News
RACING RULES OF SAILING LEARNED IN THE PROTEST ROOM
Part of winning sailboat races is knowing the racing rules of sailing and I’ve learned a lot of lessons in the protest room. It turns out, as in the following case, it’s not only important to know what the rules…
UK SAILMAKERS CUSTOMERS DOMINATED J/105, J/24 J/22 AND ORC CLASSES AT J/FEST SOUTHWEST
LAKEWOOD YACHT CLUB, Texas Oct 22-23, 2022: UK Sailmakers customers dominated J/Fest Southwest. Sailors racing with UK Sailmakers sails took first and second in four of the five classes and in the J/105 fleet all three podium positions went to…
WHEN TO COVER AND WHEN TO SAIL YOUR OWN RACE
The strategy of winning sailboat races involves knowing how to control your competition— when to cover your competition and when to sail your own race. I was reminded of both during last weekend’s 150-mile Ida Lewis Distance Race that was…
THE LETTERBOX TAKEDOWN, THE SAFEST SPINNAKER DROP
The letterbox spinnaker takedown is the safest spinnaker drop when sailing offshore. It keeps people off the bow, keeps the forward hatch closed, and it prevents the sail from getting away from the crew. Here is a good drone clip…
JKP 45 SIRENE FINISHES 15,000 NM DELIVERY FROM FRANCE TO FREMANTLE
Bill Henson and son Alexander have just completed their 15,000 nm trip from France to Fremantle to cap off the building and delivery of their new boat, the JPK 45 named SIRENE. When Henson ordered his boat from JPK in…
CHRISTOPHER DRAGON WINS NORTHERN OCEAN RACING TROPHY
The Northern Ocean Racing Trophy (NORT) is awarded to the top boat that has competed in the 630-mile Newport-to-Bermuda Race, the 240-mile Vineyard Race and at least one of the other “optional” races such as the 150-mile Ida Lewis Distance…
IT’S NOT JUST THE TOOLS
Seahorse Magazine is renown for its coverage of high-end sailboat racing and often includes articles focusing on and explaining the various technologies that support the leading edge of our sport. Recently, the editors of Seahorse worked with UK Sailmakers on…
CLASSIC IOR RACER IS BACK
UK Sailmakers Ireland’s Barry Hayes caught these great photos and video of the magical classic IOR racer IMP showing off her total refit and new X-Drive Carbon sails. Those who restore classic yachts help maintain sailing history – from wooden…
HOW HE WON HIS CLASS IN BERMUDA RACE
Andrew Weiss talking about his class win in the 2022 Newport to Bermuda Race. Andrew and Linda Weiss’ Italia 11.98 CHRISTOPHER DRAGON finished first in Class 12 (14 boats) and fourth overall in St. Davids Lighthouse (Corinthian) division of this…
A3 INSTEAD OF CODE ZERO FOR ORC ASTOUNDING VICTORY
Shown here is the Italia 11.98 CHRISTOPHER DRAGON sailing with her new A3 instead of code zero before winning the ORC class at the 2022 Larchmont Yacht Club Edlu Race. Two weeks later, DRAGON won the 180-mile Stamford-Block Island Race.…
Gaining Extra Height With Inhaulers
Barry Hayes of UK Sailmakers Hong Kong For decades, most top racing boats had great big overlapping headsails, which develop a lot of power as the overlap of the main by the genoa slows the airflow between the two sails.…
How to Center your Rig
The first and most important step in tuning the rig is to get the tip of the mast over the center of the boat. If the mast is off to one side, even just a little, it will cause the…
Spinnaker String Takedown
The Stretch-and-Blow Spinnaker Douse allows you to sail practically right up to the leeward the mark with the sail drawing fully. When it is time to drop the spinnaker, the pole is eased to the forestay, the sheet is over-trimmed…