Detroit Michigan
Loft Info
24777 Forterra Drive
Warren, Michigan 48089
586 790 7500
Specialties
Bend on / Bend off, Canvas, Certified Service, Sail Hardware Upgrades, Sail Inspection / Evaluation, Sail Measurement, Sail Repair, Sail Storage, Sail WashingHours
North Sails Experts
Bill Lesnek
Service Manager
bill.lesnek@northsails.com
Skip Dieball
One Design Expert, Sail Expert
skip.dieball@northsails.com
Dan Fien
Rochester Area Representative, Sail Expert
dan.fien@northsails.com
Louis Johnson
Buffalo Area Representative, Sail Expert
Louis.Johnson@northsails.com
Chelsie Strong
Office Manager
chelsie.strong@northsails.com
Mike Stark
Service Sailmaker
mike.stark@northsails.com
Karl Kuspa
Loft Manager, Sail Expert
karl.kuspa@northsails.com
Joe Parker
Saginaw Bay Area Representative, Sail Expert
joe.parker@northsails.com
AJ Ficcardi
Erie Area Representative, Sail Expert
aj.ficcardi@northsails.com
Ryan Lashaway
Cleveland Area Representative, Sail Expert
ryan.lashaway@northsails.com
Spencer Colpaert
Detroit Area Representative, Sail Expert
Spencer.Colpaert@northsails.com
Blay Shoenherr
North West Michigan Area Representative, Sail Expert
blay.shoenherr@northsails.com
Contact
Local News
For some sailors, “club racing” means a casual jib-and-main evening race aboard a well-stocked cruising boat carrying roller furlers and its anchor and chain in the bow. For others, it means a no-holds-barred weekend race …
Saturday February 15th North Sails Detroit welcomed Bill Gladstone and Peter Isler into the loft to conduct a full day Seminar on the tactical and navigation software Expedition. Bill is the owner of North U …
For those that are unaware, Iceboating, simply put, is sailing on ice. There are many different types of iceboats, but current designs tend to have three runners or blades that support the main body of …
People with sailboats use them in many ways, but broadly speaking we define them as either cruising or racing. Cruising might be an hour-long daysail, with only one sail hoisted, or it might last a …
Now that the holidays are over and we focus on what’s ahead in 2020, I was able to get in touch with Tom Mulder about a very special gift from his parents on Christmas and …
Personally, one of my least favorite jobs after sailing is getting the sails down and rolled or folded. Fortunately, there is a sail handling system that can take some of the pain away for just …
Miami delivered near perfect conditions for the second event of the Biscayne Bay Regatta Series. A full series of five races was sailed over the course of two days. Winds were primarily 15-20 kts out …
Although our boats are put away for the season and there may or may not be snow on the ground right now, it’s actually the perfect time to think about how to get your boat …
North Sails Detroit hosted the International Lightning Class’s Michigan District members for their annual meeting in the loft. Both Skip Dieball and Spencer Colpaert were on hand as hosts and over 20 members came to conduct …
Jeanneau America announced today that world-renowned American yachtsman and North Sails President Ken Read will campaign the new Jeanneau SunFast 3300 in the double-handed division of the 2020 Fort Lauderdale to Key West race along …
Building on the HUGE success of last Winter's Seminar Series, North Sails Detroit is pleased to announce this years Winter Series. All events are free except Feb 15th's full day seminar. What can you do to …
Are your sails and canvas looking a little dingy? DON’T WORRY! We can fix that! At North Sails Detroit we have many options to bring back life to your dirty sails and canvas. Not only …
Many cruisers love the ease of their roller furling headsails. Here is all you need to know about North's Radian furling headsail. When looking at Dacron sails you have two panel layouts of choice, the more …
When John and Ellie came into the loft in early November they divulged that they were looking for North Sails and North Sails swag for their son for Christmas. As we were talking I thought …
On September 29th 2019, Edison Boat Club closed their doors one final time. Founded in 1914, EBC has been a mainstay in the Detroit Area Sailing Community. Earlier this Spring, DTE which owns the property …
How wide is your groove? Sounds like a question from the ‘60s, doesn’t it? In this story, North expert Skip Dieball explains the upwind groove and tells us what to look for. Earlier this year, as …
We hope everyone had a great summer filled with sailing! As the sailing season comes to a close, we would like to remind everyone that now is the time to get your sails in for …
October was a busy month for the Detroit Loft. Our goal this fall was to help make it easier to get your sails in for winter service and storage. The results was a number of …
After moving around the country for the past seven years, taking some incredible opportunities to grow as both a sailor and sailmaker, I am very excited to be moving back to Detroit to continue my …
Lifelong sailor sailor Jim Bacon tells us about his Catalina 36, which he's shared with boat partner Ted Ingling and has been sailing with since high school, and the journey to new sails. I started sailing …
Our team is making it easier than ever to get your sails in for winter service! Your sails have done a lot this season and it's time for some annual TLC! Meet Karl Kuspa at …
The 2019 J/70 North Americans hosted by Edgewater Yacht Club in Cleveland, Ohio went off without a hitch, with ten races completed for the talented 35-boat fleet. North client Oivind Lorentzen sailing on Nine with …
It was a jammed packed summer for Don Condit and his crew aboard his Tartan 4000 Roxy, which is powered by 3Di Endurance Main, Jib and Genoa as well as an AirX A2. Over the course of …
Patriot Owner Ken Sharpe and his crew for their overall victory, winning six of 11 races. Chris Duhan's Tequila Mockingbird took second, and Jarrett Altmin's Soulshine took third and was also the Corinthian Champion. "Our …
North Sails expert Skip Dieball shares a recap of his winning weekend! The 2019 Hobie 33 North Americans were held at my home club on the North Cape the first weekend of September. The format was …
When J/145 owner Bill Schanen III was looking to gain that extra edge for racing this season he knew he wanted something cable-less. He contacted North Sails expert Tom Pease on what his options were. …
Rochester Yacht Club hosted the J/24 Nationals on the beautiful waters of Lake Ontario, with 48-boats in attendance. North Sails clients had the upper hand on the competition, bringing their best game to the race …
Every summer, there are two annual overnight races on the Great Lakes to Mackinac Island, and for the uninitiated they might tend to blend together. Both finish at the top of Michigan. They’re both in …
We have teamed up with our friends at Sailing Weather Service to provide all entrants of the 2019 Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race with complimentary weather forecasting. Sign up now and we'll deliver the forecast …
Racers eagerly lined the docks for the 2019 Bayview One Design Regatta at Bayview Yacht Club the first weekend in June to kick-off a race filled weekend. What a great event. Even though the weather didn't …
North Sails is excited to continue our sponsorship of the Helly Hansen NOOD Regattas, and Chicago is the next stop on the circuit. North Sails local team, led by expert Perry Lewis will be on …
North Sails is pleased to announced that Spencer Colpaert has joined the Detroit team and will work alongside Karl Kuspa and Skip Dieball. Spencer’s passion for sailing started on the Detroit River and Lake St Clair …
Brian Lefeve has worked with Bill Lesnek over the years in the world of kiteboarding repairs and sailmaking, leading to a friendship filled with fond memories and priceless learning moments. He shares what makes Bill …
It has been a busy few weeks for North Sails Detroit as we took to the road and did a hand full of seminars throughout the region. On the evening of March 26th, Loft Manager Karl Kuspa …
The One Design team at North Sails are driven by our commitment to find solutions for our customers and to always find more speed and boat performance. This is why the new F-1 mainsail was …
I am the newest member of North Sails Detroit with only seven months under my belt. I was interested in working for a sail maker due to my parents and in particular, my father’s passion …
On Thursday March 14th, North Sails Detroit finished up their Winter Seminar Series with a stop at Bayview Yacht Club. Once again Bill Gladstone from North U was the featured speaker with Karl Kuspa from …
We caught up with our clients, Shari and Robin Scurrs to hear about their cruising adventure down in the BVI's and how this is just the beginning of their lifelong dream as live-a-boards. Shari: Robin’s brother owns …
Sailing has always been in my family and I started at at seven in the junior program at Grosse Pointe Club. By age nine, I was ready advance to a more serious program and joined …
I have been sailing for 40+ years. I have sailed in many PHRF events over the years on boats from 22' to 70'. I have sailed in the IOR One-Ton NAs and Worlds. I've also raced …
Over the past 50 years, I have sailed with numerous fleets including IC dinghy, Lightning, Laser, Thistle, J/24, Farr 30, Soling and PHRF. My experience has lead me to three One design National titles and a US Sailing Championship …
From dinghies, to offshore big-boat racing, to iceboats, I try to grow my sailing experience in as many areas as possible. For the most part I can be found racing Lasers, J24’s & T-10's. During …
I began sailing in Presque Isle Bay at The Erie Yacht Club about 20 years ago. I have raced a variety of boats in the PHRF class locally and all over Lake Erie. I have …
We had 54 people (near capacity of 60) attend North U's full day Seminar Feb. 23rd on sail trim and boat speed. This on the heels of the 110 people that attended the January Thursday …
Bayview Yacht Club and North Sails are pleased to announce their continued partnership in the Bell’s Beer Bayview to Mackinac Race and the Bayview One Design Regatta for 2019. “North Sails is committed to not …
By: North Sails Expert, Skip Dieball The kick off to the 2019 Etchells Biscayne Bay Series couldn’t have been better from a weather and racing perspective. All five races were competed in good, challenging conditions and …
Development of 3Di began ten years ago and has continued at a rapid and accelerating pace ever since. 3Di is the sum of multiple technologies exclusive to North Sails, making it the ideal platform for …
North Sails Detroit’s service manager Bill Lesnek has been building and repairing sails (and kites) in the Detroit metro area since 1980. Recently we caught up with Bill to learn why he’s excited about the …
North Sails is excited to announce the relocation of our loft in the Detroit metro area. Centrally located along the 696 and 94 expressways, the new facility led by local expert Karl Kuspa is designed …
Congratulations to Jody Starck, Ian Jones and Skip Dieball on securing the US Lightning berth for the 2019 PanAm Games in Lima, Peru. Held at the Buffalo Canoe Club the weekend of September 7-9, the …
This is the third North American title for Terry McLaughlin’s Mandate. Terry bought the J/105 in late 2012 with friend Rod Wilmer. They race during the week on Tuesday evenings in Toronto and do weekend …
By the time he’s completed sailing all five Great Lakes next Summer, John Lecznar will be 70 years old and have completed a non-stop solo navigation on his Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20. A feat that …
At North Sails, our mission is to provide you with expert repairs, maintenance, and upgrades in a timely manner. Whether you race or cruise, your sails are a major investment, and we are committed to …
The new Ker 46+, Denali 3, rolled into Northern Michigan on May 31st and the commissioning team has been hard at work everyday since. Built by McConaghy and managed by Wade Morgan of Morgan Yachting, the …
Chair of the BYC Spring Match Race Invitational, Lance Smotherman, shares his advice for racers and the opportunity that lays in the qualifying event. Lance is also the chair of the Detroit Cup and the …
The Bayview One Design Regatta began in 2012 with our own Karl Kuspa as Vice-Chairman with then Governor of Bayview Yacht Club Hanson Bratton. Fast forward six years and the regatta is still going, growing …
I grew up sailing Flying Scot's but currently am sailing keelboats, specifically Beneteau 36.7s, J35, J120 and Great Lake 70's. I started working with International 50's in college, which jump started my sailing career. From there, …
I have been sailing for almost 40 years now; I've been sailing since I was a kid. Right now, I primarily sail One Design, such as Etchells, Lightning, J70, Melges 24 and Big Keelboats. I worked …
A perfect combination of pristine waters, spectacular scenery and ever changing weather conditions makes the Great Lakes an exciting place for sailors of all levels. Distance racing in this unique environment can teach even the …
As we come to the end of the sailing season and head into winter, the North Sails global service team is gearing up for a busy period - from helping clients prepare for the Caribbean …
The Interlake Nationals were held at the Lorain Yacht Club this year. Four days of racing were scheduled, but only four races were sailed due to a cold front that made its way across Lake …
In Detroit at the Bayview Yacht Club, 10 Etchells teams competed in the Great Lakes Champs with North Sails client Bruce Burton and his team on Firing Line took the overall win after eight races. Bruce …
With ideal sailing conditions, the 79th Queen’s Cup was smooth sailing for 140 competitors. An annual distance race from South Shore YC in Milwaukee across Lake Michigan, North Sails Clients finished in the top three …
It was a nice weekend for sailing in Cleveland with 11 classes participating in One Design weekend, which also served as the Star Western Hemispheres, T-10 Lake Erie Championships, and the J70 Great Lakes Championships. …
New York was more than slightly crazy, it was fully fledged crazy! Even with all of the insanity on the water, the same couple of teams keep coming out ahead. If I were a competitor …