NORTH SAILS MERGES WITH DOYLE FORT LAUDERDALE

NORTH SAILS STRENGTHENS SOUTH FLORIDA PRESENCE

Combining World Class Customer Service & Products In The Southeast

The North Sails loft in Fort Lauderdale will merge with the former Doyle Sails East (Fort Lauderdale) loft to consolidate their expertise and personnel, giving sailors in South Florida access to unmatched service and product offering. Under the leadership of North Sails veteran Mike Toppa, the new combined team will be headed by Bob Meagher and Peter Grimm Jr, both hugely respected in the Southeast region. Meagher, the previous owner of Doyle Fort Lauderdale, will take on the role of Site Manager for Fort Lauderdale and become the Southeast Regional Manager for North Sails. He will be supported by his longtime sales expert Peter Grimm Jr. Based out of the current North Sails loft in South Florida, they will now be able to tap into North’s patented in-house software programs and the full spectrum of world-leading products to ensure their customers get the most out of their boats and sails. Now integrated into North’s unrivaled global network, sailors in the region will also benefit from world-class service. Commenting on the merger, longtime North Sails Florida leader Mike Toppa said: “As two management teams seeking to provide the best solutions possible to our customers, it made perfect sense to both parties to combine our efforts. I’ve always had a huge amount of respect for Bob and Peter and have complete trust having Bob in the operational leadership role. I am confident the new team will go from strength to strength as we build on each others’ knowledge, networks, and skills. Anyone with a boat in the region will undoubtedly reap the benefits and see the results.” Bob Meagher has built a career helping people enjoy their boats. Two decades of sail consulting have led him to become one of America’s most experienced sail experts, especially in the growing market of cruising multihulls. He has a vast knowledge of sailcloth and sail handling systems across a wide variety of boats, providing captains and project managers with a clear understanding of the sail options available to these unique boats. His twenty years of business experience with fellow sailmakers around the country gives Bob deep understanding of the sailing industry in the Southeast U.S. and the industry trends shaping sailing throughout North America.

"I am confident the new team will go from strength to strength as we build on each others’ knowledge, networks, and skills. Anyone with a boat in the region will undoubtedly reap the benefits and see the results.”

Commenting on the merger, Bob concluded “For a long time I have felt we can give sailors better products, better service, and better solutions if we combined forces with North Sails. Once we decided we could make it happen, it has been a very positive experience and I am excited about the future, not only for our staff but for our customers.” More than five decades of sailing and 100,000 sea miles give Peter Grimm the ability to help clients get the most out of their boat and sails. His long familiarity with owners, boat builders, spar builders, yacht designers, project managers, and captains of all experience make Peter a resource to educate clients not just about sails, but all the components needed to improve their performance and enjoyment, and his wins in races such as Montego Bay, Key West, St Barths Bucket, and the Palma Super Yacht Cup demonstrate his success. Peter's career has stayed on the cusp of the ever-growing superyacht market, from the largest 80 footers in the 80’s, to the 200 footers in the 2000’s. Constantly on the forefront of what is new, he is a regular fixture in superyacht yards and marinas of South Florida, and wherever these unique vessels gather. Commenting on the merger, Peter explained: “Throughout my career, I have competed with North Sails on and off the water through a highly personalized, hands-on approach to help clients who race or cruise around the bay or around the world. The unique North Sails products add a new dimension to my tool kit. The unrivaled level of knowledge and client support within North Sails is an advantage I’m looking forward to bring to my Superyacht clients.”