NORTH SAILS BLOG

A-CLASS SPEED READING Training, Sail Design & “An Attitude Of Continued Learnings” © Gordon Upton / guppypix.com Glenn Ashby still remembers his first A Class catamaran sail like it was yesterday. “It was 1995 and it was only a 10-minute sail on a lake,” he says. “I couldn’t get over how smooth, efficient and fast the boat was. I’ve really enjoyed the boats ever since.” Not only has he enjoyed them, the 41-year-old sailor has been the most successful sailor in the class, bar none, upgrading his skillset as the singlehanded cats evolved into full-on foilers. In November 2018, at Hervey Bay, Australia, Glenn won his 10th A Class world championship title, adding to his collection of eight world titles in other classes plus an Olympic silver medal. There might’ve been more world titles by now, but the talented Australian got side-tracked a few years ago, joining the Team New Zealand America’s Cup effort and winning that little-known trophy in 2017 as skipper of the team’s foiling AC50 in Bermuda. Glenn has again signed on with TNZ as America’s Cup defender, but recently engaged in nearly a month of cross-training in the A Class, which he says is “the highest performance single-handed catamaran class in the world.” He brought along two of his TNZ teammates, Blair Tuke and Peter Burling, and they spent two weeks training on Port Phillip Bay at McCrae Yacht Club. “It was intense,” Glenn says. “Full-on. Long days on the water and a lot of boat work. We were also learning how to foil-jibe the boats—the kind of homework best done before the regatta. “Two days into the training, Pete and Blair were already going really well, and as they are very talented they were pushing hard immediately and we learned a lot of things very quickly working intensively as a group on and off the water.” © Gordon Upton / guppypix.com Despite winning six of the nine races sailed at the championship in November, the win didn’t seem easy. After three wins on the first day, Glenn was annoyed with his 5-1-3 the second day: “Normally I’m happy pushing the boat hard and not backing off,” he says, “and I probably was sailing a little too conservatively. When you start thinking, ‘I don’t want to capsize here or damage the boat,’ you don’t get the ultimate results. That was a great lesson for me. I gave myself an uppercut to the jaw and carried on.” Glenn finished out the regatta with a 3-1-1 and won with half as many points as second-place finisher, Mischa Heemskerk. Tuke and Burling finished third and fourth, respectively. (Results) “There’s a fine edge with A Class boats. Sometimes you find the other side of the line and have a wobble and have to use 110-percent of your skills and knowledge to keep the boat upright or stay on the boat! I feel at times it is somewhat like racing bikes or cars where you don’t want to really exceed your skill level and rely on luck to keep in control. You don’t want to be pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone for your skill level when on the ragged edge, but you have to be all-in when racing and know where that line is and be close to it. You have to get to that level to get best performance out of your machine or vessel. Good results generally come from doing your homework very well and pushing hard during training. Couple this with learning your settings and understanding your equipment means you are in good shape to complete the exam!” “Our training for sure gave us a step up,” Glenn continues. “The work with Pete and Blair and Ray Davies as coach and over seeing performance, set us up for one of us to have a chance of winning I feel. I was very happy and proud to have had this opportunity to work with the boys with the blessing of everyone at ETNZ. It was a great team effort again. ” Glenn has designed and produced sails under his own label for many years and says with “limited time” these days for sailmaking, the opportunity to develop a relationship with North Sails was timely. He says, “I do all the design work for the sails that are produced and North have been fantastic at producing them under their banner, and together we’ve had a strong relationship since day one. The partnership works well for us as I can’t put time into physically manufacturing sails these days. North has been able to continue to provide top level, high performance race sails and also added marketing, sales and customer service to my signature line range.” © Gordon Upton / guppypix.com Starting with his standard sail from a couple years ago, Glenn says, “I worked on a new direction and designed the DS2, which I felt was well-suited to a wide range of body weights, but specifically the 73- to 83-kilogram range. With adjustment to the spreaders, prebend in the rig and batten tensions, I could be as fast in the low end of that weight range as others near the top. “For this year, I developed the DS2-F design with reduced luff curve and slightly different mold shaping for lighter-weight sailors, which was very solid for upwind foiling. Everyone with North Sails who used those in this regatta had a good experience with their performance —if they got off the starting line well, they were right up at the front. “Our philosophy this year has been to target intensely the upwind foiling aspects of where the class is now. The challenge is to make a sail that also works really well in displacement mode (upwind under 10 knots). The goal is to accelerate quickly up to speed and then when foiling have a shape that’s quite clean at high apparent wind speeds as well as being able to morph into a nice aero package for downwind sailing. © Gordon Upton / guppypix.com “We made a lot of changes in the bottom half of the sail. I needed to make sure that part of the sail was driving hard and also really working well when doing high boatspeed numbers. Keep in mind that at 16 to 20 knots boat speed upwind in 14 to 18 knots of true wind, your apparent windspeed can be up to 30 to 35 knots across the deck. How important is Glenn’s use of the A-Class in cross-training, first with his Olympic Tornado campaigns and more recently with the America’s Cup? “It’s been really important,” he says. “The knowledge and practical learnings and lessons you get from sailing high-performance boats are key, especially because the class has had such rapid growth and is continually evolving. It’s great for the brain and forces you to think outside the squares. It’s taught me to be open-minded and willing to take on new ideas.” A good example of this occurred before these recent world championships.” We have an attitude of ‘continued learnings,’” Glenn says. “Not too many people were aware that we completely changed our rudders, daggerboards, and elevators between the Australian Nationals and the Worlds, which started two days later. Our experience gave us the ability to test the new equipment, decide it was better, measure it in, and not be scared to make the change. “The new foils gave us a step up in global performance. The new daggerboards I felt weren’t much different upwind but downwind they were a little better at times. The elevators were fractionally longer than standard, but we felt they were a gain, too—it’s all the half-percent gains added together that can give you the edge.” © Gordon Upton / guppypix.com READ MORE

OPTIMIST LIFE: BERMUDA NATIONALS A Story Told by Junior Sailor Tommy McCormick Sailors line up with three minutes to the first start of Bermuda Nationals 2018. Photo Meg Spenlinhauer In early November, over 65 top Optimist Dinghy sailors from all over North America flocked to Bermuda to compete in the 2018 Open and National Optimist Championship at Sandy’s Boat Club. Everyday there was a variety of different conditions, ending in a beautiful day for sailing with winds blowing 20 knots from the northeast and huge waves. The Key Biscayne Yacht Club was represented by Dylan Balunas, Tyler Bergendahl, Harvey Demovick, Kevin Gosselin, Teddy Martin, Tommy McCormick, and Umi Noritake coached by Juan Carlos Romero, North Sails Head Optimist Coach. Tommy sailing downwind with his MZX5. Photo Meg Spenlinhauer McCormick sails with the North Sails MZX5, a cross-cut sail. “The MZX5 is perfect for me. It is a very deep sail, allowing me to keep up with smaller sailors. I can put the bow down and keep my boat moving fast.” Anna Vasilieva and Tommy McCormick after Day 3 of Bermuda National and Open Optimist Championship. Anna Vasilieva, a lifelong North Sails racer, used the North R-2 Radial sail for this event. This radial-cut sail is more rigid than most other sails, requiring the sailor to actively trim the sail through the race. Shallower than the MZX5, the R-2 offers less power, but allows the sailor to point much higher. “I think R stands for radiant, because this sail makes me shine”, said Vasilieva. Juan Carlos Romero has been the North Sails Optimist Head Coach since 2007, and has assisted in the development of North’s Optimist sails, as well as many hands-on clinics and educational programs in which sailors can learn how sails work, helping them choose a sail that maximizes their potential as a sailor. In 2017, Romero held the North U Leading Edge Optimist Clinic to the Key Biscayne Yacht Club. This December 21-23, KBYC will host the North U End-Of-Year Racing Clinic for both Optimist and Laser sailors in preparation for the Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta. Learn more about North’s fast Optimist designs. Tommy McCormick is a first-year student at MAST Academy and has been sailing Optimists year-round since he moved to Key Biscayne in 2012. READ MORE

MY SONG CLAIMS NEW RACE RECORD Line Honors Victory And A Cherry On Top For Baltic 130 Supermaxi Pier Luigi Loro Piana’s Baltic 130′ Supermaxi My Song takes line honors and sets a new RORC Transatlantic monohull race record, covering a total of 3,000 miles from Lanzarote to the finish line in Grenada. My Song finished the 2018 race with an elapsed time of 10 days, 5 hrs 47 mins 11 secs, besting the previous record of 10 days 07 hours, 6 minutes, and 59 seconds set by Jean-Paul Riviere’s French Finot-Conq 100, Nomad IV in 2015. Spending most of their time at a smooth 20-knots of hull speed, My Song was able to stay ahead of the clock, and the crew was pleasantly surprised at the dock in Grenada when generously greeted by locals and race officials in awe of their newly accomplished race record. Congratulations to skipper Pier Luigi Loro Piana, and crew Giacomo Loro Piana, Luca Albarelli, Jaime Arbones, Andrea Balzarini, Gerri Baracchi, Giorgio Benussi, Alberto Bolzan, Ambrogio Francesco Maria Cremona Ratti, Gaetano Figlia di Granara, Andrea Forlani, Flavio Grassi, Cristian Griggio, Jose Ignacio Braquehais, Giorgio Peretti, Jacopo Piazzolla, Ignacio Postigo, Nicola Simoncelli, Vittorio Zaoli, and Gabriele Zoppi on a job well done. Below: Dockside interview with My Song’s Pier Luigi Loro Piana, courtesy of © RORC/www.picturesofgrenada.com. ©Arthur Daniel ©Arthur Daniel ©Arthur Daniel READ MORE

FIGARO BENETEAU 3 : Sacré challenge ! En 2019, la classe Figaro Bénéteau se dote d’un nouveau voilier de course révolutionnaire, le Figaro Bénéteau 3. Imaginé par Bénéteau Racing Division et VPLP, c’est le premier monotype à foils de série jamais imaginé. Si l’enjeu est de taille pour Bénéteau, il l’est bien évidemment également pour les coureurs mais aussi pour les voiliers. Explications avec Quentin Ponroy. Quentin, en quoi le dossier Figaro 3 est atypique pour North Sails ? "Concevoir des voiles pour un nouveau bateau de série monotype, c’est toujours à la fois passionnant et complexe. Mais ça l’est encore plus sur ce dossier pour plusieurs raisons. En premier lieu parce qu’il s’agit d’un foiler avec tout ce que cela implique en termes de développement... D’autre part parce que si le bateau est monotype, les voiles elles ne le sont pas (à l’inverse des VOR par exemple). Enfin et surtout parce que nous partons un peu dans l’inconnu : les voileries n’ont eu que très peu de temps pour tester leurs voiles et les bateaux ne seront livrés qu’à partir de début janvier pour une première course fin mars ! Très concrètement ça signifie que notre premier jeu de voiles a quasiment été exclusivement conçu en mode "simulation" sur les seuls éléments techniques fournis par les architectes. Ils n’ont été confrontés ni à la réalité de la navigation, ni à la concurrence." Et comment vous êtes vous organisés pour relever ce challenge ? "Premièrement, nous avons mis en place une équipe. Gaëtan Aunette, en charge du One Design chez North Sails France est à la manoeuvre en relation avec les clients avec une casquette de technico-commercial. Je m’occupe pour ma part du développement technique des voiles et je m’appuie pour cela sur le savoir-faire exceptionnel de Yann Andrillon, notre ingénieur aéro, pour décrypter et exploiter au mieux les données récupérées. Trois profils différents mais complémentaires qui nous permettent d’avancer vite et bien. Ensuite, nous avons optimisé notre temps de développement. Dans un premier temps, nous avons pensé la philosophie générale de notre jeu de voiles, avec une réflexion toute particulière sur le Gennaker, une voile déterminante puisque c’est la seule qui n’existait pas sur le Figaro 2. Puis le 13 novembre, seule journée accordée pour les tests, nous avons tenté de valider au maximum nos choix initiaux pour ensuite finaliser la V1 de notre jeu de voiles. Il sera utilisé dès janvier sur les premiers bateaux de nos clients. Autant dire que nous allons passer du temps sur l’eau cet hiver, l’objectif étant de valider une V2 définitive début mars, avant le début de la première épreuve de la saison. C’est une vraie course contre la montre mais c’est justement ce qui est très excitant..." FIGARO BENETEAU 3 / fiche technique Le bateau Longueur coque : 9.75 Longueur flottaison : 9 m Largeur max : 3,47 m Tirant d’eau : 2,5 m Déplacement lège : 2 900 kg Les voiles Mat : 13,76 m Grand voile : 39,5 m2 Genois : 30,5 m2 Solent : 24 m2 Grand spi asymétrique : 105 m2 Spi asy capelage : 78 m2 Gennak code 5 : 65 m READ MORE

3Di™ EN CROISIÈRE : 20.000 milles en Pogo 30 Depuis 2013 qu’il a fait l’acquisition de son Pogo 30 et qu’il l’a équipé de voiles 3Di™, Eric Cortial a parcouru pas moins de 20 000 milles entre Manche, Atlantique et Méditerranée. De passage à Vannes pour une révision hivernale de ses voiles et la finalisation de la commande d’une nouvelle grand-voile, il nous livre un bilan de sa garde robe 3Di... "C’est en juillet 2013 que j’ai fait l’acquisition de mon Pogo 30. Jeune retraité, j’ai la chance de pouvoir naviguer de manière très régulière : en mode croisière avec des amis entre Manche et Bretagne Sud, mais également occasionnellement en régate avec mon fils dans le Solent et puis aussi beaucoup en solitaire. C’est d’ailleurs ainsi que j’ai ramené mon bateau depuis Port Camargue jusqu’à Ouistreham l’été dernier. Une jolie petite ballade, jalonnée d’étapes à Majorque, Lisbonne, Pornic et Sainte Marine, et des conditions de navigation variées, qui m’ont permis une fois encore de juger de la qualité de mes voiles qui affichent désormais pas moins de 20.000 milles au compteur..." "Sur les recommandations d’amis et les conseils avisés de Laurent Tilleau, mon interlocuteur chez North Sails, j’avais fait le choix du 3Di™, pour ses qualités annoncées en termes de légèreté, de performance et de durabilité. Sur ce dernier point, force est de constater qu’après 20 000 milles d’utilisation, mes voiles sont encore en excellent état ! Le plus remarquable, c’est évidemment l’absence totale de déformation. Même lorsque ça va très vite (j’ai été flashé à 18nds en août dernier au large de Lisbonne), la voile ne bouge pas. Niveau usure, on note bien sûr quelques traces de ragage, mais rien d’anormal au bout de 5 ans. Et pourtant je suis très attentif à l’utilisation et l’entretien de mes voiles : des produits haut de gamme comme ça, on en prend soin !" "La notion de performance est, elle, plus subjective. Je navigue essentiellement en croisière et mon objectif premier est de naviguer proprement et de prendre du plaisir. En cela, les voiles ont une vraie importance. Au fil du temps j’ai acquis une totale confiance en mes voiles 3Di™ : légères, faciles à régler, elles se manoeuvrent aisément et procurent beaucoup de plaisir en navigation. Et puis, avec leur gris foncé, elles sont, d’un point de vue purement esthétique, très belles, ce qui ne gâche rien. Je regrette d’ailleurs un peu que la prochaine grand-voile que j’ai commandée, même coupe mais cette fois en 3Di NORDAC™, ne puisse se faire dans le même coloris. Mais bon, on ne peut pas tout avoir et Laurent Tilleau m’a promis que je gagnerai encore un peu en souplesse d’utilisation ce qui est important lorsqu’on a 68 ans et qu’on navigue de plus en plus souvent en solitaire. Quand je l’aurai récupérée, je pense d’ailleurs aller la tester en solo au grand large : direction les Açores... et qui sait si une fois là bas je ne pousserai pas jusqu’au Brésil. Quand on aime, on ne compte pas..." READ MORE

HELIX La voile à enrouleur sans câble La recherche de l’efficience, voici l’une des obsessions des ingénieurs en général et des concepteurs de voiles en particulier. En mettant au point Helix, un process novateur qui exploite au mieux les incroyables propriétés du 3Di™, les équipes du service R&D de North Sails sont parvenues à substituer à l’habituel câble des voiles d’avant une structure et une forme adaptées qui répondent à des problématiques spécifiques. Résultat : une plage d’utilisation étendue, une stabilité accrue et une meilleure répartition des charges. Concept La conception 3Di™ de la voile permet d’intégrer dès son dessin une structure en adéquation avec les formes volantes anticipées qui optimisent la répartition de la charge. Cette structure dédiée intégrant un plan de fibre carbone en guindant est pensée pour faciliter l’enroulement et définir la forme volante. Un nerf de guindant complète ce dispositif pour ajuster l’équilibre du guindant. Applications Le concept est né d’une recherche pour répondre a la problématique des Code 0 IRC. La technologie aujourd’hui maîtrisée permet d’étendre le procédé à toutes les voiles de portant sur enrouleur et les Staysails (trinquettes de portant et de reaching). Avantages Un enroulement non compromis Une forme volante adaptable par la tension d’amure qui agit comme un cunningham Un développé de guindant ajustable Une distribution de rond de guindant et de chute équilibrée Une meilleure répartition des charges Une Voile légère et très stable L’accès à des formes volantes plus propulsives READ MORE

OFF SEASON SAIL STORAGE Storing Your Sails in Three Easy Steps Storing your sails can be a headache, especially if you’re unsure how to put them away properly. Follow these three simple steps to make sure your sails are safe all winter long: Dry Fold Store Safely Dry This step is crucial. Ensure your sails are completely dry before packing them away for the winter. This prevents mold and mildew growth, as well as keeping them from smelling musty in the spring. If you notice mold or mildew on your sails, bring them in for a wash! Our solution kills mold and mildew, removing any that isn’t already embedded in the sail, and stopping future growth in its tracks. Fold Carefully fold your sails before storing them. Try not to follow your usual fold lines, to prevent these creases from sitting for months during the offseason. If your space allows it, store your sails rolled instead. Store Safely Where you store your sails is as important as what you do before you put them away. Consider the following when choosing your location: Pests: small animals love calling sails their home for the winter. They also won’t hesitate to chew right through your sails until they’re perfectly cozy. Make sure you store in an area that isn’t accessible to rodents or other pests. Humidity and temperature: Store sails in a dry place so they don’t accumulate moisture throughout the winter. A temperature-controlled area is also a good idea. Leaving them on your boat? Not such a good idea. Use common sense: don’t pile heavy things on top of your sails. Flooding can be devastating to sails (we can only rinse spinnakers, laminates and 3Di). Store indoors, not outdoors, as mother nature isn’t always kind. To save yourself the worry, you can bring your sails to your local North Sails loft for winter storage. There, you can be assured that your sails are stored properly and safely in our dedicated facility. READ MORE

TRUE FILM ‘COYOTE’ CUTS TO THE CORE OF CHANGING LIFE TO CHASE A DREAM Life of Legendary Sailor Mike Plant Made for a Movie Screen 📸 Billy Black A quarter century after American offshore racer Mike Plant vanished, a feature documentary film about his adventurous life has been released to wide acclaim. Plant splashed on to the international offshore scene after winning the 1986-87 BOC Challenge – a singlehanded race around the world – in a boat he built with his own hands on a bootstrapped budget. He went on to become a legend in the sport, twice setting the American record for the fastest singlehanded circumnavigation and recognized as one of five skippers in history to complete three solo laps of the planet at the time of his disappearance in 1992. “He was a game-changer,” North Sails President, Ken Read, says of Plant. “For a young guy like me he was a huge influence… toughest guy I’ve ever met.” 📸Billy Black “Coyote”: The Mike Plant Story paints an intimate picture of Plant’s fearless determination as an American underdog of the sea and points an honest lens at some of Plant’s daring and precarious pursuits before he found a life in ocean racing, including a solo trek of South America, drug trafficking exploits and time behind bars in a Portuguese prison. When The New York Times said Plant is “As close as yachting gets to a James Dean character,” it’s hard to disagree – his life story was made for a movie screen. Next to a heap of archival footage from Plant’s life, Coyote features notable sailing faces on the screen. French racer and founder of the Vendée Globe, Philippe Jeantot, is a highlight, as is Herb McCormick, Executive Editor of Cruising World. North Sails President, Ken Read, and CEO, Dan Neri, also make appearances given their close connection and support of Plant’s around-the-world campaigns with Shore Sails (a legacy North Sails company). The narrative is rich and personal, carving out a riveting tale of a man who clearly embodied a thirst for adventure that drove him to become an American hero of the sea. 📸Billy Black Coyote was directed by Plant’s nephew, Thomas Simmons, who ditched a career in investment banking to make the film. “It was a dream I wanted to chase,” Simmons says. “Mike faced his dreams head on and in many ways his example compelled me to take a risk and do something that I truly believe in.” “Some might see Coyote as a sailing film,” Simmons says. “To me it’s a universal story about redemption, the importance of chasing dreams in life and the power of the human spirit when passion meets determination.” Coyote is available in 80+ countries on major digital platforms. Worth a watch! Coyote on iTunes Coyote on Amazon Coyote on Vimeo www.coyotedocumentary.com Facebook: @coyotemovie Instagram: @coyote_movie 📸 Billy Black 📸 Billy Black 📸 Billy Black READ MORE

NEW OD CLASS LEADER FOR THE MELGES 20 Giulio Desiderato Appointed New Melges 20 Expert Giulio Desiderato joined North Sails three years ago after finishing up an Olympic 470 campaign. He’s based in the Carasco, Italy, about an hour east of Genoa. Giulio’s various teams had an excellent sailing season, winning the Melges 32 European ranking on Giogi, the J/70 Italian circuit on Calvi Network, and the circuit title in the Melges 40, coaching Stig. “It was a really good year for me,” he says. Giulio claims his strength is more in sailing than sales. “It’s easy for me to understand what the sailor needs and what the owners need. Looking at my calendar more or less from March to October, every weekend I’m on the water. So that is one of my strong points.” Giulio sails in a lot of different classes, but he really likes the Melges 20. “That is probably the One Design class that reminds me most of the 470, so I’m happy every time to sail with the Melges 20. The boat is technical because it doesn’t have backstays or a main traveler. In the Melges 20, the tuning of the mast is really important, and to manage the diamonds . Okay of course the 470’s are lighter, so it’s a different feeling, but you can really push the boat like a dinghy. And boat handling is critical. This is the reason that I really like the Melges 20.” North Sails clients have been doing well, Giulio says. “It’s been a really good season. Looking at the 2018 World championship, 20 of the 36 boats were sailing with North. And in the top five, there were three boats with 3Di. A good result, especially in such a competitive class.” At the beginning of the 2018 season, Giulio’s team began to use 3Di sails. “We had a really good 3DL set, but we decided to switch because the future is in this direction. From the beginning, the designers realized a really good all-around mainsail. For sure the material is more stable compared to the 3DL.” Giulio’s team finished 12th at the worlds, a good result for them. The Russian Alex Team finished fourth with a complete 3Di inventory. “We are investing a lot of time and energy, the sailors and the designers. We are focused on this class. Giovanni Cassinari, one of our top designers, is going to work on these sails for next year.” The top two teams at the 2018 Worlds, Pacific Yankee and Brontolo Racing used 3Di mains and 3DL jibs. “We are quite close to a really competitive 3Di jib,” Giulio says. “We are working in the right direction.” And because of its excellent durability, he adds, “3Di gives a big help for owners that sail a lot of regattas.” Which is why Giulio’s recommended upwind inventory for the 2019 season is all 3Di. “Mi-2 for the main, and the Ji-2 jib.” Downwind, he recommends both the V-4 and R-2. “The class rules allow sailing with two different kites and you can choose based on the given wind conditions. The V-4 is good for reaching, so really light wind and from 12 knots up to the limit of the class. The R-2 is for medium wind when sailing in the deep mode is most ideal.” On the rare weekends when he’s not at a regatta, Giulio likes to surf even though he’s “not a good surfer,” he claims. “The important thing is that you’re spending time on the water.” READ MORE

Whether you finish at record speed or simply finish, completing the Route du Rhum is a major accomplishment; one that is met with a rum punch after sailing 3,542 miles. The 2018 edition of this solo transatlantic race to Guadeloupe saw breakdowns, repair detours and comeback stories for the history books. North Sails clients posted podium finishes in five of six classes, a podium sweep in the Ultime class, and captured half of the podium overall. For the North Sails loft in Vannes, France, seeing our client success is the culmination of years of hard work. This most recent edition of the race represented 130 new sails, and some 6,000 hours of work for the Vannes based team, with more than 1,000 sails across the fleet. Our only disappointment? We have to wait another four years for the next race. IDEC Sport sets new Route du Rhum record, placing first overall and first in Ultime division. © Yvan Zedda/ #RDR2018 3rd overall, 2nd place Ultime division, Francois Gabart’s MACIF © Yvan Zedda / #RDR2018 First place Multi50, Reaute Chocolat, skipper Armel Tripon © Yvan Zedda / #RDR2018 Third place Ultime, Thomas Coville’s SODEBO © Eloi Stichelbaut READ MORE

GLENN ASHBY CROWED 2018 A-CLASS WORLD CHAMPION The Multihull Superstar Won Six of Nine Races In Hervey Bay Winning a World Championship could be considered a once-in-lifetime accomplishment. Not so if you’re world class sailor, and multihull superstar Glenn Ashby, who has won this tenth (!) title in the A-Class Catamaran. Glenn posted first-place finishes in 6/9 races sailed in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia, leaving him with half the points of his second closest competitor. Beyond his talents on the water, Glenn has been working in collaboration with North Sails on the ‘Glenn Ashby Signature Sails’ since 2016′ a series designed by Glenn himself. Glenn, as well as third place Worlds finisher Blair Tuke, used the most recent version of the Decksweeper Mainsail. It’s a safe bet that Glenn is already thinking about the next round of updates that will then go into the next generation of his A-Cat sails. 📸 Gordon Upton Photography READ MORE

Uitbreiding Service Team North Sails Benelux Sinds 1 November is het Service team van North Sails Benelux uitgebreid. Bart Overgaauw komt het Service team versterken. Om u kennis te laten maken met Bart hebben wij hem enkele vragen gesteld. Kun je ons iets vertellen over jouw zeilachtergrond? Wanneer ben je begonnen met zeilen? Toen ik 5 jaar oud was kreeg ik mijn eerste Optimist, maar daarvoor was ik altijd al aan het zeilen met mijn ouders in Drimmelen. Eigenlijk kun je wel zeggen dat ik ben geboren op een boot haha. Na mijn zeillessen heb ik een tijdje Contender en 29er gevaren, maar daarna ben ik al snel in de ratingklassen in Nederland gaan varen. Wat heeft jou doen besluiten om voor North Sails te gaan werken? Ik heb altijd bewondering gehad voor de zeilen die North Sails maakt. De kwaliteit van afwerking en de eigen materialen zijn natuurlijk super, dus toen ik de kans kreeg om voor North Sails te gaan werken hoefde ik niet lang na te denken. Daarnaast varen ook veel boten waarmee ik wedstrijd zeil al met North Sails, dus eigenlijk is dit wel een logische stap. Heb je al eerder in dit vakgebied gewerkt? Ja, ik heb een aantal jaar geholpen in een zeilmakerij in Zeeland en ben hier de afgelopen 2 jaar ook fulltime in dienst geweest. Ik heb hier veel verschillend werk gedaan. Naast zeilen repareren was ik ook bezig met tuigwerk en canvas, waardoor ik daar nu ook veel ervaring in heb, welke ik hoop toe te passen in mijn nieuwe baan. In welke klassen kunnen we jou vinden? Ik vaar veel in de nationale ORC klassen. Eigenlijk ben ik bij vrijwel alle grote wedstrijden aanwezig. Hiernaast vaar ik ook af en toe wedstrijden met mijn oude studentenvereniging, waarmee ik ook matchrace. Wat ga jij toevoegen aan het North Sails Team? Ik ben redelijk flexibel inzetbaar. Ik zal, naast het herstellen van zeilen, ook het verkoop team gaan assisteren met meten en plaatsen van zeilen. Je zult mij dus veel in en om de havens in zowel België als Nederland gaan zien. READ MORE

FLYING SCOT MAINSAIL TRIM WITH ZEKE HOROWITZ Video With Tips and Advice on How to Trim the Mainsail on a Flying Scot We’ve all heard it one hundred times…. “Boat speed is King.” That’s all well and good but how are we supposed to know how to achieve it?? In this video with North Sails expert Zeke Horowitz, you’ll be able to see and learn how, when, and why to play the controls on your mainsail while sailing upwind. The key is to remember that sail trim needs to be dynamic – you need constant tweaks and adjustments to keep the boat moving as fast as possible for as long as possible. You’ll learn to develop a short checklist based on feel and visuals so that you’ll know what needs to be adjusted and when. The important elements to check on for proper mainsail trim are: Feel on the helm Heel of the boat Leech tension/twist “Speed wrinkles” in the lower 1/3rd of the sail. You want to generate the right mix of all of these elements with a dynamic trim approach so that you can sail with the boat as flat as possible, as steady as possible (constant heel angle), and at as high a pointing angle as possible without losing center board flow. Boat speed is King and it’s just that simple. 😉 We would like to thank Eric Bussell and the Flying Scot Class for the opportunity to be involved in making this video. READ MORE

VINCE BRUN INDUCTED INTO US NATIONAL SAILING HALL OF FAME North Sails Congratulates Former One Design President With Words of Appreciation It was no surprise to the North Sails team that Vince Brun was inducted into the US National Sailing Hall of Fame, Class of 2018. After winning nine world titles in five different one-design classes (Soling, Star, J/24, Melges 24, Etchells) and dedicating over 40 years to developing fast one design sails, Vince is part of North Sails history and an important key to its success worldwide. Here’s a bit of his incredible story, told by his sailing mates and colleagues at North: “I met Vince when he was 18 or 19 . Vince had asked me to crew for him in a boat similar to a Lightning. During that experience I noticed that he was a thoughtful skipper, didn’t pound on the crew, he was pleasant to sail with and everyone liked Vince. Vince was successful in sailing, he had all the qualities that make a successful sailor. Vince was doing what he loved and that makes a great sailor!” “Vince Brun could quite possibly be the most versatile sailor of his time. He has won many races and regattas at the highest level in so many different boats both as a skipper and as a crew. There isn’t a single boat that Vince can’t make go faster and learn to sail better. In fact, his talent makes him an excellent coach, as well. Vince would be at the top of my list for any sailing campaign anywhere in the world. He has a unique combination of talent, discipline, eye, and feel, as well as a perfect temperament and personality for winning races. North Sails would not be where it is today without Vince’s valuable commitment and expertise. His eye for fast sail shapes is unrivaled. I am very proud to say that I have worked with him and learned from him for 30 + years and I value his friendship more than I can say. He is truly a superstar of our sport.” “Vince has not been given the credit he deserves for being one of the best sailors in the world since winning the J 24 worlds. It is always a big treat to have Vince sail with you he has a vast knowledge of how to make a boat go fast! Great eye for how to make a better, faster sail!” Vince and Lowell North “When Lowell North was setting the foundation for our company, he decided that he would recruit the best sailors in the world to manage the company. He figured that great sailors had many of the skills required to be successful in business, and that they would also be good people to work with. Vince Brun was without question Lowell’s best pick. He made winning World Championships look easy and he transformed North Sails One Design from a shop in San Diego to a Global network of manufacturing and service organizations. He was a demanding boss and shipmate while taking care of his sailing crew, sail loft crew and customers with equal concern. Also, he is very cool. All of us at North Sails could not be more proud of Vince for his well deserved induction into the Sailing Hall of Fame.” “Vince constantly pushed the North One Design team to become experts in the classes we sailed, in order to truly understand what made the boats go faster. From there we were expected to develop faster and more durable sails. The product needed to be the best available but the relationship with the customer was even more more important to Vince. We needed to be able to provide the customer with the latest tuning and trim information so they could consistently get the most out of our product. This is the way Vince built the North Sails One Design team and it proved to be a winning formula that we wholeheartedly believe in today. I remember many long, interesting conversations with Vince about how to get a J/24, Etchells, Melges 24 or J70 to go faster. Those conversations helped shaped my understanding of all the variables involved in achieving better boatspeed and how to prioritize those variables. No one else has the One Design sailing experience, results, and knowledge base that Vince has and he taught the One Design team to give everything that we learned back to the customer.” 1986 – Star Bacardi Cup winner, with crew Hugo Schreiner “Vince is the main reason our team has won the past two Melges 20 World Championships. His ability to not only generate boatspeed, but also his experience, guidance and mentoring were crucial to our success. The most important words he ever said to me were, “Enjoy the journey… the results will come.” Over the past 4 years he has become one of my closest friends and mentor, on top of being my coach. The winning was great, but pale in comparison to the great times and friendships we created along the way.” “I count myself very fortunate to have had Vince call me back in 1992 and offer me a job at North Sails in San Diego. We had an incredible Star fleet in San Diego at the time and we tuned for hours against each other. It took me a long time to be able to keep up with him but thankfully he was patient! Vince could make any boat go fast. He has made so many great sails, helped so many people go faster, and won so many events over the years that he is such a worthy inductee into the Sailing Hall of Fame and I am proud to call him my friend. Thanks for the great times, look forward to sailing with him again soon, congratulations and thanks Vince!” “I had the privilege of working for Vince for 25 years at North Sails One Design. Having someone like Vince as your boss, with his passion for his work, changes you in a positive way, it makes you better. I have never met anyone who truly loved what they did more than Vince. He loved sailing first and foremost, but what he really loved was solving the puzzle of making a boat go faster. He always believed and taught us that nothing that could get in our way of figuring out how to make a boat faster or develop a faster sail especially if we worked together as team. It was really cool, fun and challenging! His influence made North One Design what it is today.” “The induction was at my home club, Lauderdale YC. It was great to hear their stories about the beginnings of their sailing careers and their motivation to be the best. What I forgot about but resonated with me after hearing it again, was the fact that Vince won World Championships both crewing and skippering, which tells a lot about a person’s personality and their will to win, regardless of what position they are on the boat.” Mike Toppa, Vince Brun, Ken Read and Tom Whidden – Stars & Stripes, 2003 “Vince’s impressive sailing accomplishments speak for themselves. Anyone who has known Vince and followed his career feels vindicated that Vince was admitted to the Hall of Fame. Vince is one of the larger than life characters and not just because of his amazing sailing. What’s most interesting about Vince is his ability to think outside the box. He has a sixth sense, always approaching the problem or the situation in a unique and sometimes surprising way. I suspect this is one of the key reasons Vince is such a great sailor. He sees different sides of the issue or person than most. It’s never boring speaking with Vince. He makes you think. I’m allowed one quick story. Many years ago, Vince crewed for me in my Etchells. After the regatta, I knew what boot camp in the marines was like. “Don’t you dare look at anything but those telltales”. With eyes in the back of his head – another trait of all great sailors – he knew the instant I snuck a look around. I paid the price each time. After one race, we were sailing back to the start of the next. Vince was quiet (unusual) and thinking. Yet, he was staring at me. I waited in fear of the inevitable critique. Instead, he said, “Jay, those are the ugliest foul weather pants I’ve ever seen”. (They were yellow. Of course he was right).” READ MORE

TACKING ON A FLYING SCOT WITH ZEKE HOROWITZ Video With Tips and Advice on How to Tack on a Flying Scot Nailing a perfect tack is often the difference between getting that first cross off the starting line, sneaking it in at a weather mark layline, or being able to pinch off a boat just before the finish. Tacking your Flying Scot can have a lot of variables based on the specific conditions you’re sailing in or the exact scenario you’re in. Practice makes perfect, and as you continue to improve you’ll be able to dial in the subtle nuances of all of these variables. There are a couple of keys to focus on and practice so that when the time comes to execute the perfect tack, you are prepared and ready to nail it! Try to bring the main sheet in a bit as you start to turn up at the beginning of the tack. This helps the boat turn up without using as much rudder. Then, ease the main sheet as you go through the tack so that the main sail is slightly eased and in acceleration mode once you get onto the new tack. Keep your eyes forward on the jib tell tales so that you can hit the proper exit angle. Get comfortable with your hand switch so you don’t feel rushed. Finally, understand the feel of the boat in terms of heel/roll so that you can decide when and how quickly to cross sides to keep the boat as steady as possible. In this video, listen to North Sails expert Zeke Horowitz as he provides tips and advice on how to tack on a Flying Scot. We would like to thank Eric Bussell and the Flying Scot Class for the opportunity to be involved in making this video. READ MORE

WIR SIND DANN MAL WEG... Vom 5 . bis und mit 20. Dezember ist unser Büro geschlossen. READ MORE

NORTH SAILS WELCOMES NEW TEAM MEMBER Jeremy O’Connell Joins The North Sails Sales And Service Team In Melbourne Jeremy comes from a background in One Design sailing, having spent the last six years as a member of the Australian Sailing Squad competing in the Laser. During this time he has worked with some of the world’s best laser sailors and coaches including Tom Burton and Michael Blackburn. Jeremy has competed in five Laser World Championships and many other Sailing World Cup events around the world. Aside from Laser sailing, Jeremy has experience in Etchells, Farr 40’s, Melges 32, Sydney 38, and J/111 classes. Jeremy commented; "I am excited and honored to be working with the best sail making company in the world." He will be at the Etchells Worlds in October, and following that will be racing at Sandringham, Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, and Royal Victoria Yacht Club over the Summer. We look forward to working with Jeremy and having his onsite expertise, on the water as well as in the loft to provide our clients with the best service and expertise possible. You can reach Jeremy at the North Sails Melbourne loft or by email: jeremy.oconnell@northsails.com READ MORE

Poupe 10% em velas One Design ( Inshore ) A Black Friday termina a 26 de Novembro de 2018 Apenas para velas entregues na América do Norte e Europa. ENCONTRE A SUA CLASSE Termos: Promoção válida para todas as velas Inshore One design entregues na América do Norte e Europa. Exclui Classes One Design OffShore e Grand Prix. Exclui todas as encomendas custom. Válido para encomendas confirmadas entre 19 e 26 de Novembro de 2018. As velas serão expedidas assim que o processo de encomenda esteja completo. Esta oferta não é acumlulável com outras camapnhas/ promoções, Pronto Pagamento no acto da confirmação da encomenda. READ MORE

Takaríts meg 10%-ot Inshore One Design vitorlákon Black Friday akció érvényes: november 26, 2018. európai és észak amerikai kiszállítások esetén. Keresd az értékesítőket Terms: Promotion valid for all Inshore One Design sails delivered in North America and Europe. Excludes OffShore and Grand Prix One Design classes. Excludes all custom orders. Valid for orders placed between November 19-26, 2018. Sails will ship as soon as order is complete. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount/promotion. 50% deposit required when order is placed and balance is due prior to shipping. READ MORE

ETCHELLS WORLDS SPEED READING New World Champion Martin Hill Shares Victory Insights © KJW / Etchells Worlds Brisbane 2018 Sailing in a 94-boat fleet that’s stacked with past world champions, Martin Hill didn’t have high expectations on his chances of winning the 2018 Etchells Worlds in Brisbane, Australia. But after a 6th-place finish at the 2017 Worlds and some strong results earlier in 2018, Martin and mainsheet trimmer Julian Plante were joined by Sean O’Rourke as a new bowman and Olympic 470 medalist Mat Belcher as new tactician and the combination began to click. The team’s speed, decision-making, and fleet management was excellent in the first two races; both times, their boat, Lisa Rose, rounded the first mark in the lead and earned second-place finishes. “In the opening race, when we rounded the weather mark,” Martin says, “I thought, ‘Game on!’” Yet a world championship spans six days and nine races, and the Lisa Rose team had to evolve to emerge at the top of the field on the last day. What were some of the keys? © KJW / Etchells Worlds Brisbane 2018 Making the most of individual abilities “We developed a nice chemistry, with each person respecting each others’ ability, ” Martin says, describing how each team member worked with him to shape their boat speed and tactics. “Julian, on the mainsail upwind, would manage our mode—high and slow or fast and low. Sean was on the kite sheet downwind, calling when to sail lower and higher. And in a tactical situation, Mat would say, ‘My boat’ for the short term, such as when calling for a lee-bow tack.” “I knew instinctively that Mat would be really good,” Martin adds. “I always admire people in the 470 class and how good they are in the chess game they play. I had previously sailed with Malcolm Page, so I’ve had a long history knowing them.” Sailing in sync with the waves “After the first two races, we were leading the event,” Martin says. “It was pretty exciting. But we were a little bit concerned about our running. In the first race, Ian Murray jibed and got by us downwind, and in the second, Lawrie Smith. In another race, on the third day, we were third to the top mark and dropped down to sixth. “We began looking at drone footage of the racing in our morning debriefs and watched how other people were sailing downwind. We saw a combination of things. We had been sailing pretty aggressively in the waves and realized others weren’t as aggressive—they were sailing more in sync with the waves. There was a time to push hard down the waves and a time to be more coordinated between me and Sean, the kite trimmer, plus use a bit of crew kinetics. “We also thought our VMG kite was underrated,” Martin says. “We found we could use that and sail deeper with the pole forward. Using the runner, you’d think you could sail deep, but we feel the VMG was the sail to work with in those conditions.” © Emily Scott Images Starting strategy modified The starting line was 1.2 kilometers long, so choosing the correct end could pay off big, as it did in the first race when Lisa Rose started towards the right-hand end and benefitted from a persistent right shift. But a 49th in the fifth race convinced the team to be more conservative. “Early in the regatta, we looked for leverage on the line,” Martin says, “but later we came back to what Olympians do to reduce risk by starting near the middle where fleet density wasn’t too great. That way we could play both sides, even in a big field.” For the final race, the strategy changed again. “We made sure we stayed with Mark Thornburrow’s Racer C,” Martin says. “With 94 boats, a lead could disappear in a heartbeat. They picked the favored starboard end and after a general recall, we both stayed there and got a great start to leeward of them. Mat is in a class of his own—we knew there was a persistent shift to the left and our plan was to sail slow and high. It wasn’t aggressive, it wasn’t match racing. We just knew we had to get across to the left and we did.” Lisa Rose finished sixth in the last race with Racer C in 10th. The final margin between first and second place was 17 points. More information on starting strategies can be found here. © Emily Scott Images Sail choice on the edge of development The Lisa Rose team had been involved with a Tom King-led North development program involving a radial main and radial jib designs. The team chose to sail the Worlds with two radial jibs, although the heavier sail stayed mostly in the bag. “We were very impressed with the lighter sail,” Martin says. “It’s more suitable in light-medium than lighter air, and it needs more development. But it was good for this regatta. It gave us awesome speed in medium-bumpy conditions.” “Julian Plante had been a long-time North sailmaker,” Martin says. “His job was speed and he knew we needed to be conservative with our sail choices. We went with standard spinnakers, but Julian agonized over which mainsail design to use. We ended up going with North’s PC+ mainsail because we expected a lighter regatta—and it was best when the breeze dropped a bit.” “We used what North had and it delivered,” concludes Martin. “Julian was conscious of working with what he was familiar with. You can’t get too far from North’s test bed over so many regattas. Their sails have been successful for a reason.” Final words “We had a great chemistry of openness and working together with a goal,” Martin says. “I have an incredible sense of relief and satisfaction. The other day Julian called me and said he had a dream we were world champions. And it’s true!” READ MORE

CONSEJO NORTH SAILS Finalizada la temporada de navegación, es el momento ideal para revisar nuestras velas antes de ofrecerles un merecido descanso. Revisión En North Sails ofrecemos un chequeo completo de las velas y proporcionamos un informe final en el que valoramos el estado de cada punto esencial de la vela, recomendamos soluciones y ofrecemos servicio de reparación en caso necesario, siempre con la garantía de profesionalidad de la velería líder mundial. Almacenamiento Un correcto almacenamiento de las velas garantiza su conservación y evita desagradables sorpresas cuando volvamos a izarlas en nuestro barco. En North Sails contamos con servicio de almacenamiento en nuestros centros especializados de Valencia y Palma, con recogida en cualquier punto de la geografía española. READ MORE

...EN VILANOVA Y EN ALICANTE El Club Nàutic Vilanova (Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona) acogió un clinic North Sails el fin de semana del 6 y 7 de octubre. El programa constó de dos intensas jornadas que combinaron nociones teóricas y prácticas sobre trimado impartidas por los expertos Luis y Jorge Martínez Doreste, y contó con una nutrida participación de embarcaciones de crucero y vela ligera. También resultó un éxito el seminario sobre trimado impartido por nuestro compañero Nacho Braquehais en el Real Club Náutico de Regatas de Alicante el 9 de noviembre. READ MORE

ÉXITO EN BARCELONA, EN VALENCIA... Un año más, North Sails España participó en el Salón Náutico de Barcelona (Barcelona, 10-14 de octubre) y en el Valencia Boat Show (Valencia, 31 de octubre a 4 de noviembre). Dos excelentes oportunidades de contacto entre nuestro equipo comercial y los miles de visitantes que ratificaron la excelente salud de ambas exposiciones. La velería desplegó todo su arsenal, con especial protagonismo de la revolucionaria 3Di NORDAC para crucero y de la nueva 3Di RAW 360 específica para competición de pequeña y mediana eslora. READ MORE

ENCUÉNTRANOS EN PORT TARRACO North Sails estrena relación de colaboración de Port Tarraco, el puerto tarraconense especializado en grandes esloras con capacidad para barcos de hasta 160 metros. Los usuarios de la marina se benefician de acceso al Servicio Certificado North Sails, incluyendo recogida, reparación y almacenaje de velas. “Nuestro objetivo es estar siempre cerca de nuestros clientes para ofrecerles el mejor servicio posible, y este acuerdo de colaboración nos aproxima más que nunca a los grandes veleros de Port Tarraco”, explica Luis Martínez Doreste, director comercial de North Sails España. Desde Port Tarraco, el general manager Marc Colls destaca que: “Significa un gran logro el tener el servicio de una marca de gran prestigio para nuestros clientes”. READ MORE

NUEVA GAMA 3Di North Sails amplía su gama 3Di en 2019 con un catálogo optimizado. El catálogo abarca desde pequeños monotipos hasta enormes superyates, desde cruceros hasta barcos oceánicos, desde velas para ganar regatas de club hasta modelos específicos para alta competición. Una gama más extensa y polivalente que nunca, y que incluirá interesantes novedades. Desde su nacimiento hace ya una década, la tecnología 3Di no ha dejado de evolucionar, y hoy es posible aplicarla a prácticamente cualquier velero. En 2018, North Sails completó su salto desde las velas laminadas 3DL hasta las composite 3Di, que avanzan en 2019 para conformar un dosier dividido en cinco categorías: 3Di RAW, 3Di ENDURANCE, 3Di NORDAC, 3Di DOWNWIND y 3Di OCEAN, la última en incorporarse a la familia North Sails. “De cara a 2019 refinamos un poco la gama 3Di para adaptarla a todo tipo de barcos”, explica Luis Martínez Doreste, director comercial de North Sails España. “Las novedades nos permiten cubrir todas las necesidades y usos de nuestros clientes, tanto de crucero como de competición. A quien busque un uso exclusivamente de crucero le ofrecemos las opciones 3Di ENDURANCE, OCEAN y NORDAC. También cubrimos todos los rangos para navegación en regata, empezando por la 3Di RAW 360 específica para mediana y pequeña eslora”. 3Di RAW: Competición 3Di RAW es la vela con mayores prestaciones y menor peso del mercado, un producto ideal para uso en competición. De cara a 2019, North Sails ofrece cinco versiones, incluyendo la nueva 360 (perfecta para regatistas de club con barcos de pequeña a mediana eslora), revisando la 760 (para barcos por encima de 40 pies) y optimizando la 880 (la vela de elección para circuitos como las 52 Super Series o los RC44). En función de las características de cada vela y el uso que se le vaya a dar, la gama 3Di RAW combina poliéster, Aramida, Ultra PE y carbono. 3Di ENDURANCE: Resistencia y durabilidad La vela más resistente del catálogo 3Di está fabricada para ofrecer una durabilidad y conservación de forma excepcionales, tanto en competición como en crucero oceánico. La gama 3Di ENDURANCE posee cintas externas que protegen la vela del rozamiento y plegado a la vez que conservan la estabilidad de forma exclusiva del 3Di, una garantía de resistencia en todo tipo de condiciones. Está disponible en versiones 760 (Ultra PE y Aramida) y 780 (Ultra PE y carbono). 3Di NORDAC: Revolución La primera vela 3Di fabricada 100% en poliéster ha revolucionado el mercado del crucero. Cumplido su primer año de comercialización, es hoy un producto totalmente consolidado merced a las más de 2.500 velas comercializadas en 2018 con excelentes críticas de los usuarios. De cara a 2019, North Sails incrementa la capacidad de producción de sus fábricas para responder a la demanda de este modelo diseñado para embarcaciones de pequeña y mediana eslora. 3Di DOWNWIND: Perfección en portantes El gran número de beneficios asociados al 3Di alcanza más allá de los inventarios de navegación en ceñida y está disponible para navegantes en busca de velas asimétricas de última generación. “Es novedad la 3Di DOWNWIND 300, Código Cero de poliéster para un amplio rango de utilización, como los Clase 40”, explica Martínez Doreste. La 3Di DOWNWIND demostró su valor durante la pasada Volvo Ocean Race, en la que todas las velas, tanto de ceñida como de popa, eran 3Di. 3Di OCEAN: Novedad Completando la oferta 3Di llega como novedad en 2019 la 3Di OCEAN, una vela específica para el nicho de los cruceros de gran eslora, caracterizada por una resistencia, ligereza y fiabilidad extraordinarias. Fabricada en UltraPE y Aramida, nace “orientada a barcos con esloras grandes de armadores que priorizan la durabilidad pero sin renunciar al rendimiento y las prestaciones de una 3Di”, explica Martínez Doreste. READ MORE

Are Wiig forteller sin dramatiske historie Are Wiig gikk rundt og mistet riggen da han lå på 3. plass i Golden Globe regattaen, soloseilasen jorden rundt. Alt så lovende ut da han mistet selvstyringen etter en tre dagers storm i sør Atlanteren. Mens han holdt på å reparere utstyret gikk det galt og båten ble kastet rundt med store skader som resultat. Are Wiigs foredrag fra den dramatiske hendelsen og det som skjedde før og etterpå kan du få med deg hos oss i Leangbukta mandag 19. november kl 1900. Først holder Are sitt foredrag, etterfulgt av en samtale mellom ham og Jon Amtrup som har fulgt seilasen og forberedelsene bedre enn noen annen. Inngangsavgiften, kr 250, går uavkortet til foredragsholderen. Påmelding her, betaling via VIPPS kr 250 til 96644. READ MORE

RECORD SPEED FOR IDEC SPORT 2018 Route du Rhum Completed In 7 Days, 14 Hours, 21 Minutes 📸 Jean-Marie Liot / Alea / IDEC Francis Joyon has set a new race record and won the 2018 Route du Rhum, in what was the closest finish since the race began in 1978. The transatlantic race came down to the final moments with Joyon closing out François Gabart and the wounded Macif by a mere seven minutes and eight seconds. This is the eighth Route du Rhum for Joyon, an offshore sailing veteran, who has set multiple speed records throughout his career. Joyon beats the previous Route du Rhum record set by Loïck Peyron in 2014 by just 46 minutes and 45 seconds. For an extra twist in the plot, Joyon was sailing an older generation Ultime, the same boat Peyron sailed in 2014 under the name Banque Populaire VII. Bravo Francis! And the entire North Sails network joins your team in cheering #GoFrancis. 📸 Jean-Marie Liot / ALEA / IDEC READ MORE

Sébastien Destremau onboard Alcatraz IT FaceOcean for Route du Rhum Long-time Client is in Battling For A Podium Position As of Friday, November 10th 4:30pm EDT, Sébastien Destreamau, solo-skipper of Alcatraz IT FaceOcean is sitting in 2nd place in the RhumMono division, with 2849.6 miles to go. Keep an eye on his progress in the live Route du Rhum Race Tracker . Tell us about your project Alcatraz IT FaceOcean. The Alcatraz IT FaceOcean project is a continuation of my last Vendée Globe. Alcatraz IT were at the time, a short-term partner. After our success, the company’s management team decided to become the title sponsor of my boat in the 2018 Route du Rhum entered in the Rhum Mono Class. The boat finished the last Vendée Globe in very good condition: we only needed to undertake a few maintenance and improvements works. Alcatraz IT FaceOcean is not a latest generation boat like Charal which is also equipped with North Sails. Alcatraz IT FaceOcean is therefore much simpler to sail and adapts very well to my offshore experience. My budget does not match those of other boats but it allows me to complete races and follow my passion for sailing. What changes did you make to the sails? The sails are new. I am particularly pleased with the mainsail: thanks to the work of the North Sails team, we’ve increased the size by 15%, which amounts to 25m2: that gives us an enormous power boost! We also have a new gennaker, a new genoa… We don’t use the latest generation sails because our boat is old. So no 3Di for me! The mainsail is an Ultra X 450, the J2 is Ultra X 350, the gennaker is Stormlite 210 and the spinnaker is Superkote 90. North Sails not only creates products at the top end, but also creates sails for more restricted budgets. I can never thank North Sails enough for their help during the Vendée Globe: they found solutions so that I could make the start line in spite of my small budget. All in all, I don’t think there’s such a thing as a “small” client with North Sails! I have worked with them for 12 years now and I am very satisfied. What’s your goal for the Route du Rhum? First off, I hope to just finish without any major technical problems as this race can be very tough on the boats, as it is for the sailors… My team and I hope we can make the podium… and I wouldn’t say this to anyone but my personal goal is to win the Class. What made you choose North Sails for the past 12 years? In any sailing race when you’re crossing the Atlantic and you don’t know which route to choose, you just head West. When you don’t know what sail to buy, you go with North Sails: you will certainly not be disappointed. READ MORE

End-Of-Year Optimist & Laser Clinic December 21-23, 2018 – Key Biscayne Yacht Club – Miami Optimist RWB/Green & Laser Clinic North Sails and Key Biscayne Yacht Club welcome Optimist and Laser sailors for a 3-full-day clinic in preparation for the Orange Bowl. Arrive a few days early to warm up, tune up and get your game on for the regatta. Hang out with old friends and make new ones! SCHEDULE DAY 1 – December 21st: 8:30 – Check-In / Breakfast & Lunch to Go 10:00 – Rigged & Ready Time for all sailors 10:00 – 11:00 – Sail Set-Up Lecture & Rigging Tips 11:00 – 4:00 – On-the-Water Training / Sail Testing 4:00 – 4:45 – Debrief / GPS Tracking Analysis 5:00 – 6:00 – Lecture by North Sails Experts SCHEDULE DAY 2 – December 22nd: 8:30 – Breakfast & Lunch to Go 10:00 – Rigged & Ready Time for all sailors 10:00 – 10:30 – Training Brief by North Sails Experts 10:30 – 4:00 – On-the-Water Training / Sail Testing 4:00 – 5:00 – Debrief / GPS Tracking Analysis SCHEDULE DAY 3 – December 23rd: 8:30 – Breakfast & Lunch to Go 10:00 – Rigged & Ready Time for all sailors 10:00 – 11:30 – Boat Speed Lecture & Boathandling Technique 11:30 – 4:00 – On-the-Water Training / Sail Testing 4:00 – 4:45 – Debrief / GPS Tracking Analysis 5:00 Clinic Wrap Up followed by Awards CLINIC INCLUDES: On-the Water Sail Testing Sessions with GPS tracking North Sails Seminar Sail Set-Up and Advanced Tuning Techniques North Sails Prizes Breakfast & Lunch onsite Optimist Clinic Lead Coach: Juan Carlos Romero – North Sails Optimist Class Head Coach, KBYC Sailing Director, and US National Team Coach. Laser Clinic Lead Coach: Maru Urban – KBYC Coach Guest Coaches: Mauricio Galarce, Kristoffer Sarmiento, plus additional USNT coaches. REGISTER TODAY! For additional information contact: Juan Carlos Romero | 410-212-5303 | juancarlos.romero@northsails.com READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: DAVID FOY Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert How long have you been sailing? What classes do you compete in? I have sailed many different boats from an Optimist to a Tall Ship. I have been sailing my entire life. Rumour has it I was born in February and out on my parent’s boat in April. What boats/classes do you sail? I started racing in an Opti, but learned the most in an old International Cadet that my grandfather rebuilt for me. After that I moved into Laser 2 for a couple of years with my good friend before moving to keelboats. Starting in 2004 I had the luxury of sailing a Shark with my brother and friend. We raced that boat hard for 10 years; where we went on to claim 4 world championships. I now own and race a Beneteau First Class 10 in Ottawa that I actually sailed on when I was younger. What got you into the marine industry? I have always had a love of boats. Growing up I always wanted to sail and be around boats in general. At one point in grade school I had the idea of getting into boat design, constantly drawing boats instead of doing school work. How long have you been working in the industry? I started working on boats 25 yrs ago. Sometimes this was as paid crew and sometimes fixing boats. What’s your favourite thing about sailing? There are 2 parts to this for me. I would say the best thing about sailing is the freedom. Being able to get away from it all and just enjoy the wind and water. I also enjoy the camaraderie between competitors and the constant learning that sailing and racing brings. READ MORE

SÉBASTIEN DESTREMAU SUR LA ROUTE DU RHUM 2018 Sébastien Destremau et son bateau Alcatraz IT FaceOcean sur la Route du Rhum 2018 en classe Rhum Mono Sébastien Destremau En quoi consiste ton projet Alcatraz IT - FaceOcean ? Le projet Alcatraz IT - FaceOcean se situe dans la continuité de mon dernier Vendée-Globe. Alcatraz IT était à l’époque un partenaire intermédiaire. A la suite du succès du dernier Vendée-Globe, la direction de l’entreprise a décidé de devenir sponsor principal de mon bateau sur la Route du Rhum 2018 en classe Rhum Mono. Le bateau a terminé le Vendée-Globe en très bon état : il a fallu effectuer juste quelques travaux d’entretien et d’amélioration. Alcatraz IT - FaceOcean n’est pas un voilier de dernière génération comme Charal qui lui aussi est équipé de voiles North Sails. Alcatraz IT - FaceOcean est bien plus simple à naviguer et s’adapte très bien à mes expériences maritimes. Le budget est beaucoup moins important par rapport à celui des autres bateaux mais il me permet de terminer des régates et de poursuivre ma passion pour la navigation. Quelles ont été les modifications effectuées au niveau des voiles ? Les voiles sont neuves. Je suis particulièrement satisfait par la grand-voile : grâce au travail de l’équipe North Sails, on gagne 15% de la surface, c’est-à-dire 25m carrés : ce qui nous donne un surplus de puissance énorme ! Nous avons également un nouveau gennaker, un nouveau génois… Quel type de voiles utilises-tu ? Nous n’utilisons pas des voiles de nouvelle génération car notre bateau est ancien. Pas de 3Di pour moi donc ! La grand-voile est en Ultra X 450, le J2 en Ultra X 350, le gennaker en Stormlite 210 et le Spi en superkote 90. North Sails s’occupe très bien de concevoir des produits haut de gamme et aussi des voiles pour des budgets plus restreints. Je ne remercierai jamais assez North Sails pour leur aide sur le Vendée- Globe : ils ont trouvé des solutions pour que je puisse m’aligner sur le départ malgré mon petit budget. Finalement il n’y a pas de 'petits' clients chez North Sails ! Cela fait 12 ans que je travaille avec eux et je suis très satisfait. Quel est ton objectif sur cette édition de la Route du Rhum ? Je souhaite déjà la terminer sans problèmes techniques majeurs car cette course peut-être très dure pour les bateaux, comme pour les hommes… Mon équipe et moi-même souhaitons faire un podium et… ne le dis à personne mais mon objectif personnel est de la gagner dans ma classe. Pourquoi tu continues à choisir North Sails depuis 12 ans ? Dans n’importe quelle course à la voile pour descendre l’Atlantique quand tu ne sais pas quelle route choisir, tu fais de l’ouest. Quand tu ne sais pas quelle voile acheter tu achètes North Sails : tu es sûr que tu ne seras pas déçu ! READ MORE

VX ONE NORTH AMERICANS: FAST, FUN & FIERCE Interview: Making the VX One Go Fast 2018 North American Champions – Christopher Alexander, John Bowden and Caroline Main. © Priscilla Parker Charleston delivered excellent VX One sailing conditions for the North American Championship the first weekend of November. Strong breeze, flat water, and of course a little bit of that Charleston current. The southern hospitality offered from the Carolina Yacht Club put an exclamation point on the event. The VX One has been gaining traction as a class over the last few years, and this year’s North American Championship proved to be the deepest field of competitors yet. Racing was fast, fun, and fierce with boats reaching 20 knots of boat speed in the strongest puffs. The sheer fun had by sailing these boats might just outweigh the stiff competition. We caught up with the winners of the event: Chris Alexander, John Bowden, and Caroline Main, as well as North Sails designer Mike Marshall and class president Jeff Eiber (sailing together, finishing 2nd) to learn what makes a VX One go fast and what the class is all about. Interview by Jackson Benvenutti John, this was your first regatta in the VX One. What was your basis for the winning rig tune? Any specific ratios between the uppers, lowers, and check stays? I didn’t have a good idea of the ratios as first, and I was interested in working to help create a new tuning guide, so we were trying a few different things out (be on the lookout for that new tuning guide soon!). Most importantly, I was trying to induce headstay tension with the lowers and the vang. A good way to think about it is that the boat is always either looking for power, or needing to de-power, which is fully controlled by headstay tension and de-powering the jib. De-powering the main was fairly easy, but de-powering the jib proved to be a little more complicated without affecting the mainsail shape. There is always a debate in the VX One class about team weight and sailing with two or three people. Chris, your team sailed with three people. What was your total team weight and what are your thoughts about sailing with three people? Would you consider always sailing the boat at that weight, and with three people? I am fairly small so I have sailed most big events with three. We were approximately 435 lb total and I believe that it was a very good all around weight for the regatta and the varying conditions we saw. I would say we were perfect weight on day one (10-16 knots), about 40-60 heavy on day two (6-12 knots), and 40-60 light on day three (15-20 knots). Sailing with three can get a little crowded but you have an extra set of eyes and hands. Caroline did a great job of expediting tuning adjustments at mark roundings, trimming jib downwind, and moving weight where it was needed. 2nd Place – Mike Marshall, Jeff Eiber and Jo Ann Fisher. © Priscilla Parker Chris, you’ve been sailing the VX One for a few years now, this was John’s first regatta ever in the boat and Mike’s second regatta in the VX. Can each of you speak a little bit about your experiences with the boat and the class? Chris – This was my fifth North Americans and I have had an absolute blast owning this boat. The design of the boat is superb—the construction of hull, rig, and sails are of robustness and high quality—and the people of the class have become family. It’s a hard sell to get me to sail other boats now, because this one is just so good! John – The boat is great, super responsive, it can change gears quickly and is fun to sail. I’m looking forward to seeing how the class develops and grows. Mike – So far, I have spent 5 days in the boat and frankly, I have loved every minute of it. The boat is a blast to sail both upwind and downwind and I look forward to seeing more people start sailing them. The class is still in its beginning stages, but the key points about everyone having fun while keeping the racing at a very high level are there. As I have said in the past, the boats reward people that sail them flat and fast, so the sooner that you can achieve that mode, the better you are going to do in the race. It isn’t very often that you find a boat that makes you come off the water grinning ear to ear about how fun the sailing was. I don’t think I will ever forget ripping downwind in the last race right next to Chris’ boat thinking about how awesome the boat was and how great that photo opportunity was for the class! Chris, this is your second time winning the NAs, can you tell us two main things that are particular to the VX One, both upwind and downwind, that you focus on to make sure your VX One is sailing fast? The times in the past where I haven’t felt fast have been due to rig tune or weight. These boats have a flat bottom and little rocker, which makes them accelerate quickly and be weight sensitive. Tuning to your weight, and how the boat feels that day becomes very important. I had very little experience with the technical rigging aspects of what makes a sport boat like the VX One go fast when I bought the boat, but have been enjoying the learning process. UPWIND – Caps and Intermediate shrouds are the ‘gross’ rig adjustments and should be VERY high on the mental priority list pre-start since they can not be adjusted after. After the start we made constant adjustments to vang and main sheet, and very little movement on the jib. John was trimming the main and would tell me if we were fully trimmed or eased, and I would relay back how much vang tension, from 0-100%. John was relentless on playing the main and focusing on how much power we were putting into the boat. My hand never left the vang line, and would adjust on nearly every puff. John probably made 1-4 adjustments on the jib halyard each windward leg was well. The short fetch caused such puffy conditions we were going through quite a lot of gear changes. John was also very adamant about not pinching and I feel that combined with quick gear changes got us through the ever changing breeze faster than the rest. DOWNWIND – Weight and kinetics were probably the two biggest factors of straight line speed. We were very dynamic and highly focused on what mode we were in. Body weight was generally moving diagonally across the boat, either low and forward, or up and back. We sailed “normal,” as John would say, but focused on the minutia of our execution to go fast. 3rd Place – Lawrence Frost and Jackson Benvenutti. © Priscilla Parker Mike, you obviously are an excellent sailor and sail designer. What was your biggest take away from this regatta in regards to sailing the VX One? My biggest takeaway was that you absolutely must get the boat going fast. In any condition, you have to focus on speed. Once you are going fast, then worry about getting height upwind, and going the right direction. To get that speed: HEAVY AIR: I was easing the main out 4 feet at times in the overpowered conditions, and dropping the jib car down on the track to keep the jib from luffing the eased main. LIGHT AIR: In the lighter conditions, I was keeping the jib telltales flying straight all the time to keep moving fast. DOWNWIND: Downwind I was always trying to push the boat as low as possible as long as I was going the same speed or faster than everyone else. KEEP BOAT FLAT: I was focused on keeping the boat flat. Six degrees of heel is what I heard was optimal. That, while sailing, feels like the boat is about to capsize to windward on you. But when you heel over, the boat pivots on the leeward buoyant edge that is way away from the centerline. This means that not only does the keel get shorter from the rotation, but also from the boat lifting out of the water. It is a double negative. Sailing the boat flat is fast and staying fast is the key in my mind. Jeff, you’ve been sailing VX Ones now for a few years and you are the class president. How do you see the class evolving and what kind of people do you think would enjoy racing in the VX One class? Over the years I have seen a spectrum of teams returning to the dock with big smiles after sailing and racing a VX One: junior sailors, collegiate sailors, Olympians, couples, moms and dads with young and grown kids, women’s teams, grey haired old guys… The one common thread tying these groups together is a modest level of fitness. The boat is not overly physical, especially offwind, but rewards a willingness to hike upwind and a sensitivity to speed and balance. At the same time the boat is very forgiving to errors. Wipeouts and capsizes result in the boat coming to a stop while the 68 kg (150 lb) lead bulb on the keel prevents turtling. The open transom means no bailing. These features make the boat a fantastic learning platform for beginning and intermediate sailors. Boats and fleets are spreading worldwide. There are boats in Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, United States. The next step for the class is to pull these owners together into a truly international class. Another step in our evolution is to settle on the best setup for the boat. The way we sail the boats in North America is in the slowest configuration: fractional kite, no trapeze and with the lead bulb. But the boat is engineered to have a masthead kite, trapeze and no bulb…can’t wait to try that setup! Or maybe we develop racing for both configurations. Starting line at the 2018 VX One North Americans. © Priscilla Parker 2018 Vx One North Americans 1 Christopher Alexander 2 Mike Marshall 3 Lawrence Frost 4 John Potter David 5 Jerry Callahan 6 Sam Padnos 8 Rob Doolittle * 9 William Curtiss 10 Paul Murphy * Denotes Partial North Sails Inventory Learn more about the North Sails products for the VX One. READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: MIKE WOLFS Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert How long have you been sailing? What boats/classes do you sail? I've been sailing for 42 years now. I sail mostly in one design classes like the Star, Melges 20, Melges 24, and Etchells. I have also done blue water sailing, the Transatlantic races and Caribbean races as well as deliveries. What got you into the marine industry? I enjoy the sailing and learning new things about the sails. Also the experience of traveling to all parts of the world. How long have you been working in the industry? I have been working in the industry for 28 years. What’s your favourite thing about sailing? I enjoy harnessing the power of the wind and waves while in competition against others. READ MORE

North Sails is once again leading the way in the America’s Cup as Defender Emirates Team New Zealand and Challengers Luna Rossa and INEOS TEAM UK have confirmed the global leader in sailmaking as the supplier of choice in the next event. READ MORE

NORTH SAILS SEMPRE IN PRIMA LINEA NELL’ AMERICA’S CUP Tre team su quattro annunciano la partnership con la veleria numero uno al mondo 📸 Luna Rossa Challenge North Sails è ancora una volta in prima linea nell’ America’s Cup, come conferma l’annuncio da parte del Defender Emirates Team New Zealand e dei Challenger Luna Rossa e INEOS TEAM UK di avere scelto la veleria numero uno al mondo come fornitore ufficiale per la prossima edizione dell’evento. Forte di oltre 35 anni di esperienza ed innovazione nella storica competizione, North Sails è orgogliosa di portare avanti questa tradizione e quindi di progettare, realizzare e consegnare prodotti "top" sul mercato, affinché la maggioranza dei team disponga della miglior attrezzatura possibile per gareggiare ai massimi livelli in questo sport. North Sails è nella condizione – unica – di poter fornire l’ "Engine above Deck" ideale per i nuovi monoscafi con foil , gli America’s Cup 75. Esperti della North Sails sono coinvolti nel nuovo ciclo dell’evento sin dall’inizio, e Burns Fallow e Michael Richelsen hanno contribuito a sviluppare la nuova e rivoluzionaria “soft wing” prendendo parte alla compilazione delle Regole di Classe. Persone chiave della North Sails sono state "arruolate" da tre team di America’s Cup (su quattro presenti) e saranno quindi in prima linea per risolvere tutte le complesse problematiche legate all "Everest della vela". D’altronde l’esperienza e la conoscenza che portano in dote è impareggiabile, dato che utilizzano software e tecniche di design di proprietà esclusiva di North Sails per affrontare qualsiasi sfida e consentire, a queste imbarcazioni mai viste prima, di stabilire nuovi standard in termini di velocità e prestazioni. Ken Read, Presidente North Sails, ha commentato: "Siamo orgogliosi e onorati che ancora una volta i nostri uomini e i nostri prodotti siano considerati il meglio del meglio. Il nostro è un Gruppo di enorme talento con persone in gamba e leader mondiali nel loro settore. L’America’s Cup è un evento che da secoli mette alla prova le menti più brillanti e che ci sprona a guardare le cose da prospettive diverse; la prossima edizione non sarà diversa e siamo entusiasti all’idea che North Sails sarà ancora una volta all’avanguardia come lo è stata nello sviluppo dei prodotti 3Di negli ultimi dieci anni, di cui poi ha beneficiato l’intera filiera velica, dalle imbarcazioni offshore a quelle da crociera." "Siamo entusiasti e non vediamo l’ora di navigare e di sviluppare il nuovo AC75 e l’aero package che la Classe userà per volare sull’acqua. L’aero package unisce molti elementi che facevano parte dell’ala rigida del passato ad altri legati alla nuova tecnologia "soft wing". Avendo a disposizione uno strumento come il software MembraneTM e la possibilità di lavorare a stretto contatto con velai esperti e professionisti del “rig”, otterremo molte informazioni e impareremo una gran quantità di cose ancora prima di testare queste barche direttamente in mare il prossimo anno. Ci aspetta un periodo molto eccitante!" "Il concetto della nuova randa "soft wing" utilizzato nella 36a America’s Cup è un incredibile passo avanti dal punto di vista tecnologico per tutta l’industria velica; era quindi fondamentale fare squadra con una veleria in grado di dare forma a un prodotto così rivoluzionario e non potevamo che scegliere North Sails come partner. Adesso non vediamo l’ora di spingere insieme a loro i nostri limiti mentre la nostra sfida va avanti verso Auckland 2021." "L’America’s Cup è da sempre la regata velica più all’avanguardia del mondo dal punto di vista tecnologico; per mettere in piedi una sfida vincente è quindi fondamentale lavorare con le aziende più innovative e futuristiche del settore. North Sails è in cima alla nostra lista dei preferiti sin dall’inizio della campagna e siamo felici di averla a bordo nella sfida britannica." "North Sails è semplicemente la migliore azienda con cui lavorare per portare avanti il nostro progetto in America’s Cup. Il livello di preparazione e di esperienza degli uomini North Sails è impareggiabile e la qualità dei loro software e dei loro strumenti non ha rivali. Inoltre, la tecnologia che ha sviluppato per la produzione delle vele è unica al mondo." "I mezzi e gli strumenti di cui si serve North Sails sono fondamentali per aiutarci a sviluppare il miglior aero package possibile per l’AC75 e per permetterci di giudicare e scegliere le diverse opzioni da accoppiare alle membrane per supportare i carichi degli AC75 quando questi navigheranno a oltre 40 nodi." READ MORE

NORTH SAILS PLUS PRÉSENT QUE JAMAIS SUR L’AMERICA’S CUP Trois des quatre équipes s’engagent à travailler avec la voilerie leader mondial 📸 Luna Rossa Challenge North Sails se distingue une fois encore par sa présence dans l’America’s Cup. Le Defender Emirates Team New Zealand et les Challengers Luna Rossa et INEOS TEAM UK ont confirmé avoir choisi le premier fabricant mondial de voiles comme fournisseur pour l’épreuve à venir. Avec plus de 35 ans d’expérience et d’innovation dans cette compétition historique, North Sails est fier de continuer à concevoir et à fournir les meilleurs produits du marché pour équiper la grande majorité des teams et les voir réussir au sommet de ce sport. Les voiles North Sails sont particulièrement bien placées pour offrir ce qu’il y a de mieux aux nouveaux monocoques à foils de l’America’s Cup. Plusieurs spécialistes de North Sails sont impliqués dans l’événement depuis que la Coupe a pris le tournant des foils, notamment Burns Fallow et Michael Richelsen qui ont aidé à développer la nouvelle aile souple révolutionnaire et ont participé à la rédaction des règles de classe. Des membres clés de North Sails font désormais partie de trois des quatre équipes de l’America’s Cup et participeront à la résolution des problématiques complexes posées par l’épreuve reine. L’expérience et les informations qu’ils apportent sont sans égal notamment grâce aux logiciels et processus de conception North exclusifs leur permettant une fois encore de relever de nouveaux défis et faire en sorte que ces bateaux uniques au monde franchissent un cap en termes de performances. Ken Read, Président de North Sails: “Nous sommes fiers de voir que nos produits et nos membres ont à nouveau été choisis parmi les meilleurs. Nous avons au sein de notre entreprise des talents exceptionnels qui sont au sommet de leur art. L’America’s Cup est une épreuve qui continue de challenger les plus grands esprits et nous obligent à regarder les choses sous un angle nouveau. La prochaine édition ne dérogera pas à la règle et nous sommes très heureux de savoir que North Sails sera à la pointe. Et comme l’a prouvé le développement des produits 3Di ces dix dernières années, c’est tout le milieu de la voile, de la course à la croisière, qui en récoltera les fruits.” “Nous sommes très heureux et impatients de développer le nouvel AC 75 et le pack aéro que la classe utilisera pour propulser les bateaux au-dessus de l’eau. Ce pack aéro réunira plusieurs caractéristiques des anciennes ailes rigides, mais avec la nouvelle technologie des ailes souples. Avoir à notre disposition un outil comme Membrain© et pouvoir travailler avec des designers spécialisés dans les voiles et le gréement nous donne un large panel de connaissances bien avant de naviguer et de régler les voiles pour la première fois l’année prochaine. Cela s’annonce passionnant!” “Le nouveau concept de grand-voile aile-souple qui sera utilisé pour la 36e America’s Cup est une avancée technologique très intéressante pour l’industrie nautique. Nous associer avec un fabriquant de voiles capable de suivre ces avancées révolutionnaires était essentiel, et pour nous il n’y avait que North Sails. Nous avons hâte de repousser les limites avec eux quand notre défi ira à Auckland en 2021” “L’America’s Cup est l’épreuve de voile la plus avancée au monde techniquement. Pour monter un défi qui a des chances de gagner, nous devons travailler avec les entreprises les plus innovantes. Depuis le début de notre campagne, nous pensions à North Sails pour les voiles et nous sommes très heureux de les embarquer dans ce défi britannique.” “North Sails est la meilleure entreprise avec laquelle nous puissions travailler pour ce nouveau projet d’America’s Cup. Ils emploient des salariés qualifiés et très expérimentés et ils ont des logiciels et des outils inégalables. La technologie qu’ils ont développée pour la production des voiles est exceptionnelle.” “Les outils North Sails sont indispensables pour concevoir le meilleur pack aéro possible pour l’AC75. Ils nous aideront à évaluer et à classer les différentes options pour ensuite choisir les meilleures membranes capables de supporter les charges auxquelles seront soumis les AC75 lorsqu’ils seront lancés à plus de 40 nœuds.” READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: DOUG FOLSETTER Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert How long have you been sailing and what classes do you compete in? I currently own and race a Viper 830 - a 27’ sportboat. I started sailing at the age of 6 when my father, who had no sailing experience whatsoever, purchased a brand new, bright orange (!) Contessa 26. So, 44 years and counting. What boats/classes do you sail? I grew up racing dinghy classes such as Laser, International 14 and Snipe and progressed to one-design keelboats such as the Melges 24 and Star. Over the years I’ve raced a variety of one-design, IOR, MORC, IRC and PHRF boats of all sizes and types. What got you into the marine industry? I was exposed to business by my father who dabbled in the marine business as a foul weather gear distributor and later as a yacht broker. I enjoy representing a product that provides joy and happiness! What’s your favourite thing about sailing? It’s such a varied sport that cam be enjoyed for a lifetime on so many different levels. From high performance sport boats, to long distance racing on larger boats to peaceful evening sails with the family… There is really something for everyone. READ MORE

North Sails Sieg am Vierwaldstätter See Cup 2018 !! Die esse850 'Steel Two' von Philipp Weber gewinnt mit seiner Crew um Oliver Ryhner und Heinz Theiler den VC-CUP 2018 mit 18 Punkten Vorsprung vor dem Team Black Nessi und 79 Punkten Vorsprung vor der Longtze von Thomas Hasler. Bei 5 Langstrecken Regatten mit immer sehr fairen Wetterbedingungen konnten 2018 tolle Regatten gesegelt werden. Neu war die „Windweek Challenge“, welche mit Start in Brunnen als Nachtregatta ausgetragen wurde. Der Eigner Philipp Weber sendet einen grossen Dank an alle, welche das Team als Sponsoren unterstützen und an das VC-Cup-Team für die professionelle Organisation. North Sails Schweiz gratuliert herzlich zu diesem super Resultat und freut sich, auch in Zukunft für das Team da zu sein. Rangliste READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: MIRO BALCAR Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert How long have you been sailing and what classes are you involved in? I have been sailing on Champlain lake and doing offshore passages for 30 years. Currently, I am racing and cruising my X-yacht 46. I enjoy spending time with customers on the water and overnight racing. What got you into the marine industry? I got to marine industry from being a life long customer of North Sails with this year marking my 12th year being in the industry and with the company! What’s your favourite thing about sailing? My favourite part about sailing is that sailing as a lifestyle allows me to be around people with similar passion. It also keeps me on a never ending learning curve and of young spirit. READ MORE

3Di RAW - SEBESSÉG KOMPROMISSZUM NÉLKÜL Nyers Teljesítmény, Legnagyobb Sebesség 3Di RAW a legkönnyebb, leggyorsabb verzió a 3D formázott kompozit termékeink közül. RAW a versenyvitorlák evolúciójának legfejlettebb változata, magába foglalva az összes paramétert a legmagasabb teljesítményhez. Páratlan formastabilitásának köszönhetően a 3Di RAW dominálja a Grand Prix versenyeket világszerte és már a versenyzés minden szintjén találkozhatunk vele hajómérettől függetlenül. Bármely más vitorlához viszonyítva, a RAW vitorláknál a legmagasabb teherviselő szál/súly arány és a legkisebb súly. 3Di RAW ideális választás: • legfejlettebb vitorlákat szeretné • nyertes teljesítményt vár vitorláitól • osztályban vagy előnyszámításos rendszerben versenyez VÁLTOZATOK + AJÁNLOTT FELHASZNÁLÁS RAW 360 : Polyester / Aramid RAW 760 : Ultra PE / Aramid RAW 780 : Ultra PE / Carbon / Aramid RAW 870 : Carbon / Ultra PE / Aramid one design / tavi versenyzés / Grand Prix versenyzés / nagyteljesítményű többtestű ELÉRHETŐ VITORLATÍPUSOK standard nagyvitorla / átmenőlatnis nagyvitorla / betekerős és nem betekerős orrvitorlák / CODE vitorlák 3Di RAW ELŐNYEI • 3D formázott kompozit struktúra • legkönnyebb 3Di verzió • legnagyobb teljesítményű vitorlák READ MORE

NORTH SAILS & EVERGREEN The Story of Don Green and Lowell North in The 1978 Canada's Cup Photo courtesy of Sharon Green from Evergreen Around the Great Lakes, Evergreen is a well-known name that reflects an exciting time in Canadian sailing history. Skippered by Don Green from Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Evergreen went from being the underdogs in the 1978 Canada’s Cup to winners on September 25th, 1978. North Sails involvement with Evergreen and the Canada’s Cup begun at the beginning of the campaign. Green recalls how Lowell was actively involved, always around during training sessions and out on the water looking at the sails. Lowell North was always fascinated with the shape of sails and technology used to gain the best design and shape. One could say the ‘Science of Sails’ really began with the Evergreen project. Green points out, “Lowell was always taking pictures, looking at the shape and seeing how things could be modified.” This method of photographing sails followed by analysis, carried over deep in North Sails following the 1987 Canada’s Cup and is still used today in the company. In addition to Lowell’s photographing of sails, our history with the Evergreen projects always includes the infamous “green garbage bag” sail. This famous “green garbage bag”, as Green recalls, “was just massive and was heavy when wet”. For North Sails, this was a significant moment as it was a mylar laminate sail – the first to be flown at the time. Our sail material technology and design process has developed from this, leading to our 3Di Technology, and Lowell's desire to combine the scientific method with photographs. Green comments how "Lowell was always analyzing the photo's he'd taken and comparing them with science". For Don and the Evergreen crew, their contributed to Canadian sailing through both the 1978 Canada’s Cup and 1979 Admiral’s Cup is immense and should not be overlooked. At the time, the mayor of Toronto came out to celebrate the crew in the motorcade parade in the city – something that would not be seen in today’s post-race festivities. This past August, Don Green was inducted, by Steve Killing, into the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame. A well-deserved moment for Don and all that he has done for the Canadian sailing community. Don is still an active sailor today when he has the time. He frequently sails with life-long friend and Executive Director of the True North syndicate in the 1980’s, John Bobyk, at Mimico Cruising Club. Don Green and John Bobyk , 2017 Don Green and John Bobyk , July 2018 READ MORE

From Dinghy Sailing to Sailmaking From Junior Sailing Onwards, For Kyann The World is Her Oyster If you’d asked me in university what I wanted to do when I grow up, I would have probably told you I either wanted to go sailing, or be a sail maker. Fast forward a few years, I’ve raced on three continents, clocked over 4,000nm since graduating, and I’m now working at North Sails as an apprentice sailmaker. While that may sound like a dream come true, it wasn’t always. I had my first sailing experience when I was 12 years old when my mom and aunt signed me up for my whitesail one, non-negotiable. The program took two precious weeks of my summer vacation, and I dragged my feet getting ready that first day. Shoved into an Opti that I was already too big for, I awkwardly sailed around the harbour trying not to crash into the big boats docked in the area. As the weeks progressed I not only began to understand the opti, but saw the older camp kids sailing 420s and lasers, and my interest peaked. By the end of the program, I had finished not only my whitesail I and II, but signed up for another two weeks at the end of the summer. Fast forward a couple years, and I was introduced to keelboat racing by my aunt. Sailing on a C&C 27 in a level fleet against 5 or 6 other boats twice a week, I loved learning the boat and trying to coax that tiny bit of extra speed out of it. Over the next six years I learned every position on the boat, eventually falling in love with the foredeck and never really making my way back aft of the mast. I was having a blast until my final years of university hit, and I took a two season hiatus from sailing. After a while, I’d forgotten how much I loved the sport and being on the water. That all changed last summer when I got back on the water. Graced with 15-extra feet of boat, I learned a new foredeck and was itching to keep sailing after the season was over. Now that I was back out there, I couldn’t stop at just a few months. I was introduced to a team sailing down to Antigua from Toronto, and with them I had my first overnight, navigation and ocean experiences. I signed up for two long distance races, but unfortunately it wouldn't work out this time for the Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta and the Caribbean 600 out of Antigua, due to rigging failures. Thankfully, I finished my off-season with a go at Antigua Sailing Week. Although none of my events turned out as I’d hoped, I’d never experienced anything like these regattas in my life, and came home determined to jump right back into sailing here up North. Shortly after arriving back in Toronto, I landed a summer internship at North Sails. Every day I was immersed in a world of sails. Repairs, design, and sailing techniques were talked about all day at the office, and I was racing 3-4 nights a week. As the summer came to a close, one thing became clear - this wasn’t just a summer internship, it was just the beginning. READ MORE

2018 ROUTE DU RHUM Fast Sailing, Foils and High Expectations Across The Fleet 📸Alexis Courcoux / 2018 Route du Rhum The Route du Rhum is a prestigious offshore event and an example of single-handled ocean racing at its best. First sailed in 1978, the Route du Rhum was a transatlantic race introduced to overthrow conventional wisdom; monohulls sailing alongside multihulls, pro sailors racing against amateurs. The first edition of the race featured 38 entries and the winner finished in 23 days. In 2014, Loïck Peyron set a new course record of 7 days, 15 hours, 8 minutes and 32 seconds. Four year later, 123 sailors and thousands of North Sails across six classes will hit the start line in St Malo, France, and set off 3,542 miles for Guadeloupe. The 2018 Route du Rhum represents 130 new sails and some 6,000 hours of work for North Sails, and specifically, the Vannes-based loft. “The diversity of projects in this race is something which is important for us,” commented Greg Evard, country manager for North Sails in France. “Responsiveness is essential; listening, understanding and acting in the shortest possible time when necessary, with the goal to ensure that those who trust us do not lose any time sailing.” The key to success lies in the integrated teamwork between design, production and service. Greg’s team efforts on the ground combined with the global design and product expertise has paid off; evidenced by growing market share for North Sails across the Route du Rhum fleet. Gautier Sergent, the Head of North Sails R&D, based in France added. “The advent of foiling has forced us to redesign our sails for the IMOCA and Ultim classes, because with the foils, everything changes: speed, apparent wind angle, torque, geometry, deck plans…” With 3Di™, North Sails has a technology that perfectly matches the new challenges imposed by these out of the ordinary machines but still allows every level of sailor in this race to have the best possible suite of sails. It is going to be an exciting race and as is ever the case, when a fleet of boats leaves the dock, anything can happen. READ MORE

MELGES 20 WORLDS: SPEED READING Two-time World Champion Drew Freides Shares His Views on Winning Speed The waves were bumpy and the wind was hard to read at the 2018 Melges 20 Worlds in Cagliari, Italy. That put a premium on speed at all times for the crew of Pacific Yankee, which earned its second championship title in a row. Racing in a tough 38-boat fleet, Drew Freides, Morgan Reeser, and Charlie Smythe won the last two races to earn the title by a point. What made the difference? Skipper Drew Freides credits his teammates, coaching, planning, and preparation, and says one key, after winning the 2017 Worlds, was adopting the attitude, “We’ve got to improve because everyone else is going to improve.” “One thing I’m good at is that I’m scared of failure.” Drew says, “so I’m never content. I always feel like someone’s going to pass me and be better.” Build a Speed Matrix “Over the year, we focused on a matrix for boat setup,” Drew says. “Vince Brun, our coach, was maniacal about it. When we’re racing we don’t want to think about boat setup—we want to focus on sailing well and sailing smart. The matrix is marked as number of turns on and off the uppers and the diamonds and is easily repeatable. We developed ours by starting with the North Sails Tuning Guide, and it evolved from there based on our work with sail designs and our observations.” “We always put the rig back to base setting at the end of the day,” he adds. “Sometimes we check measurements with calipers and once in a while with a tension gauge.” Think “Dead Stick” and “Unload the Boat” Drew says to go fast the boat can’t be loaded. It should have more of an “easy” feel. “On our boat,” he says, “Morgan is focused on tactics, and Charlie on speed, but Morgan is holding the mainsheet. When we wanted speed, Charlie would say to him ‘free it up,’ meaning to unload the boat. We’d go for a flatter mode for the sails, put the bow down, and get it ripping. When we wanted height, I’d ask for more load on the helm, which meant more leech tension, rounder sails.” “The boats are tippy, and heel is your enemy. You’d be surprised how much the boats heel. You really want the tiller to feel like a “dead stick”…the less feel we had, the faster we went. It takes time getting used to it.” “The upper shrouds on a Melges 20 are on cars,” says Drew. “Charlie spent a ton of time adjusting uppers, forward and back. We would set ourselves up going off the starting line with the car forward. We’d go a tenth or two slow, climb and build our hole, then once we were in clear air, we would move the cars back and put the bow down. Once you get the boat going fast, it points high on its own.” Upwind in Lumpy Conditions At Cagliari, Drew says, “it got very lumpy, which put a premium on accelerating and rebuilding speed quickly. We needed a good balance of sail depth for power, but not so much that we couldn’t put the bow down and go. “On the second to last day, port tack was brutal. We had a great setup and could put the bow down and rip up to 5.9 knots. When you hit waves, it was important we were already going fast and not trying to climb. If Charlie said, ‘Bad set coming,’ Morgan would ease the main and I’d bear off. If Charlie said, ‘Flat spot,’ Morgan would sheet in and we’d start climbing. The biggest gains to be made were in terms of height, but that’s only because we were already going fast.” Same Speed and Lower, Downwind “The goal downwind was to sail the same speed but lower,” says Drew. “ When it got lighter, it was an uncomfortable low mode. With spinnaker sheet in his hand, Charlie coached me how low we could go. We were constantly looking to soak and never have the boat loaded. We never had enough wind at the Worlds to sail higher and get beyond lazy planing.” “Some thought we had special sails, but for the record, we used North’s R-2 and V4-2R, off the shelf. We used the V4 more than you would think, down the wind ranges, because it let us heat it up and get onto some of the waves. The R-2 is not as comfortable reaching so we sometimes used the planing chute even though we were trying to soak low.” Read more about Pacific Yankee’s victory at the 2018 Worlds “In the 8- to 12-knot range when not overpowered, use rounder sails and hike really hard. We were sometimes too quick to depower.” READ MORE

PUFF RESPONSE UPWIND By Bill Gladstone Proper response to a puff is critical to optimum performance. The best response is a change in trim to match the changing apparent wind angle. Here’s why: Apparent Wind We’ll start with our wind triangle before the puff hits. Figure 1 shows how apparent wind is the vector sum of Boat Wind and True Wind. Fig. 1: Apparent Wind is the sum of True Wind and Boat Wind. The Puff Hits When the True Wind increases (“Puff!”), it creates a stronger Apparent Wind and a wider Apparent Wind Angle. Trimming sails to match this change usually means lowering the traveler, which is the fastest way to maintain a balanced helm and consistent angle of heel. Fig. 2: A puff results in stronger Apparent Wind and a wider Apparent Wind Angle. Drop the traveler to match the new wind angle. Acceleration Once the boat’s helm is balanced again, the boat then accelerates to match the new wind speed. That moves the apparent wind forward, so then we need to re-trim the sails again. Fig. 3: As the boat accelerates with the new wind, the apparent wind moves forward and we need to trim in again. Wasted energy If we don’t change sail trim in response to the puff, its energy is wasted in heeling force and weather helm rather than being turned into acceleration. The boat may eventually accelerate – after making leeway – but by then all of the more responsive crews will have jumped ahead. Why change trim? Why not just feather the helm? Trim Response lets you accelerate more quickly. Feathering (heading up, to reduce heel angle) will give you a brief bit of height, but that is usually offset by more leeway. Changing sail trim gives you speed, and speed then gives you height. Why use the Traveler? Lowering the traveler reduces angle of attack, which is the preferred trim response on a moderate displacement keelboat. On higher performance boats or multihulls, especially those with square top mains and high aspect keels, it is more effective to ease the mainsheet to adjust twist. On some boats – for example, an Etchells – a big pull on the backstay is very effective. Some boats use “Vang Sheeting” (where the mainsheet controls angle of attack) and respond to puffs by playing the main. Which is Best? Snappy Answer: Whichever is fastest. Longer Answer: You’ll have to test to see what works best on your boat. As a general rule, Trim Response is preferred to just feathering/ steering through the puff. This article is from the North U Boat Speed Seminar curriculum. To find a North U Seminar near you visit https://northu.com/types/seminars/ READ MORE

TRANSATLANTIC ADVENTURE: CAPE VERDE TO THE CARIBBEAN Vincent Moeyersoms Adventures Onboard French-built Exploration Yacht Built in 2009, the 53’ Alioth has a specific purpose: ocean adventuring. Alioth left the volcanic archipelagos of Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa, 2,100 nm East of the Caribbean, and twelve days later arrived at Carriacou Island. During their Atlantic crossing, the four crew took turns on three hour watches. Each morning they had a daily meeting to check in with each other and send an email to their family, which was written by Vincent’s niece Celine. Off-watch the crew fished, maintained the boat, watched movies, read books, and prepped meals. Vincent also taught his niece and nephew about sailing, navigation, and the stars. Vincent’s brother Olivier and godson, Nicolas (at the bow) They made landfall in Carriacou, a tiny island just north of Grenada, and tucked into Tyrell Bay for a celebration, before starting their exploration of the Grenadines. At Tobago Cays they swam around one of the most pristine coral reef in the Caribbean, and on New Year’s Eve, enjoyed the colorful local fresh lobster bake. Locals cooked up fresh seafood for guests for New Years Eve celebrations “The Grenadines were my most favorite part of the whole trip,” Vincent says. “Like in the BVIs, being able to sail to different islands and see different places each day makes it real fun. Every day brings a discoveries.” They stopped at Grenada, Union, Tobago Cays, Mustique, Bequia, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia on their way to Martinique. Vincent, Nicolas, Olivier, and Vincent’ niece, CelineAlioth’s aluminum hull is ideal for remote ocean sailing. “She can fit six comfortably onboard for ocean crossings,” says Vincent. “In the tropics, it’s nice because everyone can be outside most of the time.” She’s easy sailed by a couple of people, so there is plenty of relaxation time for the rest of the crew. “Sharing these experiences with friends and family, and being able to sail to parts of the world where chartering is not available, is why we purchased this boat.” Olivier looks back just after departing Cape Verde Equipped with a 2016 North Sails NPL Sport inventory, Vincent says the sails are still going strong even after 20,000 miles. The process of getting new sails was very easy despite the logistics involved according to Vincent. “We had North Sails in France come out and measure the boat, the sails were built in the United States, and then delivered to Norway. We had just a couple of days to make sure they were right. We opened the bags, hoisted them, and it all worked. North Sails has the experience globally to deliver to different parts of the world and see the project through to completion, and they were perfect.” While in the Caribbean, Vincent and his crew enjoyed the highlights of a living aboard, including fishing and grilling off the back of the boat. “We don’t have a freezer onboard, so, on ocean crossings, eventually you start running out of fresh produce. We consider certain types of food a real treat,” he said. “When we can catch fish and pair it with fruits, vegetables, and freshly baked bread, it’s a meal we all really enjoy.” Why did he choose Alioth? “We didn’t want a boat that was too big, because of cost and logistics. This boat was maintained well before we bought it, and it was built for our type of program, so the purchase decision was easy.” Vincent also says the boat is fun to sail. “Alioth is quite light for its size, which makes it responsive in most conditions.” he says. With a lift-keel, she’s able to anchor in shallow water. Having a deck saloon was a requirement and means the crew can see the ocean at all times. Alioth is very safe, and a step-up stern makes it easy to get onboard the boat. She has twin rudders, crash bulkheads bow and stern, and ample cabin space in between. Her water ballast tanks were recently converted to carry fuel, extending her range up to 3000 miles under motor power. Although the boat is equipped with a watermaker and heater, Vincent says the crew often chooses swimming instead of rinsing off in freshwater. “We will often jump in, just for the pure pleasure of it.” In 2019, Alioth’s crew plans to attempt to sail the Northwest Passage, via Greenland and around to the North of Canada, then to Alaska. Stay tuned as Alioth’s adventures continue. The cruising lifestyle offers some of the most epic sunsets Approaching St. Lucia with the Pitons in the background READ MORE

WHO WE ARE: GEORGE JACKSON Get To Know Your Local Sales Expert What is your sailing background? My first recollection of being on a sailboat when I was about 4 years old. My dad and a friend had a 24’ yawl. I was terrified of it tipping, and on one occasion I set off the fire extinguisher down below. I don’t have any more memories of that boat. I started to race in earnest in 1978 on a wooden 5.5 metre out of Port Dover, ON. I’m currently in a partnership owning an Olson 30. I also share a Hobie 17 and a classic DN iceboat. What boats/classes do you sail? Over the years I don’t think there’s ever been a sailboat I didn’t like. I’ve been blessed to have sailed and raced on all kinds of boats from lasers to lightnings to maxis to Open 60s to eight metres to viper 640s. Most recently, I’ve been crewing a Viper 640, a classic 8m and C&C 115. What got you into the marine industry? I’m returning to my career roots. When I graduated from Queen’s, I went to work at Rideau Marina in Kingston. At the time they were dealers for C&C Yachts. In the role of broker, I sold sails including North Sails. What goes around, comes around. What’s your favourite thing about sailing? That’s a tough question. I’ve had the opportunity to sail with some great sailors on great boats in some fantastic locations, so there’s a lot to like about sailing. But the favourite thing I like about sailing, and racing, in particular, is the teamwork that is needed to sail successfully. It’s indeed a team sport -- so the camaraderie, competition and challenge to perform well in a wide variety of conditions. READ MORE

Customer Spotlight: Endeavour It's More Than Just Sails Bill Bevan from Mimico Cruising Club, co-owner of J/105 Endeavour, shares with us the thinking behind switching to North Sails and why. Plus where he hopes to see the local J/105 fleet in a few years. What factors contributed to your decision to upgrade to North Sails? We had a previous sailmaker, the last two boats that I've had, the CC34 and then the J/105 since 2006, because I had a relationship with the individuals there. I was still learning the 105 so the sails were the least of my worries. That said, I got to the point where we got a lot of things under control so it was time to focus and remove some of the variables to find out what was really going on. North really supports the fleet well, so that was one of the factors also, the support that you guys have given the J/105 fleet for years. I think the other side of it was who's looking after us, we should look after them. That doesn't mean you're gonna go out and buy some kind of crappy technology just because they've been good to you. It's great technology, so then I go to the sails themselves. I looked at what I had versus what others had and without buying one I kinda went, "You know what, this is sail shape." That sail looked a lot flatter, a lot thinner since the mold, it's shaped differently. So quite honestly, I went on Bjug's boat that had one and said, "I wanna go, I just wanna see what it looks like" - and it was just like night and day. I'm no expert but I kind of looked and said, "Okay, I like that a lot better." I can see why some of these guys had better sail shape. Seeing others use them, actually trying that sail, whether it was that demo sail or going out with somebody else, I think that's an important factor, actually trying the sail. Any other aspects that lead to your decision? The other important factor was the whole service side of it; repair, delivery and the organization. First of all, I just had a greater confidence that North Sails Toronto was a business I wanted to be tied to for the long term. I like the knowledgeable people, the connection the organization had to their global organization and the strength of that, versus say some other smaller lofts. The experiences I had heard from others from a service standpoint, not experiencing them myself, were positive. Bottom line though, for me personally, name and the confidence to move from another vendor was really around delivery of new sales. All our sails, 3Di Raw Medium AP Jib, 3DL Light Jib, MI-4 Jib and CM-1 Mainsail were delivered on time! Have you always done One Design or is it more in recent years that you've done it with your co-owner Paul? I've sailed One Design my whole life practically. I had a C&C34 for many years, prior to that I raced One Design in the Kirby 25 fleet. I don't know if I could sail anything other than One Design. There's kind of a nice comfort to it in terms of it's almost a level playing field with everyone. It ends up being me, Paul, and the rest of the people that are on the boat. That's one of the reason too why you look at who's supporting the fleet and what are the preferred sails in a fleet, you have to get rid of that variable. Did you grow up sailing or did you get into it later? My parents sailed and raced, I can pretty well remember when I was very young my parents bought my brother and I a boat at the cottage and said, "Okay, go play." We would take off and just be on the water on two boats all summer. What would you say is your hope for the J/105 class locally to develop? I think the 105 class is probably the strongest One Design fleet on Lake Ontario. We've got, what? 18 or 20 boats registered in fleet four, so that's a very, very strong fleet. Our goal as a fleet is obvious: we've gotta continue to either A, grow or at B, at least not let it decline. I think what has to happen is, it has to stay affordable, we have to bring in youth, we have to bring in more women into the fleet and continue to have a good schedule. I think it was pretty exciting that there was, of the 18 boats that were at the recent Canadians, we had something like 10 women on board in various crew positions across the fleet. I think the other thing North has done is they've taken a pretty active role in teaching the fleet how to make what they sell and how to make what they sell on the J105 work and work effectively. Geoff can relate and say, "On a J105 you should do this and this particularly because it'll do this and this to that sail in this condition." We've had a couple people from North talk at our spring lectures, so again, it's that real connection to the fleet. You guys can relate to it to a J105, not just it's a 3Di sail and it should do this. Rather, it's a 3Di sail on a J105 and this is what it does. You guys have got it, not only for us in the 105, but other people at Mimico who deal with you guys, they get it. They understand the area, so that's pretty important from a technical standpoint. It's not good if the only guy that can do it is in San Francisco because a, you never see him or her and b, he or she doesn't know our conditions really. READ MORE

NORTH SAILS FRANCE PARÉ POUR LE RHUM La voilerie vannetaise, filiale du numéro 1 mondial, sera solidement représentée sur la ligne de départ de la mythique transat en solitaire. 📸 MACIF / Vincent Curutchet À Vannes, sur le plancher de North Sails France, l’ambiance fébrile de préparation des grandes épreuves a fait place au calme habituel des veilles de course. À quelques jours du départ de la Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, la voilerie dirigée par Greg Evrard souffle un peu. "Même si notre activité est diversifiée, les années de Route du Rhum sont toujours particulières pour nous", explique le Directeur de North Sails France. Avant de dévoiler quelques chiffres évocateurs : "le Rhum représente, pour la seule année 2018, 130 voiles et quelque 6 000 heures de travail. Soit environ 2,75 millions d’euros de chiffre d’affaires". Avec 123 marins au départ de la légendaire transatlantique qui fête ses 40 ans cette année, c’est près d’un millier de voiles que l’on peut compter sur les bateaux des six catégories présentes à Saint-Malo. Et ils sont nombreux à avoir choisi North Sails. "Pour faire simple, notre part de marché croît avec la taille des bateaux," résume Greg Evrard qui précise : "nous fournissons 15 % des voiles équipant les voiliers de la classe Rhum mono et multi, 35% pour les Class40, 40 % en Multi50, 60 % en Imoca et 85 % en Ultime". Chez ces derniers, cinq des six bateaux sont entièrement équipés de voiles issues du plancher de North Sails France. En Imoca, c’est quasiment la moitié de la flotte qui possède une garde-robe 100 % North Sails – dont Charal, dernier-né, – et sur les deux tiers des bateaux, au moins une voile North Sails sera embarquée à bord. On note aussi l’arrivée de nouveaux clients. "Par exemple, Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline-Artipôle) revient travailler avec nous et c’est une vraie récompense" explique Greg Evrard. La diversité des projets est un élément important pour nous, et nous souhaitons pouvoir nous adapter à tous les profils. En Class40, la voilerie gagne des parts de marché ; chez les Multi50, la reconnaissance est réelle mais le renouvellement des voiles est plus progressif. Pour parvenir à ces résultats, North Sails France s’appuie sur une organisation fiable et efficace, orientée vers le client pour gérer toutes les demandes. "Certains projets sont hyper structurés, exigeants et s’inscrivent dans la durée alors que d’autres sont plus dans le court terme avec des budgets restreints et passent parfois commande à peine un mois avant le départ", raconte Greg Evrard. Notre équipe expérimentée dispose de ressources et compétences nécessaires pour répondre à cette diversité de problématiques. La clé réside dans le travail en équipe entre design, technico-commercial, production et service". La réactivité est essentielle, écouter, comprendre et agir dans un délai le plus réduit possible lorsque c’est nécessaire, l’objectif étant de mener à bien et sereinement chaque projet pour ceux qui nous font confiance. Chez North Sails France, il n’y a pas de stars : de Yann REGNIAU à Quentin PONROY en passant par Gautier SERGENT, Yann ANDRILLON, Hugues DESTREMAU, Alan PENNANEAC’H, Julien PILATE, et d’autres, le cumul d’expériences nautiques, de palmarès, d’accompagnement de projets et d’expertises techniques est unique. C’est un panel sans équivalent permettant une réponse adaptée et de qualité à une grande diversité de demandes et une réelle créativité. "Le genre de savoir-faire qui fait la différence, car cette 11e édition du Rhum s’annonce définitivement comme celle de l’ère des foils." C’est la première course où le doute est levé : les foilers vont plus vite, tranche Gautier Sergent, le responsable R & D de North Sails France. La nécessité d’une refonte de nos voiles en Imoca et en Ultime s’est imposée, car avec les foils, tout change : la vitesse, l’angle de vent apparent, le couple de rappel, la géométrie, les plans de pont… En Ultime, les charges mises en jeu lorsque le bateau est lancé sont conséquentes et rendent le réglage des voiles difficiles. Les skippers sont obligés d'anticiper et d’effectuer des réglages tolérants. Depuis que le réglage du rake est autorisé en Imoca, on voit apparaître de foils de grande envergure et très porteurs, ce qui change les modes de navigation où l’on privilégie la vitesse au cap. "Avec le 3Di™, North Sails dispose d’une technologie qui correspond parfaitement aux nouvelles contraintes imposées par ces machines hors-normes." En termes de ratio poids/stabilité de forme, c’est ce qui se fait de mieux, assure Gautier Sergent – et le poids comme la stabilité sont des paramètres critiques dans le décollage des foilers. "Pour ces nouveaux bateaux, le 3Di™ marie les avantages : Il est solide, ce qui est primordial pour des marins en solitaire dans les manœuvres ; il ne se déforme pas sous charge, ce qui permet à la voile de convertir la puissance en vitesse en s’appuyant sur les foils. C’est un composite, donc il se prête bien aux modifications et se révèle un atout important en phase de développement", énumère Gautier Sergent, qui a déjà la tête à la saison prochaine et aux nouveaux développements à mener après la Route du Rhum… A propos du 3Di™ Les voiles 3Di™ sont composées de bandes filamentaires unidirectionnelles ultra-fines, pré-imprégnées d’un adhésif thermodurcissant. Elles sont disposées de manière multidirectionnelle et moulées en trois dimensions pour constituer une membrane composite flexible. Cette technologie brevetée permet de fabriquer des voiles avec uniquement des fibres et des adhésifs, sans film en Mylar. Le système de pose de bandes automatique exclusif de North Sails permet de contrôler avec précision le placement et l’orientation du matériau. Cette construction monobloc donne naissance à une aile portante qui résiste de façon homogène à la déformation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bmbYgGePnU READ MORE

SAIL WASHING 101 Everything You Need to Know About Sail Washing by Our Team of Certified Service Professionals We often get the question: ‘how do I clean my sails’ and ‘how do I make my sails look like new again’. Our answer, without fail, is to have your sails washed. The benefits to sail washing are exponential and bring new life into your sails after years on the water. The three main benefits to sail washing are: Brightness Cleaner Sail Life Extension Sails always come out of sail washing brighter, looking like a new sail due to the solution used. The sail itself is cleaner as the dirt is removed during the soaking process. As a result, the life of your sail is extended because you're getting rid of any mold or mildew therefore it does not rot the sail. The process itself is pretty simple and takes about a week to complete from start to finish. When sails come in we soak them in a highly concentrated formula overnight and then spray them down to remove any final bits of dirt. Once this is complete we hang the sails to dry for 2-3 days before completing our 10 point inspection. In addition to sails, we also have the ability to wash canvas! Anything from dodgers to biminis to wheel covers - we do it all. Pricing is based on the square footage of your sail, which we measure the luff and foot to calculate. Included with every sail washing is FREE winter storage in our climate controlled facility. Let's Recap! What does it remove? Bugs Dirt Salt Everything except oil stains Mold & mildew Can you wash 3Di? Yes. Like anything that is in contact with salt water, 3Di sails can be rinsed with fresh water and dried before storing. What material can be washed? Dacron Canvas How does pricing work? Square footage of the sail Luff x foot Explore more services offered by your local Certified Service team! READ MORE