As we close in on when "racing proper like" starts next week, we wanted to share the early season "training" and "racing" successes of our wonderful clients flying North Sails.
Scottish Series - "Final Call", "Animal" & "Leaky Roof"
We supplied John Minnis' Beneteau First 31.7 "Final Call" with a full inventory of 3Di upwind sails and A GRADE Superkote downwind spinnakers in 2019 and 2020.
John and his team had some notable early success on Belfast Lough last year and we were delighted to see him winning his class overall in the Scottish Series which concluded last Sunday on Lough Fyne. Congratulations too to John on being awarded "Afloat Sailor Of The Month" - well deserved!
"Final Call" flying her North Sails 3Di RAW Inshore Mainsail and No. 1 Genoa
In IRC 1, our NS friend and colleague from Scotland Kevin Aitken racing his Beneteau First 36.7 "Animal" won IRC 1 with a massive nine point margin. She flies North Sails 3Di RAW upwind sails and A GRADE Superkote downwind spinnakers.
In the Sigma 33 class, Alan Harper's "Leaky Roof 2" won flying 100% North Saisl for the event.
So, that's North Sails-powered boats winning both IRC classes and the Sigma 33 class in the Scottish Series 2021!
Bangor to Strangford Coastal Race - "Game Changer" & "All Or Nothing"
Shaun Douglas and my old laser sparring partner John Simms won the recent coastal race from Bangor to Portaferry in Strangford Lough on Shaun's Beneteau First 40.7 "Game Changer".
"Game Changer" is ex "Philosophie IV" and has a full inventory of North Sails.
2nd overall was Michael Eames in his Jeanneau SunFast 3200 "All Or Nothing" flying his brand new North Sails 3Di mainsail and North Sails 3Di AP jib.
Michael Eames Jeanneau SunFast 3200 All or Nothing
His new 3Di Helix jib features Helix structured luff technology and he was delighted with the performance of the new sails.
ISORA Training Race - "Aurelia"
I competed in the 2018 and 2019 Round Ireland and Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race on "Aurelia" so I have a soft spot for this beautiful boat and her team.
So, congratulations to Chirs Power-Smith on a massive victory in the ISORA training race last Saturday. It was a gruelling long light air day. Chris described his 2018 sails and as "still beautiful" and he romped away on the long downwind legs to the finish. Chris LOVES his big gold A GRADE composite Superkote 90 / 75 A2 kite, seen here at the start of the last Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race.
J122 Aurelia at the start of 2019 Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race - flying her composite Superkote A2 Asymmetric Spi and North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE mainsail
I snapped this pic of "Aurelia" going upwind on Saturday flying her 3Di ENDURANCE mainsail and 3Di RAW Code 1 jib.
"Aurelia" flying her North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE Offshore mainsail and North Sails 3DI RAW Ocde 1 Jib Pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails
I was aboard Pete Smyth's new Jeanneau SF 3600 "Searcher" - I think this pic describes how glassy the conditions were!
Pete Smyth's new Jeanneau SF 3600 "Searcher".
DBSC Cruisers 1 Class on Sat - "Juggerknot 2", "Powder Monkey" & "Jalapeno"
The DBSC training has been going well with our clients showing lots of early-season form.
Last Saturday in Cruisers 1, Andrew Algeo's J99 "Juggerknot 2" won handsomely, followed by Chris Moore's "Powder Monkey" and "Paul Barrington's "Jalapeno". All three fly 100% NS inventories and they are FLYING.
Jalapeno flying her 3Di Main & A GRADE Superkote A2 Pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails
I am particularly pleased for "Powder Monkey". We did a full rig-tune a few weeks ago onboard and they have hit the ground running this season.
All three fly North Sails 3Di and NPL Xi upwind sails and Contender A GRADE Superkote spinnakers.
Beneteau First 31.7 Class last Thursday - "After U Too"
Michael Blaney and his team on "After U Too" romped away with victory on Thurs night in DBSC. I was out on a motorboat taking pics and grabbed this one as she went up the second beat with a commanding lead after a great start.
'After U Too' flying her North Sails 3Di Mainsail & No. 1 Genoa Pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails
DBSC Beneteau First 21.7 Class on Saturdays - "Billy Whizz" and "Bees Wing"
This great class ran two DBSC "training" races on the past two Saturdays. Pat Shannon and his team won both races on Saturday 22nd May in "Bees Wing" and Jimmy Fischer and his team on "Billy Whizz" won both races on Saturday 29th May.
Here is a quick video aboard "Billy Whizz" - note how FLAT and smooth the mainsail is in these fresh conditions.
"Billy Whizz" flying North Sails NPL Xi upwind sails Video: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails
Both boats fly North sails NPL Xi upwind sails and in Pat's words, "we were going really well using our old (North Sails) sails"
Roll on the final week's "training" racing this week and we are all looking forward to getting back to racing "proper like" next week.
Please do get in touch if you need to discuss any aspect of your boat's sail inventory. Whether it's racing or cruising - we have the solution for you and we'd be delighted to chat.
Sail FAST,
Prof, Nigel & Shane
