Competition 📸 Martin Keruzoré Sodebo Ultim 3, a latest-generation boat skippered by Thomas Coville, will line up at the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race against the other Ultimes. The sailing team includes Thomas Rouxel, Corentin Horeau, François Duguet, Matthieu Vandame, Léonard Legrand and Thierry Douillard, and part of the crew was also involved in the team’s 2020 Jules Verne Trophy attempt. “We are probably one of the boats that has sailed the most,” Colville says. “These 32-meter boats are technically complex and very demanding. It’s exciting, because the project management is constant.” Despite ever-changing circumstances since the launch in 2019, Coville has a positive assessment of the last two years. “We have experienced a dynamic and creative period with a vast amount of internal collaborative work. We have set up a design office to coordinate our work with the best experts in each specialty, and a rotating leadership that adapts according to the skills of each person.” Right from designer Renaud Banuls’ very first drafts, the team focused on aerodynamics and worked closely with North Sails. “To design this boat, we started with the experience of the previous boat, and the old sail surfaces. We then redesigned the sail plan,” explains Coville. “We are very much linked to North’s studies and involvement on our internal platform. With Gautier Sergent, we started with the sail plan and aerodynamics to think about how we could integrate with different parameters linked to the boat’s behavior, such as the centering of the weight. Each element interacted with another element to make the whole reflection loop work. From the power of the boat generated by the sail plan, we created a hydrodynamic package to balance these forces. That was pretty innovative.” This interactive approach continued right up until their 2020 Jules Vernes Trophy attempt, and the sailing team returned with a wealth of data combined with a rich experience to further evolve both the boat and the sail plan. “There were some sail shapes that we were happy with, and we made some nice changes to the mainsail and gennaker. For each sail, we are looking for an optimization between the structure and the shape. As far as Helix technology is concerned, we’ve seen clear improvements, especially on the second version of the new set with the data feedback.” Coville is a Rolex Fastnet Race veteran and says each edition is different. “I love this race, because it was one of my first competitions as a young sailor, which introduced me to ocean racing and to the Anglo-Saxon sailing world. At the time, Cowes was the Mecca of ocean racing and all the nations came to compete. You could meet all types of sailors, from amateurs to professionals, in a festive atmosphere and with good chemistry.” He doesn’t think the new course format will change the race very much. But he predicts this first match-up between the Ultimes will be quite intense; “We have been sailing a lot lately, but with a team led by Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier, two sharp sailors on a boat that has reached maturity, and another team skippered by Yves Le Blevec, who has a boat with a solid track record…” it will be a great battle for line honors into Cherbourg. North Sails equips three Ultimes taking part in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. We spoke to the crews about their project, the evolution of their boat and sails, as well as their Fastnet training program and their expectations for this edition. You can access our other stories via the links below. Team Actual 3 Edmond de Rothschild Other Fastnet Stories 📸 Martin Keruzoé READ MORE

THE ULTIMES AT THE 2021 ROLEX FASTNET RACE: GITANA TEAM Edmond de Rothschild Back to Defend Their Title 📸 Yann Riou / polaRYSE / Gitana Team The winner of the previous Rolex Fastnet Race, the Maxi Edmond de Rothchild is back to defend her title. In 2019, the trimaran led by Gitana Team beat François Gabart’s Macif by a mere 59 seconds. Since then, many improvements have been made to the boat’s appendages and systems; they’ve also added a brand new North Sails inventory. “The emphasis has been placed on aerodynamics,” says co-skipper Franck Cammas. “We’ve worked on many aspects in detail, but no revolutionary changes.” The team has noticed real performance gains with their Helix structured luff sails. “We had problems with heavy loads deforming the forestay,” explains co-skipper Charles Caudrelier. “With Helix, the loads are redistributed, which allows us to have a straighter, stiffer luff. In particular, the Helix J0 is a small revolution. We are still in a discovery phase, but the gains are clear.” Thanks to these upgrades, Edmond de Rothschild has been logging 30-40 knots depending on wind conditions. At those speeds, the team could cross the finish line in Cherbourg in less than 24 hours. Caudrelier points out that the new course allows for a more open game, as they have the whole English Channel to cross. “It will be interesting for the Ultimes. There will be close racing with a more technical course off Cherbourg. And of course this French city provides a nice setting for an arrival celebration.” But first, the giant trimarans must maneuver their way through a start off Cowes, a tricky feat for the largest boats in the race. “The English coastline is a great playground and one of the most complicated in terms of sailing,” Caudrelier says. Cammas agrees. “Even if the course is short for Ultimes, this race remains a great pre-game for the Transat Jacques Vabre.” In order to maximize options in all possible conditions, the team will also keep its standard set of sails onboard. “A gennaker covers a range of wind speeds from 10 to 40 knots,” Cammas explains. “This reduces the number of sail changes, very physical maneuvers that require the crew’s full attention.” The entire team is fully committed to continued evolution, and the boat will be fitted with new foils after the Fastnet. Caudrelier says that they also want to keep refining the sail plan. “Do we want deeper sails, flatter or more twisted? We made some modifications in a direction that interested us. But it is difficult to evaluate the performance of a sail because the figures from one day to another are different. In the previous Fastnet, we were a bit faster downwind. But our preferred points of sail are upwind and reaching. That said, this edition is more competitive, and we expect to uncover feedback to help close these gaps.” “We don’t have the human and technical resources to change sails or appendages every year,” Caudrelier explains. “But we change what we think is most relevant.” It is also difficult to make comparisons across the fleet, because each Ultime features very different design concepts and structure, which demand different sail combinations. “The two new boats Banque Populaire (Armel Le Cléac’h) and SVR-Lazartigue (François Gabart)> will be absent from this edition,” Caudrelier says. “Some teams have added larger foils and larger wings on the daggerboard to improve their hydro. Obviously, the tweaks are not revolutionary, but it is the sum of the small things that make the difference. In the end, we all have weak and strong points. The Fastnet will be an opportunity for us to both gauge our performance and test some sails to design the set for next year.” 📸 Yann Riou / polaRSYE / Gitana S.A. Aside from the high-caliber competition, what the Edmond de Rothchild crew fears most is hitting UFOs; submerged objects plagued the team throughout training and during last year’s Jules Verne Trophy attempt. “There is always a risk and an apprehension of hitting something,” says Caudrelier. “The impacts are often violent, and the damage is significant.” The crew includes Morgan Lagravière, David Boileau, Erwan Israel, and Yann Riou, and all are looking forward to their first competition since the Brest Atlantiques and to measuring themselves against their opponents. Will their continuous improvement be enough to defend their 2019 title against such tough competition? Stay tuned for an exciting finish in Cherbourg. North Sails equips three Ultimes taking part in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. We spoke to the crews about their project, the evolution of their boat and sails, as well as their Fastnet training program and their expectations for this edition. You can access our other stories via the links below. Sodebo Team Actual Other Fastnet Stories 📸 Eloi Stichelbaut / polaRYSE / Gitana S.A. READ MORE