Newport Shipyard
Service, Sales
Loft Info
Newport Shipyard
1 Washington Street
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
401 683 7997
Specialties
Certified Service, Bend on / Bend off, New SailsNorth Sails Experts

Mike Toppa
Loft Manager
Mike.Toppa@northsails.com
401 683 7997
954 560 6665

Eric Wakefield
Sail Expert, Sales and Service Project Manager
eric.wakefield@northsails.com

Tim Dawson
Loft Manager, Sail Expert
Tim.Dawson@northsails.com
401 683 7997
401 499 4137

Will Welles
One Design Expert, Sail Expert
will.welles@northsails.com
401 683 7997
617 285 9455
Contact
Local News
November 19, 2022
North Sails Set to Power the 37th America’s Cup Competitors
North Sails, which has powered every America’s Cup winner since 1987, is proud to be the sailmaker of choice for all entries participating in the 37th America's Cup. The five teams signed up to compete …
January 3, 2022
What You Should Know About Battens
Thinking about battens? Preparing for a new season is something that is on everyone’s mind. Whether you’re staging your boat to launch, planning an extended cruise, or hoisting your sails for a weeknight club race, …
December 1, 2021
Cruising Multihull Q + A
A: Because a multihull does not heel and release the wind load when the pressure hits, multihull sails must be able to handle higher wind loads than monohull sails. This means every aspect of multihull …
October 20, 2021
‘How To’ Video Series with Bouwe Bekking
We’ve teamed up with our friends at X-Yachts and are excited to release an all-new 'How To' video series aimed at every type of cruiser. All seven videos are now live and available to watch …
September 21, 2021
Nord Stream Race Victory for Team Finland
The 6th of September and the end of Kiel Week 2021 marked the beginning of the ninth edition of the longest offshore race in the grueling Baltic Sea, the Nord Stream Race. Sailing the 1000 nautical …
September 13, 2021
ARC Preparations & Cruising Sail Selection for Offshore
North Sails cruising experts Jeremy Smart, Bob Meagher, and Ridgely MacKenzie join World Cruising Club’s Andrew Bishop to discuss sail selection for offshore bluewater sailing and ARC Preparations. This webinar is a particularly beneficial watch …
September 8, 2021
NYYC Invitational Regatta Weather
North Sails is offering complimentary weather forecasts to all teams competing in the 2021 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. Sign up today for your free daily forecast delivered right to your inbox, prepared …
July 9, 2021
Unlocking the Potential of North Club Racing Sails
Nicolas (Nico) Cohen-Addad’s J/122 Jinn captured the attention of the North Sails team in Hong Kong after winning a host of recent regattas, including the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Summer Cup (IRC) and the …
July 2, 2021
Doubling Down on Doublehanded
Last year was rough for sailing, but one bright spot was the surge of doublehanded sailing. For countries like France and the UK, double and shorthanded sailing is ingrained in their culture. This style is …
July 2, 2021
Delivering a Winning Combination for Superyachts
I think if you asked Lowell North, he’d be pleasantly surprised by the growth of superyacht sailing but not shocked that North Sails is the leader in this segment of the sport. That’s because his …
Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race week is always a much anticipated and highly-competitive regatta that attracts a mixed-class entry list from Maine to Annapolis every other year. This year a number of first-timers joined …
May 3, 2021
J/70 North American Championship Tool Kit
We are excited to get back out racing again, and we wanted to reshare some of our favorite articles and webinars before you head to Annapolis for the J/70 North American Championship. This Tool Kit …
April 23, 2021
This is North Sails: The Team, The Tools and the Technology
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 …
April 7, 2021
New Fastnet Record
The MOD70 Trimaran PowerPlay, led by Peter Cunningham and skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, has set a new Fastnet record. The team completed the original Fastnet course of 595 nautical miles in a new world Fastnet …
April 6, 2021
Rhode Island Welcomes Back Will Bomar
Well-versed in One Design racing, Will Bomar grew up in Virginia, racing out of Hampton Yacht Club in the junior program and racing J/24s with his dad. After college, Will became a boat builder and …
February 19, 2021
Asymmetrical vs. Symmetrical Spinnakers
When it comes to downwind sails, there are a dizzying array of choices for today’s sailor. There are even two types of spinnaker: asymmetric and symmetric. So how do you decide what would be right …
February 10, 2021
North Sails J/70 Team Launch Two New Sail Designs
The J/70 class attracts sailors who demand the best, and North Sails continues to upgrade and improve an already successful inventory. New for 2021 are two designs added to the North class line-up; the XCS-4 …
January 31, 2021
Your North Sails Team is Live!
Catch your local teams live with our upcoming interactive webinar schedule. North Sails Class Experts from around the world have joined forces to bring you the best tips and techniques that will help you get …
December 4, 2020
Build, Test, Rinse, and Repeat
Last week we announced the launch of our new Performance range of foul weather gear that will be available in Spring 2021. Each week, until launch, we’ll unpack how our team conceived the range, the …
October 12, 2020
Pacific Yankee’s Drew Freides, 2020 National Champions
Drew Freides is a well-known face in the sailing world. His list of impressive results includes back to back Melges 20 World Champion in 2017 and 2018, two IC37 Winter Series wins, 2019 Farr 40 …
October 1, 2020
Putting Away Your Toys
North Sails Expert Tom Davis is particular about sail storage. He’s shared his best tips below to ensure your sails remain in top shape for next season. Given how strange 2020 has been in many respects, …
September 25, 2020
Connecting Kiting and Sailing
It wasn’t flashy imagery or action sports videos that got Steve Calder, North Sails designer, interested in kiting. His love for the sport began when his son decided he wasn’t interested in sailing optis while …
September 20, 2020
Tuning Tips from the Top
Pros at the top of the fleet share how the North 9DSX Moth sail takes them through the range of conditions and their personal tuning tips. Shop Moth Sails
September 2, 2020
Sesto-Cosby Makes Waves in the Optimist Fleet
Making a name for himself in the fiercely competitive Optimist fleet is 14-year-old British sailor Santiago Sesto-Cosby. Having sailed the Optimist for an astounding 10 years, we were eager to find out about his journey …
August 28, 2020
Doublehanded Tips From Armel Le Cléac’h & Clarisse Crémer
North Sails were lucky to have the two doublehanded experts Armel Le Cléac’h & Clarisse Crémer host a webinar for an in-depth masterclass. Best known as a singlehanded sailor with notable race wins in the Solitaire …
August 21, 2020
Becoming a Doublehanded Team
By the time most people are making their morning coffee, Jesse Fielding and Francesca Clapcich have logged a 20-mile bike ride with their team. Getting to their goals includes a training regimen on par with …
August 19, 2020
Doublehanded Debrief Live with Ken Read
Diving headfirst into a new style of sailing has made for an exciting and competitive summer for North Sails President Ken Read. Join Ken live with special guests Suzy Leech and Brad Read as they …
August 14, 2020
Q&A With Onne van der Wal
Onne Van der Wal’s Pearson 36 didn’t always shine as she does now. Before she was Snoek, she was tired and tangled on her mooring in Newport Harbor. Now, she’s a gem of the New …
August 7, 2020
Building Sails for The IMOCA
November 8th, the next edition of the Vendée Globe race is set to start from Les Sables d'Olonne, North Sails has designed the sails for the ¾ of the IMOCA fleet, 17 of which have …
August 6, 2020
Steering Downwind
Steering off the wind, on reaches and runs, requires a coordinated effort between helmsman and spinnaker trimmer. The spinnaker trimmer often has as good a feel for performance as you do while driving, and together …
August 5, 2020
How To Improve Your Tacks
The most important element of upwind boathandling is tacking, though every once in awhile an efficient reef or genoa change could also win you a race. Tacking seems like a minor thing, but the difference …
July 17, 2020
New Sails For Summer On Swan 78 Kinina
In 2018, Mr. Enrico Bonatti purchased Kinina, a Swan 78. Why a Swan 78? “I prefer the best quality,” he said. “And the 78 is the right size for me.” Mr. Bonatti then met with …
July 14, 2020
Feels Like Summer In Rhode Island
https://youtu.be/vIhnL3AB_oY It took until mid-July but it finally feels like summer on Narragansett Bay. This past weekend 24 boats of various shapes and sizes participated in IYAC’s 2020 Newport Cup to race around Conanicut Island. Local …
July 14, 2020
#NSVictoryList: Race Results from Around The World
Call us competitive but sitting down to write this article is very exciting because it’s the first week in a while where we have a healthy dose of race results. The noteworthy point in sharing …
July 10, 2020
Doublehanded Tool Kit
Doublehanded sailing has gained momentum globally, as the gateway to getting back out on the water while remaining socially distant. It is also the latest event added to Paris 2024, so now is the time …
July 9, 2020
It Takes Two…
Owner and co-skipper, Catherine Pourre and co-skipper Pietro Luciani are the winning duo onboard Class40 Eärendil. Together, the pair are the reigning Class40 World Champions, have twice won the RORC Caribbean 600, The Atlantic Cup, …
July 8, 2020
Doublehanded Dream
With nearly 20-thousand miles under his belt, Sam Fitzgerald is no stranger to the challenges of going offshore, especially with only two sets of hands onboard. A naval architect and seasoned Class40 racer, with accolades …
In 2016, Ken and Liisa Bacco set sail from Newport, Rhode Island on December 1st during a snow storm onboard their Oyster 47.5 cutter rig, Altair, to meet up with the Oyster World Rally (OWR) …
July 1, 2020
The Best Sails for Cruising
A few months ago, North Materials Expert Tom Davis wrote an article titled “What are the Best Sails for Club Racing?” It only seems logical to have a companion piece that focuses on cruising, so …
June 26, 2020
ClubSwan 36 Collaboration
The ClubSwan 36, which made its debut in May 2019, is seeing significant signs of growth. Despite a delay in sailing in 2020, the North Sails team has spent the first half of this year …
June 22, 2020
Introducing DynaRig by Southern Spars
Southern Spars, a North Technology Group company, is proud to announce they have joined forces with Magma Structures to deliver a new generation of DynaRigs. The DynaRig concept has proven itself as an effective alternative …
June 12, 2020
3Di OCEAN: Your Questions, Answered
A: 3Di OCEAN is the newest line of 3Di sails from North Sails, designed and engineered exclusively for cruising. A: 3Di OCEAN is for you if you are looking for a premium cruising product, providing high …
June 9, 2020
Introducing the 3Di OCEAN Line Up
After an exhaustive research and development program, North Sails is thrilled to launch 3Di OCEAN 370, our latest innovative sail product that completes a line-up of 3D molded sails dedicated to cruising. This new product is …
June 2, 2020
Things to Look for in a Good Sail
You know when it feels right. It’s that moment when you could almost let go of the wheel and the boat could steer itself. A boat in perfect balance. Racing sailors will go to extraordinary …
May 26, 2020
North Sails Partners With World Cruising Club
North Sails announces an exciting new partnership with leading sailing rally organizers World Cruising Club. The aim of the partnership is to inspire sailors around the world to embark on a cruising adventure, using North …
May 22, 2020
Sails, Service & Local Support
It’s still a complicated time in many places around the world, and a huge thank you to our entire North Sails team, clients, and friends who have pulled together in a way that is quite …
May 12, 2020
The Science Behind Your Sail Trim
By Tom Whidden One of the goals for our book, The Art and Science of Sails, is to connect the theoretical with the practical. An understanding of the physics of aerodynamics will help us better trim …
May 1, 2020
Are You Onboard?
Fill your social feeds with all things sailing. Each day North Sails is curating our social media channels with content that showcases our passion for being on the water. We're collecting images that inspire us …
April 10, 2020
North Sails Cut and Sew Mask Kits
Personnel, lofts, clients, and friends of North Sails are navigating this global crisis together. Many of our local Certified Service Centers have taken the initiative in their areas to build masks when possible and support their …
April 10, 2020
North 3Di: Innovative Sailmaking Technology
Lightweight, reliable, unique. North 3Di sails are engineered to minimum weight and maximum performance. By eliminating the use of mylar, 3Di will not delaminate. Each 3Di sail is precisely shaped on full-sized molds and built …
April 9, 2020
North Certified Service Spinnaker Sail Care
No matter where you are in the world, you can prepare for your next event or be ready for when sailing season picks up again by knowing what to look for when it comes to …
April 3, 2020
We’re Here To Help With Answers
North Sails President Ken Read checked in to give us an update on what’s going on at North Sails this week. Ken, like all of us, is working from his makeshift home office in Rhode …
April 2, 2020
Navigate Material Options With Sail Finder
Do you race, cruise or do both? North Sails offers a broad range of sail materials to meet a wide variety of needs. This can make navigating sail material choices daunting. Depending on whether you …
March 31, 2020
Cruising Sailors Tool Kit
Our experts have created a variety of articles to help you gain confidence for your next getaway. Topics include battens, weather, safety, durability of cruising sails, and more. Whether you are leaving land behind or …
March 31, 2020
Ken Read on Offshore Safety
Hardcore ocean racers and coastal cruisers alike should all make safety at sea a priority. Practices from racing around the world, including the toughest conditions of the Southern Ocean, can apply to sailors of all …
March 31, 2020
Why Checking The Forecast Matters
Libby Greenhalgh has navigated around the world twice with the Volvo Ocean Race; she's a director with the Magenta Project and has an offshore resume that ranks her among the top sailors in the world. …
March 27, 2020
Sail Care & Maintenance Tips
There are many ways you can help prolong the life of your sails. Here are some pointers to keep you aligned with our sail care maintenance practices, which can be part of your regular routine …
March 27, 2020
Roller Furlers & UV Suncovers: What You Should Know
What happens if you furl your sail the wrong way? - with the sun cover on the inside instead of the outside of the furl? Unfortunately, we see the effects of this in our service …
March 25, 2020
North Sails Client Q+A
The North Sails teams around the world have received a bunch of calls and emails recently. A quick Q+A has been put together to help provide you with information on where we are at during …
March 13, 2020
Cruising Sail Durability
Cruising sailors demand durability. Yet, durability is not an easily quantified element of sail performance. Predicting durability is a tough challenge, because sails are subjected to so many different forms of use and conditions. That …
March 5, 2020
DN Iceboating: Innovating for Speed
For Chad Atkins and Oliver Moore, winter means fast apparent wind sailing on their DN iceboats—whenever they can find ice and wind within driving distance of Rhode Island. We recently spoke with them to learn …
February 25, 2020
North Sails Crewfinder Party
Due to our current state of social distancing, we are cancelling the in-person event. If you have not RSVP'd please do so below, and we will still connect you to the fleets/groups you are interested …
February 25, 2020
What are the Best Sails For Club Racing?
SHOP SAILS REQUEST A QUOTE 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 …
February 14, 2020
2020 Superyacht Event Service Schedule
North Sails Certified Service gives Superyacht crews and boat owners the benefits and convenience of experience through a global network of sail lofts and Regatta Repair pop-up lofts. With unparalleled experts, technology and 14 dedicated …
February 6, 2020
Sail Plan Dimensions
The basic rig dimension for a yacht are generally understood. However, there are some differences in how some sailors describe these dimensions. Here is how we define them at North Sails. I – Height of Foretriangle Elevation …
January 24, 2020
Gone Sailing
Ken Read explains why he raced double-handed in a new 33 footer from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. I just broke a cardinal rule that I was told a long time ago by a Bermuda Race …
November 26, 2019
ORC/IRC World Championship 2020
Calling all weekend warriors! The New York Yacht Club in Newport, RI, USA will be hosting the ORC/IRC World Championship this year, on September 25th - October 3rd. This is the first offshore championship to …
September 8, 2019
NYYC Invitational Cup Weather
North Sails is offering complimentary weather forecasts to all teams competing in the 2019 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. Sign up today for your free daily forecast delivered right to your inbox, prepared …
August 27, 2019
Podium Sweep At J/24 Nationals
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 …
August 26, 2019
North Sails Performance Seminar In Portsmouth
As the Official Performance Partner, North Sails is hosting three seminars with ocean-racing expert Peter Isler, Race Meteorologist Chris Bedford, and local North Sails Experts to help prepare you for the Newport Bermuda Race. The …
August 15, 2019
Newport International Boat Show Tickets
RSVP by September 9th and include your favorite summer sailing 📸. We'll pick our favorite 50 and the winners will receive a North Sails hat and a ticket to the Newport International Boat Show.
July 31, 2019
North Outfits Winner Of 2019 Candy Store Cup
Congratulations to Sirona who went home with all the candy and champagne at the Candy Store Cup Regatta. The 22m Sloop was named the overall winner of the Newport, Rhode Island-based event, co-hosted by Bannister’s …
July 22, 2019
Ask The Experts
Have A Question On How To Improve Your Game On The Race Course? Ask Our Team North Sails is excited to support the 2019 Camden Classics Cup and Youth Regatta. Our experts will be on hand …
July 20, 2019
175th NYYC Anniversary Regatta
2019 marked the 175th year of the New York Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta, first run in 1844. A variety of yachts with an LOA of 30 feet or greater came to Newport, RI, and sixteen …
July 16, 2019
Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta In Marblehead
North Sails is excited to continue our sponsorship of the Helly Hansen NOOD Regattas, and Marblehead is the next stop on the circuit. North Sails local team will be on hand for all your sail …
July 12, 2019
12 Metre Worlds Photo Journal
North Sails is proud the be the Official Sailmaker to the 12 Metre World Championship, which began in Newport, Rhode Island on July 8th. Our sponsorship included bringing in sailing photographer Ian Roman, to document …
July 3, 2019
A Surge In The Atmosphere At Block Island Race Week
There was a distinct shift in the vibe at Block Island Race Week this year. The new title sponsor Margaritaville injected the 28th edition of the weeklong regatta with a new energy, impressive onshore activities, …
Lowell North founded North Sails in 1957, one year before the America’s Cup ushered in 30 years of storied racing in the 12 Metre Class, creating some of the most memorable moments in sailing history. …
June 19, 2019
Block Island Race Week Tool kit
Block Island Race Week is just around the corner. Our experts created this Tool Kit to help your team prepare for racing in one of the most idyllic sailing destinations on the east coast. Long time …
North Sails Collection, renowned for its lifestyle clothing and sailing crew collections in Europe has opened a new US flagship sportswear store in Newport, RI .The new store location is significant, placing it in the heart …
May 31, 2019
Superyacht Times Interview With Ken Read
This article has been republished from the May/June issue 26 of Superyacht Times, author Charl van Rooy. Talking superyacht racing with sailing legend Ken Read. From a humble sail-making background in his hometown of Newport to the …
May 15, 2019
Storm TRYathalon
Who said the lay day should be non-eventful? Not us. The Storm Trysail Club has decided to change things up this year, and proud partners Margaritaville, North Sails and New England Ropes jumped on board …
March 14, 2019
North Sails At Newport Shipyard
North Sails is pleased to announce the opening of a new sales office in Newport, Rhode Island. Located in the heart of the vibrant Newport Shipyard, the team believes that this location will give Grand …
March 14, 2019
Block Island Race Week 2019
North Sails is excited to continue our support of Block Island Race Week. The race, entering its 28th edition in 2019, is one of the Northeast’s most anticipated and attended regattas. The expansion of racing formats …