You can imagine the future or you can be a part of it. Lowell North decided to be a part of it– and lead it. When he started North Sails, Lowell North’s philosophy was simple…get the best people and commit yourself to make the best product. Be clear, creative, methodical and competitive in spirit. Surpass your wildest imagination.

For over six decades, teams powered by North Sails have achieved remarkable results. Our customers claim the sports' most prestigious prodiums, including events like the America's Cup, The Ocean Race and the non-stop solo around the world Vendée Globe. The range of our successes—from offshore to inshore to one design—sheds light on the hundreds of projects being moved forward daily by the collaborative efforts of North Sails designers, manufacturers, and sail experts worldwide. We all benefit and learn, and as a result, so do our customers.

Lowell North (1929-2019) was an American sailor and sailmaker widely considered one of the most influential figures in the sport of sailing. He was born in Springfield, Missouri, and grew up in California, where he developed his passion for sailing. North attended the University of California, Berkeley and was a member of the university's sailing team.

After establishing a successful aeronautic/aerospace engineer. His restless mind, however, encouraged him to strike out on his own, so he quit his job designing rockets and started North Sails in 1957. North's sails were used by many of the world's top sailors and teams, and he was particularly successful in the competitive field of ocean racing. Today, North Sail is the world's leading and largest sailmaker known for innovative sail designs and cutting-edge technology.

North himself was an accomplished sailor, winning the Star World Championship five times and competing in the Olympics. He was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1993 and the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2011.

We are a unique sailmaker, built on a champion spirit. Our story began as a small sailmaking company in a room at San Diego's B Street Pier. The space was a little dusty and dirty but big enough for Lowell North to build a Star boat mainsail. Six decades later, North Sails has grown into the world’s leading sailmaker, with seven wholly owned manufacturing sites in six different countries, 2,000 employees worldwide, and tens of thousands of sails hoisted on harbors and oceans around the globe each year.

Founded in a decidedly scientific approach to sailmaking, North Sails remains rooted in the core values that led Lowell North to success: in-house analysis and development of materials, performance-led design, quality craftsmanship and customer service. Dive into these stories that bring back memories and inspire the next generation of innovators