EXTREME OCEAN TESTED

Offshore sailors tackle miles at record pace with North Sails 3Di

North Sails clients have broken 22 world sailing records since 2014, all using 3Di sails. These sailors made history with determination, tireless energy and a killer team. Recently, North-powered clients stole the spotlight in the 2017 Transpac Race, with HL Enloe and his crew on Mighty Merloe breaking the 20-year old multihull course record (set by Bruno Peyron’s Commodore Explorer) and Jim Clark’s Comanche smashing the monohull course record.  While both of these racing machines require the utmost durability, both boats opted for North’s lightest weight product, North Sails 3Di RAW.

Francis Joyon and his IDEC crew claimed the coveted Jules Verne trophy for the fastest circumnavigation on record, 40 days, on January 26, 2017. Only six weeks before their historic finish, French sailor Armel Le Cléac’h set the singlehanded monohull around-the-world record (74 days) during his third Vendée Globe – the famous singlehanded offshore race where upwards of 20 skippers start and finish from the port town of Les Sables d’Olonne, France. On none other than Christmas Day, Thomas Coville accomplished his lifelong goal of completing the fastest solo circumnavigation by any sailor. As a matter of fact, he smashed the record by over eight days.

The level of participation and success witnessed in offshore sailing these past few years is perhaps unprecedented, and the advances in sailmaking are proven. Thomas Coville’s 3Di ENDURANCE mainsail had 75,000 miles (the equivalent of three times around the world) logged when he broke the singlehanded east-about circumnavigation record. Before 3Di sails went to market, one lap of the globe required multiple sail inventories.

North Sails introduced its unique and patented 3Di technology seven years ago. Since then, 3Di has proven itself as a game-changing product line; on platforms ranging from long distance, ocean going yachts to small boat, high performance one design. We are proud to support clients who continue to set new benchmarks in the sport, and look forward to providing the most trusted and proven sail technology to sailors all over the globe.