NORTH SAILS BLOG

One Week to go to Cowes Week 2022 Photo Credit: James Tomlinson / Cape 31 UK Cowes Week, aptly named after its host town in the Isle of White, is one of the world's longest running and most successful sporting events. The regatta has been held in early August every year since 1826, except during the two World Wars and is a key highlight of the British sailing summer. It’s the range from classic and cruising yachts to the high performance designs of the moment that gives Cowes Week its uniqueness. The spectacle the racing provides along the foreshore of the town and the vibrant festival atmosphere attracts not only sailors from around the world but thousands of visitors to Cowes during the event. With over 300 boats entered in this year's Cowes Week, the event is on track to be the biggest in recent years; the XOD class has had the largest early entry with 35 teams. All 21 One Design classes are also starting to stack up including 18 Cape 31’s, 29 J70’s, as well as Performance Cruiser and Club Cruiser classes and seven IRC classes. The class to watch is the New Cape 31 class with over 20 boats on the start line. We’re proud to be supporting some of our local North Sails team members across the fleets including; Ben Saxton on Cape 31 Tokoloshe, the current UK 31 Race Circuit leader, Ronan Grealish and the Harrison Family sailing their new Cape 31 to match their TP52 Jolt and finally, Mike Henning competing for the Overall Cowes Week Cup on board HH42, INO XXX. North Sails newest team member Ian Walker will be christening his first week at North by joining North Sails expert Ruaridh Wright and long-standing North customer Ian Atkins on Dark n’ Stormy a GP42. The team will be following up on their Overall win at the Round the Island Race that took place at the end of June. One to also watch is Yes! (JPK1080), long standing North Sails customer Adam Gosling who has been racing at Cowes Week for over three decades. In various yachts, all called Yes!, Adam is one of the most successful skippers in the 192 year history of the regatta, winning his class on 15 occasions and Black Group overall on four occasions. He missed out on the class win by one point to fellow North Customer David Frank on J112e Leon last year... Will he get back on his winning streak this year? Our North Sails team will also be providing North Sails Certified Service during the regatta at the North Sails Cowes Loft in Cowes Yacht Haven. North Sails service expert James Hobson will be on site to assist with all your sail care needs during the regatta. The legacy of this long-standing regatta is based in world-class racing, but it’s also a wonderfully social week where friends old and new come together to support the sailors, discuss innovation and have fun in a great mix of social activities. Keep up to date with the North Sails Victory List to see how your favorite North Sails expert or team is fairing throughout the week. READ MORE

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: VYC REGATTA North Sails Smooths The Water For Annual Regatta The 2022 Vernon Yacht Club Regatta was a great success with 26 boats and well over 100 sailors participating from 4 clubs, including Penticton, Summerland, Kelowna, and Vernon. Some great winds picked up the racer’s spirits on Friday afternoon during the pre-regatta Rum Race from Whiskey Island to the Vernon Yacht Club. Budd Callis and crew on Controlled Skid (Penticton) took the prize. Regular regatta racing on Saturday and Sunday had more subdued winds and lots of liquid sunshine but spirits were high. Lyle Enns on Mystique (Vernon), with his brand new North Sails headsail took 1st place in the Santana fleet. Danny Foster on Shadowfax (Kelowna) took 1st in A fleet, and Harvey Ryll on Wildfire (Summerland) took 1st in C fleet. This year’s regatta committee encouraged more relaxed racers to join in a white sail fleet and Gerard Obbema on Quintessence (Summerland) took 1st in the fleet of 8. Congratulations to Harvey Ryll on Wildfire who won the overall award. No regatta is complete without the competitors feeling the thrill of a big win. Sometimes that win comes with a trophy for top notch racing, but for many it’s that anticipation that their winning ticket will let them head home with a goody that will come in handy for their next sailing adventure. During the awards ceremony most participants don’t walk to the podium to receive a 1st place finish, but they sure love taking part in the afternoon ceremony when the North Sails and Nautical Sailing Services swag is presented to lucky door prize winners. This year Drew Mitchell and the North Sails crew in Vancouver came up big by providing the Vernon Yacht Club Regatta with hats, belts, shirts, croakies and water bottles that will help keep these competitors coming back for future events. This years Vernon Regatta was not the windiest or the driest, but all the competitors had high praise for the camaraderie and also for the value they received for their entry fee. The extra value provided by the generosity of North Sails, Nautical Sailing Services and other fine community supporters helped make the VYC Regatta a big success. READ MORE

Nanushka Forestay Sailing Team 2022-es versenyszezonra a testek frissítése, újrafestésével párhuzamban tervezte lecserélni a teljes vitorlakészletét. Vitorlák beszerzésében a csapat komoly tapasztalata és a kompromisszum mentes hozzáállás volt a döntő. NORTH SAILS 3Di kompozit vitorlákra esett a választásuk. Csapat: Horváth Áron, Botos Bálint, Várady-Szabó János, Petheő Tamás, Lukáts Csaba, Jankovics Gábor. 📸NANUSHKA FORESTAY SAILING TEAM READ MORE

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: CATGURU RENDEZVOUS Weekend of Fun and Learning with North Sails Expert Bob Meagher After a two-year COVID hiatus, Stephen and Estelle Cockcroft of Catamaran Guru reinvigorated their Abacos catamaran Rendezvous and attracted 27 catamarans to rally to and through the northeastern Bahamas last month. Naturally, North Sails jumped in with North Sails multihull expert Bob Meagher arriving on a Monday evening when the party was just winding down. Tuesday morning featured a short distance race with a 10:00 start off of White Sound, with the fleet of 25 cats flying a variety of sails to catch the southwest breeze. Boats flew sails in the widest range of configurations, with winged genoas and mains, gull-winged genoas and screechers, asymmetrical spinnakers sheeted to either side off either bow, with mainsails doused, reefed, or full depending on how each crew thought they’d serve best. Meagher chased them all, offering trim tips to each competitor, guiding them through experimenting with different setups, commenting "rallies like this are about learning: by doing it and seeing what works, by watching others, and from outside advice." A dying breeze gave the race committee time to restock with ice before shortening the course to enable an on-time happy hour at Grabbers on Guana Cay. Continued light breezes forced a leisurely motor sail the next day to Green Turtle Cay, home of the Bluff House, as the evening's host. But first, there was more learning to be had! Half the fleet gathered aboard Zuri, the Cockcroft's own Bali 5.4, where Meagher led a hands-on class in setting, sailing, and dousing asymmetrical spinnakers. Almost two dozen people participated. “Our goal with this annual rendezvous is two-fold. We lead our group on our own cruising catamaran to the islands to help them gain confidence and to show our boat owners a good time. But more importantly, we invite our industry colleagues like Bob, to help educate the boat owners on how to operate certain components of their boats and therefore better enjoy their boats. Bob did not disappoint and we are very grateful to North Sails and Bob for generously donating his time and expertise.“ The fleet capped off the week with the awards party ashore at Bluff House. Rick Walker's Voyage 430 Endangered Species claimed first prize in the previous day’s races (using a rare thing on a cat - a spinnaker pole!), and other prizes were awarded for more… creative competitions when the sun went down. All-in-all, the Catamaran Guru Rendezvous highlighted the best about sailing: fun with friends, and learning to improve. North Sails was happy to help with both. READ MORE

NORTH SAILS & SORC CONTINUE PARTNERSHIP North Sails Chosen As Official Performance Partner of 2022-2023 Edition North Sails is pleased to announce its continued partnership with Southern Ocean Racing Conference for the 2022-2023 edition. The series consists of four distance races that draw a fleet from across the country and includes a range of yachts from super maxis to corinthian cruisers. The series prides itself on accessibility for a wide variety of sailors and offers storied races from South Florida to destinations like Key West, Nassau, Palm Beach, and Cape Canaveral. North Sails will continue to work with participants to help them prepare and plan for the series of four races. As the Official Performance Partner, North Sails experts will be offering measurement days across the South East lofts and an educational webinar on ORC Ratings. The measurement days will provide participants an opportunity to discuss their inventory with North Sails experts and how to optimize their rating, have their sails measured and drop them off for any necessary pre-race service. Stay tuned for dates and timing. “SORC is a fabled brand that continues to challenge sailors of all skill levels today. This initiative helps teams plan for first class winter sailing and get the most out of their sails,” shares North Sails expert Bob Meagher. As the industry leader, North Sails is committed to helping clients achieve success whether it’s their first race or thirtieth. We look forward to supporting SORC participants in their journey throughout the 2022- 2023 SORC series. READ MORE

BLUEBOTTLE – THE QUEEN’S DRAGON Racing Royalty: 74-Year Old Classic Races 2022 Dragon World Championships 📸 Tom Körber “Take the measurement certificate, for example, it says the owner, and it’s… well, Her Majesty the Queen. So, when you go to the regatta office to register and they’re looking at it… they’re taking photographs and they can’t believe it.” The speaker was Graham Bailey, and we were talking about Bluebottle, the 74-year old classic that he had just helped Ruairidh (Rory) Scott – a leading designer with North One Design – sail to a fifth place at the 2022 Dragon Worlds in Germany. Bluebottle was a wedding gift from the Island Sailing Club to the-then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in 1948. She was raced by the Royal couple, and others – winning bronze at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne in the hands of Graham Mann – before being retired from racing in 1961. Bluebottle spent the next forty years at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. “I’m told that no cadet dare use her for fear of pranging her,” said Bailey. “So, she was sort of a precious, unusable item… until she was taken in by the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall.” It was Bob Downie, the far-sighted CEO of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust that rescued her and brought her back to the racetrack. Downie was already responsible for the remarkable second life of the Royal Yacht Britannia, now a superb tourist attraction in Edinburgh, and home to two other royal yachts, the ocean racer Bloodhound, and the Flying Fifteen, Coweslip. Downie was given custodianship of Bluebottle, and this is where Bailey – a long-time Dragon devotee – came into the picture. “He was seeking guidance on who best to restore her,” said Bailey. It was David Heritage Racing Yachts of Cowes that got the job. The question was, how complete a restoration should be undertaken? “They kept on referring to the Duke,” explained Bailey, “and he kept on saying, ‘Well, yes, if we’re going to restore her, we might as well restore her properly, not just to be on display again in another museum… Let’s put her into sailing condition.’” And then sailing condition became racing condition, and slowly the plan was hatched to get Bluebottle back on the water where she belonged. At the front of the world’s Dragon fleets. 📸 Tom Körber 📸 Tom Körber Sadly, the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh in April 2021 meant that he never got to see his beautifully restored Dragon, but the loss of the Duke didn’t change the plan. Bailey and his wife Julia were asked by the Palace to race her – to take the Duke of Edinburgh’s boat to the Edinburgh Cup in Edinburgh. “She was last raced in 1961, it was a full 60 years until she crossed a start line ,” explained Bailey, after they came third at the event last summer. It was such a success that the team decided to go to the Worlds. “Rory kindly agreed to come with us… he’s about the hottest property in Dragon racing at the moment,” said Bailey. “He’s just won the Europeans and has had stunning successes whatever he’s done.” “We’d never sailed together as a team or at all, or on that boat… and no one had a clue how we would go,” explained Scott. “We opened with a 22nd or something like that, and then from that point on, all our results were top ten.” “I can’t understate Rory’s contribution to getting her rolling,” said Bailey. “The first couple of races, we weren’t really able to hold a lane… but we fiddled about for a couple of days, and then all of a sudden, we started hitting some sweet spots.” “We put all our standard sails on it,” said Scott. “We have a light, a medium, and a heavy genoa, our latest R5 Spinnaker, and they already had a mainsail, which was the A7. We offer two designs, a deeper one (A7) and a flatter one (A14). And this was the deeper one, which suited that boat very well because the mast was pretty soft. “We managed to get in a position where we were one of five boats going into the last race that was capable of winning. And as it was, it didn’t go our way,” added Scott. They got a black flag in the final race. “At least we were pushing to do our best,” he concluded. “It was a pretty cool experience, to be asked and to be involved.” Finishing fifth, Bluebottle’s result – at the grand old age of 74 – was the icing on the cake, with North Sails powering the top three overall. There is little doubt that Bluebottle is a very special Dragon. “We were packing the boat up and an elderly gentleman turns up on his bike. He’s cycled from the next village because he’d been reading in the newspapers about Bluebottle and he wanted to see her himself,” recalled Bailey. “She’s got her own charisma.” 📸 Tom Körber READ MORE

#NSVICTORYLIST: VENDÉE ARCTIQUE Familiar Faces Crowd the Podium After 1200 NM Cold Weather Course Dalin, Beyou, Ruyant. By now, these names are likely familiar to you, and if not, don’t fret; North Sails will help get you up to speed. The top three boats completed the 1200 nm Vendée Arctique course a short four days after they first departed on June 12th. Dalin’s Apivia was first to finish, a trend that’s becoming a habit for the solo skipper. If you remember, Dalin was also the first boat to complete the grueling 2020-21 Vendee Globe and then followed it up with a first-place finish in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. Charal’s Jérémie Beyou and LinkedOut’s Thomas Ruyant closely followed Dalin, with the top three Vendée Arctique finishers arriving into Les Sable d’ Olonne within seven hours of each other. The Vendée Arctique is the first of five qualifying races for the 2024 Vendée Globe. The planned course is a demanding loop course that takes competitors on an unprecedented sailing adventure into an arctic environment. The skippers set off single-handed and non-stop towards the Arctic Circle, expected to sail around Iceland and navigate through the weather systems in the rough seas of the far north before returning to the race’s home port in France. But the weather conditions proved more challenging than expected for the 2022 edition. Race officials determined a strong low-pressure system in the North Atlantic near Iceland was churning to be more dangerous than first forecasted. As a result, the race was shortened and the finish moved to the Iceland Gate – to the east of Iceland. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vendée Arctique (@vendeearctique) Of the 25 skippers participating in the 2022 race, 16 are Vendée Globe veterans, and they’ve chosen North Sails to help them deliver the results they and their sponsors expect. The North Sails team knows that sailors have a choice among sailmakers. Our market share within the IMOCA class is a result of the best people paired with the best product and a competitive spirit that never quits. “Innovation and going beyond is the North Sails DNA,” remarked Gautier Segrent, Head of North Sails France. “Our presence in the IMOCA class is because of years of intensive development that translates into three main elements; our investment in the creation of innovative products such as 3Di and Helix Structured Luff; our strong involvement and North Design Suite software available to the design teams from the very first drafts; and finally, our hands-on support for custom projects to best meet the expectations of the teams.” A longtime collaborator with the individual teams, North Sails stepped up their support and signed on as an official supplier for the 2022 Vendée Arctique. North Sails France Managing Director Philippe Touet commented: “The North Sails involvement as an official supplier of the Vendée Arctique is closely linked to our relationship with the racers of the Vendée Arctique and the Vendée Globe; the two major offshore races organized by the Vendée SAEM. These events are both the playground and a testing ground for North Sails. So partnering with the Vendée SAEM in the second edition of this race was an obvious choice.” The next edition of the Vendée Globe commences in November 2024. These next two years will see sailors putting their boats through the paces and testing their equipment to its limits. Their onboard experiences will provide critical feedback for the North Sails design team to continually tweak and optimize the IMOCA sail inventories. They often say you win races before you even reach the start line, and with the first event completed, the race is on. READ MORE

#NSVICTORYLIST: SUPERYACHT CUP PALMA North-Powered Superyachts Sweep Podium & Ganesha Claims Winner Overall With all but one of the participating superyachts outfitted with North Sails, we knew the Superyacht Cup Palma would bring a handful of new entries to the #NSVictoryList, but in what combination? The event came down to the last race of the regatta, and in the end, Ganesha claimed Overall victory in addition to her Class B win. J Class Svea won the J Class division while Kiboko Tres took the top spot amongst the A Class. “It was a bit of a surprise win, and we certainly weren’t expecting it, either the class or the overall,” commented Ganesha skipper Alex Pamment. “It was very, very close. Yesterday we came second by one second, but today the weather gods were with us, and we were able to get a result. The tacticians had it tough, but we were able to make the right calls.” The Superyacht Cup Palma is one of the most anticipated regattas on the superyacht summer calendar. This year’s event saw eleven yachts competing across three classes with nine North Sails experts onboard throughout the fleet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Superyacht Cup Palma (@thesuperyachtcuppalma) Superyacht Sales Leader Jens Christensen and Palma-based Mark Salder sailed on Ganesha. North Sails Palma Service Manager Tom Webb stepped off the loft floor to join the Savannah crew, who claimed second in Class B. The J Class Svea bolstered their race crew with recent North addition Bouwe Bekking, Grand Prix Sales Leader Paul Westlake, and Superyacht Leader Quinny Houry. The Superyacht Cup is Svea’s first regatta under a new ownership group, and the rumor on the dock is that they trained hard in the days leading up to the event. “We are thrilled, delighted to have won our class – we are over the moon,” said Svea co-owner Niklas Zennström. “We came to this event having put in a training week before to get to know it, as many of us have never sailed a J Class before. To win the class is very special, much more than we expected as this was going to be a learning regatta.” 📸 Sailing Energy Also scattered across the J Class division, Heine Sorensen, sailmaker to Topaz, was on board to see his work in action and was joined by North colleague Eckard Kaller. Meanwhile, Tom Dodson from North Sails New Zealand assumed his established race crew position with Velsheda. North Sails is a longtime sponsor of the Superyacht Cup Palma. Whether onboard with clients or dockside with the Palma-based service team, this is an all-hands-on-deck event. Additionally, our sister-companies Southern Spars and North Actionsports, joined us to support the regatta. North Sails teamed up with Southern to host the post-racing social event on Thursday, and each of the three podium positions was gifted one of the recently launched North Standup Paddleboards. A huge thank you to the event organizers who power through long days to ensure this event runs smoothly. See you in 2023. 📸 Sailing Energy READ MORE

AUSTRALIA’S JOHN BACON – FROM 5.5M SAILOR TO IRC RACER Taking on the World With North Sails World Champion yachtsman John Bacon has arranged many successful racing programs together, and his next few months of sailing is no exception. With a range of sailing projects on the go, John’s also contesting two exciting regattas in two vastly different racing yachts on two continents in the next month: the 5.5m World Championships in Hanko, Norway, and the Rolex New York Yacht Club Race Week in Rhode Island, USA on his new Dunning 44. Stepping Up in Sydney Growing up on the water, John had always sailed with his family and friends. However it wasn’t until a change of scene to Sydney’s Pittwater that gave the yachtsman a push into the racing side of the sport, and after crewing on various yachts, he realized it was about time to pull together his own team. “I enjoyed crewing, but I really liked steering – and I thought the only way I’d do any steering is to buy a boat. So, I started with a little boat and began to upgrade and work my way up through a series of different boats and ended up at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPA). I was happy doing keel boat handicap racing and had a pretty nice Sydney 39 and it was a pretty good IRC boat where we did really well in that. That’s where I started to get involved with North Sails, with getting better sails and crew with that boat. I’ve used North Sails from the get go in all my campaigns, and now, it’s never a question of using anything else.” Jumping into One Design racing with a McConaghy 38, John knew the next step was to assemble a competitive program to race against the best. “I got to know David Sampson and Cameron Miles, and although we knew each other already, we got to form a really tight-knit team together at RPA, and just loved it! We’ve had a great relationship with Norths through the MC38 program and it was never a question of using anything else. We sailed that boat for 10 years everywhere! We did every regatta, and I think we won one nationals and came second a few times.” The Challenge of 5.5m Sailing The 5.5m development class all race on the same start line, however the fleet is scored in three divisions according to their age, as Classics, Evolutions, and Moderns. The Evolution is where John saw his next pursuit as the world championships were coming to his home waters in Australia. “As my time started to free up I was doing less work, I got interested in the 5.5m. I really loved the concept of 5.5ms and was really drawn into it. The boats are all different, it’s all in a box rule. They’ve got different designers, different sail plans, as one boat may be good on a Swiss Lake, whereas another one is really good at the Baltic. They’ve all got this character of their own.” “We bought an old Evolution boat in Europe, in the 1973 to 1993 division, and we thought we’d go sail it and do the German Open Regatta, but the poor boat was a wreck, so I got a mate of mine over in Europe to completely restore it for the worlds in 2019 in Helsinki as a bit of a practice. Terry Wetton, James Mayjor and I formed this really nice team, and we ended up winning both regattas, it was just amazing.” “After the 2019 worlds, we brought the boat back to Australia, and RPA was hosting the worlds in January 2020, so instead of trying to win it at our home club we had to defend our title. And we did! From Evolution to Modern John’s decided to level up and compete in the main Modern division for the upcoming 2022 5.5 metre World Championship in Hanko, but the change in division is all the same racing for him and his team. “Everyone’s on the same start line. You’ve got boats that could be up to 70 years old on the line with new modern styles. So within the fleet, it’s actually a really interesting strategic point of view among the divisions, as the speed differential between the divisions is not that much. With 5.5ms it’s actually about the equipment.” When discussing the North Sails inventory, John’s vision for the development of his team includes tweaking and recutting the North Sails designs to suit the racing conditions he expects. “We’ve done some fantastic work with Darren Jones, our coach, working with Alby Pratt and the designers on coming up with some really nice sails. We’ve gone away a little from the One Design sails, and we’ve got a full wardrobe of 3Di sails. But we’ve looked at some light air paneled sails as well as an option, which is a work in progress that we’re going to look at in Hanko.” When asked about how quickly the class progresses, John’s passion for the project shines through. “There are a couple of new sails turning up for us, and the good thing about 5.5m is that it’s a development class. You get to push the development of the class further each time you make a change, and I really like that. It’s good and when you turn up with something a bit different and it works for you, it’s fantastic!” Where John has spent the most time developing are with his spinnakers, optimizing the inventory for the class minimum and maximum wind speeds for racing, between 4 and 25 knots, allowing him to extend the crossover of the larger spinnaker and remove the smaller spinnaker completely from the boat. “North Sails has been amazing and we’ve got a great relationship. It’s fundamental to what we’re doing with the program, so we’ve got some nice new sails meeting us when we get over there and we’re looking forward to getting out there on the water.” New Project for Race Week in Newport Racing his Dunning 44 at 2022 Rolex New York Yacht Club Race Week fits perfectly into the packed schedule John has planned for this year, but he hasn’t yet seen the boat he plans to race with his international crew of mates looking to have fun. “We had an opportunity to buy a Dunning 44 in Newport, Rhode Island, called The Edge. And I love it there. We haven’t travelled for the last couple of years, and the Rolex New York Yacht Club Race Week regatta is on in July this year, originally we didn’t think we could fit it in, but it fits perfectly as it’s the week after.” “It’s going to be a bit of a scramble, and somewhere we talked Ken Read into doing tactics for us, and Suzy Leech is navigating too. So I’m going to be surrounded by all these absolute legends. And then we look at the entry list, and it’s the who’s who of big boat racing.” “I am where I am in sailing because of the relationships I’ve got with people, and I really respect that and am really grateful for it. And I am a North Sails customer, but you get more than the sails, you get everything. The development, the help with that development, the backup, the support, and you know if we blow a spinnaker up in Norway, I guarantee you we can get it fixed.” “So we’re working with the North Sails loft in Newport for the Dunning 44. The boat’s brand new, it’s only done two regattas. The sails that are coming with the boat are okay, but we want to keep moving, so we’ve ordered another North Sails spinnaker and a medium jib, and we’re doing a recut of the main to a more specific design that Ken Read has been part of. The boat’s got lots of potential but it’s going to be another massive challenge to sail against some of the competition we’re up against, but we’ll see!” Offshore Sailing on the Horizon John also played an integral part in the launch of the first Farr X2, owning the first of the newly designed short handed yachts to Australia to help get the project underway. “The Farr X2 is going well. We recently sailed it from Sydney Harbour up to RPAYC in Pittwater. For me, I really love the projects, and I got involved with Bret Perry and the guys, and I thought this was a project that needed to start happening.” However, John isn’t planning on sailing the Farr X2 himself in the short term, as he’s given it to two young female sailors to launch their double handed offshore racing campaign. “I’d done a two handed campaign with David Sampson before, and then Alice Tarnawski came to me and said she wanted to do some two-handed female sailing, and the timing for the Farr X2 to be built worked out well. It was something that was a really cool project to do, and Alice and Clare Costanzo have teamed up and are one hundred percent into it!” “I’ve got a lot on myself so I’ve kind of said to the girls it’s their project, and they’re going to race it in the Sydney to Gold Coast race, so we’re doing everything we can to get them to Hobart. In the meantime I’m looking forward to doing a bit of offshore sailing in it for sure, but the main program is to get Alice and Clare to Southport and then get them on the start line to Hobart on Boxing Day.” READ MORE

#NSVICTORYLIST: 2022 ROLEX GIRAGLIA North Sails Clients Dominate at the 69th Edition of this Classic Event 📸 ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi Founded in 1953, to help unite the French and Italian sailing communities post World War 2, the Giraglia has retained a distinct Franco-Italian spirit, while attracting an international fleet with typically over 200 yachts from more than 25 countries. The headline act at the Rolex Giraglia is the 241-nautical mile (446km) offshore race from Saint-Tropez to Genoa, Italy, via the Giraglia rock located approximately 1 nm (2km) off the northern tip of Corsica. In keeping with a number of great races, the Giraglia rock is used as a symbolic turning mark. Sanremo to Saint-Tropez Race: The first North Sails victory was in the first racing scheduled, where the 56 yachts competed in the Sanremo – Saint-Tropez distance race, with a midnight start. After 15 hours of slow sailing, the Felci 71 Itacentodue, owned by Adriano Calvini, crossed the finish line in Saint-Tropez to claim line honors. All the boats in the top spots of the first act of the Giraglia carried a full North Sails sail inventory. Saint-Tropez Inshore Races: Following the first event, the Gulf of Saint-Tropez once again lived up to its reputation as a fantastic regatta venue, with excellent weather conditions allowing the event’s 3-day inshore racing to take place without a hitch. While the maxi yachts competed on windward-leeward courses off the beaches of Pampelonne, the rest of the boats battled on coastal routes. Wind conditions were consistent throughout the regatta, with an initial easterly breeze of 6 knots increasing over the course of the event, and fairly flat seas. #NSVictoryList: Final results from the Maxi race course in Pampelonne after 4 races are: IRC0: Jethou, owned by Peter Ogden, dominated in the IRC0 class. (1,1,1,1); IRC2: Capricorno, owned by Alessandro Del Bono (1,1,1,1); ORC0: Leaps & Bounds 2, owned by Jean Philippe Blanpain (1,1,1,1). For the ORC and IRC groups, the results after 3 inshore races are as follows: IRC 1: Daguet 3 – Ker 46 owned by Frederic Puzin (12,2,2); ORC 1: From Now On – Swan 45 owned by Fernando Chain (4,1,1) 📸 ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi Saint-Tropez to Genoa Offshore Race: June 15th was the start of the iconic offshore race, the headline act at the Rolex Giraglia. The forecast, which called for light winds, prompted the race committee to shorten the regular 241-nautical mile (446km) course by 35-nm. A decision which afforded the majority of the fleet a greater opportunity to finish the race ahead of the Saturday morning cut-off time. 105 of the competing boats were able to complete the race in the allotted time. In the spirit that has always defined the Rolex Giraglia, these predominantly Corinthian crews demonstrated their ability to confront the challenge with patience and skill. Setting blistering speeds is often the prerogative of the maxi yachts competing at this event. The frontrunners included three former line honors winners, ARCA SGR (triumphant in 2021 and with North Sail designer Michele Malandra among the crew), Magic Carpet Cubed (2013 and 2016) and Tango (2018). Their hopes of overturning the race record set in 2012 (just under 15 hours) were immediately thwarted by the forecast. Ultimately, the 69th edition produced the slowest line honors time since 2009. Although a thrilling tactical battle did ensue between some of the world’s most experienced and skilled navigators. The tempo of the race provided the opportunity for more considered tactical discussions across teams and an emphasis on maximizing every wind gust. The light breeze was not the only hurdle faced in this year’s edition, the last stretch to the finish line in Genoa is notoriously difficult to negotiate. Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones and his Magic Carpet Cubed team (with North Sails expert Gigio Russo and recent hire Ian Walker onboard) have experienced its highs and lows. Just a few nautical miles from the finish line and having trailed ARCA SGR from the race’s emblematic turning point, the Giraglia rock, the Magic Carpet Cubed crew mustered their considerable race pedigree, positioning themselves at the better wind angle to propel themselves into first place. The Wallycento completed the course in an elapsed time of 34 hours, seven minutes and 17 seconds. ARCA SGR navigator Malandra commented, “After rounding the Giraglia islet 9 seconds behind MC3 and having led most of the regatta, the Giraglia proved that it is never predictable. We have always sailed very well, even with a boat designed for other wind conditions, but after the refit by Shaun Carkeek, she proved to be reborn. Thanks to our new North sail inventory and the 5-meter taller mast, we have considerably increased the sail area of the boat. However, we missed the two landings (in Giraglia and Genoa) of which the second is fundamental! But we are satisfied to have sailed fast and to honor the winners.” 📸 ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi READ MORE

DARK ’N’ STORMY’S ALL ROUND From Dinghy Sailing to Roaring Around The Solent on a GP42 Photo © Paul Wyeth Fresh from his triple triumph at this year's Round the Island Race taking Monohull Line Honours, winning IRC Zero and the race overall we caught up with Ian Atkins, owner of GP42 Dark ’N’ Stormy, long standing North Sails customer and sailing enthusiast. From learning to sail in a Mirror dinghy from Hamble River Sailing Club in the 60’s to roaring around the Solent on GP42 Dark ’N’ Stormy (ex Jean Genie) in 2022; Ian has had quite the sailing career. Born and brought up in Hamble, England, Ian sparked his love for sailing as a kid on the Hamble River with dinghies. His love for sailing morphed into his career when he joined the North Sails team in the early 80’s. After a few years at North and making some great connections, Ian joined and subsequently ran yacht sales company Ancasta. He spent the next 10-15 years in the sales business whilst also sailing professionally both inshore and offshore on various race boats. Ian was also heavily involved with Beneteau race boats as they came onto the scene. Off the water, in 2000 Ian was one of the founders of online marketplace, boats.com. On the water he was campaigning a series of small one design boats. With stints in a 1720, J80 and J70 Ian built up a series of good results with his own teams. Several J80 and J70 Nationals wins and a fourth at the J70 World Championships in 2015 were the highlights for the team. After 2 years out of the game, while selling his business, Ian came back wondering what his next steps were. Fast forward to 2019, Ian put his sights towards the new IC37 One-Design. Along with Nick Griffifths and Ancasta, they purchased the first IC37 with the goal of it being promoted as a One Design class. Whilst racing around in the IC37 having a great time, they kept being overtaken by Fast 40s, which sparked the idea of the Fast 40. Ian reflected, “if I’m going to go big boat sailing I need one of those” so he bought Peter Morton’s Jean Genie in October 2021. He renamed her Dark ’N’ Stormy after his team’s favorite post race tipple. Whilst Ian explained that 2022 is about “getting to know the boat, and learning how to sail it,” the team has already been getting some top results. From literally taking home the chocolates at the Royal Ocean Racing Club Easter Challenge (the prizes being chocolate easter eggs) to being runner up to Niklas Zennström’s Ran at the 2022 IRC National Championships, it’s fair to say that the team has gotten to know the boat pretty well. With the recent Round the Island victory to top it off the only way is up for Ian and his crew. Dark 'N' Stormy crew after their Round the Island Race Victory. North Sails team members Ruaridh Wright (right), Ian Walker (second from left), Jono Macbeth (third from the left). Photo © Paul Wyeth Ian has accredited the developments behind this success to boat Captain Nick Bonner, Ian Walker and Ruaridh Wright at North Sails, “I’m delighted to have got Ian Walker to come sailing with us and even more delighted that he committed to the whole season with us. Knowing that his new North Sails career will probably take him all over the planet, we're lucky to have the opportunity whilst it was available. Ruaridh Wright is our upwind trimmer and crew boss - he does a great job of making the boat go fast too. We are lucky in having the North expertise we have on board.” The next key event for the team is Cowes Week where Ian will be adding two new Helix Jibs and a spinnaker to his current full North Sails inventory. The team also hopes to be on the start line at the IRC Europeans in Holland later this year. North Sails is proud to have been a part of both Ian’s career and his sailing campaigns over the years and looks forward to following his progress in the future. To speak with Sail Expert Ruaridh Wright about maximizing your sail inventory, get in touch today. Photo © Paul Wyeth READ MORE

NORTH SAILS CONTINUES SUPPORT OF J CUP REGATTA Key Yachting J Cup Regatta Outlook Davanti Tyres, J112 - Landsail Tyres J-Cup - photo © Paul Wyeth The 2022 J Cup Regatta is taking place from 30th June - 2nd July. Hosted by Key Yachting and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the J-Cup is an annual regatta exclusively organized for racing yachts of the J/Boats brand, and all J/Boat models are invited to compete. North Sails is thrilled to be supporting the event and competitors by providing on the water coaching with North Sail experts Ben Saxton; accompanied by drone footage from Shaun Roster. The North Sails loft in Cowes Yacht Haven will also be offering regatta repair service after sailing on Thursday and Friday. Connect with North Sails service expert James Hobson for all your service needs during the event. Wayne Palmer, Owner of Key Yachting shares, “We are grateful for the ongoing support from North Sails with the J Cup Regatta and thrilled with the technical support they are providing.” The regatta entails three days of exciting and competitive racing and incorporates the J/70, J/109 and J/111 National Championships. The program is coupled with a daily prize giving and lively shore-side entertainment to make the J-Cup a must for many of our owners and clients. 'The J-Cup is a highlight event in the J-Boat racing calendar every year. North Sails is delighted to continue supporting the regatta in 2022 and beyond, and we can't wait to see you all there'' said Ben Saxton. The North Sails team will be scattered throughout the fleet with Jeremy Smart racing on McFly and Charlie Cumbley on Eat Sleep J Repeat. Ben Saxton, Pete Redmond and Ruaridh Wright will be in the coach boat over the weekend. Stay tuned for updates over the weekend and keep an eye on results here and here. Standfast, J70 - Landsail Tyres J-Cup - photo © Paul Wyeth READ MORE

FÖRSNACK INFÖR BOHUSRACET OCH SHORTHAND-SM Vem tar hem det allra första SM-tecknet i shorthand-kappsegling? Det avgörs under Pantaenius Bohusracet 2022. 📸 Peter Gustafsson På fredag förmiddag går startskottet för 2022 års upplaga av Pantaenius Bohusracet. Det som gör årets tävling till något utöver det vanliga är att den i år har officiell status som svenskt mästerskap. Totalt är snudd på hundra båtar anmälda till Bohusracet och över fyrtio är med och kämpar om SM-medaljerna. För att få segla SM krävs verifierat SRS-mätbrev, tävlingslicens och medlemskap i Svenska Havskappseglingsförbundet, och med tanke på detta är fyrtio båtar en bra siffra. Det kan faktiskt bli årets största SM-klass för kölbåtar. Det finns många anledningar till att Pantaenius Bohusracet blivit så populär. För en del är det totalsegern – i år dessutom toppad med en SM-plakett – som hägrar. För andra är det äventyret och utmaningen som är det viktiga; bara att ta sig runt den 170 sjömil långa banan är en bedrift. Trevlig samvaro med regattamiddag dagen före start och fisksoppa efter målgång får man på köpet. Plus varsin exklusiv T-shirt som bevis för att man fullföljt det långa, krävande racet. Starten går i Uddevalla och därifrån seglar tävlingsbåtarna söderut mot Marstrand. De rundar Hättebergets fyr och viker sedan norrut. Efter avstickare runt märken i Fjällbacka och Strömstad seglar de upp till Tresteinene i Norge, innan de vänder tillbaka mot målet i Smögen. Till skillnad från exempelvis Gotland Runt är det inte någon havskappsegling utan en skärgårdssegling, så säkerhetskraven är modesta. Det finns exempelvis inte några krav på mantåg, vilket öppnar upp för ett brett spektrum av båtar. Man kan delta med nästan vilken båt som helst. North Sails representeras i år av Andreas Turesson från North-loftet i Göteborg. Han kommer segla en X332:a tillsammans med sin pappa Dan. Far och son har framskjutna placeringar sedan tidigare och har siktet högt inställt. "Men det är ett svårt race", säger Andreas. "Det brukar alltid finnas många tillfällen där det kan gå fel." Att man någon gång under racet blir liggande i bleke är regel snarare än undantag. Var detta inträffar, och hur man klarar sig igenom det, blir ofta avgörande för slutresultatet. Vill du följa kappseglingen så är kappseglingens Facebook-sida en bra början. READ MORE

UPPSNACK INFÖR GOTLAND RUNT OCH SHORTHAND-VM På söndag startar Gotland Runt. Att ORC Double Handed Worlds seglas parallellt på samma bana höjer temperaturen ytterligare. 📸 Anders Dahlsjö Inte mindre än 225 båtar är anmälda till årets Gotland Runt. KSSS hade hoppats på runt 40 deltagare på shorthand-VM men det blev över 80. Det innebär att regattan totalt samlar över 300 båtar från 14 länder. Fantastiskt kul! Om vi tittar lite närmare på VM-fältet kan vi konstatera att minsta båt är en Mini Transat på 21 fot, att den största är en Shogun 50 och att påfallande många ligger i spannet 30-36 fot. När detta skrivs är det ännu oklart hur klassindelningen ser ut, men gissningsvis blir det tre klasser. Det känns inte meningsfullt att försöka utse några förhandsfavoriter. Men ur ett svenskt och nordiskt perspektiv finns det några besättningar som är värda att ha lite extra koll på. Anders Dahlsjö och Martin Strömberg i nya Z30+ är ett exempel. Team Pro4u, med Patrik Forsgren som skeppare, är ett annat. Patrik är en Sveriges allra mest framgångsrika havskappseglare och båten är mycket väl optimerad för ORCi. Sunfast 3300:an Hyrrokkin med skepparen Sigmund Hertzberg från norska Tönsberg är ytterligare ett ekipage att ha under uppsikt. Båten är specifikt utvecklad för shorthand-segling, och de har förberett sig mycket väl inför VM. Att de var trea totalt på årets Raymarine2star och fyra på Kolfibedrrodret visar att de kan segla bra i Stockholms skärgård. Och det kan visa sig vara väldigt viktigt. Starten för Gotland Runt och VM går nämligen precis utanför Gröna Lund. Tävlingen inleds alltså med inomskärssegling ut till Sandhamn. Sträckan är knixig och utmanande även för lokala seglare, och det ska bli intressant att se hur de utländska deltagarna hanterar det här. En del kommer ju från länder där det knappt finns skärgård över huvud taget. Vi är förstås på plats både inför och under Gotland Runt – om du behöver hjälp med service eller reparationer är det bara att kontakta oss. Martin Angsell och Anders Lewander från North Sails Stockholm är för övrigt med på VM i varsin båt. Martin seglar Shogun 50 tillsammans med Anna Drougge, och Anders seglar Bénéteau Figaro 3 i par med Linnea Floser. Båda båtarna har lite nischade egenskaper, men om någon av dem får sitt favoritväder har de potential att gå långt. Vill du ta en titt på tävlingsbåtarna så ligger de fram till starten på ett stort eventområde vid Vasahamnen. Själva seglingarna följs nog bäst digitalt. KSSS kommer exempelvis ha en Youtube-baserad Gotland Runt-Studio med uppdaterade nyheter två gånger om dagen. READ MORE

PASSION FOR PERFORMANCE TO BRIDGE THE AUSTRALIAN GAP TO EUROPE IN THE DOUBLE HANDED SCENE The Launch of the New Farr X2 with North Sails Australia 📸 VicSail With the launch of the newest high performance short handed yacht, the Farr X2, North Sails Australia reveled in the opportunity to be part of something new, creating the sail inventory for the first Farr X2, designed specifically for the Australian double handed market. The vision for the project stems from Farr Yachts Australasia’s, Bret Perry’s experience as Project Manager of RG Mini 650s in France, where he wanted to give the Australian short handed sailing scene an opportunity for high performance sailing, with modern design and techniques. “What I wanted to do was to bring back to Australia with short-handed sailing and the boom it’s going through. Each boat is designed for a reason and purpose, and the Farr X2 is purely about no holds barred high performance yachting, designed with full power in mind for absolute performance. It’s very easy to sail a shorthanded boat crewed, but it’s very hard to sail a crewed boat shorthanded” said Perry. Norths Sails Australia jumped at the opportunity to be involved from the outset, with short handed offshore racing at the forefront of the design. Not only did we want to make the boat sail fast in all conditions, but it must be easy to sail shorthanded so, discussing the different principles and priorities was a key part of the design process for the team. “There were lots of meetings between North Sails and us, to talk about what we wanted to achieve. The number one thing is that you’re sailing short handed so you have to be able to do the manoeuvres, and you have to think about safety, and then on top of all of it, you have to think about performance. That’s the biggest thing that I wanted in the sail package from North Sails.” The sail inventory has maximum sail area in mind for the 30 footer, however there’s a delicate balance between achieving higher performance and having a competitive rating within IRC and ORCi certification. “I wanted to be in furling sails early, and in saying that, to be at full speed very early. So, to be at max boat speed upwind in six or seven knots of wind.” The upwind sails include an all-purpose hanked jib that will work up through the light to moderate wind range of 17 knots. The all-purpose jib is helpful for shorthanded sailing to allow for longer crossovers between sails and reduce the frequency of sail changes. “The mainsail is fully battened, with a really large number one reef, as well as a 50% reef to cover the IRC rule, to eradicate the use of trisails.” continued Perry. “And, the first reef is probably more equivalent to a one and half, to three quarter reef so it’s really big.” 📸 VicSail North can offer the inventory from their NPL laminate or their market leading 3Di product. “In my experience in the mini 650s, we never put the first reef in, and instead put the second reef in and kept the big jib up so we still had the power to do what we wanted to do, but was de-powering enough to sail safely. We’re still going through testing but that’s the philosophy.” Perry ran through the light to moderate sail package setup. “Let’s say you’ve got the big jib and have the first reef in the main, and I would estimate that would be comfortable in 17-18 knots, you’ll be quite comfortable but still powered up in that configuration. As you start getting above that breeze, you move into a J5 furling sail, which is on an inner tack point on the boat. Once you’re getting upwards of 25 knots, there’s the opportunity to furl the sail up when you feel overpowered, and sail in a furling mode – which is just so much safer than being up the front of the boat shorthanded and you’re controlling the ability to furl.” When designing the downwind sail package, a key factor was getting the boat planing early, from 11 to 12 knots of wind. The choice then became a furling code zero built from Norths NPL laminate, with the additions of a masthead A2 spinnaker, and a furling A5 for heavy wind conditions built from conventional nylon. “In light airs, you’d run the code zero and with an increase in wind, you’d use the all-purpose jib with the masthead A2, in up to about 17 knots of wind. You’ll be going pretty quickly and powered up, but you’ve got the choice as to when you want to start reducing the sail area from that point” explained Perry. With all this in mind, the North Sails inventory was designed as if it was day two or three of a shorthanded race, to reduce the time non-furling sails are flying due to the attention required to trim the sail accurately. “Where North Sails have been fantastic, is that they get excited about the project, and the ability to create something new.” Perry explained. “And what they’ve come up with is phenomenal. There’s no question they’re on the front foot from my point of view.” “There’s been such a big group of people involved, from North Sails to Farr Yachts, XSP the builders, and all of the suppliers, and to VicSail who are supporting the project massively, we couldn’t have done this without their assistance.” “It was amazing to see that the work that we did in the measurement and designs, it fit perfectly, only one small adjustment out of everything we put together. So that’s a credit to everyone involved to be able to put all this together to within millimeters – and all done remotely without the boat” Perry finished. 📸 VicSail READ MORE

BEHIND THE SCENES: NORTH SAILS PALMA Step Inside One of Our Largest Service Lofts This episode of Behind the Scenes steps into the North Sails loft in Palma and highlights our team working in one of the world’s biggest sail lofts. North Sails Palma is a vital hub within the North network and expanded to twice its previous size in the Spring of 2022. This 4,720 sqm loft serves double duty as the on-island sailing community hub and a key destination for international sailors and boat captains. So whether you’re a superyacht arriving from a transatlantic delivery, in town for one of the many Grand Prix regattas, or cruising Europe during the summer season, there’s a good chance you’ve met the North Sails team dockside. Over 30 experts, including sail designers, sailmakers, service professionals, and Superyacht experts sit under one roof, just a quick 10-minute drive from the harbor. The Palma team prides itself on delivering a level of customer service that is unprecedented. And while the team consists of consummate professionals, their passion for sailing and their motivation to keep raising the bar fosters a fun and dynamic atmosphere. Join us as we spend a day in our Palma loft and get to know the North Sails team. 📸 Atila Madrona READ MORE

NEWPORT BERMUDA 2022 RACE RECAP North-Powered Teams Claim Major Victories and Over 50% of Podium Positions Across 19 Classes The Newport Bermuda Race has kept North Sails buzzing (and busy!) since well before the fleet set off on June 17th. This year marked the 52nd edition of this East Coast offshore classic and the return of racing after a canceled 2020 event. And while we waited a bit longer than expected to see the competitors return to the start line, race fans and North Sails were quickly rewarded with a steady flow of results. As the official performance partner to the race, North Sails is committed to helping our clients get the results they expect. The 2022 Newport Bermuda Race featured 186 boats competing across 19 classes. Race results are the ultimate test for sailmaking brands, and the proof is on the podium. This edition of the Bermuda Race saw North clients set a new overall course record, capture line honors, several major divisional wins, and 26 of the possible 49 class podium positions. Keep reading for a rundown of the North Sails-powered performances. Jason Carroll’s Mod 70 Argo led the pack into Bermuda, claiming overall line honors and setting a new race record of 33 hours. Carroll and his crew are the first boat in the race’s history to finish on a Saturday, which proved both an honor and a challenge for the eight sleep-deprived sailors. “It was some of the roughest conditions we’ve had on the boat,” Chad Corning said. “The sea state was just nasty, coming from all different directions. You never knew where the waves were coming from, and they would hit the boat at all different angles. You had to crawl around the cockpit to get anywhere. It was a very violent motion; a lot of the guys got sick.” Argo’s record-breaking run set a new multihull record as well as the new overall course record. However, the monohull record of 34 hours, 34 minutes, and 52 seconds set by Comanche, skippered by North Sails President Ken Read, in 2016 still stands. Powered by North 3Di and a heavy helping of Helix sails, 11th Hour Racing Team skippered by Charlie Enright was the second boat into Bermuda. Their IMOCA Mālama was the first monohull to complete the 635-mile race, and the wild ride proved an ideal opportunity for Enright to log training miles before the start of The Ocean Race in early 2023. Like Argo, the Mālama crew was pushing hard and was short on sleep upon arrival. Enright compared the onboard conditions to spending 41 hours in a washing machine. “This has been full-on,” he said at the finish. “There has been no rest for anybody onboard. From the moment we left Newport, we have been racing at speeds between 20-30 knots in a heated sea state.” Sailing with Enright were his 11th Hour teammates Justine Mettraux and Amory Ross, as well as Red Bull athletes Olympic snowboarder Elena Hight, and big wave surfer Ian Walsh. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 11th Hour Racing Team (@11thhourteam) North Sails powered both Lighthouse Division winners: with Chris Sheehan’s Warrior Won on top in the Gibbs Lighthouse Division and Sally and Stan Honey’s Cal 40 Illusion claimed the St David’s Lighthouse prize. The Newport Bermuda 2022 is the latest in a string of wins for Warrior Won; Sheehan and his team were named the 2021 Transpac overall winner and the overall winner of the 2022 RORC Caribbean 600. Warrior Won’s sail inventory includes North 3Di which has been onboard with the team for each of their wins in the past year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Warrior Won Sailing (@warriorwonpac52) Illusion bested the 108-boat fleet to place on top of the podium in the St David’s Lighthouse Division. And with an owner who’s also a world-class navigator, you’d expect nothing less. Honey is a multi-race veteran and was navigator onboard Comanche during their last record run. “The conditions were perfect for our boat, and we had a pretty good navigator onboard,” said Sally of her husband. “Stan chose a really good course, and the conditions were just what the boat loves, heavy-air reaching, a lot. We got into a Gulf Stream eddy and stayed in it for about seven hours. That gave us a good boost. We managed to stay in the wind most of the way down. We had a couple of light spots, but nothing like the later boats.” Prevail, Dudley Johnson’s Tripp 65 won the 38-boat Finisterre Division. Dudley and his crew knew they were on the right track when they were passed by Warrior Won in the Gulf Stream. Navigator Adam Klyver commented: “We felt like we were doing something right. We tried to stay in the middle of the Stream and found a five-knot current pushing us southeast. We probably had favorable current for close to 90 percent of the race.” North Sails is a longtime partner to the Newport Bermuda Race and is honored to have been onboard in 2022. This year’s race saw a bumpy sea state, fast sailing and we know it was a battle to arrive in Bermuda. Congratulations to all participants and a job well done to North clients who saw their names on the leaderboard. In Memory Of: Our thoughts are with the family of Colin Golder and his Morgan of Marietta crew. Golder, a longtime client of North Sails, fell overboard en route to Bermuda and tragically passed away. He was not only a great client but an even better friend to our team who had the pleasure of sailing and working with him; he will be greatly missed. Sail on Colin. READ MORE

PALMARÈS DE NOS VOILES EN CETTE SAISON 2022 Les voiles North Sails commencent fort la saison! Un immense BRAVO à tous les concurrents des deux grandes régates traditionnelles lémaniques, la Genève-Rolle-Genève et le Bol d'Or Mirabaud. Voici les résultats obtenus par des navigateurs équipés par North Sails: © Yves Ryncki Genève-Rolle-Genève: Classement général mono, temps réel: 1er ,2ème (partiel), 3ème, 4ème (partiel) Classement général, temps compensé: 3ème Par catégorie: M1: 1er, 2ème, 3ème, 4ème, 5ème M2: 3ème TCFX: 1er ,2ème (partiel), 3ème, 4ème (partiel) TCF2: 2ème, 3ème TCF3: 1er, 2ème (partiel) TCF4: 1er ,2ème, 3ème, 4ème Grand Surprise: 1er, 2ème, 3ème, 4ème, 5ème, 6ème, 7ème Surprise: 2ème , 3ème - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bol d'Or Mirabaud: Classement général, temps réel: 1er, 2ème, 3ème Classement général, temps compensé: 3ème, 4ème, 5ème Par catégorie: M1: 1er, 2ème, 3ème M2: 3ème TCFX: 1er, 3ème (partiel), 4ème TCF1: 1er TCF2: 2ème ,3ème TCF3: 2ème (partiel) TCF4: 2ème Surprise: 1er, 2ème, 3ème (partiel) Grand Surprise: 1er, 2ème, 3ème, 4ème, 5ème, 6ème © Yves Ryncki READ MORE

PRETTY, PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD A Recount of The 2022 International Regatta Brindisi- Corfu The “International Regatta Brindisi- Corfu” (www.brindisi-corfu.com) was founded in 1986. During the first two years, the competition was limited to vessels from Brindisi. It was three years later that the participation of aggressive Corfiot boats began. In 2022. I was able to be a part of a multinational crew - a French boat under Greek flag, a Bulgarian owner, and a Bulgarian - Croatian crew. So we added a nice mixture to the already colourful image of the race - 78 entries from Italy, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Bulgaria, Sweden, Great Britain, Spain and USA. Our boat was lying in Corfu, so Nikola and I flew there to prepare everything for the delivery to Brindisi. The boat is a Sun Fast 3600, named after the American rock band from the 60s - “Iron Butterfly”. The first look at the boat already showed that it is fitted to be fast - custom Southern Spars carbon rig, full North Sails 3Di inventory, B&G instruments and lots of other racing gadgets. All in all, it makes you smile. Corfu, see you in a couple of days.. Anyhow, the boat is ready, we meet the owner Nasco and his friend Dobry and we are ready to sail to Brindisi. A nice south easterly makes the first 30-40 miles pass by quickly, but than the unstable atmosphere with a low passing by shows us a good time. The first squall hits us around 8 PM, just before sundown. The first squall The second one comes around 1 AM with lots of wind and a lot more rain. It’s all part of the game, the only problem is that between the squalls there’s no wind and we are slowly motoring towards Brindisi. Early in the morning, around 6 AM we enter the rather big Italian port of Brindisi. A lot of industrial buildings make it hard to appreciate the traditional Mediterranean architecture. The nice, Mediterranean part of Brindisi In the next days we are preparing the boat for the race, gathering and installing all the safety equipment, checking the sails and finally - making some tourist routes around the city. The other part of the crew - Marko and Sapa are coming on Saturday evening, bringing a brand new 3Di mainsail for the race. Unfortunately, as the forecast predicted, there is a lot of wind on Sunday (30+ knots of north westerlies), and after a short wait around the starting line, the Race Committee postpones the start until Monday morning at 6AM. Marko & Nasco shortly after the start There are 78 boats racing in this year’s edition with a variety of different designs and lengths, all racing under the ORC rule. So, a fair chance for everybody. We are pretty psyched about the start so we start full power in 25 knots of north westerlies, under full main and A5. Soon after the start we change to A2 as the waves become longer and the surfs faster. Iron Butterfly (aka Buffy) at her best The wind varies from 20 to 25 knots, getting stronger near the Italian coast. After consulting our routing options, we decide to stay closer to the Italian coast before crossing the Otranto strait. Again, I was surprised at how little ships we met crossing the Otranto. There were definitely better days for the shipping industry. Back to sailing - the route to Corfu is 104 miles long, meaning there is plenty of time for the conditions to change. And so it is, some 40 miles before Corfu the wind starts to drop slowly, knot by knot. 15 miles before the finish there are only 10 knots of wind left, 10 miles from the finish only 5 knots and we knew we were headed into some really light winds just before the finish. Nerves of steel But we keep our morale high, Marko is making some good strategic choices and we are gaining on the boats ahead, mile by mile, minute by minute. A mile from the finish line we come to a complete stop, and the AIS is showing others boats closing in at higher speeds. But they will stop too, no worries. The dynamic duo - Marko & Nikola The slow motion finish finally comes to an end around 11 PM and we are all excited and proud to have entered 5th in real time. Now we have to wait for the compensated times, but with such a good race behind us we can only expect the best. But the but is always there, and just minutes from our finish Marko gets a message from the RC that we have to be present at the official crew weighing tomorrow at 9.30 AM. We know that our weight is close to the max allowed limit because we changed a lighter (read: female) crew member for a heavier (read: male) in the last moment, so we decide there’s no more food or water until tomorrow. Not an easy decision, after 17 hours of racing we can’t eat a nice steak? Merde. But it is all for a greater cause, so we don’t mind. After a good night’s sleep, we wake up for an early walk and prepare for the weighing. And, as usual, the scale is showing more than expected. We are 5 kilos over, and we have an extra hour to get rid of them. There is no other way - foul sailing gear on, and all of us are out for a nice jog in the Greek sun. Why not? It’s 30 degrees out and we are sweating like crazy. The regular folks are pretty confused seeing 6 guys running around the marina in sailing suits. The real connoisseurs of the ORC races are just smiling, they know what is really going on. On the second weighing, we are 2 kilos below limit meaning we managed to dry out 1.5 kilos each in just one hour. Not bad, not bad at all. When we draw the line, we managed to enjoy a really nice race in perfect weather conditions with a super happy crew, in a great boat with an excellent result - 1st in ORC C, 1st in real time for the Groups B, C and D (the ones that started 10 minutes after the ORC A and Multihulls), and 1st in compensated times for the same Groups. And not to mention 3rd in ORC overall - www.brindisi-corfu.com/en/classifiche/ . One of many trophies for the Iron Butterfly crew You must admit it: it sounds pretty, pretty, pretty good. READ MORE

SNART VIND I SEGLEN FÖR PRINCESS SVANEVIT Renoveringen går mot sitt slut - och vi har fått uppdraget att förse henne med segel 📸 Sjöhistoriska museet Princess Svanevit är en klassisk 12mR-yacht från 1930. Det är en magnifik båt, dessutom med en spännande historia. Hon beställdes av förläggaren Erik Åkerlund inför KSSS:s hundraårsjubileum 1930, ritades av Gustaf Estlander – "Trollkarlen från Nyland" – och byggdes av Carl Plym på det legendariska Neglingevarvet. Åkerlund kappseglade båten med framgång i både Sverige och England, men sålde henne redan efter några år. I mitten av 50-talet seglade tredje ägaren ner Princess Svanevit till Spanien, där hon försvann spårlöst. Femtio år senare bestämde sig träbåtsbyggarna Bobby Cyrus och Andreas Millde för att försöka leta upp henne. Med hjälp av bland annat Google Earth lyckades de hitta henne uppställd på en kaj i södra England, och de ägnade sedan sju år åt att övertala ägaren – en excentrisk miljardär som gjort sig en förmögenhet på fastigheter – att få köpa henne. Precis innan kontraktet skulle undertecknas avled ägaren och det tog dem ytterligare något år att komma överens med dödsboet. Men i augusti 2017 var allt äntligen i hamn och Princess Svanevit skeppades till Sverige. Hon fördes till Stockholms Båtsnickeri i Saltsjöbaden, inte långt från den plats där hon en gång byggdes. Sedan dess har hon under Andreas Milldes ledning genomgått en oerhört genomgripande renovering, som nu börjar gå mot sitt slut. Om allt går som planerat seglar hon i slutet av augusti! Vackra segel till en vacker båt North Sails har varit involverade i 12mR-klassen sedan Lowell North rattade US 27 Enterprise i America’s Cup 1977. Intresset för såväl klassiska som moderna tolvor har ökat kraftigt på senare år, inte minst i Nordeuropa där klassen nu samlar runt 25 båtar, och North Sails-gruppen har lagt ner stora resurser på utveckling av design och konstruktion av segel. För moderna tolvor finns inga begränsningar när det gäller segelmaterial, men för klassiska tolvor står valet mellan vävd duk eller laminerad polyester. 3Di-segel byggda i polyester ryms inom regeln, och om det är max prestanda man är ute efter är detta det självklara valet. Mycket riktigt sitter det 3Di 330 RAW-segel på de flesta klassiska tolvor som används för kappsegling. De segel vi nu tar fram till Princess Svanevit är dock av mer klassiskt snitt. Tanken är att hon ska återställas till det skick och utseende hon hade som ny, och det gäller så långt möjligt även rigg och segel. "De estetiska värdena har stått i första rummet", säger North Sails Anders Lewander, "men de har fått vägas mot de praktiska fördelar som modern teknik ger oss. Det har ju ändå skett en del utveckling på materialsidan sedan 1930." Tankarna bakom seglen har utvecklats i nära dialog med Christian Harding och Janne Björnberg, som är knutna till projektet som koordinator respektive sakkunnig. Christian är välkänd mångsysslare inom segling och Janne har varit segelmakare sedan 70-talet och driver idag Next Sails. Båda har massor av erfarenhet, inte minst av classic-båtar. Krysseglen sys på traditionellt vis i högkvalitativ dacronduk, men panelerna är smalare än vanligt. Fock och genua får en gammaldags vådlayout som kallas för "mitre cut", med en söm som går diagonalt mellan skothorn och förlik. Även förstärkningarna får ett utseende som minner om svunna tider. För att klara de höga laster som en så tung och styv båt genererar kommer några av seglen sys med two-ply-teknik, det vill säga dubbla lager duk längs akterliket. Two-ply är väl något man i dag främst förknippar med 80-talet, men i det här fallet har vi försökt hitta en estetik som ansluter till ett betydligt äldre ideal. Mer av "uppvisningssegel" är racingsegel, skulle man kunna säga, men syftet är även att göra en noggrann utvärdering av laster och den helt nya moderna trämastens karaktär. Just uppvisningssegling är också det som väntar framöver. Visionen är att Princess Svanevit ska bli "Hela Sveriges båt" och efter sjösättning och sedvanliga tester kommer hon visas upp i hamnar och på kappseglingar runt hela Sverige. Princess Svanevit ägs av ett aktiebolag, som i sin tur kontrolleras av den ideella föreningen Svenska Träbåtar. För dem har renoveringen ett bredare syfte än att bara ge en vacker gammal båt nytt liv. Förhoppningen är att Princess Svanevit ska öka intresset för klassiska träbåtar och bidra till att de bevaras i Sverige. Bland de långsiktiga målen finns bland annat att få upp båtbyggnadskonsten på Unescos världsarvslista och driva igenom rotadrag för renovering av klassiska båtar! Lästips På projektets hemsida och Facebook-sida finns massor av information. Och i premiärnumret av helt nya tidskriften Båtklassiker ägnas ett trettiotal sidor åt Princess Svanevit, Erik Åkerlund och klassiska tolvor. 📸 Sjöhistoriska museet READ MORE

DAHLSJÖ / STRÖMBERG RENSAR PRISBORDEN MED NYA Z30+ Anders Dahlsjö och Martin Strömberg gör en satsning mot ORC Double Handed Worlds 📸 Malcolm Hanes Och det har börjat bra, med bland annat totalseger i Raymarine2star. Våren 2021 publicerade vi en artikel med rubriken Snart är nya Z30+ färdig! Det visade sig vara lite väl optimistiskt, och det borde vi kanske ha insett redan då. Att nya, tekniskt avancerade båtar går över tiden är ju en regel utan kända undantag. I april i år sjösattes den första båten, SWE 301 Zeit. Den ägs av initiativtagaren Johan Larsvall men kappseglas fram till och med VM av Anders Dahlsjö och Martin Strömberg. Anders har två America’s Cup och ett Volvo Ocean Race i ryggen. Martin är professionell kappseglare, med bland annat fyra Volvo Ocean Race på sitt CV – och han är en av mycket få svenskar som vunnit totalt. Anders och Martin seglade båten första gången i början av april och ägnade några helger åt att bekanta sig med den. På Lidingö Runt ställde de upp tillsammans med Johan Larsvall och slutade tvåa av sjutton båtar i SRS 1. Och på Raymarine2star slog de alltså till med totalvinst. Helgen därefter vann de för övrigt även även shorthand-klassen i KSSS Havskappseglingsregatta. Det lovar gott inför VM, som ju avgörs på delvis samma vatten. Ett ovanligt koncept Vi ska inte fördjupa oss i tekniska detaljer eller gå in på hur z30+ utvecklades (det kan du läsa om här). Men kortfattat kan man säga att Johan Larsvall tagit in ett gäng experter med Jimmy Hellberg i spetsen för att göra en total makeover på gamla Z30:an. Modifikationerna är så genomgående att det i praktiken rör sig om en helt ny konstruktion. Snudd på unikt i den här storleksklassen är att Z30+ byggs från topp till tå i kolfiber, vilket gör båten lätt och samtidigt extremt styv. I övrigt är den medvetet enkel, särskilt jämfört med andra båtar utvecklade för shorthand-kappsegling. Z30+ har inte dubbla roder, inga chines, ingen vattenballast och definitivt inga foils. "Z30+ är en spännande båt", säger Anders Dahlsjö. "Enkel men extremt förfinad, med all kolfiber. Den går som en raket och det märks att den har mycket i bulben. Den känns nästan som en 40-fotare när man kliver ombord, för den gungar inte till som lätta båtar i den här storleken brukar göra." Även segelgarderoben är enkel. Den togs fram redan för ett år sedan, och det som har hänt sedan dess är att ytterligare en fock har tillkommit. Den är designad för hårdare vindar och är 7 kvm mindre än allroundfocken. Två revpunkter i förliket och en i akterliket gör att den får ett väldigt brett register. Fullt hissad är det en hårdvindsfock (på 18 kvm) och med ett rev motsvarar den en J5:a (13 kvm). Dessutom kommer den användas som ett reaching-stagsegel (11 kvm,). Den halsas då i centrumlinjen 2,3 meter framför masten (ca 60 % av J-måttet). "Man kan nästan säga att man får tre segel i ett", säger Anders Lewander på North Sails Lidingö, som tillsammans med sin bror Tore har varit ansvarig för utvecklingen av seglen. Vägen mot VM Enligt SRS-brevet ska Z30+ vara snäppet långsammare än Farr 30 med full besättning, men något snabbare i shorthand-figuration, vilket ju låter rimligt med tanke på det rätande momentet. Inte illa med tanke på att Z30+ är en båt med full ståhöjd och att den är tänkt att kunna användas även som semesterbåt. På VM är det dock ORC som gäller. Det ser för övrigt ut att bli ett riktigt getingbo; i slutet av maj var nästan 90 besättningar anmälda och anmälningstiden går inte ut förrän i mitten av juni, så 100 båtar till start är ingen omöjlighet. Säsongen har som sagt börjat bra, men Anders och Martin hoppas kunna jobba upp farten ytterligare i den nya båten. Sedan gäller det bara att toppa formen lagom till VM i början av juli. READ MORE

KLART DU SKA SEGLA SPINNAKER PÅ SEMESTERN Det är faktiskt enklare än många tror En spinnaker ger en enorm prestandaökning på läns och slör i lätta till måttliga vindar. Dessutom är det ett roligt segel som ger seglingen en ny dimension. Vi vet att många tycker att det kan känns svårt och komplicerat, men gör du bara på rätt sätt så är det inget att vara orolig för. Här tar vi en titt på hur man hanterar såväl konventionella spinnakers som asymmetriska cruisingspinnakers – även kallade gennakers. Fokus ligger på avslappnad cruisingsegling med liten besättning. Sättning av gennaker En gennaker riggas med ett fall, en halslina i fören och två skot, ett på vardera sidan. Skoten leds genom block längst bak på däck och går sedan framåt till varsin vinsch. Gennaker-skoten kan antingen ledas innanför eller utanför förliket. Båda varianterna fungerar och båda har sina fördelar. Du får helt enkelt testa och se vad som fungerar bäst på din båt. Tänk på att det bästa alternativet kan variera beroende på vindstyrka. För en liten besättning är en spinnakerstrumpa ett riktigt bra hjälpmedel. Seglet packas inuti strumpan som då får en korvliknande form. Eftersom seglet inte fyller på vägen upp är det enkelt att hissa. Väl i topp drar du i strumpans manöverlina, vilket drar ihop strumpan och frigör seglet. För att förhindra att seglet snurrar runt sig själv – vilket kan förorsaka timglas – bör halslinan spännas innan hissning. Ett om möjligt ännu ännu enklare alternativ är att investera i ett bra rullsystem. Numera fungerar de faktiskt bra även för länsbetonade gennakers. Då är det bara att hissa det inrullade seglet, lossa inrullningslinan och skota hem så att seglet rullas ut. När seglet ska ner upprepas manövern, fast i omvänd ordning. Behöver du en halsstropp? Ibland kan det vara bra att använda en så kallad halsstropp. Den kopplas till halshornet och fästs runt det inrullade förseglet. Därmed hindras halshornet från att röra sig i sidled. Om förliket på din gennaker är så långt att halshornet hamnar bara lite ovanför pulpiten behövs inte någon halsstropp. Men har du ett kort förlik ger halsstroppen ökad kontroll och stabilare segling. Sättning av spinnaker En konventionell spinnaker som sätts på spinnakerbom ger dig ökade trimmöjligheter och oftast högre prestanda. Men det är ett mer komplicerat segel än en gennaker. Även här är spinnakerstrumpa något vi gärna rekommenderar, särskilt om du seglar med liten besättning. Riggning och hissning sker på samma sätt oavsett om du har en strumpa eller inte. Du börjar med att fästa fallet i spinnakerns fallhorn. Därefter sätter du upp bommen, koppla den till lovartsgajen och hänger bommen i liften. Innan du hissar drar du i lovartsgajen tills det främre hornet ligger dikt an mot spinnakerbommen. Så fort spinnakern är i topp tajtar du läskotet så att spinnakern inte börjar rotera och drar upp strumpan. På lite större båtar är det vanligt att man seglar med dubbla gajar och dubbla skot. Bommen kopplas till en gaj som går ner till ett fast block ganska långt fram på däck (strax bakom vanten är lagom) och därifrån till en vinsch. Lähornet trimmas med ett skot som går till ett block längst bak i båten och som därefter leds framöver till ett spärrblock eller en vinsch. I gipparna hanteras spinnakern med enbart skoten, vilket innebär att gajen, som bommen ska fästas på, alltid är obelastad. Detta gör att det aldrig blir tungt att sätta bommen i beslaget på masten. Nedtagning av gennaker När du ska ta ner gennakern underlättar det om du plattar ner lite så att gennakern skuggas av storseglet. Släpp på skotet så att seglet faller ihop och dra ner strumpan över seglet. Sedan är det bara att släppa fallet och stuva undan seglet i sin säck, alternativt dra ner det genom fördäcksluckan. Nedtagning av spinnaker När du river spinnakern gör du på samma sätt som när du hissade den, fast i omvänd ordning: Lägg dig på öppen slör, släpp läskotet, dra ner strumpan och lägg loss lovartsgajen. Nu är det bara att sänka fallet och stuva undan strumpan med seglet. I hårdare vindar underlättas nedtagningen om du skuggar spinnakern bakom storseglet. Processen inleds, precis som i sekvensen ovan, med att du lägger dig på en öppen slör. Men istället för att bara släppa läskotet, så kan du lägga en lina i en loop runt skotet och använda detta för att straffa ner lähornet mot en punkt precis bakom masten. I och med att du tvingar ner akterliket bakom storseglet tappar spinnakern trycket och blir lättare att hantera. 📸 Amory Ross READ MORE

NS KLIJENTI NAJBRŽI I U REGATNOJ I U OBITELJSKOJ SKUPINI NA OVOGODIŠNJOJ FIUMANCI Ovogodišnja regata Fiumanka ponovno je okupila vrlo impresivan broj sudionika, a među njima i nekoliko najvećih jedrilica na Jadranu. Među njima su se posebno isticali Portopiccolo i Maxi Jena i s obzirom na uvjete sasvim opravdano je bilo među njima očekivati generalnog pobjednika ove manifestacije. Za razliku od mnogo ranijih izdanja ove Riječke manifestacije pod jedrima, ova je bila izrazito vjetrovita. Na startu je puhalo 10-12 čvorova burice koja je jačala kako se flota približavala prvoj bovi koja je bila postavljena ispred Viktora Lenca. U toj zoni vjetra je bilo i preko 20 čvorova, tako da je taj dio regatnog polja sigurno pružao i užitak i hrpu adrenalina svima koji su u tim trenucima u laškoj orci jedrili u tom kursu. Nakon obilaska ove bove regatna skupina jedrila je prema sredini Riječkog zaljeva gdje je bila postavljena druga bova, dok su obiteljski krstaši jedrili direktno natrag prema vrhu Molo Longa. Do Molo Longa je nakon obilaska druge bove jedrila i regatna skupina, tako da su se u završnoj fazi regate na cilju susreli svi i stvorili vrlo atraktivnu i sliku i situaciju koja se rijetko može vidjeti na regatama. Što se tiče najvećih, do prve bove nadmetanje Portopiccola i Maxi Jene bilo je poprilično izjednačeno iako je Portopiccolo startao dosta lošije u odnosu na perjanicu Crnogorske regatne flote. Do preokreta dolazi baš na samoj bovi na kojoj dolazi do pucanja vanga Maxi Jene i to vrlo spretno Talijanska posada iskorištava i ostvaruje prednost koju nisu ispuštali do samog kraja. Zanimljivo je bilo i u završnom dijelu regate jer je vrlo brzo za najvećima u Riječku luku uplovila i Bubamare, najbrža jedrilica iz obiteljske skupine. Sve u svemu regata je bila vrlo brza po pitanu obje skupine, a ono što je organizatore posebno veselilo je to što su skoro svi koji su isplovili uspješno dojedrili do cilja. Bogatu fotogaleriju iz Rijeke možete pronaći na ovom linku. READ MORE

TRADITIONS AND CHANGE WVYC RNSA NYC Singlehand/Doublehand Regatta What’s unique about this regatta? After all, there are now many solo sailing regattas now; the impact of that concept has evolved over the years since it was first launched in the 1970’s by Capt. John Horton of the Royal Naval Sailing Association here in Vancouver BC. Or has it? Now in it’s 48th edition, this regatta’s Ancient Mariners (75+ years ) and Old Salts (65-74 years) remind and inspire the rest of us that one of the milestones of a keelboat sailor is the test of a solo crossing of the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver to Nanaimo, and back the next day. A glance of the winners’ names engraved on the coveted Janet Stamper Memorial trophy for the fastest overall singlehand racer reminds us of those who have gone on to make further impacts in the sailing world. Nowadays a doublehand division has been added - today’s way of developing tomorrow’s solo sailor. The West Vancouver Yacht Club as the organizing authority had 29 entries this year, a respectable number given the uncertainty that COVID has brought. Racers drifted across the start line at Point Grey bell buoy but the breeze kicked in soon after to allow spinnakers to fly to the mark off Bowen Island, then across to Nanaimo. The Nanaimo Yacht Club graciously hosted a dinner with generous door prizes given out. The Second day of racing offered fantastic winds that allowed the racers to finish well within the 5pm time limit. The 55’ orange Delta Lifeboat with the Captain and 5 crew members presided over the event, and was a super host for the 4 person Race Committee, allowing us to focus on race management. This vessel built in 1944, had served in the Second World War at Pearl Harbour and was a definite highlight for RC to be aboard. The nuances of categories from the age categories, to predicted elapsed crossing times, to novice first timers, continue to be a part of the tradition…and a great excuse to participate! For full results, see here. To learn more about racing or cruising in West Vancouver, connect with a team member from North Sails Vancouver today. READ MORE

EVEN VOORSTELLEN: NIC BOL North Sails Expert Nic Bol (56) geeft sinds 2017 als Sales Manager Benelux leiding aan de North Sails vestigingen in Nederland en België. Met zijn enorme zeilervaring in vele verschillende wedstrijdklassen, adviseert hij klanten om hen zo succesvol en plezierig mogelijk te laten varen. Zeilen is voor Nic een ‘way of life’. Hoe is North Sails op jouw pad gekomen? Mijn carrière in de zeilmakerij is gestart in 1993. Toentertijd heb ik agentschappen in Nederland opgezet voor het merk wat ik destijds vertegenwoordigde. Toen de productievestiging in 1997 van merk veranderde, ben ik met hen meegegaan en heb ik mijn eigen dealernetwerk opgebouwd in Nederland. In 2017 werden we benaderd door North Sails. Aangezien de missie en visie van North Sails op dat moment veel beter bij het team en mijzelf paste, hebben we besloten om van koers te veranderen. Je bent zelf geen zeilmaker. Is dat een bewuste keuze? Zeker! Mijn achtergrond ligt op het gebied van financial management. Waar ik goed in ben, is het verkopen van zeilen en het verzamelen van goede mensen om mij heen. Momenteel hebben we zowel in Rotterdam als in Antwerpen en Almere een topteam. Aan mij de taak om goed voor deze mensen te zorgen. Wat is het leukste aan jouw baan? Uit het meevaren met klanten haal ik de meeste voldoening. Het kost veel weekenden en het is vaak ook hard werken, maar wij hebben een zeer bevoorrechte baan. We brengen graag onze expertise over op onze klanten. Op die manier kunnen zij nog beter, sneller en plezieriger varen. Zij geven vaak veel geld uit, dus voor hen is dat heel belangrijk. Dat begrijpen wij en stellen ons als doel om mensen blij te maken. 📸 Sander van der Borch Zeil je zelf ook nog weleens voor het plezier? Met klanten varen is ook heel plezierig. Zo staat er een reis met een Swan 58 in het Caribisch gebied op de planning. Daarnaast verheug ik mij op het Europees Kampioenschap ORC in de Middellandse Zee, maar Laser zeilen blijft eigenlijk het leukste. Ik doe vaak mee aan de avondcompetitie op de Kralingse Plas in Rotterdam. De wind is daar meestal minimaal, maar dan is het juist de kunst om zo hard mogelijk te zeilen. In de Laser ligt het allemaal aan jezelf. Dit is echt de basis van het zeilen en dat maakt het zo leuk. Wat is je mooiste zeilervaring? Voordat ik de zeilmakerij in ging, was ik ‘gewoon’ professioneel zeiler. Ik heb regatta’s gevaren die als een reizend circus van Key West naar Japan trokken. In de grote klassen van toen, waaronder de one tonners, 50 voeters en J/47. We zijn twee keer Wereld Kampioen geworden in de J/22, waarvan de tweede titel het meest bijzondere was, aangezien mijn zoon ook meevoer. Ook in de X35 waren we heer en meester. Maar voor het eerst met North Sails ORC Wereld Kampioen worden in 2018, was tevens een mooi moment. Wat is het beste (zeil)advies dat je ooit hebt gekregen? Mijn vader zei altijd; werk om te leven, leef niet om te werken. Wij woonden in Zuid-Afrika en na een reis naar Nederland, waar mijn vader had gezeild met vrienden, kocht hij bij terugkomst in Kaapstad een toerboot van 22 voet. Het zeilen heb ik dus vanuit huis meegekregen en het was het beste ingrediënt om te kunnen voldoen aan dat advies van mijn vader. Ook al ben ik aan het werk, vaak voelt het niet zo. Toch verlies ik niet uit het oog dat andere zaken, zoals familie en vrienden ook belangrijk zijn. En dat geef ik ook mee aan mijn team. READ MORE

WIJ ZIJN VERHUISD Terug in Antwerpen North Sails België is verhuisd. Het team verruilt de zeilmakerij in Stabroek voor een plek in het nieuwe Antwerp Nautical Center aan het Asiadok, in Antwerpen. Vanaf 1 juni kunt u hier terecht voor advies, onderhoud en service voor uw zeilen. Na vele jaren gevestigd te zijn in Stabroek, kwam de mogelijkheid om intrek te nemen in het gerenoveerde pand van het Antwerp Nautical Center. “Hier zitten we weer op een centrale plek. Stabroek lag voor veel klanten in het weekend wel redelijk op de route, maar doordeweeks was het te ver om. Daarnaast worden we nu onderdeel van een one-stop-shop,” vertelt Sales Manager Nic Bol. Het Antwerp Nautical Center biedt alle services voor de watersporter, waaronder een scheepswinkel, reparaties, onderhoud en verkoop. Het beschikt over een unieke ligging waardoor het zowel uitstekend via de weg bereikbaar is en in de nabije toekomst ook via het water. Vernieuwingen zeilmakerij Rotterdam Naast Antwerpen zijn de klanten in de Benelux ook nog steeds welkom in de zeilmakerij in Rotterdam. Hoewel onze full service zeilmakerij in Rotterdam nog steeds op dezelfde locatie zit, heeft de vestiging wel een grote verbouwing achter de rug. De werkvloer is volledig vernieuwd en er zijn putten gekomen, zodat de naaimachines in de vloer zijn ‘gezonken’. Hierdoor is het werkoppervlak verdubbeld. Ook is er een vide gebouwd, zodat er extra opslagruimte voor zeilen is gecreëerd. Onze service zeilmakerijen zijn te vinden op onderstaande locaties. HIernaast bent u natuurlijk ook nog steeds van harte welkom in ons kantoor in Almere. North Sails Antwerpen Asiadok-Oostkaai 28F 2030 Antwerpen België North Sails Rotterdam Anthonetta Kuijlstraat 7 3066 GS Rotterdam Nederland North Sails Almere Televisieweg 44-46 1322 AM Almere Nederland READ MORE

BACK AT IT WITH THE SUSAN HOOD TROPHY RACE Chilly But Fun For The Overnight Adventure In classic Susan Hood fashion, it was breeze on at the start for the first three divisions then let off towards the remaining few. 77 boats showed up for the 2022 Susan Hood Trophy Race sponsored by DriveHG. It was exciting to see so many clients out on the water again after trying restrictions for the past two years. Father-daughter duo Doug Folsetter and Zoe Folsetter were on the line again in their Farr 30, Sabotage. By now, Zoe is a pro at the Susan Hood Trophy Race, having first sailed the 75nm overnight race back in 2017. She even convinced her mom, and fellow sailor Marnie, to join the Sabotage team this year, making the overnight race a family affair. Reflecting on the race at the dock Saturday morning, Zoe shared, “The race was a lot of fun and it was great to do it again. I learned a lot and remembered much more of the race as I hardly slept. The race was as cold as ever but I would do it again! It was good to see a few more younger sailors out there but more kids should give racing like this a try.” Meanwhile her dad Doug Folsetter, skipper and North Sails expert, shares “It’s nice to be back sailing across the lake again. This race always offers up something different. This year it was more about keeping the boat moving towards the next mark and finding the best sail combination to do so. Irrespective of how you do, this race always provides a lesson for the next one.” Joining the Folsetter family was North Sails designer Phil Williamson who has a wealth of experience and knowledge when it comes to racing on Lake Ontario. On this year’s race, Phil shares, “I am always amazed by the great effort owners and crew put forth to get their boats race ready, provisioned and on the start line. No easy task especially early in the season. The Susan Hood is an excellent race to kick off the distance race season. It gives everyone a chance to shake down their boat, assess sail selections and re-evaluate personal gear. Better to learn, or remember lessons, on a shorter course that can throw many challenges your way.” North Sails expert Hugh Beaton joined Soto 40 Afterburn for the season kick off. He shares, “ Aside from more jib reaching than we would have liked, it was a beautiful night for racing with a clear sky, some stars and wind that stayed up for the entire race. Congratulations to Hooligan and the other class winners for a well sailed race, and to all competitors for making it a fun event. Thanks must also go to LOOR for making the event possible - Great job.” Podium sweep for North Sails powered customers Hooligan, Xoomer Xpress, and Afterburn in the ORC division. While High Tea, powered by 3Di Raw, took first in the flying sails short handed division and Arrow took third with their new 3Di Raw mainsail. Congratulations to all competitors and a big thank you to RC and all the volunteers who helped make the event happen. We look forward to seeing everyone out on the water the rest of the season. READ MORE

VOOR DE WIND CRUISEN MET VERSCHILLENDE SPINNAKERS North Sails Heeft Wat Je Nodig Hebt 📸 Laurens Morel Spinnakers kunnen voor enorme prestaties zorgen bij het voor de wind varen in lichte tot matige wind. En dat is ze maar geraden ook, als je kijkt naar de problemen die ze kunnen veroorzaken! Hoe hanteer en trim je de verschillende spinnakers? We behandelen zowel de gennaker (een asymmetrische cruising spinnaker welke zonder spinnakerboom wordt gevaren), als ook de conventionele spinnaker die met een spinnakerboom wordt gezet. Een gennaker zetten Een gennaker wordt bij het hijsen op drie punten verbonden met het schip. Middels de tacklijn op de boeg of boegspriet, de val uit de mast en de schoten welke naar beide zijden van de achtersteven worden geleid. In geval van een kleine bemanning (shorthanded zeilen) wordt aanbevolen om een spinnaker slurf te gebruiken. Deze hoes houdt de gennaker bijeen tijdens het hijsen en strijken van het zeil. Het zeil wordt in deze beschermende slurf gehesen. Eenmaal in top wordt aan de lijn van de slurf getrokken om de slurf op te halen en het zeil te bevrijden. Om te voorkomen dat het zeil gaat draaien, dient de tacklijn voorafgaand aan het ophalen van de slurf strak te worden gezet. Wat betreft de gennaker schoten; deze kunnen zowel binnendoor als buitenlangs het gennaker voorlijk worden geleid. Beide mogelijkheden werken en allebei hebben ze voordelen. Door te experimenteren komt u erachter welke manier het beste werkt op uw schip. Dit kan overigens ook variëren per windsterkte. Door de schoten tussen de voorstag en het voorlijk van de gennaker te voeren hoeft u niet om te kijken naar de schoten, maar kan het zeil tijdens het gijpen wel moeilijker overkomen doordat het tussen het voorlijk en de voorstag door moet. Door de schoten buitenlangs het zeil te voeren wordt gijpen makkelijker, maar dient er continu op de losse schoot gelet te worden, zodat deze niet onder het schip terecht komt. Een spinnaker met boom zetten Met een conventionele symmetrische spinnaker met spinnakerboom heeft de zeiler over het algemeen meer controle over de projectie van de spinnaker en de vorm van het zeil, dan bij een gennaker. Dit kan prestatie verhogend werken, maar het gaat wel gepaard met de nodige uitdagingen. Ook bij deze spinnaker wordt voor shorthanded zeilen een slurf aanbevolen. Voor de voorbereidingen en het daadwerkelijke hijsen maakt dit echter niet uit. Het proces verloopt hetzelfde, of er nu wel of geen slurf wordt gebruikt. Bevestig eerst de ophaler om de spinnakerboom omhoog te houden en een lijn om de boom naar voren te trekken. Sommige schippers geven er de voorkeur aan om ook een lijn naar achteren te zetten, om op die manier de boom tegen te houden. Anderen laten de voordekker hiervoor zorgdragen. In beide gevallen kan er veilig en succesvol worden gezeild, echter met een lijn naar achteren beweegt de boom veel minder tijdens het hijsen en neerhalen van de spinnaker. In alle gevallen bevindt de loefwaartse spinnaker schoot zich in ieder geval aan het uiteinde van de boom. Zodra de spinnaker hijsklaar is, trekt u de loefschoot naar het einde van de boom. Hierna kan de spinnaker worden gehesen met de val. Zodra deze de top bereikt, moet de schoot worden gevierd om draaiingen van het zeil te voorkomen. Tot slot kan de slurf omhoog worden getrokken, tot deze in top zit. Hierna kunnen de lijnen van de slurf losjes worden vastgemaakt aan de mast en kan het trimmen van de spinnaker middels de schoten beginnen. Het neerhalen van de gennaker Om het zeil neer te halen, valt u af met het schip tot bijna voor de wind, zodat het grootzeil de wind uit de gennaker neemt. Daarna moeten de schoten zo ver worden gevierd, dat de gennaker tot een compact pakketje kan worden teruggebracht door de slurf, die van boven naar beneden over de gennaker wordt getrokken. Zodra de slurf volledig over het zeil is getrokken, kunt u de val laten zakken en stopt u de gennaker in de zak op dek, of laat u deze door het luik op het voordek zakken. De spinnaker weghalen Om de spinnaker weg te halen, wordt de hijsvolgorde omgekeerd uitgevoerd: creëer voldoende manoeuvreerruimte, vier de schoot, trek de slurf naar beneden, laat de loefschoot vieren en laat de val zakken. Bij een hogere windkracht wordt het makkelijker om de spinnaker weg te halen, wanneer er eerst wordt afgevallen zodat het grootzeil de wind uit de spinnaker wegneemt. Nog een tip: in plaats van de schoot te vieren, kunt u ook een extra lijn bevestigen aan de schoot, welke naar voren wordt geleid. Op deze manier creëert u een zogenaamde ‘choker’ en trekt u de schoothoek van de spinnaker richting de mast. Na het lossen van de loefschoot kan de slurf naar beneden worden getrokken. Deze techniek - waarbij ook het achterlijk van de spinnaker achter het grootzeil wordt getrokken - zorgt ervoor dat de gehele spinnaker wordt afgedekt door het grootzeil. Veiligheid voorop: ga zitten! Bij zeilen staat veiligheid altijd voorop, maar zeker bij shorthanded zeilen en het werken op het voordek, is het van belang om hier extra bij stil te staan. Bij het naar beneden trekken van het zeil, is het aan te raden om te gaan zitten. Op die manier kunt u niet vallen. Zeker op een rollende boot met rond wapperend en glad zeildoek waar u op kunt stappen, is misstappen of overboord vallen zo gebeurt. Ga er dus lekker bij zitten! 📸 Laurens Morel READ MORE

EVEN VOORSTELLEN: JACCO HUIJGEN North Sails Expert en Operations Manager 📸 Laurens Morel Jacco Huijgen (33) ondersteunt als Operations Manager Benelux, Nic Bol bij het leiden van de vestigingen in Nederland en België. Hoewel hij het zeilen niet direct met de paplepel heeft meegekregen, is hij inmiddels een bekende in het wedstrijdcircuit met de nodige titels op zijn naam. Je ouders zeilden niet. Hoe ben je toch met zeilen in aanraking gekomen? Mijn ouders hadden wel een motorboot. We lagen in de jachthaven van Drimmelen en daar ging een klasgenootje iedere zaterdag zeilen met zijn Centaur. Ik was 12 en vond het prachtig, dus ik stapte ieder weekend aan boord. Net als Nic ben je geen zeilmaker. Wat is jouw achtergrond? Ik heb commerciële economie gestudeerd in Breda, waarna ik een minor business management heb gedaan in Engeland. Ook geen studie waar je zeilmaker mee kunt worden, maar letterlijk spelenderwijs ben ik de zeilmakerij in gerold. Eigenlijk al op mijn veertiende. Op een gegeven moment had ik een eigen bootje, een soort van 470. Daar had ik op een gegeven moment nieuwe zeilen voor nodig, maar ik had geen geld. Dus verdiende ik de zeilen door allerlei klusjes te doen voor de zeilmakerij in Drimmelen. Deze zeilmaker was verbonden aan het merk dat Nic destijds vertegenwoordigde, dus zodoende kwam ik met Nic in contact. En nu ben je onderdeel van North Sails. Hoe is dat? Het was een gezamenlijk besluit om verder te gaan als North Sails, dus ik sta er voor honderd procent achter. Ik heb nu meer het gevoel dat we onderdeel zijn van een groter geheel. Ook mag ik meedenken over projecten buiten Nederland en België. Het is een prachtig merk met een goede naam en met onze service kunnen we veel betekenen voor wedstrijdzeilers, maar zeker ook voor toerzeilers. 📸 James Tomlinson Photography Wat houdt jouw functie bij North Sails in? Wat niet, kun je beter vragen. Officieel ben ik Operations Manager, maar ik pak naast de operationele kant ook backoffice taken op, zoals het inkopen van materialen. Daarnaast krijg ik de kans om nieuwe processen te bedenken en te laten slagen. Zo zijn we bezig met een ERP-systeem, om ook de achtergrondprocessen nog professioneler aan te pakken. We leveren prachtige producten en dat moet weerspiegelen op alle facetten van het bedrijf. Waar haal je de meeste voldoening uit? Als we adequaat en à la minute een probleem kunnen oplossen. Wanneer klanten nieuwe zeilen aanschaffen, is dat vaak een grote investering. Dan wil je er ook optimaal van kunnen genieten. Als er problemen voordoen, dan lossen we dat snel op. Als we daarmee iemands weekend kunnen redden, dan worden wij daar ook gelukkig van. Sowieso is het fantastisch om klanten te helpen het beste uit hun boot te halen. Op welke zeilprestatie ben je het meest trots? Dat is een lastige keuze.. Ik vaar veel met klanten en verheug me op het Europees Kampioenschap ORC in Italië, waar we met een Dufour gaan varen. Zelf heb ik nog een Laser voor op de Kralingse Plas in Rotterdam, maar als ik moet kiezen, dan heb ik voor mijn gevoel het grootste aandeel (gehad) in de J/80. Afgelopen april ben ik voor derde keer Nederlands Kampioen geworden. Het team is zo goed op elkaar ingespeeld. Als alles zo gesmeerd loopt, geeft me dat nog steeds een kick! 📸 Laurens Morel READ MORE

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: ABYC COASTAL RACE An Afternoon On The Water 📸 Arlene Taylor The 2022 ABYC Open Regatta weekend saw 18 boats race eastward from Ashbridge’s Bay under sunny skies on Sunday May 29th. The Coastal Race is a point-to-point middle-distance race so for both casual sailors and the more seasoned sailor it’s a chance to have a great afternoon on the water. Thanks to our friends at North Sails, three lucky skippers also went home with brag-worthy North Sails swag. Wendy Loat, a seasoned skipper and owner of Looney Tunes, a 26” Thunderbird, recounts the day on the water. “The Coastal Race started in a light breeze of about 5 to 6 knots. As always, the trick is deciding to sneak along the shore or to go out into the lake. A small number of us chose the lake, having heard the wind would go from southwest to east in the afternoon. That turned out to be the right decision. The boats that went in shore ran out of wind before the rest of us. Eventually, the wind died completely. We watched the GPS speed drop to zero and saw that no one anywhere was moving. Then we realized that the buck we were on had turned into a broad reach and up went the spinnakers for a sprint to the finish in about 8 knots of easterly wind.” All boats were welcomed back on shore by the ABYC house band The Weathered Legs while they enjoyed a couple refreshments to hydrate after the long day. Top finisher overall was the smallest boat on the course - a Thunderbird - proving that staying on the lake paid, and that age and treachery can indeed beat youth and strength. Joanne Chwalek Chair 2022 ABYC Open Regatta 📸 Arlene Taylor 📸 Arlene Taylor READ MORE

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: ROUND SALT SPRING Great Racing with Great Sailors Photo Credit: Salt Spring Yacht Club Round Salt Spring 2022 had a good turn out with 79 boats and ended up being a very challenging race for competitors. Racers showed up on Friday at Salt Spring Yacht Club where a BBQ with live music was held. It was great to see racers before things kicked off and hear all the chatter on which way to go this year. For the 2022 race, the race management decided to let the sailors decide which way to go around the island. With the forecast calling for sun but minimal wind, most racers thought that clockwise would be the way to go around. If the wind showed up the fast boats might have been able to go counterclockwise and be "heroes". Almost identical to the round Thetis race earlier this year, as all 7 divisions got out to the start line, a small wind line showed up. Everyone was beating out of Ganges and headed clockwise around the island, a few boats chose a quick end to their race by choosing to go counter clockwise. Getting around Salt Spring Island is always challenging with many "holes", passes, narrows and currents. After the nice beat out ganges the wind lightened then everyone creeped around the south end of the island and made it through Samson Narrows in the daytime. At about dark most the fleet was at or near southey point, which is the northern point of the island, yes confusing! Some boats retired, others continued to creep down the east side of Salt Spring. The sunset was amazing but it got very cold once the sun went down. I personally was lucky enough to be on a boat that finished around 2 am after being spat out of the captain's passage about 3 times just as the sun was setting. It took us about 5 hours to finish the last 3 miles of the race! After finishing a few crew stayed up to see when the rest of the fleet would come around the corner and head to finish. Just after the sun came up the rest of the fleet that was still racing came around captain passage and all started sailing into the finish. Pretty neat to see boat after boat round the corner and head to the finish after a long night of sailing. Awards were planned for roughly noon and boats were still coming across the finish line as the race committee did not have a posted finish time. Once the majority of boats were finished most sailors made it up to awards. After 24+ hours of racing there is nothing better than walking around congratulating everyone on their race, hearing stories about the "issues" and "success" getting around the island in little to no wind. The awards were great fun for the 7 different divisions and sailors of all ages accepting awards. The Fugitive Race team had a few sailors under the age of 15 and another boat had a sailor close to 90 years old! Round Salt Spring was another challenging fun round island race. Congratulations to the Salt Spring Yacht Club and all the volunteers who put on a fantastic race. Looking forward to returning next year! Full results here. Photo Credit: Lin Parks Photo Credit: Salt Spring Yacht Club Photo Credit: Salt Spring Yacht Club Photo Credit: Lin Parks READ MORE

NORTH SAILS ROSTER BOLSTERED WITH BOUWE BEKKING One of the Sport’s Most Experienced Sailors Joins North Sails 📸 Jesus Renedo / Volvo AB North Sails is proud to announce that Bouwe Bekking has joined the brand to support their Grand Prix division. Bekking is considered one of the world’s most accomplished and experienced sailors. The Dutch sailor has participated in eight around-the-world races, his first being the 1985-86 Whitbread onboard Philips Innovator and his most recent as skipper of Team Brunel during the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15. His experience has earned him the moniker “Volvo Ocean Race Legend.” Beyond endurance ocean racing, Bekking has extensive sailing experience on various boats. Bekking is a six-time World Champion in multiple classes and has claimed dozens of European and National titles. His name is also in-demand within Superyachts, where he was recently named tactician to J-Class Svea. “Bouwe is an undisputed opinion leader in our sport,” says Ken Read, North Sails President. “He is highly respected amongst his peers and a familiar face to the global sailing audience. His expertise is a huge advantage to North Sails and our clients. As a result, Bouwe is uniquely positioned to add immediate value to our business. His input will play an important role in ensuring North Sails remains the leader in our sport.” “Direct feedback from the field is critical to advancing the performance and application of our products,” explains Paul Westlake, Grand Prix Leader, and North Sails Executive Vice President. “Bouwe is actively using North Sails products across a wide range of boats and conditions. His candid and direct feedback is guaranteed to impact future product developments.” “I have worked with the North Sails team at various points and with numerous projects throughout my sailing career, explains Bekking. “Whether flying off 40-foot waves in the Southern Ocean or inshore day racing, I’ve seen the evolution of the products. Product development and innovation are of particular interest, and I’m looking forward to working closely with a team who shares my ‘let’s give it a go’ attitude.” Bekking will maintain his robust professional sailing career while supporting North Sails within Grand Prix sailing. He will work closely with his sailing peers, the North product development team, and sales leaders. The “Volvo Ocean Race Legend” himself recently sat down with Ken Read and master sailmaker Nathan Quirk for Episode 4 of Loft 57, the North Sails Podcast. Collectively, our guests’ experience includes hundreds of thousands of offshore racing miles; Bekking onboard as a sailor, and Quirk in the sail repair loft. Subscribe to the Loft 57 podcast via Spotify, Apple Podcasts or connect with the North Sails community on Facebook and Instagram. Loft 57 is a North Sails production. 📸 Jesus Renedo / Volvo AB READ MORE

The collaboration is based on the fact that a fast, high-quality boat needs a sail inventory to match. And that’s exactly what the collaboration between X-Yachts and North Sails does. READ MORE

CELEBRATING DAVID FORBES & HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE One of North Sails Australia’s Early Leaders It’s with great sadness that we mourn the loss of one of North Sails Australia’s early leaders, David Forbes. A successful businessman and close friend of North Sails founder Lowell North, David embraced the position of interim manager of the loft in the late 1970s, to find stability and determine the future of the company. David’s vision to ensure North Sails Australia was a success led him to Michael Coxon, appointing him Manager of the loft in 1982 which was the beginning of a life-long friendship. Michael Coxon remembers his mentor sharing his vision clearly, “In the beginning, David came into the loft one to two days a week.” Coxon said. “And the other days, had me out to his business where we’d look at everything from business admin, to the production lines. I spent my time learning from David and he gave me confidence and taught me what business was about. On weekends we sailed Etchells and yachts together where my higher level of education continued on the water under Dave's watchful eye. After a year under Dave's mentorship Dave recommended I purchase North Sails Australia, at which point I stated that we needed to introduce a big boat specialist to compliment my sailmaking, one design, skiff and dinghy expertise. Dave introduced Grant Simmer, fresh from winning the America's Cup as navigator on Australia 11. Dave showed great foresight in pairing Grant and I, recognizing our diverse skills complemented one another and over a 17 year partnership we positioned North Sails Australia to be a highly respected business within the North International Group.” Forbes had great foresight in both business and on the water as an Olympic Gold Medalist in the Star Class from the Munich 1972 Olympics. Coxon says, “Dave is the most naturally gifted yachtsman I’ve ever sailed with. He had the ability to feel the boat, and know what to tweak. Balance, trim, sail shape, rig tune, Dave could always put his finger on it after a few minutes on the helm. Naturally gifted and always generously investing in me." “I became his protégé. I could always call him up and get his advice. If I’ve picked up just a little bit of his skill set, I know I’m better off for it. He’s helped me in both sailing and business and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.” “He touched so many people, and there’s no one else in my life who’s helped me more than Dave - though he’d deny it and laugh at me saying that.” Coxon finished, “Dave Forbes vision positioned North Sails Australia to be where it is today.” David was a friend to many, and North Sails would like to send our condolences to David's family and friends. READ MORE

North Sails klanten tonen krachten tijdens NSR Offshores | Regatta Service tijdens NSR Inshores Veel zeilers in top drie Vuurschepen Race en North Sea Race Prachtig resultaten...! In de uitslagen van de Vuurschepen Race en North Sea Race zijn veel North Sails klanten in de top drie beland. De Vuurschepen Race werd op 24 mei voor de 75 ste keer gevaren en voerde het veld van Scheveningen naar Harwich. De North Sea Race vormde traditiegetrouw de terugreis, welke op 27 mei van start ging. In de verschillende ORC, IRC en double handed klassen gingen de deelnemers de strijd met elkaar aan. De resultaten van de twee races maakt Jacco Huijgen, Operations Manager North Sails Benelux, trots. “In alle klassen zijn onze klanten hoog geëindigd. Dan zie je dat alle energie die we samen met de klanten in de voorbereiding hebben gestoken, zich ook echt uitbetaald. Het is voor ons niet alleen een kwestie van goede zeilen leveren, maar we denken graag mee om de zeilers zo optimaal mogelijk aan het raceseizoen te laten beginnen. Een zeilgarderobe die goed op elkaar aansluit en geschikt is voor de geplande wedstrijden, is hierbij key.” Komend weekend, van 4 tot en met 6 juni, staan de Inshore races van de North Sea Regatta op het programma. Deze worden gevaren vanuit Scheveningen. Voor de ORC 1 en ORC 2 worden de resultaten van de Inshore races opgeteld bij de uitslagen van de Vuurschepen Race en North Sea Race. De overall winnaar wordt de nieuwe Nederlands Kampioen ORC. Het wordt dus een spannend weekend... Regatta service tijdens NSR Inshore races North Sails is tijdens de Inshore races aanwezig om eventuele schades aan zeilen, waar mogelijk, te herstellen. Heeft u schade? Neem dan na de wedstrijden zo snel mogelijk contact met ons op. U vindt onze trailer op het stallingsterrein van Malherbe, direct aan de haven. Iedere wedstrijddag vertrekt de bus met reparaties om 17.30u uit Scheveningen, zodat u de volgende dag weer gebruik kunt maken van uw favoriete zeilen. Contactpersonen tijdens NSR Inshores Nic Bol(ORC 2, X-362 Extra Djinn ): +31 (0)6 55376636 Bart Overgaauw(SB20 Manta) : +31 (0)6 50730512 Wouter Köllmann(ORC 2 J99 Lallekönig): +31 (0)6 42156449 Tom van der Vecht(ORC 1 Luffe 40 Kreutz Ass): +31 (0)6 46140346 Joost Houweling(Finn): +31 (0)6 22798462 Trots op onze klanten De volgende klanten zijn op het podium beland bij de Vuurschepen Race en North Sea Race: Vuurschepen race ORC 1 1: Frans van Capelle, Moana, J122 2: Ronald Prins, Sailmon JR, J122 3: Frederic de Visser, Spitfire, J121 IRC 1 1: Frans van Capelle, Moana, J122 2: Ronald Prins, Sailmon JR, J122 ORC 2/ IRC 2 1: Michel Dorsman, Extra Djinn, X362 Sport ORC 3 1: Simeon Tienpont, Fever, J35 ORC Double handed 2: Willem Schopman, Waverider, Sun Fast 3200 3: Paul Manuel, Jongeheer, J99 IRC Doublehanded 1: Willem Schopman, Waverider, Sun Fast 3200 North Sea race IRC Zero 1: Van Uden, Gert Jan Poortman, Ker 46 2: Oyster cathcer xxxv, 2: Richard Matthews, CF520 IRC 1 1: Il Corvo, Astrid Vin, JPK 1180 2: Frans van Capelle, Moana, J122 IRC 3 1: Michel Dorsman, Extra Djinn, X362 Sport 2: Richard Palmeer, Jangada, JPK 1010 3: Willem Schopman, Waverider, Sun Fast 3200 ORC 1 1: Van Uden, Gert Jan Poortman, Ker 46 2: Frans van Capelle, Moana, J122 3; Jan-Friso Blacquiere, Blacq Magic, TH38 ORC 2 2: Paul Manuel, Jongeheer, J99 3: Michel Dorsman, Extra Djinn, X362 Sport IRC Double handed 1: Richard Palmeer, Jangada, JPK 1010 2: Willem Schopman, Waverider, Sun Fast 3200 ORC Double handed 2: Richard Palmeer, Jangada, JPK 1010 3: Willem Schopman, Waverider, Sun Fast 3200 READ MORE

WANT TO JOIN OUR CREW? North Sails in Palma is Hiring The worlds leading sailing brand is seeking passionate sailors to join our team and be part of the next generation of North Sails! Following our recent expansion, we are currently hiring for multiple positions in Palma, Mallorca. Currently North Sails looking to fill the role of a Sailmaker at our Palma, Mallorca location. Do you want a rewarding career and the opportunity to work with the best people and the best products in the sailing industry? Join the North Sails team today. Our service sailmakers are highly skilled, motivated and expert problem solvers. Each day is filled with a range of sales support and service tasks to ensure customer needs are met. Whether you’re helping assess and repair sails or meeting customers to deliver and install great products, you’re a key part of the team. Providing exceptional assistance, working hard, and sharing knowledge will be daily activities for you and being prepared is of high importance. You’ll gain satisfaction from achieving goals as part of a great team helping North Sails to build lasting relationships with our customers. Essential Duties and Responsibilities As a sailmaker at North Sails in Palma you will work on a wide range of projects specialising in cruising, super yacht and grand prix racing sails. You will be part of a team that is dedicated to providing our customers with technically advanced products and the highest quality service. Your role will be to assess and carry out repairs and regular maintenance on a wide variety of sails. You will communicate with colleagues, managers and the sales team completing estimates using North Sails standards for pricing and rates. Daily tasks also include cutting, fabricating and installing materials as described in the North Sails Blue Book and other documented or known practices using your judgment and experience to ensure all work carried out meet our clients expectations. You will also need a keen eye for detail, be able to work alone or as part of a team and maintain a clean and safe working environment. Our facility is equipped with a variety of specialist tools and machinery including power cutters, dies, cranes, forklifts and industrial sewing machines. Larger projects sometimes require team members with specialist skills to work off site carrying out sail installations, assisting with sea trails and sail removal. The entire team benefits from your commitment to providing the best care for customers. By helping North Sails maintain strong relationships with customers, you are instrumental to our success. Qualification Requirements Minimum 3 years experience as sailmaker Ability to assess sails and provide solutions Flexibility to regularly rotate through different technical specialties and skill sets Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team Good hand eye coordination and an eye for detail Ability to read various measuring devices and interpret specifications Proof of legal authority to work in Spain Full driving licence Flexible schedule. Your work hours will be based on business needs Minimum 3 years sailmaking experience with industrial sewing experience and be proficient with hand tools Capable of working on knees for extended periods of time Able to lift 25 kgs on a regular basis Job Type Full Time SUBMIT RESUME/COVER LETTER HERE READ MORE

WANT TO JOIN OUR CREW? North Sails is looking to fill a Service Sailmaker role at our Auckland, New Zealand loft. The Sailmaker works as part of the service team, Servicing/ repairing and recutting sails for all types of yachts. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Repair sails that have been damaged or torn to a good standard Remove and refit sails onboard yachts Wash and cleaning sails Assist with keeping loft space clean and Tidy Qualification Requirements Some Sailmaking experience Proficient with hand tools and sewing machines Able to lift 30kgs. on a regular basis Able to work as part of a team on big jobs Job Type Full time SUBMIT RESUME/COVER LETTER HERE READ MORE

The Solo is a boat with a relatively simple rig. Once you are on the water there is little adjustment possible. It is essential therefore that you get the right rig settings before launching. When setting up a new boat you need to establish the following: Mast Foot Position In the past we suggested two mast foot positions, but in recent years when sailing in a mixed upwind/downwind race track I have found I liked the one setting for all conditions so this is what we would recommend. Measuring from the front edge of the mast foot to the outside edge of the transom should be as close to 3065mm as possible. Please see Fig 1, 1a, 1b showing how to take this measurement. PLEASE NOTE with this setting the boom will be lower, if you have limited mobility, sail at a venue where you are constantly tacking or on a club course with more offwind than upwind please feel free to move the heel aft to a setting nearer 3052 mm to keep the boom higher, make it easier to tack and bias performance more to downwind. Secondary to this is boats prior to approximately 2008 may struggle to move the heel forward to this measurement due to the bulkhead position. Fig 1 Fig 1a Fig 1b Mast Rake This is controlled by forestay tension. Set the forestay so its tight when the back of the mast hits the back of the mast gate, then release the forestay tension by 2 holes on the adjuster, this is the base rake. For those with a mast cutout [please check your mast manufacturer for warranty on this] you can set the average mast rake with a tape measure, should be set at 5940mm measured using a tape measure on the halyard hoisted to your black band and then to the top aft edge of your transom bar. To ensure the hoist of the halyard is at the correct height the tape should read 5030mm when held down the mast to the top of the gooseneck band, this is then at the correct hoist height and can easily be replicated, now you can proceed to measure the rake. See Fig 2 & 2a showing how to do this. Fig 2 Fig 2a Shroud Tension When the shrouds are just in tension the mast should be 5mm from the front of the gate. If you sail on flat water or are over 90kgs you can sail with tighter shrouds to limit sideways bend, in this case the shrouds can be in tension when the mast is 10mm from the front of the gate. Centreboard Position Turn the boat on it’s side and drop the board and mark the handle when the leading edge is vertical (LV), relative to the bottom of the case. Then lift the board until the trailing edge is vertical (TV) and mark the handle. Then mark the handle with 20mm spacings to guide when you lift the board further as the breeze builds. Mast Chock Use 1 x 10mm chock to be used as per the tuning matrix below. Control 0-5 knots  6-10 knots 11-16 knots 17+ knots Centreboard Leading edge vertical Trailing edge vertical 40mm up from TV mark 40-100mm up from TV mark Chock Chock behind mast Chock in front Chock in front Chock in front Kicker Slack In tension to stop boom Tension to control leech Max. kicker Outhaul 50mm depth in foot 100mm depth in foot 50-100mm depth in foot until overpowered then tension progressively Max. outhaul with crease along foot Inhaul 15mm from back of mast 10mm from back of mast 5mm from back of mast 0-5mm from back of mast Traveller Positioned so that boom end is over inboard edge of sidedeck Positioned so boom end is between inboard & outboard edge of sidedeck Positioned so boom end is over gunwhale, until overpowered then vang sheet and keep traveller on centreline On centreline Cunningham Slack Slack snug to remove larger wrinkles on luff Tension progressively to depower Tension to depower Because Solos are relatively easy to sail a boatspeed advantage is hard to find. The settings that have been used for this tuning guide are based around a Solo sailor weighing 8085kg using a Selden D+ mast and North Sail. However these settings still apply providing you use the correct mast and sail combination for your weight. The settings are dependent on sea state, weight, mast, sail and fitness. So in a force 3 a 90kg helm would be on full power settings whereas a 75kg helm with the same rig would be on overpowered settings. The overlap between settings can be achieved with a combination of rig, sail and centreboard adjustment. There are different ways to achieve the same result. If for example you are caught out with light/medium settings  in strong breeze raise the centreboard further, use more kicker tension (to bend the mast) cunningham and outhaul tension. Use a combination of mainsheet tension, kicker tension and traveller position to find the best speed upwind. As a general rule start in light winds with the traveller positioned so that the boom end is over the inboard edge of the sidetank and mainsheet tensioned so that all the leech tell tails are flying. As the wind increases use more mainsheet tension and ease the traveller to stop the boom getting too close to the centreline. Kicker tension in light winds should be set just slack so that it controls leech twist out of tacks. As the breeze increases and you have to ease the mainsheet to keep the boat flat use kicker to control the leech profile, and adjust the traveller (usually move inboard) to keep the boom roughly over the outside edge of the quarter. Once fully overpowered use kicker upwind to increase low down mast bend and flatten the mainsail and pull the traveller to the centreline and leave it. In a Solo body position is extremely important. In very light airs your body weight should be centred on the thwart, but do not move forward of this point however light it is. Once you are sat on the side deck move back so that your front leg is pressed against the thwart. As you become fully hiked move back to 150mm from thwart, and then up to 300mm as the wind increases. Offwind Use only enough centreboard so that the rudder is neutral when the boat is flat with the following sail settings: Light Airs Leave the outhaul on its upwind setting. The inhaul (if adjustable) should be released so its slack. The kicker should be slack or just in tension to stop the leech opening too much in the gusts. Medium Airs Ease outhaul so that lens foot is fully eased, ease the inhaul until slack. Set the kicker so that the top batten flies approximately 90 degrees to the boat, this allows the leech to open and maximise speed. If planing is a possibility keep the boat as flat as possible and take the mainsheet 2:1 from the boom. Heavy Airs Only ease the outhaul on tighter reaches if you can use more power. Ease Inhaul until slack. Once on the broader reaches and run ease outhaul to allow a little depth in the foot. Set the kicker as for medium airs or ease to depower on the reaches. This is also very quick on the run to allow running by the lee. By spending time on the water preferably with a tuning partner you will be able to establish the right settings for all conditions. This will allow you to concentrate more of your energies on finding the quickest way round the course. READ MORE

LOFT 57, EPISODE 4: EXTREME TESTING Ocean Race Legend Bouwe Bekking and Master Sailmaker Nathan Quirk Sit Down with Ken Read In recent years, offshore sailing has seen a dramatic rise in popularity and awareness. This sector of our sport pushes sailors, their boats, and the equipment to the limits. In this episode, we’re joined by “Volvo Ocean Race Legend” Bouwe Bekking and master sailmaker Nathan Quirk, whose resume includes four around-the-world races and three America’s Cup campaigns. Our guests’ collective experience includes hundreds of thousands of offshore racing miles; Bekking onboard as a sailor, and Quirk in the sail repair loft. They each bring their unique perspective to the discussion of sail evolution specifically North 3Di, a sail technology that provides unmatched performance and reliability. Bekking also shares a first-hand account of what it feels like to careen off massive waves while sailing in the Southern Ocean. Hosted by North Sails President and multi-lap Ocean Race veteran himself, Episode 4 is educational, inspiring, and was a lot of fun to record. Subscribe to the Loft 57 podcast via Spotify, Apple Podcasts or connect with the North Sails community on Facebook and Instagram. Loft 57 is a North Sails production. READ MORE

PETER DUNCAN AND TEAM CROWNED 2022 MELGES 24 WORLD CHAMPIONS Coach Chris Larson and Tactician Victor Diaz de Leon Break Down the Win 📸 Matias Capizzano After a two-year World Championship hiatus, Peter Duncan’s Raza Mixta team proudly hoisted the Melges Performance Sailboats Trophy at the 2022 Melges 24 Class Championship this May in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. And while Duncan and his crew of Erik Shampain, Morgan Trubovich, Victor Diaz De Leon and Matt Pistay were coming in hot from a successful winter season, winning the Worlds was no easy feat. Getting to the top of the podium required the team to claw back points from deep within the fleet. North Sails had a chance to check in after their win and get the inside scoop on what went on. Raza Mixta’s tactician Victor Diaz De Leon and team coach, North Sails Expert Chris Larson were happy to walk us through their experience; how it felt and what it took to come from behind. The Road to Worlds: Winning a World Championship is never as easy as just showing up and racing hard. Typically there is a long road and hard work that leads a team to the top and Raza Mixta is no exception, with various lead up events and multiple players contributing to reaching the top. Raza Mixta is a young team in terms of sailing together, but the collective experience of all the players is what made the difference. Pulling veteran talent from the Melges 24 fleet with Shampain and Pistay, mixing in the talented J/70 team of Duncan, Diaz de Leon and Trubovich and rounding out the team with deep coaching experience paid off. Raza Mixta won the class at the Southernmost Regatta and was named first overall in the Bacardi Series before winning the Worlds. The team sailed hard and coach Chris Larson took charge of organizing schedules, training sessions, sail inventory, and boat preparation. According to Diaz de Leon, “Larson was definitely instrumental in us being able to pull it off.” 📸 Sharon Green Raza Mixta’s Rebound: A come from behind story. After two thirteenth place finishes on day one, team Raza Mixta found they barely made the top ten, ninth place at the end of the day. Duncan remained optimistic and kept team morale high, but at the same time the team knew they had work to do to get to the finish. After-dinner debriefs, powerpoint presentations on sail trim and competitors, Larson left nothing to chance. There was ground to make up and still time to come out ahead. “Each day I would be on the water with the team photographing and videoing all of their movements. Later, as I presented I would include details such as sail twist, sheet tension, jib car position, traveler position, forestay sag, rig tension and sail scanning. We would then review video from each maneuver enabling the team to perfect their boat handling.” It worked. As the event progressed, with Duncan doing a great job getting the boat off the line, constant communication from Shampain, and Trubovich and Pistay hiking, De Leon did what he does best, working his way through the fleet, and rounding the first weather mark in the front pack. From there, the team let their speed and boat handling take over by gaining at every corner of the race track. Having used their throw-out on day one, they could not afford another double-digit finish. By day four they turned an insurmountable deficit to a six point lead and never looked back. Sails That Deliver Results Raza Mixta used the class MNi-2 mainsail, Ji-4 Jib and P1 Spinnaker for the entirety of the event. Speed was a strength for them, and they had confidence in their set-up and sails throughout the vast range of conditions seen throughout the event. The Ji-4’s round entry helped with steering and gave the boat enough power to get through the chop. And Larson thinks that the MNi-2 mainsail is a great all around sail, “It flattens out nicely, but still has shape in the back-end of the sail. This was ideal when the conditions warranted sailing with more twist than normal.” According to Diaz de Leon “We felt very comfortable with our sail set up and our rig tune set up. We were going well in the light air, medium air and heavy air so we felt confident in our speed. Chris Larson was again a very helpful coach that worked really hard on the rig tune and sail selection.” Clearly the right choices were made and the hard work paid off. Congratulations Team Raza Mixta. Hard-won expertise from over six decades of success is built into every sail we make. This is why North Sails wins more races than any other sailmaker. Remember to check out the #NSVictoryList and tag us in your posts for a chance to be featured on the wall! #NSVICTORYLIST 📸 Matias Capizzano READ MORE

NORTH SAILS CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH LOOR AS EXCLUSIVE SAILMAKER Supporting Local Distance Racing A partnership spanning over 15 years, North Sails is proud to continue its support of LOOR racing for the 2022 season. North Sails will sponsor the Susan Hood Trophy Race and Lake Ontario 300 presented by DriveHG, as well as the LOSHRS series, as the exclusive sailmaker. After a year without the races and then a hybrid version in 2021, we are excited for these races to come back like old times. They are such staples in the sailing community and we know many sailors are excited for them.” shares Hugh Beaton of the Toronto loft of North Sails. He adds, “These events offer many sailors the opportunity to test their overnight skills and distance racing skills. We at North Sails are pleased to continue our support as exclusive sailmaker sponsor for all events; continuing our support for racers and racing on the Great Lakes.” The coveted embroidered flags will make a return for the 2022 season. As well, North Sails will provide regatta repair, as in previous years, with post event sail pick up for the Susan Hood Trophy Race and Lake Ontario 300. Aligning with Access Abilities, North Sails will offer a special prize to the LOSHRS fleet. “The partnership Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR) has with North Sails is a natural and synergistic one and we are thrilled that once again we will be working together to help promote distance racing on Lake Ontario.” shares Monica Doedens, chair of Lake Ontario Offshore Racing. Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR) of the Port Credit Yacht Club (PCYC), is dedicated to bringing the offshore sailboat racing experience to Lake Ontario. This is accomplished with its running of the Lake Ontario 300/600 Challenge Races (LO300/LO600), including the Solo Challenge, the Susan Hood Trophy Race (SHTR) and the Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series (LOSHRS) offshore sailboat races. Whether you race or cruise, your sails are a major investment, and we are committed to helping you maximize their performance and lifespan. The Toronto team of North Sails is available to help you get ready for the season ahead. Connect with a North Sails expert today and receive personalized advice on your sail or service buying questions. READ MORE

PAUL & MARIE ABDULLAH – THISTLE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Hometown Couple Prevails at Class Championships 📸 Michael Brown North Sails Expert Paul Abdullah grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and started sailing in dinghies at a young age and joined his father in various PHRF boats. Currently Abdullah competes across various one-design and PHRF class platforms and has won 17 National, North American, and World championships. However at 18, he got his first Thistle, beginning his journey to where he is today. Along the road he met his wife Marie who was also sailing in the Thistle Class, and they, alongside Barrett Rhoads just won their first Thistle National Championship. The Thistle Class is known for its family- friendly culture, age – inclusivity, top notch competition, and the camaraderie fostered throughout the fleet. At the 2022 Thistle National Championships there were 10 skippers under the age of 30 and 5 skippers over the age of 70. There were 9 family boats and 13 husband and wife boats racing. Also, with 8 first-time Nationals skippers, there were also 7 past Thistle National Champions in attendance, making this a highly sought after Championship. Last but not least, Thistle #1 sailed in its 50th National Championship! The 76th Thistle Class National Championship, hosted by Florida Yacht Club, in Abdullah’s hometown of Jacksonville, FL was a marathon event. Sailors faced high temperatures and light breeze for the majority of the regatta placing an emphasis on ensuring ample hydration to keep focus levels sharp throughout the duration of each long day. Seven races were completed, and with no drop allowed, teams were rewarded for low point consistency and minimizing high risk moves. Paul and his team placed no higher than 6th place in all but one race, but managed to secure the victory by eight points over the next finisher, Dave, Becca and Emily Dellenbaugh (another family team)! 📸 Deb Fewell We sat down with husband- wife duo Paul and Marie to catch up after the big win: Tell us about your team, and how you all prepared for the National Championships? Paul: Having a great team allows me to focus on driving. Barrett Rhoads kept me going in the right direction at all times and I kept the boat going fast. Barrett is a great sailor and tactician, and kept us away from too much risk. Marie is one of the best forward crews (she doesn’t think that) and keeps the boat organized for the next mark rounding. Together, we make a great team! Leading up to Nationals, we did a training session in January, won Midwinters East and finished 2nd at Orange Peel. We had a lot of confidence coming into the event. Marie, tell us about your sailing. How long have you and Paul been sailing together? Marie: I grew up sailing with my dad in Y- Flyers on Lake Allatoona in Georgia. I later started crewing in the Thistle Class, sailing with my aunt and uncle, as well as in the Snipe Class with various skippers. Every weekend I was on a boat and I loved every minute of it. Paul and I started sailing together in 2009 and I wouldn’t change the last 13 years for anything! What are some things you guys are especially good at? (Whether it be technique, conditions, starting in big fleets)… Paul: I like starting in big fleets! We got off the starting line well and it allowed us to sail the first beat conservatively up the middle in most races. The bigger the breeze, the better we are, mostly because of our technique. Favorite part about sailing with your spouse? Paul: Sailing with Marie brings a sense of calm on the boat. Ever since we started dating, my success on the water and in life has improved. Marie: My favorite part about sailing with Paul is simply being together doing what we love. Sailing was such a big part of who we were before we met, and getting to enjoy it together as husband and wife makes it that much more special. 📸 Deb Fewell Florida Yacht Club is your home club, what does it mean to you to win at home? Paul: Unbelievable! As Regatta Chair the amount of stress was huge but the team at The Florida Yacht Club kept telling me to focus on my sailing and that allowed me to sail with a clear mind. As soon as the first gun went off I was able to put my focus on sailing. Winning in front of family and friends was a dream come true. Favorite moment at the 2022 Nationals? Hardest moment? How did you and the team overcome obstacles (bad results, missed a shift, bad starts?) Paul: Having a 8pt lead going into Thursday and finishing 1-3 in races 5 and 6 to extend our lead. Race 7 was harder than we wanted it to be. Things were going sideways mid-race, but we knew our speed would give us opportunities later in the race. At the last leeward gate, we were just behind Dave and Dan and victory was in sight. We never panicked whenever things weren’t going our way. Our saying in our boat is “boat speed kills” and each race we found our way back in the top 10 by focusing solely on our boat speed and technique. What products are you using and how did these products play into the result? Did you use our tuning guide? Do our sails seem to be ‘better’ in a certain wind condition? Paul: I use the DSD sail designs that were designed prior to me joining North Sails. Our design team worked to make the sails better once we put them into our design software and the results really show it. North Sail designs finished 1,2,3..! Whatever it is, we have a sail designed to fit your sailing style. I personally prefer the DSD designs (DSD+ Main, DSD Jib), Dave Dellenbaugh likes the Proctor designs (Proctor Main, Proctor Jib) and Dan Hesse uses the VS designs (VS Main, VS Jib). You can’t go wrong with North Sails! Yes, I wrote the tuning guide and follow it exactly. With several past National Champions in attendance, this year’s nationals were especially competitive. What differentiated your team from the rest of the pack? Paul: Someone said when it’s “your time” it’s going to happen. There were a couple races that local knowledge worked out for us, but mostly we had great speed and opportunities just kept coming our way. Winning the Thistle Nationals is a dream come true! Hard-won expertise from over six decades of success is built into every sail we make. This is why North Sails wins more races than any other sailmaker. Remember to check out the #NSVictoryList and tag us in your posts for a chance to be featured on the wall! #NSVICTORYLIST 📸 Deb Fewell READ MORE

GC32 RACING TOUR STRONGER & FITTER A Look Into What’s Coming During the 2022 Season 📸 Sailing Energy / GC32 Racing Tour The GC32, the sole World Sailing- recognized foiling catamaran big boat class, returns in 2022 with a full season of racing on the GC32 Racing Tour. Now in its ninth year, the GC32 Racing Tour will visit five of the best foiling venues in southern Europe. The tour kicks off this month with the GC32 Riva Cup held in the big wind, flat water, Alpine mountain encircled Lake Garda. It then moves on to Lagos on Portugal’s Algarve where the GC32 teams can experience Atlantic winds within the confines of a protected bay. Two events will be held in this welcoming venue, the first June 22-26 acting as a warm-up for the main event, the GC32 World Championship held July 13-17. The Tour then returns to Villasimius, Sardinia September 14-18 before concluding in the Spanish Murcia region’s inland sea, the Mar Menor, October 19-23. More than ten boats are expected for the GC32 World Championship, including the Alinghi team that won the GC32 World Championship when it was last held in Lagos in 2019. Since then Alinghi has united with Red Bull to challenge for the 37th America’s Cup and is fielding two teams on the GC32 Racing Tour: Alinghi Red Bull Racing SUI-8 with their regular helmsman Arnaud Psarofaghis skippering and Alinghi Red Bull Racing SUI-15 helmed by 49er sailor Maxime Bachelin. The latter will be sailed by a younger ‘development’ squad, with the old hands among the SUI-8 crew providing experience as well as a benchmark for their teammates. View this post on Instagram A post shared by GC32 Racing Tour (@gc32racingtour) SailGP teams are also represented with the Danes led by Nicolai Sehested on Team Rockwool Racing who will be looking to improve on their mid-leaderboard finishing position in 2021. Additional SailGP teams are due to join the GC32 Racing Tour later in the season. A huge development for 2022 is the stronger turn-out of privately backed teams competing, their owners relishing the state of the art foil-borne racing at 30+ knot speeds which the GC32 provides. France’s Erik Maris with his Zoulou team and American Jason Carroll with Argo, are both back. Christian Zuerrer’s Black Star Sailing Team, who managed to beat both Argo and Zoulou on the 2021 GC32 Racing Tour, is also returning for 2022. On board Zuerrer trims main while Kiwi match racer Chris Steele helms. The Zoulou and Argo teams will be joined in the GC32 Racing Tour’s Owner-Driver Championship this year by GC32 Class President Simon Delzoppo’s film AUS Racing, which last raced on the circuit in 2018 and whose plans to return were previously scuppered by the pandemic. These privately-backed teams are looking forward to not just racing each other but also, the unique opportunity the GC32 Racing Tour provides to line up in anger against a talented field of high performance sailors. “This new season promises to be exciting with a great mix of old and new teams,” confirms Erik Maris. “I look forward to racing against the other owner-drivers even though the beauty of this class is the mix of fantastic professionals and amateurs.” 📸 Sailing Energy / GC32 Racing Tour READ MORE

RECENTLY LAUNCHED: FLYINGNIKKA Roberto Lacorte’s New Racing Machine is Pure Performance It was the most anticipated launch of 2022 and one that generated a buzz of excitement. A challenge within a challenge, FlyingNikka is the first yacht to tackle so many design boundaries. The 60′ Mark Mills designed mini-maxi experienced the first ‘flights’ in Valencia in early May and is soon departing to Italy with a mission; to claim race records of the prominent offshore regattas. North Sails is a longtime supplier to the ‘Nikka programs, and we’re honored to have played a part in bringing FlyingNikka to life. “To fully understand the meaning and purpose of such a boat, it is first necessary to get acquainted with its owner Roberto Lacorte,” says North expert and Italian sales manager Alessio Razeto. Razeto heads up the FlyingNikka sail program and serves as the team’s sail trimmer. He explains more from Valencia: “We met with Roberto during the construction of the first Nikka, a Vismara-Mills 47. It was 2012, and compared to where we are now, it seems like a lifetime ago! In those years one of his other creations was taking shape, the 151 Miglia – a regatta that is now sold out with every edition.” In 2012, Lacorte’s core team was formed, a group still together over a decade later. From the 47′, the program moved on to its next ambitious project, SuperNikka. From a blank sheet of paper and the design vision of Mark Mills and Alessandro Vismara, SuperNikka saw immediate success. The boat claimed the 151’s Line Honors in 2015 just four days after her launch, a hint that this was a program that would never stop racing alongside such an owner, neither at sea nor in the design office. With the original group intact, the boat continued to do very well, and the results kept coming in. But despite their numerous successes, the team always felt compromised. “Sometimes we ended racing with 72s, and in other regattas, we sailed against the 50s with mixed results, Razeto explains. “And so we reached a turning point: changing the boat and moving forward along the path of friendship and sport, consolidated by thousands of miles in regattas.” Razeto elaborates, “FlyingNikka is how Roberto Lacorte abandoned the path of compromise. He wanted a pure racing machine.” Mark Mills, again the facilitator of Lacorte’s vision, presented the first drawing of a reasonably radical 75′. As the AC75s had just hit the water, the attention – and the inevitable doubts – of the entire world sailing community were mesmerized by the new America’s Cup monsters. But Lacorte knew there were boundaries to push further. ‘What’s new? I want to leave my mark” were Roberto’s exact words as he observed the plans for the new concept, to which Mills immediately took up the challenge. “And so, we started too,” concludes Razeto – sharing his vision and demonstrating the cohesion of the group once again. “This is how FlyingNikka was born, an unparalleled design challenge. The boat and the sail inventory were an infinite series of uncharted design aspects, and a direct technology transfer from the experience North Sails gained during the 36th America’s Cup. But, unlike the Cup boats, which are designed to always fly, we will sail distance and, at times, stay offshore overnight. We will have to have a seaworthy boat and, last but not least, with acceptable performance even in displacement, we have a thermal engine and so on. We like to think that we have extended the concept of high limit and low limit of the AC75. And in this, we are indeed the first. FlyingNikka’s Sail Inventory: FlyingNikka’s sail inventory enjoys a considerable advantage from North HELIX Structured Luff, a technology derived from the America’s Cup, and yields sail with a more dynamic shape. “This is not an insignificant detail onboard a hull without a backstay or flying shrouds,” Razeto explains. “These load sharing sailing transfer to 80% of the overall sail load in the jib with 20% remaining on the forestay. A similar situation applies to the mainsail, also designed HELIX.” All of FlyingNikka’s sails are 3Di Raw, and according to Razeto, “We have coined the new term ‘ultra-custom.” FlyingNikka’s sail inventory includes a 140sqm square-top Helix mainsail, with two reefs (122 and 73sqm), four Helix headsail sails, from the 93sqm J1 to the 44sqm J4, all for flying speeds, and a large Helix Code sail of 150 square meters to be used solely for displacement sailing. Her total sail area is 564 sqm, approximately the size of two tennis courts. Razeto joined the team in Valencia for the first trial and, considering a thousand unknowns of the project, saw the new boat fly on several occasions and sail very fast in light winds. The FlyingNikka program has many miles and many races ahead of it. It’s an ambitious project with a big family vibe amongst the close-knit team, just like when Roberto Lacorte, in 2012, launched his first Nikka into the water. “A lifetime ago, indeed.” READ MORE

NORTH SAILS OPENS NEW SALES AND SERVICE FACILITY IN MIAMI Steve Benjamin Brings His Expertise Back to North Sails North Sails announces the opening of its new Miami sales and service facility headed by Steve Benjamin (“Benj”). The loft location, 2760 NW 22nd Street, is conveniently close to Coconut Grove, the heart of one design racing on Biscayne Bay. The 3,500 sq. foot facility, formerly Bremen Sails, is an expansive, purpose-built sail loft with multiple sewing machines, hand-working tools and excellent canvas equipment. Tom Bremen, who sold his family business to Benj explains, “Not only is Benj an incredible sailor, but he’s very generous with his expertise, helping customers solve all their racing, cruising, and canvas needs. I’m very proud that he will be continuing the business my father started 60 years ago serving sailors in Miami.” With all of the sailing that happens in and around Miami, the new North Sails loft is a welcome addition to the area, offering custom sails for both national and international sailors as well as premiere customer service. In addition to custom solutions, Benj will also provide repair and regatta service to the multiple one design classes actively racing on Biscayne Bay. With the new North Sail Miami loft being strategically placed in the heart of Florida sailing, the community will surely benefit from the knowledge and experience Benj brings back to North Sails. Steve Benjamin returns to North Sails with an extraordinary wealth of experience and talent, sharing: “I am incredibly excited about getting to work with North Sails again, and to be servicing sailors in Miami, my new home.. North Sails has the best technology in the industry and it's great to be part of the team again." Benj began developing his skills at a young age to win the Fireball Worlds twice while attending Yale. He went on to win a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics, the 505 Worlds in 1980, and the Etchells Worlds in 2017; while also being named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in 2015. Having worked as Sales Manager in the Milford loft for twelve years, he is familiar with the leading edge innovation and technology that defines North Sails. Benj will work closely with North Sails Experts Bob Meagher and Peter Grimm from North Sails Ft. Lauderdale to service all of North’s clients in Southeast Florida. According to Bob, “We’ve been looking for the right loft and manager to service the local Miami sailors for many years, we are thrilled that Benj is back. Totally worth the wait.” NORTH SAILS MIAMI READ MORE

Get Ready for the Newport Bermuda Race When heading offshore, there are many things to keep in mind that can help you make it to the finish line in one piece. Planning ahead can contribute to your success and assure your crew and your boat is set up to take on anything mother nature can bring. Here are some articles that will help you plan ahead, expect the unexpected, and get the best results in the upcoming Newport Bermuda Race. Good luck, sail fast, be safe, and sail smart! Finding the Right Fit Ken Read has plenty of experience in building ocean racing teams. Here is his advice for speed and success when it comes to finding the right players for the positions. BUILD YOUR TEAM Planning Ahead Preparing successfully to compete in the biggest offshore races requires putting your attention to every detail. When sailing the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (or a similar race that heads well offshore such as the Newport Bermuda Race, Fastnet or Transpac), you’ll need to win a different sort of race after crossing the finish line—the delivery back to your home port. FORECASTING Fueling Your Crew For many teams, preparing for any offshore race begins immediately after the finish of the previous edition. Here’s what Sarah O’Kane from Shorebase, a logistics company, says is important to properly provisioning for your next offshore adventure. LEARN MORE The Solution To Every Hoist When it comes to hoisting your spinnaker, there are some details to consider that make everyone’s life easier (or harder). Having zippers instead of bands is a great way to achieve a smoother, cleaner and quicker hoist, as well as help keep trash out of the ocean. LEARN HOW Shift Changes: Know Your Role It is important to always have a clear strategy for the team on deck to follow, so that rest periods by the navigator do not lead to missed opportunities or mistakes. LEARN MORE To Reef or Not to Reef Shortening sail quickly and easily when the breeze comes on is key to looking after your sails and your crew. LEARN MORE Safety is No Accident Hardcore ocean racers and coastal cruisers alike should all make safety at sea a priority. North Sails President and offshore veteran, Ken Read, shares his tips and best protocols for sailing offshore. LEARN MORE Get Downwind, Fast! Steering off the wind, on reaches and runs, requires a coordinated effort between helmsman and spinnaker trimmer. More often than not there are conflicting suggestions: Go up. Go down. Be more aggressive. Steer less. Hear our thoughts on how to manage feedback from the crew. HOW TO The Trip Home is Just as Important Preparing successfully to compete in the biggest offshore races requires putting your attention to every detail. When sailing an offshore race you’ll need to win a different sort of race after crossing the finish line—the delivery back to your home port. LEARN MORE Inventory Checks Have you made arrangements for sail check-ups after the delivery home? Every sail serviced in a North loft undergoes a thorough inspection designed to identify maintenance issues early, so they do not become major problems later on. Contact your nearest loft when you hit the dock after your delivery. We look forward to helping you maintain your sail inventory so you are ready for the next event. CONTACT US READ MORE

READY FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF SUPER SERIES SAILING? The Ultra Competitive TP52 Circuit Commences in Late May 📸 Atila Madrona The 52 Super Series is gearing up to kick off another season of competitive sailing with five events in this high-powered circuit. As the sailmaker of choice to the majority of the fleet, North Sails eagerly anticipates the season opener when the Super Series fleet lines up next week in Baiona, Spain. For those readers who are less familiar with the 52 Super Series, let us fill you in. This best of five series is one of the most competitive circuits in our sport. It draws some of the biggest names in sailing and has an aggressive sail development cycle that rivals that of the America’s Cup. The series began in 2012 and up until last year, only two teams dominated the overall season championship. In 2021, Mr Takashi Okura’s “Sled” ended that reign by not only becoming the 52 Super Series champions but also winning the coveted World Championships. Mr. Okura and his international crew will look to defend their status against the 9-boat fleet this season. “In this game of millimeter perfect competitive racing, we’re ultimately judged on the performance of our product, and performance equals results,” remarks North Sails Grand Prix leader Paul “Flipper” Westlake. “For over a decade, North Sails TP52 class experts and sail designers have gathered feedback from the teams in the Series and this collective experience is fundamental to building the fastest sails on the racecourse.” But in a class as refined as the TP52, where do you find your next performance gain? North Sails Dave Lenz explains, “The trim techniques, the sail shapes…these sailors know their boat speed levers and because of that, we’re not radically changing the sail designs and structures each season. Instead, we explore fine-tune details to make that flying shape more active, which allows the trimmers to further manipulate the sail’s shape across the range.” Last season saw North-powered teams adopt Helix Structured Luff and we expect to see even more throughout the fleet in 2022. “Helix is a game-changer that enables a new gear,” comments Juan Meseguer, North Sails designer and designer for TP52 Provezza. “The structured luff sails have a more dynamic shape, which translates into more power for the boat. We learned a lot last season and from our design team’s work within America’s Cup. Helix is the future, and we’re going to keep exploring this new design space.” 52 Super Series racing commences on May 23 in Baiona, Spain. This is the first of five events scheduled through October 2022. Learn more about the Super Series and follow all the action here. 📸 Atila Madrona READ MORE

THE SCOW SAILOR’S GUIDE North Sails Tuning Guides, Webinars and More 📸 Hannah Lee Noll North Sails has been manufacturing and designing championship winning scow sails for over forty years and look forward to doing so for forty more. The North Sails One Design team has a long tradition of serving one design fleets all over the country and we look forward to working with you! Our network of local one design experts and dealers are available to help you get the most out of your sails so you can reach your goals whether it is an informal evening race, or the Class Championship. North Sails is continually developing and improving our products and services to enable you to sail faster is not just our goal; it is our obsession. “The North Sails team will have a presence at every major scow regatta on the calendar, and we’re dedicated to providing the latest tips, tricks and tuning info to get the most out of your North Sails scow designs. We have put a huge effort into modernizing our product line using the best software, best materials and hundreds of hours on the water to refine the designs,” says North Sails Expert, Jeff Bonanni. Get to Know Your Class Experts Allan Terhune has won eleven North American Championships (in the Lightning, Flying Scot and Thistle Classes) and was crowned the 2013 J/22 World Champion, a two time E Scow Eastern Champion crew and is the current ILYA MC Scow Champion. Allan is also a class expert in the E Scow, MC Scow, Etchells, J/70, J/80, J/88, J/105, J/111 with many podium finishes in each class. Allan is a resident of Annapolis, MD. In 2007, Terhune was awarded US Sailing’s One Design Leadership Award and named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Finalist in 2008 and 2013. Allan has been with North Sails since 2007. Jeffrey Bonanni has won 5 National and North American Championships, including the 2015 E Scow National Championship. He is one of a small handful of helmsman to have won all 6 National Championship trophy races. Jeff actively races in the E Scow, Melges 20, Melges 24 and Etchells classes, as well as coaching the Northeast’s top junior sailors on Barnegat Bay. Jeff currently serves on the National Class E Scow Association’s Board of Directors and is the Commodore of the Eastern Class E Scow Association. Jeff is a resident of Little Silver, New Jersey and a graduate of Boston College, where he was an ICSA All American Skipper. Eric Doyle – Eric was raised in Pass Christian along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where he learned at a ripe young that he was hooked on sailing. Eric began his career at North Sails in 1992. Shortly after starting at North Sails One Design, he was hired by Dennis Conner to sail with Stars & Stripes America’s Cup campaign in 2000. Continuing on he raced with BMW Oracle for the 2003 and 2007 America’s Cup campaigns. Eric’s passion is with smaller keel boats like the Etchells, Melges 24, and J/70, but his favorite boat is the Star in which he won the World Championship in 1999 as skipper and the coveted Bacardi Cup in 2019! Eric is currently based in our San Diego Loft and when he’s not racing or coaching he’s constantly working on R&D sails for the One Design team. Tim Carlson – Tim Carlson has been selling North Sails for over 5 years as a North Sails representative in the Upper-Midwest and offers a wide variety of services to the vibrant sailing scene in the Twin Cities. Tim is proud to serve the members of Wayzata, Minnetonka, and White Bear Lake Yacht Clubs which host some of the most competitive weekly races in the country. While Tim is fluent in the ways of inland lake sailing, he is no stranger to offshore sailing on the Great Lakes. Over the years, he has participated in the Chicago Mac, Bayview Mac, Trans-Superior, and many more. 📸 Hannah Lee Noll Tuning Guides North Sails Experts carefully create and update each class’ tuning guide each season and upon the launch of new sail designs. Make sure you are optimizing your rig, sails, and boatspeed by downloading your class’ guide below. A SCOW E SCOW – Newly Updated in May 2022 C SCOW MC SCOW M-16 SCOW M-20 SCOW X-BOAT Client and Expert Testimonials “After North updated their sail selections recently the Magnum has been the only sail that I use. Upwind it is easy to trim and keep the boat on rails but downwind is where it really shines. I was sold on it once I realized I was able to keep pace in the light stuff with the smaller sailors. ” – Sean Bradley “E Scow racing rewards the teams that put in 100% effort around the race track. The boat is so dynamic and fast, you’re always within striking distance of the next pack. My favorite races are not the wins, but the races where we passed thirty boats to finish fifth.” – Jeff Bonanni “The MC Magnum is a powerful sail. The results are here and we are very confident that the MC Magnum will be a huge success this summer. We made some significant changes to the MC Tuning Guide, including shroud tension and board angles, which are crucial for boat speed. Make sure to check it out! The MC Magnum is a MUST HAVE!” – Allan Terhune Webinars North Sails Experts and Class Champions conduct regular webinars to touch on teaching moments from past events, discuss changes to the tuning guides, explain new sail designs and their intricacies and take the time to answer your questions. Take a look through our collection of Scow Webinars, and learn something new from a class expert! NORTH SAILS SCOW WEBINARS READ MORE

FATHER-SON DUO WINS NEW ZEALAND SUNBURST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Catch Up With Winner Andrew Wills, Who Sailed With His His 9-Year-Old Son Leo North Sails Sales Expert Andrew Wills is a 2 time World Maxi title winner and an Etchells class World Champion, in which he has also won North American and European titles. Wills has also claimed over 30 national championships in various classes and has also successfully coached many Youth National and World champions who have become America’s Cup and Olympic winners. All of that is quite impressive, but now Andrew can say he is a National Champion in the Sunburst Class, alongside his 9-year-old son, Leo. The Sunburst Class was originally designed in the late 1960s in New Zealand, by John Balmain Brooke. It became an extremely popular class, as it was a great vessel to teach beginner sailors, and kids. Intended as a two-person boat, the Sunburst is easily sailed single-handed in light to moderate conditions. The Sunburst is usually rigged with a mainsail, jib, and a small spinnaker. The perfect boat for a parent-child duo… Leo had only recently completed his first learn to sail course prior to hopping in the 3.5 meter dinghy with his father. According to Yachting New Zealand, the father-son duo had never sailed the Sunburst together before, so Thursday after school, Andrew scooped Leo up for a shake down sail. At the top mark Leo made it absolutely clear to his father that they would not be flying the spinnaker, and Andrew listened to his son’s demand. Going into day one of racing, Andrew considered entering the non- spinnaker division, to ease Leo into the boat, but Bruce Yarton, the event organizer, stated that the two fleets would start together, so Andrew should pack the spinnaker, and only hoist it if Leo is ready. Bruce also gave Andrew some winning words of wisdom - “take some lollies, and give him one every time you hoist the spinnaker.” (Yachting NZL). Conditions over the three-day event saw light breeze and flat water, the perfect recipe for the Wills team, sailing on Starblaze. Being such a family friendly event, the Sunburst Nationals saw several family teams competing. The seven-race series saw five teams in total winning a race, and eight of the top nine teams were family teams, they also swept the podium. Andrew and Leo Wills won the event by four points. Andrew told Yachting New Zealand that he “doesn't really know where his sailing journey will take him as a parent but is keen to do more with his children, even if it means parting with a few more lollies.” North Sails and the Sunburst Class - Over the years North Sails has worked with quite a few teams refining our Sunburst designs. Each time just making the design a little better. What we have come up with is a very fast all round set of sails which is very easy to set up and trim. We also have the very best team making the sails with over 40 years of experience. Both Derek Scott and Rod Chave have been working for North Sails New Zealand for over 20 years and that proves they love and care about making the fastest sails they can. SUNBURST CLASS PAGE READ MORE

LET'S GET SAILING 2022 Racing Season Kicks Off at Mimico Cruising Club Photo Credit: Bobyk Media Mimico Cruising Club (MCC) has been building its reputation as the 'it' racing venue for mid-week racing in Toronto over the past few seasons. With a racing fleet in the 40-boat range, offering both white sail and flying sail divisions, it has attracted competitive racers with full crews and those with more shorthanded crews, including double handed. These Wednesday night races have attracted racers from Etobicoke Yacht Club (EYC ), Lakeshore Yacht Club (LSYC) and Boulevard Club to name a few. It has been wonderful to have boats from neighboring yacht clubs join us on the start line the last few years. Last Monday May 9th, MCC kicked off racing with a pre-race shake down sail after new race marks were splashed the last week of April. After a long and cold winter, it was time to get everyone out on the water before Wednesday night racing began on May 11th. The first start resulted in a general recall. You would never have thought this would occur after a 6-month winter hiatus, yet this is indicative on just how competitive MCC race nights are. Watching the large Flying sail division of 13 boats comprising of J122 Hooligan, 36.7's including Neptune's Car, C&C 115s, Beneteau 10R's, J112E High Tea, FARR 39ML, J105s, Archambault 35 Great Escape, Archambault 40 Arrow and Entourage from LSYC to name a few. Photo Credit: Bobyk Media The post-race event in the club house resembled a camaraderie and buzz that was enjoyed by all, reminiscent of the experience that we have all been waiting for after two years of pandemic restrictions. Racing is back and with all the fan fair it; we look forward to racing this season at MCC. Photo Credit: Bobyk Media READ MORE