North Sails Ireland is reporting that the new service location in County Wicklow is off to a flying start writes Nigel Young.
In the first 21 days, Shane Hughes and his team have serviced over 75 sails and they do not look like they are slowing down anytime soon.
I had the pleasure of visiting Shane last week at the Wicklow location and it was great to see the operation first hand. For a loft that's only been in operation for 20 days, it looks well established and the guys look very efficient in their surroundings. That's what happens when the operation is run by someone with Shane's skill set. Shane is a fully trained sailmaker with years of experience, a top-class International sailor and very in tune with modern sails and service.
Sail repairs underway at North Sails Ireland's new east coast service loft
Only North Sails can service 3Di sails correctly...
One of the most important things to remember with sail service these days is that things have changed. With the advent of 3Di sails the service skill set required to work on those sails is very different to a more conventional sail material. Having said that, one of the great things about 3Di is that it does not go into the service loft very often!
With 3Di repairs, we use specialist adhesives and 3Di repair materials that are unique to North Sails. No other sail repair shop can work on the body of a 3Di sail without compromising the structure and integrity of the sail.
3Di repairs use specialist adhesives and 3Di repair materials that are unique to North Sails
3Di is a one-piece composite filament structure engineered very precisely and you cannot just bolt on a new reef for offshore sailing or take a heavy-duty sewing machine and start sewing in the middle of the sail.........3Di construction is unique in the sailmaking industry and it requires a specialist to service and repair it to the North Blue Book standards.
You would not take your new Tesla Car into the corner shop garage so please do not do the same with your 3Di sails......Always make sure they come back to Shane and his Team in Wicklow or one of the other specialist North Sails Service lofts that can be found all over the Globe.
If you have any sail service needs please do not hesitate to contact us here at North Sails Ireland.
