UK Sailmakers brings a wealth of expertise to the event. Meet Mark Wood, owner of UK Sailmakers Miami, as well as Kevin Crouchley and accomplished racer, Emmett Dickheiser, from the UK Sailmakers Northeast location. These seasoned professionals are your go-to source for sail information, whether you’re a weekend cruiser or Grand Prix racer, they have your questions covered!

At the UK Sailmakers booth, you’ll find a demonstration of their finest products, including a variety of X-Drive® and dacron sample sails. But the real treat is for those considering a new sail purchase; UK Sailmakers offers on-the-spot, no-obligation quotes and there is a generous 10% discount for orders placed during the show.

Beyond sails, UK Sailmakers is your gateway to the latest sailing products. They proudly serve as dealers for Oxley Stabilizing spinnakers and the Ewincher 2 electric winch handle. And for those seeking retail merchandise, don’t miss their selection of UK Sailmakers duffle bags and exciting giveaways throughout the event.

Responsible sailing and environmental stewardship take center stage at the Annapolis Boat Shows. Water refill stations, reusable bags, and recycling bins underscore the commitment to sustainability. The shows feature eco-friendly products, energy-efficient boats, and cutting-edge technologies. Talk to the staff at the UK Sailmakers booth to learn about some of the recycled and partially-recycled sailcloth options for your next sail.

Seasoned and novice sailors alike will enjoy connecting with fellow sailors while exploring the docks featuring over 100 sailboats on display during this internationally acclaimed show. The 2023 Annapolis Sailboat Show boasts the world’s largest selection of multihulls, with over 50 models from 24 manufacturers. From compact Guppy to opulent 66-foot catamarans, explore various options and engage with our multihull experts at the UK Sailmakers booth.

These shows are not merely about boats; they celebrate the entire boating lifestyle. Immerse yourself in the company of fellow enthusiasts, gain insights from industry experts, and fully embrace the world of sailing. Chart your course to UK Sailmakers at the 2023 Annapolis Sailboat Show this October, where our seasoned staff will empower you to Sail with Confidence.

For more information and to purchase tickets for this year’s show, visit the Annapolis Sailboat Show webpage here.

Our team of writers, led by Buttons Padin, unravels the mystique behind designing asymmetrical spinnakers by tapping into the expertise of three UK Sailmakers’ top designers: Pat Considine, Geoff Bishop, and Stuart Dahlgren. They emphasize that spinnaker design hinges on two key factors: the boat’s characteristics and the intended style of sailing.

The specifics of the boat, including its type (high-performance, displacement, one-design), precise measurements, and the planned sailing style (IRC, ORC, offshore, coastal and professional vs. Corinthian), form the foundation of asymmetrical spinnaker design.

The article spotlights three essential data points that wield significant influence over a sail’s performance and rating:

1. The point-to-point distance between where the spinnaker will be tacked (on a sprit or a lowered pole) and the max height for the halyard.

2. The mid-girth (SMG) luff to leech measurement, expressed as a percentage of the foot length.

3. The trim position for the clew in terms of height off the deck and where the sheet will lead.

Spinnaker designs are fine-tuned using these measurements and more to optimize performance for either offshore or inshore racing. Our experts delve into explanations about how SMG impacts a sail’s ideal wind angle and how luff length is a critical design element influencing performance and sail projection.

The article underscores the importance of leech length and sheeting angle, highlighting differences between reaching and running spinnakers, and the role of tweakers. Additionally, it briefly touches on sail panel layout and fabric considerations, highlighting the importance of structural integrity.

This year’s UK Sailmakers technical brief offers valuable insights into the complexities of asymmetrical spinnaker design, underscoring the need to comprehend boat characteristics and intended sailing conditions. Understanding these principles empowers you to actively participate in the design process, optimizing your sails for your unique sailing needs. 

For those interested in sail design and seeking to enhance their racing performance, this article is a must-read. Check it out in your print copy of the October edition of Seahorse Magazine, or find it available online here.

Lake Muskegon is a small inland lake located in Western Michigan off the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Pat was in the area for a few deliveries for UK Sailmakers Chicago and was invited to hop aboard J/35 BAD DOG for a Wednesday night club race. Pat knew the owner, Larry Taunt, a long time UK Sailmakers Chicago customer, but had not previously met the rest of the crew. The last time Pat had sailed with the BAD DOG team was back in 2018, when they bought their current UK Sailmakers X-Drive main and jib.

Lake Muskegon is a small inland lake located in Western Michigan off the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

“Right away, I could tell these are a fun group of guys.” Pat said. “They’re having all the usual banter before the race, you know…Why is the line so long? These instruments don’t work at all, the typical stuff,” he laughed. “We start the race and initially, I’m just trying to stay out of the way. We’re tacking and the jib comes in—snap!—right where it’s supposed to be, and after a couple of tacks I realize these guys are really good!” Pat said, “The second beat came along, and it was blowing about eight knots. I decided to spill the beans to the crew, and start chiming in about how they have everything set up.” 

Pat noticed that the backstay was on hard, making the headstay really straight and flattening the entry of the jib. Although this goes against the usual setup that Pat would have suggested, he noticed that BAD DOG was making great VMG (Velocity Made Good), in a high and slow mode. This turned out to be optimal for the conditions and their venue, an inland lake with no waves. They also trimmed the main very hard with almost no leech twist, which also works well on flat water. The team had Muskegon Lake cased, and knew how to maximize their performance in these conditions using an atypical configuration. 

When Larry expressed interest in ordering some new sails, Pat was excited to use the FSI simulation to tweak the current designs to suit the way they sail, and make some performance gains. FSI allows for a huge variety of inputs, and Pat plugged in the boat’s specs including the bend properties of the aluminum mast and rig tuning. He set up the simulation for the same eight knot breeze that the team encountered on the water. He added tension on the backstay, and some checkstay tension so that the mast did not bend too much.

FSI simulation of rig tuning for the J/35. Red arrows indicate stress on the rig.

Next, Pat adjusted the parameters in the design of the sails themselves. It was a time-consuming task but he was able to create a harmonious sail design for a main and headsail that had an increased driving force compared to their 2018 counterparts. The adjusted sail plan had several small tweaks, including moving the draft slightly forward, which will also allow better versatility for other sailing conditions. With these changes, Pat was still able to produce the flat headsail entry that is ideal for the Lake Muskegon conditions, by keeping the jib halyard tension light in the FSI simulation. 

With the proposed new sail design complete, FSI was used to simulate the flow and the pressure over the sails at a specified wind angle and wind speed. The new sails were also rendered with battens, draft stripes and reinforcements for a realistic visualization of their final form.

Side-by-side renderings of the rig tuning, pressure map and sail details.

To accurately display the pressure map, many variables are input into FSI to represent cable loads (expressed in in Newtons) and elongations of the stays and sail controls. These fine adjustments allow for accurate representations of how a boat is tuned and its sails are trimmed in real life and unique configurations such as the extra backstay tension on BAD DOG can be recreated in the digital model.

Cable loads and elongations used for the BAD DOG FSI simulation.

The objective for this thorough FSI analysis was to improve the performance of the next generation of BAD DOG sails. Pat said, “The important thing to remember is that they’re not always going to be sailing on Lake Muskegon with flat water, so I had to make sure we still had sails that could be adaptable for a variety of different conditions. I didn’t want to make the sails totally flat in the front end and too far draft aft, because when they do get into waves for events like the Race to Mackinac, they wouldn’t have enough power.” 

“For eight knots of wind and flat water, sailing a J/35 the way that they did really works. In those conditions, cranking on the backstay and trimming the main really hard, helps to drive the boat to windward.” Pat said, “It’s okay for boat speed to be a little bit below targets because the big keel on the boat is preventing slippage sideways and those few degrees of height can make a huge difference.” Good sailors are able to adapt to their venue and sailing conditions to make their boat go fast and the BAD DOG team are a great example of this.

Millar, who has run his own boutique manufacturing sail loft for over five years, joins forces with the international powerhouse, UK Sailmakers. The recent announcement includes the appointment of Jerome McLoughlin as Director, who will play a crucial role in the loft’s expansion.

UK Sailmakers, with its roots dating back to 1946 in the USA, boasts over 50 lofts and service centers worldwide. Now, they are extending their presence into Africa, establishing Craig Millar Sails as their sole registered UK Sailmakers loft on the continent.

The UK Sailmakers South Africa loft produces high-quality bespoke sails for cruising and racing yachts, as well as One Design sails.

The two helmsmen of the loft bring a wealth of experience with yachting. Millar, renowned for his achievements in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, founded the Sail Africa Youth Development Foundation upon his return, leaving a lasting impact on Durban’s youth. He also steered the Point Yacht Club as its Commodore during significant transformations along the city’s beachfront. Millar’s sailing prowess was recently recognized with SA Sailing Colors for his performance in the 2022 J/22 World Championships held offshore of Durban.

Jerome McLoughlin, the latest addition, offers a unique blend of skills with his professional background in accounting and extensive sailing experience spanning nearly five decades. His sailing resume includes multiple participations in South Africa’s premier sailing event, the Lipton Challenge Cup, as well as races like the Vasco da Gama blue water races and the 1989 Beachcomber Mauritius to Durban race.

UK Sailmakers South Africa is dedicated to upholding the highest standards in sailmaking, and building on the reputation for excellence that Craig Millar Sails achieved. With a team of expert staff boasting over 100 years of collective yachting experience, they prioritize quality and customer relations above all. 

Founded in January 2018, as Craig Millar Sails (Pty) Ltd, the loft began with a small production team of craftsmen and women that Millar has been working with for more than a decade prior. Since then, their exceptional sail manufacturing has garnered widespread acclaim, driven by word-of-mouth recommendations.

UK Sailmakers South Africa will offer bespoke sails for cruising and racing yachts, as well as One Design sails. Continuing with their high-quality service, well-designed long-lasting sails, and their most advanced design technologies and materials, the loft looks forward to assisting sailors in achieving their best performance.

Hoisting their new branding with pride as they expand more into the global market, Craig Millar Sails is honored to now be trading as UK Sailmakers South Africa.

All existing contact details will remain the same, and a new contact email: southafrica@uksailmakers.com. For more info visit the UK Sailmakers South Africa loft page, check out our website or follow UK Sailmakers South Africa on social media.

Over the past two decades, the difference between boats with all or mostly professional crews and Corinthian sailors has become increasingly pronounced. That said, this state of the sport doesn’t mean that a boat raced by a predominantly Corinthian crew can’t be competitive. It’s just that the amateurs need to match the pros’ level of preparedness and work together as a well-oiled machine.

That was the case in the recent ORC Worlds in Kiel, Germany for KATIMA, a modified Swan 45 owned and helmed by Jan Opländer from Flensburger Segel-Club. An older, heavier boat, KATIMA was sailing against a handful of pro-crewed TP 52s plus keenly competitive Fast 40s. One could look at the differences between these boats and leave the dock thinking that KATIMA was going to be cannon fodder, but Jan and the KATIMA crew would soon outperform any critic’s expectations.

The KATIMA crew are all smiles.

KATIMA knew the competition would be stiff but they were up for it. An all-Corinthian crew except for Tim Kröger (veteran of two Volvo Ocean Races) who is the boat captain and the only full pro, and UK Sailmakers Germany’s Stefan Voss as the crew boss. The rest were just really, really good Group 1 sailors including two relative rookies!

Prior to the Worlds, Opländer, Voss, Kroger, and the crew spent considerable time preparing the boat, its systems, and its sails. In the end, the boat was ready for battle as was its sail inventory. All that was important because it was a very windy week with nine races in total: two coastal races in up to 40 knots, six windward/leewards, and one long offshore race.

The team faced a variety of conditions, including two races with wind speeds exceeding 40 kts.

In the end, KATIMA finished a very respectable fifth in ORC A behind three TP 52 and a flat-out Mills 45 racer. Opländer and his sailors, although they were tired after the week, found great satisfaction in their performance finishing close behind the big boys and beating a lot of other hot shots! They were glad they sailed.

And their pre-regatta prep paid off in spades. “We modified the boat from symmetrical to asymmetrical spinnaker sails with fixed bowsprit last winter and it paid off.” Commented Stefan Voss from UK Sailmakers Germany who also oversaw sail trim and speed management. “KATIMA is now faster and has a better rating, especially in light wind, not to mention having far better boat speed downwind.” Nothing broke, their boat handling was more than good enough, and they had the sails to power them against the competition.

KATIMA sailing with her new asymmetrical set up. Photo credit: Tim Kröger.

Working with UK Sailmaker’s Germany, KATIMA’s inventory consisted of the following:

• All upwind sails are Titanium® loadpath sails: light, medium, and heavy jibs with a jib top and a genoa staysail.
• Downwind sails were exclusively UK Matrix A sails: A1.5, A2, A3/4, A5, with a fractional spinnaker staysail.
• All the spinnakers had a zipper on the head and tack for faster sets and they worked flawlessly.

Opländer and Voss worked with UK’s Lead Designer Pat Considine to design these sails for the Worlds and all the sails were made at the UK Sailmakers facility in Hong Kong. Check out the racing section of our website and contact your local UK Sailmakers loft to optimize your inventory.

KATIMA’s UK Sailmakers Titanium mainsail was picture-perfect and performing at its best.

Did it make sense for Opländer to race his older, heavier boat in this World Championship? You bet it did. Crew member Tim Kröger said, “With a twinkle in the eye we can now call ourselves the fastest teak deck in the world”. The team did well, were very competitive, learned a lot in the run-up to and during the Championship, and came away with a regatta full of memories they will never forget. And, heck, maybe it’s the 2024 ORC in Newport, RI next year.

Article Lead Image Credit: Felix Diemer for ORC.

Results of the races here.

In this Episode, Tripp discusses his Lessons Learned passage making as he circumnavigates the globe, working with marine researchers, and sharing stories of environmental and cultural preservation through film.

Preparation is the key to a successful passage, and Tripp describes the ways in which he and the RESILIENCE crew prepare to be self-sufficient for their expeditions and have learned to expect the unexpected, from provisioning to piracy.

You can also read Tripp’s article about winter sailing from Panama to Florida on the News Section of the UK Sailmakers website here.

Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers YouTube channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

For more information on Apparent Winds visit us here. Facebook, Instagram & YouTube: @ApparentWinds

Nathalie’s latest contest with her Figaro 2 was the annual Ida Lewis Distance Race, with a spectacular start and finish off Newport, R.I. The object of this unique race, is that the committee selects a course in the vicinity of Newport and Block Island that will keep the race roughly 24 hours long based on the predicted weather conditions.

Nathalie Criou paired up with Satchel Douglas aboard her Figaro 2, ENVOLEÉ, in the 2023 Ida Lewis Distance Race. Photo credit: Stephen R Cloutier.

Nathalie paired up with Satchel Douglas to race in the PHRF Double-Handed division of the Ida Lewis Distance Race. Leading up to the race, Nathalie observed that the forecast included a small weather system passing through the course. As every racer knows, finding a groove in a transition zone is difficult and strategic work that is instrumental to winning or losing a distance race.

The start of this year’s race was postponed for two hours due to a severe weather forecast, but began Friday, August 18 at 1 p.m. The course lengths varied by division, and ranged from 129 to 203 nautical miles, with the double-handed division course length set at 182-nautical-miles.

ENVOLEÉ on the YB Tracker at the start of the 2023 Ida Lewis Distance Race.

Breezy conditions continued despite the delay, with wind speeds consistently around 20 knots, gusting around 27 knots with lulls of 16 knots. Nathalie has plenty of experience in the wind aboard ENVOLEÉ, including her infamous gale comeback during the Race to Alaska. However, the sea state was horrendous during the long upwind legs of the Ida Lewis Distance Race. Most mark roundings involved sail changes, which were wet and tiring given the sea state.

ENVOLEÉ secured a commendable fifth place in the division, with Nathalie describing the race as, “Super tough competition with exceptionally good sailors in the division, including another Figaro. This makes for great racing. We lost sight of our fleet, and then found them again weaving our route in and out of theirs.” It was a physically tough race due to the conditions, but also mentally, you have to say ‘on’, knowing there’s a mark to round every 5 hours and dodging sleep for 24 hours.

Nathalie feels at home in the breeze and at the helm during the 2023 Ida Lewis Distance Race.

Despite the interesting courses, there were very few choices to be made during the race, Nathalie said, “As it was, it was an upwind/reach/downwind parade and boat speed was key”. This differs from much of her offshore racing experience where, mark roundings are more infrequent and there is much more ‘play’ in the course. The key strategic decision was which side of Block Island to go. Nathalie and Stachel chose to go through the west side as the flood pushed ENVOLEÉ into the Sound. When the tide switched, the ebb also helped them back out on the other side of the island.

Throughout the race’s numerous mark roundings and changing weather patterns, ENVOLEÉ’s UK Sailmakers inventory proved its mettle. Nathalie has meticulously outfitted her Figaro 2 with a set of Titanium upwind sails and relied on UK Sailmakers’ spinnakers for the downwind stretches.

Full race results are available here.

ENVOLEÉ on a downwind leg side-by-side with sixth place finisher, Sunfast 3600, LOBLOLLY.

If you’re thinking about making your own jump from one coast to the other, or beyond, Nathalie emphasizes that one key to success is familiarizing yourself with the local current patterns. She said, “On the West Coast, there is a North to South current in the summer and South to North in the winter along the coast, but strong ebb currents are otherwise present in bays, rivers, and very close to shore.”

Article Lead Image Credit: Stephen R Cloutier.

SIREN was a division standout early in the race, and Brendan managed to maintain his position in the top spot in the Kū division. Brendan crossed the finish line in Hanalei Bay after 13 days and 4 hours, placing 5th overall in this year’s 18 total boat fleet. This was his ninth race to Hawaii and second Singlehanded Transpac.

Brendan sailed this year’s race with a UK Sailmakers inventory, including an X-Drive mainsail and an A2 spinnaker (pictured).

His sail inventory consisted exclusively of UK Sailmakers sails, all of which also were used in the 2021 SHTP and many other races in windy San Francisco Bay. Brendan noted that all his sails performed to the high level expected despite the mileage they had sailed and regular usage. Brendan said, “Both my X-Drive mainsail and 125% genoa are four years old. Even after two races to Hawaii, they both have plenty of life left in them.”

The first half of the race was a close reach in mostly breezy conditions. During the second half of the race, Brendan alternated between his A2 spinnaker and winging out his genoa during naps and squalls.

“One morning, I set the A2 in 15 knots of breeze but then it quickly rose to 25-28 knots for three hours. By then, I had a decent lead on my fleet and considered dousing the chute; but how often do you get to sail downwind in the middle of the Pacific by yourself and surf down waves like that? I was careful, however, and the asymmetrical chute flew beautifully making for easy steering.”

Brendan Huffman aboard his Santa Cruz 33, SIREN, in the 2021 Singlehanded Transpacific Race.

In preparation for this race, Brendan worked with other lofts within the UK Sailmakers network to develop an effective and manageable sail plan for the race. He noted that there had been lots of useful input from colleagues before this race, as there had been for his previous SHTP.

Brendan said, “My nine races to Hawaii have given me considerable knowledge and perspectives that I have and will continue to pass along to my customers planning to race or cruise offshore, regardless if shorthanded or fully crewed.”

Brendan went on to say that this ninth race to Hawaii was the most challenging in terms of weather and how hard he pushed himself. He can certainly rest assured knowing his goal of improving on the results of his last SHTP has been achieved.

SIREN at anchor in Hanalei Bay, Hawaii, after the finish.

Rather than a return delivery, Brendan had previously arranged to donate SIREN to the youth sailing program at the Kauai Sailing Association. “At the SHTP trophy dinner, the KSA juniors sang Oli Mahalo (song of gratitude) for me. I was very moved by this gesture. I’m fortunate to have had a wonderful support team in both Marina Del Rey and Sausalito for two SHTPs who helped prepare this 45-year-old boat to cross the ocean twice, and now its new life with the KSA. Thank you all! I’ll cherish forever my terrific memories of SIREN and my solo races to Hawaii.”

The Singlehanded Sailing Society has been running the SHTP biennially since 1978. The Singlehanded Sailing Society notes that, “Since then, more people have made it to outer space than have raced singlehanded from San Francisco to Hawaii. But, if you like to sail by yourself, paradoxically, you’re still in good company.”

Double rainbow at the Hanalei Bay anchorage.

Sustainable sailing has manifested itself in numerous ways, ranging from the Racing Rules of Sailing that prohibit marine littering, and regattas that ban single-use plastic containers. Non-sustainability can rear its ugly head in the form of derelict boats and worn-out sails that end up in dumpsters, chippers, or landfills. None of those are good things.

UK Sailmakers has taken our sailing sustainability initiative one step further by acting globally to minimize the environmental impact of our sail manufacturing processes to help protect the world’s oceans. We are doing this with the help of two companies from which we purchase the sailcloth used to make your new UK Sailmakers’ sails.

Rolls of cloth fill the shelves at UK Sailmakers Northwest in Sidney, BC.

The first is Challenge Sailcloth. You can now buy a new X-Drive® or radial laminate sail from your local UK Sailmakers loft that uses Challenge sailcloth made from partially recycled yarns and 100% recycled film. This recycled film has greater UV resistance than virgin sailcloth films, extending the sail’s useful life. Challenge has also developed the first sailcloth made with 100% recycled fiber and film. Further, Challenge is using a proprietary non-toxic adhesion method in manufacturing their sailcloth.

UK Sailmaker’s other major sailcloth provider, Dimension Polyant, is approaching sailcloth sustainability from a different direction. DP has focused its efforts on carbon-neutral manufacturing. They have created the first 100% climate-neutral sailcloth made from bio-based Dyneema® fibers. These fibers contain high-modulus polyethylene from renewable raw materials, making them better for the environment from the beginning without sacrificing performance.

The plotter at UK Sailmakers Northwest in Sidney, BC, drawing and cutting X-Drive sail panels.

These are just a few examples of sustainable products from our major sailcloth manufacturers. Using an environmentally friendly sailcloth is a major step towards reducing UK Sailmakers’ carbon footprint. In addition to the raw materials we use, UK Sailmakers Lofts also reduce waste that occurs during the manufacturing process by using modern pattern plotting technology to reduce material off-cuts. The remaining usable scraps are saved and stored for future sail repairs or to make sailcloth duffel bags.

Talk to your local loft today to learn about the recycled sailcloth options available for your next sail.