#NSVICTORYLIST: ATOMIC BLONDE WINS THE SEASON

Congratulations Team on Winning the WA Offshore Yacht SISKA Trophy

📸 Lindsay Preece

The JPK 10.80 Atomic Blonde placed 3rd overall in the recent Fremantle to Exmouth race, being also Division 2 line honours winner. Highly variable weather patterns ranging from drifting conditions to near gale force made it a challenging race. This capped off a very successful year for Atomic Blonde and her crew, and emphatically sealed the coveted SISKA trophy for overall best offshore race yacht in Western Australia. This is the first time in 14 years a Division 2 yacht has won the trophy and was especially pleasing for the crew who are all Corinthian sailors.

📸 Lindsay Preece

Atomic Blondes owner Dr Simon Torvaldsen filed the following report; “A key factor in the success was the decision to use North Sails for the new mainsail and jibs. Upwind performance is critical to winning races in Western Australia. Having the 3Di RAW sails resulted in 20kg less weight loft compared to the previous configuration and the one piece moulded construction delivered performance as promised, being precisely shaped to the boat design. The fact that North Sails had extensive experience in JPK sail design in Europe was a big factor in the decision to use their sails and the results speak for themselves. Utilising high tech construction and very precise design means that sail settings and rig tune need to also be very precise, small differences in settings can have a big impact on performance. So time needs to be spent by crew in getting the rig and sail settings correct. This is where after sails service and back up from the sailmaker is important, and the North Sails team spent considerable time on the water with Atomic Blonde and her crew to optimize the boat tune and enable the performance potential of the new sails to be unleashed. Winning the major offshore trophy over a whole season requires a lot of time, effort and teamwork, especially when competing against highly competent, motivated and professional opponents. It needs a top boat, crew, gear and sails. North Sails became an integral part of that team and the quality of the sails and tuning advice played a key role in securing the SISKA trophy for Atomic Blonde.”

📸 Lindsay Preece

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08 August

NORTH SAILS PORTSMOUTH AT YOUR SERVICE

Upcoming Regatta Repair Schedule North Sails Certified Service Experts will repair your sails overnight. Our Service van is on-site at select events, offering regatta venue pick-up and drop-off. Tears happen, but they shouldn’t leave you without a key piece of race inventory. Look for our North Sails Certified Service Experts at the following regattas this season. *All pickups will be 4:30-5:30pm and drop offs will be 7:30-8:00am. NYYC ANNUAL REGATTAJune 9-10 | Sail Newport, The Alofsin Piers BLOCK ISLAND RACE WEEKJune 17-22 | Block Island Maritime Center SAIL NEWPORT REGATTAJuly 8 | Sail Newport, The Alofsin Piers ORC ECC / IC37 NATIONALSJuly 14-15 | The Alofsin Piers 12M WORLDSAugust 1-4 | IYRS Pier SAFE HARBOR RACE WEEKENDAugust 11-13 | Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard Pickup NYYC INVITATIONALSeptember 9-16 | New York Yacht Club Harbor Court IC37 NORTH AMERICANSOctober 6-7 | Sail Newport, The Alofsin Piers Talk To A Service Expert

23 May

CRUSH-ING RECORDS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

North Sails-powered TP52 Crush is victorious in the 700 nautical mile Fremantle to Exmouth Race. David Davenport’s North Sails powered TP52 Crush has added a third race record to their long list of achievements in 2023, with the latest line honors win taken in the Fremantle Exmouth Race and Rally along Australia’s iconic western coast. North Sails Expert Andrew Harry commended the team’s efforts in the complicated race, “it was a great race for a lot of our clients. It’s the first time that the boat has done this race, and they add another race record to their names.” “Previously this year, they set a new record for the Bunbury return, which is 180nm, and the Cape Naturaliste and Return race which is 210nm, so three race records this year for the team, and all have been standing for quite some time. They won IRC overall in the race as well, which is part of our Bluewater Pointscore and secured the overall win for them this year in the series, so it’s a great win for the guys.” There was another win for North Sails customers in the long-distance race, with Alan Stein winning both the Overall PHF and Division 1 titles in his Pogo 40 called Fat Bottom Girl. “North Sails Expert Kyle Dodds onboard with Alan for the race, as he used to work in the Perth loft and sail with him before moving over to Sydney.” Andrew highlighted the development the team has worked with Alan on recently, saying, “Just three months ago, we put new sails on the boat, including all new 3Di inventory, and it really has transformed the boat. Alan’s really loving the sailing, and in this race, he won PHF, and he was fourth across the line as well. He’s stoked and really happy with the boat’s progress!” Unfortunately for Andrew and the crew on Obsession, they weren’t able to finish the race to Exmouth. “It wasn't the greatest for us, we got 100 nautical miles in and in a bare headed change, the breeze increased to about 35kts and we destroyed our headfoil, so therefore it gave the rig a bit of a shake, so we had to turn around. But the team and I all made our way up to Exmouth so we’re all here to support the rest of the fleet as they come in!” commented Andrew. “The first six hours of the race was really fresh, with easterly breezes between 18 to 38 knots, giving the fleet great power reaching conditions straight up the coast. As they got further north, there were a lot of shutdowns in the breeze, and it got a little trickier and more complex tactically. There was some great sailing going on out there, and everyone had fun with a big smile on their face as they arrived, so all in all, a successful race!” “It’s a great race. It's only the third time it’s been run, so over the last 30 years, it’s typically a long-distance race with a 1500nm around Bali, but as things changed over the past few years, it got moved to the beautiful Exmouth.” See full results from the 2023 Fremantle to Exmouth Race and Rally here. READ MORE

23 May

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: DUTCH SHOE MARATHON

Fun For Sailors Of All Ages The Dutch Shoe Marathon is almost a 5-mile race, a long-distance race in the world of 8-foot dinghies. The race starts in between San Diego and Southwestern Yacht Clubs and finishes at the Coronado Yacht Club. Every year almost 200 jr and sr. sailors come to race this fun race. For most of the Jr. sailors ,this will be a challenging and difficult race to complete. We asked rockstar coach Jon Rogers and last year's winner Ronan Servais for some tips. How do you help prepare competitors for a race like the Dutch Shoe? It's a long race. The first thing I do is to remember that it is as much an experience as it is a race. I triple check everything during the week before to try and ensure nothing breaks. I also check the weather forecast and tide so that I know what point of sail I will be on mostly on. Why do you like the T6 mainsail? The T6 is a good sail to cover all the conditions that we experience. It is especially good in events that have lots of boats and the related disrupted wind and chop that come with that. The T5 is a great sail, especially for smaller kids, but once the conditions get chopped up, the T-6 has a little more power to deal with it. What is your advice for fuelling up for such a long journey? I always remind competitors to bring a good amount of food, snacks and something good to drink. It can be a long race and all those little “pick me ups” help keep the mind focused. I tell kids to always bring something sweet that they really like. For me, it’s a frozen Snicker bar. Previous 2022 Dutch Shoe Winner Ronan Servais shares his tips on how to prepare for the race and what he likes most about the North T6 mainsail. How do you prepare for a race like the Dutch Shoe? It's a long race! It's a long race, so I get my snacks, fill up my water bottle and make sure my boat is ready to go. Last year my Dad and I reviewed my boat checklist the week before, which included a trip to North Sails, to inspect and pick up my new T6. I also suggest trying to get a good night's sleep and eat a big, healthy breakfast. Why do you like the T6 mainsail? I like the T6 mainsail because I go really fast with it. I have two hiking straps in my sabot so I can hike out farther and handle the power of the T6. Do you bring any snacks with you for such a long journey? Yes. I like cookies, candy bars and root beer. What are your sabot sailing goals in 2023? My sabot sailing goals for 2023 are to move up to Sabot A Fleet, and get a podium finish in an A fleet regatta. I’d also like to compete in the Dick Sweet Team Race for the first time with my SDYC teammates. What are your future goals in sailing? I’d like to learn to sail the C420 very well and then win a regatta in the Class. Stop by the Dutch Shoe Marathon this year at San Diego Yacht Club where you can enter to win a North Sails Pace SUP. Must be present to win. The winner will be drawn and announced at the awards ceremony on July 21st, 2023 at Coronado Yacht Club. Don’t forget, order now and save 15% on Sabot sails plus have your new sail delivered before the Shoe! READ MORE

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