The Ewincher 2: Power, Speed, and Comfort

The Ewincher 2 is a game-changing electric winch handle that makes trimming sails, hoisting crew, and rolling furlers effortless. Lightweight, ergonomic, and incredibly versatile, it locks securely into your winch and can be used in electric, manual, or combined mode. With 20% more power and 20% longer battery life than the original, the Ewincher 2 is the ultimate tool for shorthanded sailors and cruising couples. It’s even strong enough to hoist a 110-kg crew member up the mast multiple times on a single charge!

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• Works on boats 30–60 feet.
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Over three days, the event featured insightful presentations from industry experts and detailed design and marketing updates by UK Sailmakers committee leaders. Participants engaged in collaborative discussions on the latest sailmaking innovations, software tools, and strategies for the unique demands of racing and cruising markets across diverse regions.

These loft managers are not only passionate sailors but also independent business owners. They understand the value of belonging to a global company, where shared ideas and technologies empower each loft and strengthen UK Sailmakers’ reputation worldwide.

One highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2024 UK Sailmakers Loft of the Year award to UK Sailmakers Belgium, in honor of Michel Lefebvre Jr.’s significant contributions to the group.

The 2025 Managers Meeting is scheduled to take place in Durban, South Africa, where attendees will have the chance to connect with the newest production loft in the network, adding another exciting chapter to UK Sailmakers’ ongoing success story.

Special thanks to Barış and Bülent Çelik and their incredible team at UK Sailmakers Türkiye for their warm hospitality and for organizing memorable evening outings for the attendees.

Why Winter Sail Service Matters

After a busy spring and summer of sailing, your sails deserve some attention. Whether your season was light or full of action, winter is the perfect time to inspect, repair, and properly store your sails. UK Sailmakers offers comprehensive winter service programs to preserve the life, performance, and appearance of your sails.

Our expert sailmakers are trained to spot potential issues—stitching, batten pockets, UV covers, corners, chafing, and edges—that could turn into costly surprises later. From inspections and repairs to cleaning and storage solutions, we’ll make sure your sails are in peak condition when the season begins.

Preventing Sail Failures

Whether you’re a racer or cruiser, no sailor wants to experience a dramatic sail failure on the water. Many of these issues can be avoided with annual maintenance, bring them to your local UK Sailmakers loft for a thorough inspection. Our experts will identify and address minor problems now so they don’t become major headaches next season.

Is It Time for New Sails?

If your sails are nearing the end of their lifespan, autumn and winter are the ideal seasons to invest in replacements. UK Sailmakers can help you choose the right sails for your boat and your sailing style. From high-performance Titanium® sails to versatile X-Drive® options, durable Dacron, or custom spinnakers, we’ve got you covered. Ordering now ensures you’ll get the best pricing and have your new sails ready for spring sailing.

Contact Us Today

Don’t wait for spring to think about your sails. Contact your nearest UK Sailmakers loft today to discuss your needs. Sailmaking is not just what we do—it’s our passion. Let us help you care for your sails this winter so you can hit the water with confidence next season, your sails will thank you.

The race saw a small but competitive fleet take on breezy conditions, with winds exceeding 25 knots in a building sea state. For the crew of OBSESSION, led by owner and skipper Paul Arns, these conditions were an opportunity to showcase the boat’s speed and the team’s skill.

“Results are in – a fast but tough race for the first of the Blue Water Series,” said Arns. “Hats off to all the boats who entered. Obsession slugged it out for 16 hours to take line honors and 1st place on both IRC and PHF. Thanks to our Race Control team for looking after everyone.”

The race began at 0930 with moderate breezes, intensifying throughout the day. OBSESSION hit thrilling speeds of over 21 knots under their A4 spinnaker—powered by their growing inventory of UK Sailmakers Fremantle Titanium sails and Matrix spinnakers. These sails, known for their durability and high performance, were instrumental in OBSESSION’s ability to harness the conditions and maintain their edge over the fleet.

Crossing the finish line around midnight, OBSESSION completed the race in approximately 16 hours, setting the tone for the rest of the series. With every race counting toward the overall championship, their impressive start puts them in a strong position for the season ahead.

The victory in the Blue Water Series opener sets a high bar for OBSESSION in the Blue Water Series. Congratulations to Paul Arns and Team OBSESSION for an outstanding win in the West Coaster Race.

Featured image courtesy of the Fremantle Sailing Club.

The Bitter Ender Race, co-hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club and the Storm Trysail on Saturday, October 19, was aptly named for most years. Mid-October conditions on Long Island Sound tend to be chilly and windy (the Bitter reference) and this is the last major Long Island Sound race of the season (the Ender). This year’s race retained its Ender status; but the conditions were far from Bitter.

In that this was only the second running of the Bitter Ender, not everyone is aware of its unique configuration. First, it’s a double-handed race. That’s not so unusual; however, whereas traditional races start at specific times, the Bitter Ender uses a “starting window.” With the course announced the evening before, sailors are able to combine wind speed and direction projections with current shifts to optimize exactly when to start during the 4-hour starting window.

This year’s starting window opened at noon with the start set right off the Larchmont Breakwater. Given the forecast for very light winds on Saturday, the race committee decided that a third, shorter course would be sailed. The longer course options are 82 and 60 nm, but reflecting the forecast, a third, 32 nm course was designated, sending boats around Eaton’s Neck and the Cows off Stamford before returning to Larchmont.

Eight boats competed in this year’s Bitter Ender ranging in length from Sarah and Josh Reisberg’s scratch boat ABILYN, a 40’ J/120 to Andrew Weiss’ 29’ J/88 ONE TOO MANY. The doldrum that existed at noon was forecast to fill with a sea breeze so, when the starting window opened at 1000, no competitors chose to start. The starting window was ultimately extended until 1600. It wasn’t until around 1500 that the southerly sea breeze appeared. Andy Lubimov’s Sun Fast 37 SANGUINE from Huguenot Yacht Club was first across the line at 15:27. By 1552, all eight boats had started their first leg, a 16-mile reach to Eaton’s Neck buoy.

Off the line, depending on the sails available, boats set spinnakers, code zeros, or large jibs. Although there was a following current and a fair wind direction, the boats split north and south of the rhumb line. Some of the larger boats including Peter McWhinnie’s JPK 1080 IN THEORY (with Rich du Moulin as crew) and Reisberg’s ABILYN hugged the Connecticut shore with spinnakers hoping for an overshoot of the sea breeze while eventual winner Andrew Weiss, Rear Commodore of Larchmont Yacht Club and Vice Commodore of Storm Trysail Club, sailed south of the rhumb with a closer reaching code zero anticipating the wind to fill in without the overshoot. Weiss’ prediction proved accurate and his ONE TOO MANY (sailing with Colin Fitzpatrick) got the wind first and rounded Eaton’s before the competition.

Once around Eaton’s, the wind had shifted to 210 o -222o making the leg to the Cows a close reach. With a longer waterline, ABILYN passed ONE TOO MANY on that leg and rounded Cows first. The 11-mile leg back to the finish was a port-favored beat. Near Flat Neck Point in Greenwich, Reisberg tacked south out into the Sound whereas Weiss continued to hug the shore to stay out of the foul current that was now ebbing. When these two lead boats converged again off Rye Weiss was again in the lead only to be overtaken again by the larger boat in the final 2-3 miles. Reisberg finished in the dark at 2223 with an elapsed time of 6:47 with Weiss four minutes behind.

Ultimately, it was Weiss who corrected out as the winner with Reisberg in fourth. Second place went to Leopold Brandl and Luis Vieira from Lion Sailing aboard SANGUINE, a J/100 with Todd Aven and Gerard Girstl on Aven’s J/99 THIN MAN from City Island Yacht Club and the STC in third.

Weiss summed-up the race, “This was an interesting double-hander on a boat with no autopilot. At times, we put the tiller extension on the gear shifter to steer while we handled the boat and sails. The key to our success was staying to the south on the leg to Eaton’s. Us getting the new breeze first pushed us ahead of the fleet…all of which were bigger boats. The second leg to Cows was straight forward, but our playing the shore back to Larchmont from Stamford protected our lead. There was some good competition out there in these flukey conditions. Also, as a Flag Officer of both of the host Clubs, I was very pleased to have won this new race’s second running. I’m also glad that we had really nice sailing conditions and that the ‘bitter’ aspect of the Bitter Ender didn’t materialize.”

This was Bertrand Amezcua’s first double-handed race. He sailed his Hanse 418 TOBOLA with fellow LYC member Nic Buc. Racing against more racing-focused boats with a lot of double-handed experience, Bertrand and Nic had a memorable, positive experience despite not finishing until 0104 on Sunday morning.

Thank you race committee for staying on station until all boats had finished. Amezcua’s takeaway from the race was, “At the end of the day, a cruising boat designed for a couple and their kids is the perfect double-hander. My boat was super fun to sail in the Bitter Ender. It would have been better if the wind hadn’t died two miles before we finished, but it was still a great day of sailing. I look forward to next year’s Bitter Ender…and the spring’s Edlu!“

Results available here. 

David, alongside Barry Hayes from UK Sailmakers Ireland, has been part of a project to design a modern sail for this historic class, bringing renewed energy to a boat design over a century old.

You can read more about the new Shannon One Design sails being made at UK Sailmakers Ireland here. The sails are available for purchase through their loft, located in Cork. 

Video Image Credits: David Dickson and Google Images.

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.

UK Sailmakers is proud to have the Lessons Learned Podcast Series recognised as the #1 Sailing Podcast in the UK by FeedSpot.

WHISKEY JACK Takes the Win in IRC Racer 3

In IRC Racer 3, Nick Southward’s WHISKEY JACK sailed to a commanding victory, finishing three points ahead of defending champion JUICE. With fierce competition throughout the regatta, WHISKEY JACK’s UK Sailmakers Hong Kong sails provided the precision and speed needed to secure the win. Their newly launched A2 spinnaker, crafted by UK Sailmakers Hong Kong and expertly designed by Pat Considine of UK Sailmakers Chicago, gave the J/109 a decisive boost, helping them claim the top spot. ZESST also delivered a strong performance, rounding out the podium with a 3rd place finish.

SEAWOLF Impresses in IRC Division 0

William Liu’s SEAWOLF, equipped with a partial UK Sailmakers inventory, raced against a formidable lineup in IRC Division 0, including three TP52s—RAMPAGE 88, FREEFIRE, and HAPPY GO. Despite the tough competition, SEAWOLF finished third overall, showcasing both the team’s tactical prowess and the reliability of their UK Sailmakers sails.

Strong Showings from TAI CHI, ARCTURUS+, and WILD CARD

In the hotly contested IRC Cape 31 division, Randy Yeung’s TAI CHI battled fiercely against top competitors to finish fourth overall. Meanwhile, in IRC Racer 2, Dennis Chien’s ARCTURUS+ took third place, with Glenn Smith’s WILD CARD close behind in fourth. Both teams displayed excellent boat handling throughout the regatta.

FENICE Dominates IRC Premier Cruiser

FENICE, a new entry helmed by Franco Cutrupia, also equipped with a partial UK Sailmakers inventory, claimed first place in IRC Premier Cruiser with three race wins out of four. The Solaris 60 outpaced Peter Churchouse’s MOONBLUE 2, securing the division title.

Other Notable Performances

In the PHS division, Eddy Lee’s GENERATIONS delivered a solid performance to secure third place, continuing their track record of success in Hong Kong’s regattas.

A Memorable Regatta for UK Sailmakers Teams

This year’s Volvo China Coast Regatta was a true test of tactics, boat handling, and sail performance. UK Sailmakers is proud to have supported these exceptional teams, whose achievements in the regatta are a testament to the precision and durability of our sails.

Congratulations to WHISKEY JACK, SEAWOLF, TAI CHI, ARCTURUS+, WILD CARD, ZESST, FENICE, and GENERATIONS for their impressive performances. We look forward to seeing these teams continue to excel in future races!

To achieve this, Opländer outfitted his Swan 54 with a Hall Spars carbon mast and a V-shaped carbon boom, maximizing the boat’s sailing capabilities. With a passion for both family and competitive team sailing, he began to race the heavier cruiser for fun in prestigious events like the Rolex Swan Cup and Copa del Rey. While competing for enjoyment was the goal, the results were promising, even against more race-optimized yachts.

In 2023, Opländer set his sights higher. He decided to compete in the Rolex Swan Cup 2024, with an ambitious goal: a podium finish in Porto Cervo. This was a tall order for a cruising boat and a predominantly Corinthian crew, but it’s a challenge that Jan and his team embraced. Racing in the largest class of the event, Division C Swan Cruiser with 16 entrants, KATIMA not only reached the podium but claimed the top spot. With a string of 1st-place finishes, they secured the division title, taking home the coveted trophy and a prized Rolex watch.

The journey to optimization began when Jan called in his navigator, Tim “Timmy” Kröger, along with a few key crew members. Working closely with Stefan Voss at UK Sailmakers Germany and Pat Considine, UK’s Lead Designer based in Chicago, they developed a comprehensive plan to enhance KATIMA’s performance.

Their strategy included upgrades to the mainsheet controls, hull and keel maintenance, and ORC optimization from C Performance. The most impactful improvement was a new set of UK Sailmakers Titanium upwind sails, specifically designed to improve KATIMA’s light-air performance. These sails made a transformative difference, enabling the 20+ ton yacht to accelerate and point higher in conditions where it had previously struggled.

With a well-prepared boat and a crew who had honed their skills through racing aboard the Swan 45, Jan and his team were ready for the next challenge. Throughout 2024, Jan had fine-tuned his skills at the helm, pushing himself to a near-pro level. Armed with this experience, KATIMA entered the Rolex Swan Cup 2024 ready for competition. What followed was an incredible run, with KATIMA dominating the Division C Swan Cruiser class, clinching the top spot. In fact, the Swan 54 KATIMA was able to discard a 2nd place finish and secure the win with an impressive 1-1-1 picket-fence scoreline.

UK Sailmakers is proud to have been part of KATIMA’s success story. The combination of steady improvements, teamwork, and perseverance proved to be a winning formula. Congratulations to Jan Opländer and Team KATIMA for their outstanding achievement!

On-water photos from 1720 Sportsboat Southern Championships Ⓒ Shona Gibson / sg.media.

McDonald’s team showcased impressive skill, claiming three first-place finishes in the five-race series. With a final score of 5 points after a drop, the ROPE DOCK ATARA crew once again demonstrated their dominance. This latest victory is part of an incredible season for McDonald and his team, who have also claimed the 1720 Irish National Championship and European Championship titles this year. Their consistent performance has cemented them as one of the premier teams in the highly competitive 1720 class.

Also performing strongly were Fionn Lyden’s SPICED BEEF, finishing in second place, and Rory Lynch’s MO, finishing fourth overall. It was fantastic to see such strong representation of UK Sailmakers Ireland one design sails throughout the 14-boat fleet, powering many of the top performers in this competitive regatta. We’re proud to see UK Sailmakers’ sails featured at the forefront of the action and look forward to the future successes of these talented sailors.