Alan Hannon's beautiful North Sails-powered "Coquine" has just taken to the seas in Bangor.
She is a brand new JPK 1030 design from the JPK yard in France - a not-so-little sister to Paul O'Higgins' Dun Laoghaire-based all-conquering JPK 1080 "Rockabill VI"
I was delighted to be there for her initial outing to check out her new North Sails inventory with Alan and his team.
Andrew "Hammy" Baker with new North Sails HELIX 3Di RAW J2 Photo: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails Ireland
Check out these pics of her North Sails 3Di RAW upwind sails - complete with stunning graphics fitted post-production in France...
North Sails 3Di RAW Main and HELIX Code 2 jib powers 'Coquine' upwind in Belfast Lough Photo: Maurice O'Connell/North Sails Ireland
We also checked out three out of her four downwind sails. Here is a video of us (below) flying her (reefable) A3 reaching asymmetric spinnaker...
And a pic of us flying her beautiful S2 running spinnaker manufactured in A-GRADE Contender Superkote 75 nylon...
'Coquine' running downwind with her North Sails S2 Symmetric Spinnaker manufactured in AGRADE Contender Superkote 75 Photo: Maurice O'Connell/North Sails Ireland
I think we all had a great day...
Below 'Coquine' hammers upwind, flying her North Sails HELIX 3Di RAW J4 and full main Vid: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails Ireland
"Coquine" will have a busy season ahead, with the highlight being the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race in July.
Here at North Sails Ireland, we wish Alan and his team every success.
Sail FAST, guys!
Prof. Maurice O'Connell