FRENCH DESIGN ENGINEER MATHIEU GUILLAUD JOINS THE AUCKLAND TEAM

NORTH SAILS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE ADDITION OF FRENCH DESIGN ENGINEER MATHIEU GUILLAUD TO ITS AUCKLAND TEAM.

Guillaud, from the western coast of France, first came to New Zealand, and North, back in 2015, but has recently returned from a stint servicing superyacht sails in Mallorca to join the design team here.

Guillaud trained as a mechanical design engineer but always wanted to work in the marine industry. He originally came to Auckland to improve his English and gain experience after finishing his science degree and engineering apprenticeship, ‘because it’s the city of sailing.’ He started work interning as a sailmaker in the North loft, then while on secondment to North Sails Palma was offered a permanent position back here.

‘Since the beginning I knew I wanted to be a sail designer, so as soon as I was offered the opportunity to come back to New Zealand and move into this area, I jumped at it,’ he says. Guillaud grew up sailing Lasers, on the coast not far from the port of Les Sables-d’Olonne, home of the Vendée Globe single-handed round the world race. ‘When I was growing up that was always a big deal,’ he says.

He now mainly sails keelboats, going out on a range of different boats to gain experience and knowledge of what Kiwi customers want.

‘When you are sailing with good people they can teach you a lot about what they want, and you can use that information when you are designing their sails.’

Guillaud is loving living in the new home of the America’s Cup, and is excited about what the future holds.

‘It’s the whole culture here — it’s all about sailing. Now everything is coming back here and it’s really exciting for New Zealand and the marine industry here.’