UK Sailmakers International’s loft owners and managers met at The Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire last month for their first in-person meeting since 2019, hoisted by UK sailmakers Ireland. The annual meetings bring together UK Sailmakers’ leadership from around the world for several days to discuss new advancements in the sailmaking industry, how those advancements can benefit UK’s customers, and how the group can continue working together to improve sailing. In the end, participants returned to their lofts with renewed energy to bring well-designed, well-built, and durable sails to their customers.
This year, the meeting drew 32 people representing 21 lofts from as far away as Hong Kong, Australia, the western U.S., and Canada,” said John Bennett, President of UK Sailmakers International. “In addition to having three days to share each loft manager’s thoughts on the current and future states of sailing and sailmaking, this meeting gave us the opportunity to share UK Sailmakers’ latest developments in sailmaking design, manufacturing, and marketing.” The main topics of discussion at this year’s meeting focused on how new technologies are shaping sailcloth performance characteristics, sail design software developments, new marketing initiatives and most of all, environmental sustainability sailcloths, which is a new market that UK Sailmakers are leading the way towards developing sails that are environmental sustainability for the future for all of us.
Barry Hayes of UK Sailmakers Ireland giving a presentation on design during the Loft Managers Meeting in Dun Laoghaire Harbour
The meeting was also an opportunity to introduce a few new faces to the group including Kevin Sproul, the owner of the new UK Sailmakers in Southampton, England; Marcel De Jong, new owner of UK Sailmakers Netherlands; and Heather Mahady, the new General Manager of UK Sailmakers International.
Due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, the annual UKI Loft Managers Meeting has not been held in-person since 2019. “The choice of Dublin for the meeting was made back in 2019 and here we are, three years later, with it all coming together,” said Barry Hayes, owner of UK Sailmakers Ireland and the meeting’s host. The last time the UKI Loft Managers Meeting was in Ireland was 25 years ago, when the group met at the Royal Cork Yacht Club.
UK Sailmakers International’s loft owners and managers at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour
Hayes was excited to share Ireland’s history, culture, and sailing community with the rest of the UK group. Beyond the meeting itself, Barry planned team-building activities including trips to the Jameson Distillery, the Guinness Storehouse, and a selection of historic Yacht Clubs around Dun Laoghaire, Starting with welcome drinks in the National Yacht Club, meeting every day at the Royal Irish Yacht Club and a final dinner and drinks in the Royal St George Yacht Club. Barry’s plans were a great success and he received plenty of praise from the visiting loft managers for a well-organised fun meeting. Mehmet Taylan from UK Norway enjoyed his time in Dublin, saying it was, “A fantastic UK Sailmakers meeting,” and that it was great to see the managers from other lofts in person again. Taylan noted that “UK stands together even stronger, [with] new products and new technology.”
John Bennet said that this year’s voting and selection for the UK Loft of the Year Award was “a real tough one,” considering the great performances and contributions from many lofts recovering post-pandemic. Ultimately, the decision ended in a tie for the UK Sailmakers lofts located in Turkey and Ireland. Baris and Bulent Celik of UK Turkey received the award for their humanitarian work assisting the Ukraine loft, in addition to their efforts to develop new software programmes for the UK group, and maxi yacht sail production.
Barry Hayes from UK Ireland was also awarded the title UK Loft of the Year Award for his loft’s contributions to the UK group, including articles which raised the profile of UK Sailmakers both in and out of Ireland, plus an incredible post-COVID recovery for the loft, work on design and development. His work with PPE during Covid and Humanitarian work with Ukraine.
Barry Hayes from UK Ireland (centre) was awarded the title UK Loft of the Year Award for his loft’s contributions to the UK group
The next UK Sailmakers International’s Loft Managers Meeting will be held in Sidney, BC, Canada, home to the UK Sailmakers Northwest loft. Stuart and Joy Dahlgren, the owners of UK Northwest, look forward to hosting another great event in 2023.
