NORTH SAILS BLOG

A free-flying furling sail, like a cruising code zero or furling gennaker, adds convenient light-wind power to a cruising inventory, but should be handled within certain parameters to enjoy stress-free sailing.    READ MORE

North Sails has officially opened its latest flagship loft in the dynamic Port of Genoa, Italy. The stunning new building designed by architect Mattia Villani will function as a critical focal point for North Sails, Italy and North Sails clients visiting the region and represents a landmark addition to the global network of purpose-built lofts from the world’s leading sailmaker.   READ MORE

North Sails is pleased to announce a new leadership structure: Thomas Normand takes on the role of Global Sales and Service Director while Marine Derrien becomes Managing Director of North Sails France. READ MORE

North Sails Apparel partners with sailor Francesca Clapcich and 11th Hour Racing, providing performance gear for her 2028 Vendée Globe campaign. READ MORE

Officially launched in January 2025, the latest boat from X-Yachts has had an extraordinary year. Skippered by Jesper Radich – with many up-and-coming Danish crew onboard – the North-powered, XR 41 Formula X had a stellar season.  READ MORE

North Sails Zenda is the hub for Melges expertise, product innovation, and hands-on support for One-Design sailors. READ MORE

After more than four decades with North Sails, Tom Pease is setting his course toward retirement. His journey with the company has been marked by dedication, innovation, and—most importantly—lasting relationships with colleagues and customers alike. READ MORE

Honored, humbled and still at full speed. The Sailing Hall of Fame recognizes his lifetime of achievement—but Ken’s story is still being written. READ MORE

The Cap Sud-Est Collection draws inspiration from two locations that Alessandro Squarzi and Martin Brucker hold close to their hearts—Milan and Saint-Tropez. Milan brings structure and sharpness; Saint-Tropez brings ease and light—and Allesandro and Martin have created a capsule that moves effortlessly between the two. READ MORE

North Sails joins forces with Ferrari Hypersail as Technical Partner, supplying cutting-edge sails, spars, and apparel. This multi-year collaboration pushes the boundaries of offshore performance, innovation, and design—on the water and beyond. READ MORE

We're excited to share that the North Sails New Zealand team has relocated and expanded into three new sites, each tailored to deliver specialized service and support to the sailing community. READ MORE

After decades of dedicated service to the Pacific Northwest sailing community, long-time North Sails expert Jack Christiansen is passing the torch.  North Sails Seattle will transition to the capable hands of Tim Scanlon and Alyosha Strum-Palerm, marking an exciting new chapter for the loft.  READ MORE

We’ve teamed up with artist Sophie Scott on a limited-edition Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 t-shirt, capturing the spirit of this iconic offshore race. Available at the North Sails stand in the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin race village—and online soon. Discover the story behind the design in our Q&A with Sophie. READ MORE

Allen’s journey through recovery, racing, and rediscovery leads him to the 2.4mR World Championship.  READ MORE

If you're lucky enough to be visiting San Fransisco and the Bay Area, here are our top suggestions for experiencing it—the North Sails way. READ MORE

Insights from North Sails experts on preparation, teamwork, and mastering the local game at one of sailing's most iconic regattas.   READ MORE

Get race-ready for the Newport Bermuda Race—start with a sail inventory audit and expert tips from North Sails to ensure safety, speed, and success. READ MORE

North Sails proudly names Simone Ricci as Optimist Class Leader, bringing global coaching expertise and a deep commitment to youth sailing development. READ MORE

If you're looking for a place to live la dolce vita, you'll find it here. Stretching from the French border to the azure crescent of La Spezia, the Ligurian Riviera offers a diverse mix of activities, scenic spots, and iconic beach clubs. From sipping spritzes under striped umbrellas to cruising the coastline on a classic sailboat—this place is all about slowing down and soaking it all in.   READ MORE

The Regatta Refresh initiative is an ambitious, forward-thinking program aimed at reimagining what a regatta can and should be. READ MORE

North Sails, the global leader in sailmaking, announces the launch of 3Di ENDURANCE EDGE, a new addition to the 3Di ENDURANCE family. Explicitly designed for crossover sailors and small to midsize boats, ENDURANCE EDGE delivers power on the racecourse and raises the standard for crossover sailing.  READ MORE

Anaïs, Elliot, and their dog North, also known as The Salty Cruisers, recount stories from their recent journey between Annapolis and the British Virgin Islands. READ MORE

On June 2nd, 26-year-old Jazz Turner set off to become the first disabled sailor to complete a solo, non-stop, and unassisted circumnavigation of Britain.  READ MORE

Together with IFAW, North Sails helped develop a new version of the Whale Alert App—empowering a community of ocean lovers to share sightings, prevent strikes, and save the whales. READ MORE

The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Griffin Youth Project stands as a beacon for aspiring young sailors, offering a rare and structured gateway into the demanding world of offshore yacht racing. READ MORE

In a testament to a remarkable career defined by dedication and innovation, Hafzal Haniffa, Head of Logistics at North Sails Sri Lanka, has been honored with the prestigious 2025 Richmond Award.  READ MORE

Set against breathtaking coastline where the Gulf of Naples meets the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Tre Golfi Regatta is one of the Med's most iconic offshore sailing events. Blending high-performance sailing with breathtaking scenery and classic Italian hospitality, the race has been bringing sailors from around the globe together for 70 years.  READ MORE

Newport, Rhode Island. The sailing capital of the world, a place woven into our nautical DNA and the inspiration for our SS25 Newport collection. READ MORE

Charlie Dalin, Ken Read, and Guillaume Verdier on the Vendée Globe. This episode celebrates the Vendée Globe's legacy, showcasing the dedication, skill, and innovation that make it the pinnacle of solo sailing. READ MORE

North Sails and the Cape 31 Class are proud to announce the continuation—and expansion—of their successful partnership for the 2025 season. READ MORE

With Design Week kicking off and our new Via Dante Flagship Store recently opening its doors, we’re taking a deep dive into Europe’s capital of fashion, art, and aperitivo: Milan.   READ MORE

Ellie Driver first competed in the Rolex Fastnet course in 2019, 18 years old and fresh from a 420 campaign – a multiday offshore race was a very different concept.  She knew she could drive a boat around a race course fast, but could she drive her Sunfast 3300 fast in one of the world’s most famous offshore races for four-plus days non-stop?     Since her first Rolex Fastnet, Ellie has chalked up an impressive victory list, including;  ⭐ Women’s EUROSAF Double-Handed Offshore European Champion (2023)  ⭐ Vice Mixed Double-Handed World Sailing Offshore World Champion (2023)   ⭐ Yachts & Yachting ‘Sailor of the Year’ (2022)   ⭐ Youngest Skipper to Compete in the SEVENSTAR Round Britain and Ireland Race (2022)   ⭐ Second Place in Défi Paprec (2024)   Ellie Driver Ellie raced the Rolex Fastnet again in 2023 double-handed with her father, an 8 times race veteran at that point.  Ellie will admit that in her first Rolex Fastnet, “she sailed the course”—soaking up all the hard-won knowledge her father had to give her.  In 2023, they were back, and this time, Ellie said she “raced the course, even with the full-on weather”, finishing 10th Double Handed Boat and Ellie the 2nd Female Skipper and the 2nd Youth Skipper overall.   The 2023 Rolex Fastnet start was brutal, with the fleet setting off from the Solent into a south-westerly gale. And conditions didn’t improve greatly, with Ellie and her father experiencing “sailing through three squalls and a shutdown—it was 4 days of misery”. But Ellie and Jim didn’t retire, and that experience informs her five top tips to teams competing in this year’s 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race: “aside from a catastrophic boat failure, boats need to retire because either the boat or the crew is not ready to tackle the conditions.   ELLIE’S FIVE TOP TIPS  Don’t delay any maintenance job on your boat; start now.  Get all the servicing done.  Work bow to stern, replacing anything that is showing signs of wear.  Do this now, and then do it again in the month prior to the race.  I’m constantly checking my boat over, ensuring nothing avoidable will fail during the race.  Plan your spares; based on your inspections over these 4 months, if one area shows deterioration quicker than expected, carry those spares.   It is just as important to build personal fitness as well as maintaining your boat.  The stronger you are, the less likely you are to injure yourself and the more energy you’ll have throughout the race.  Crucially, it means that you’ll also approach every task with 100% of your strength – making manoeuvres faster – minimizing chances of damage to the boat, lost or torn sails, and fewer personal injuries as tasks in dicey conditions are completed faster.  Get swimming, get running, get to the gym – prioritize the fitness of the whole crew in this build-up phase.   Pre-race watch planning: absolutely vital when racing double-handed but also essential with larger crews with varying capabilities.  7-days out from the race, start looking at the course, look at the weather fronts coming through, and align your watch plan to these.  Start planning when it will be calmer so the crew can rest, when it will be all hands on deck, and when you’ll need the more experienced drivers on the helm.  Keep reviewing the plan alongside the weather updates up until the race start.   My last tip: sing!  Despite the best planning, there will be moments when you’re exhausted but need to keep pushing – it’s at these moments my Dad and I sing to keep us awake and morale up.  ABBA tunes are a boat favorite!   Following Ellie’s advice to ensure crews who are entered into this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race are adequately prepared, we caught up with Steve Coles, Royal Ocean Racing Club Race Manager. Steve Coles, Royal Ocean Racing Club Race Manager. We asked him what the boats with their race places confirmed should be prioritising over the next four months, and he advised:   APRIL    Make sure that the boat details on your entry are correct; you can start to add crew to your crew locker on www.sailracehq.com. Your crew will need an account to fill in all of their details. Add your t-shirt size!  Submit your mileage proposal. At least 50% of the boat’s crew (but not less than 2), including the person in charge, must have completed 300 nautical miles of RORC offshore racing on the boat entered into the race. The qualifying miles must be completed within 12 months prior to the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race.  We will accept mileage qualification proposals from races other than RORC races, but typically, they should be at least 150 miles and include one night at sea. Races can be combined to get to the 300-mile requirement.   The RFR is a Category 2 race; you must complete your checklist on the entry portal and complete the Category 3 checklist before the system will let you complete Category 2. Boats may be inspected for OSR compliance before the race starts.   MAY  Check whether you need a plan review - A monohull with a series date after 2009 of less than 24 m (78’-9”) LH shall have been designed, built, and maintained in accordance with the requirements of ISO 12215 Category A and have a World Sailing/ISAF building plan review certificate issued from an organization recognized by World Sailing.   Order your tracker; trackers are mandatory for the RFR and all RORC races. A subsidy is available upon application to racing@rorc.org.   JUNE    If you have completed your mileage qualification, please let RORC know now  Training—the days are getting longer; use the long daylight days as perfect training days     JULY    Submit the final crew onto the race portal.  All non-UK boats will need to complete the C1331 form before arriving, which can be done online here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-a-pleasure-craft-report#submit-your-report-online.  Ensure the rating is applied for; the deadline is the 4th of July.   Read through Sailing Instructions!    Order your Customised Team Gear for the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race Today  READ MORE

The 2025 Bucket Regatta delivered everything you'd expect—breathtaking scenery, tight competition, and a fleet of phenomenal superyachts pushing their light air performance to the limit.  READ MORE

At North Sails, we believe that every step toward sustainability matters. That’s why we’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our use of renewable energy across our global operations. READ MORE

For North Sails Ambassador Ellie Driver and her dad Jim, sailing isn't just a sport—it's a shared passion that's been passed down from father to daughter over two decades, fueling them to take on tough challenges, achieve remarkable success, and grow together on and off the water. Read about it all in our latest blog post. READ MORE

Wind, warm water, and sunshine. Set your out-of-office and escape to the Caribbean with North Sails. North Sails President Ken Read and superyacht expert Mike Toppa share their experiences. READ MORE

The partnership between Safe Harbor Marinas and North Sails brings unmatched convenience and expertise to sailors.  READ MORE

Loft 57 welcomes three female skippers competing in this edition of the Vendée Globe - frontrunner Justine Mettraux, Sam Davies, and Pip Hare. These women are the best of the best and an inspiration for all young offshore sailors. READ MORE

In the early morning, with temperatures hovering at freezing, Charlie Dalin secured his Vendée Globe victory. Dalin also shattered the singlehanded monohull around-the-world record set in 2016.    READ MORE

This episode features conversations with three Vendée Globe competitors- Conrad Colman, Nico Lunven, and Sam Goodchild. All have a wealth of offshore experience and bring a unique perspective to the race. READ MORE

North Sails supports dozens of boats across the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet with tailored products and best-in-class support. Mark Bradford, Managing Director of North Sales Australia, provides this year's race preview.  READ MORE

We’re delighted to announce our partnership with the world’s pre-eminent Ocean Racing Club—The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). READ MORE

2024 has been a massive year for sailing, with many giant leaps forward in many different aspects of the sport. And it has been a significant year for North Sails. READ MORE

The world’s leading sailmaker shared recent product innovations during the 2024 METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam. READ MORE

An experienced trio give their take on the early challenges and triumphs as the action unfolds offshore and the IMOCA fleet continue their adventure around the world.   READ MORE

The winners of the DAME Design Awards, the most prestigious design competition in the marine industry, were announced this morning at the METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam. READ MORE

"He’s a great competitor. He’s one of the best bowmen in the world. He's got the skills, he's got the racing focus, he's got the drive to win, to do better, to improve every day. And being a bowman and working within North Sails is kind of unique because he brings a different skillset to the feedback he provides." READ MORE

Loads, Sail Selection & Recommendations with Expert Ben Kelly, Australia's go-to cruising multihull sail expert. READ MORE

The DAME Design Awards, the prestigious design competition in the marine industry, recently announced the selection of 58 products from 28 countries across 4 continents as the final nominees for the 33rd edition of the annual awards. READ MORE

Travis Odenbach is ecstatic and now unburdened having finally won a J/24 World Championship title after nearly 15 years of thinking about it. READ MORE