The North Sails Trim Talks tour of Ireland has been going really well and it's always a treat for us to get out of the office and meet the clients and potential clients in a relaxed learning environment writes Loft manager Nigel Young.

Lots of topics and questions get presented to us as we travel and this year was no different. However, there is often a recurring theme that pops up as we move around the country and this year was no different. The big talking point at many clubs this year was One Design racing and the class that got mentioned more than most was the J24.

"The J24 is a very popular choice by many of the Under 25 Youth Teams in Ireland"

In the summer of 1975 Rodney Johnstone designed and built hull number One in his garage in Stonington, Connecticut USA and the class has been going strong ever since.

The J24 is a very popular choice by many of the Under 25 Youth Teams in Ireland and we were very happy to help support the U-25 Squad in Foynes YC last month. From the outside, the J24 looks simple and in reality, it is. However as with all One Designs from Optimist dinghy through to the Melges 32 they all have special techniques required to get the very best out of them. The J24 is no different....however if you want a short cut to success in this class look no further!

North Sails have been involved in the class right from day one and the experience and knowledge our class experts have to share is second to none. Our own Shane Hughes here in Ireland is one of the class experts in the J24 so if you cannot find the answer below please do not be afraid to contact Shane or any other member of the North Sails Team.

We hope you find the Tips and trick below of interest. I am 100% confident you will...

Please take a look at the first of three J24 focused articles from North Sails here

Sign up to the North Sails e-newsletter here

Big smiles all round in the Royal St George YC last weekend as North Sails Ireland prizewinner Gina Liuzzi received her new holdall.

Presented by Sails expert Maurice O'Connell just ahead of his North Sails Trim Talk on Saturday lunchtime at the Dun Laoghaire club.

Gina's winning entry was the first name out of the hat in the recent and popular North Sails Ireland free to enter competition on Afloat.ie

Keep an eye on Afloat.ie for your next chance to win a North Sails Holdall in our series of free to enter competitions.

Prof O'Connell of North Sails Ireland reports from the deck of the Sunfast 3600 YoYo in the DBSC Spring Chicken race on Dublin Bay.

Today's DBSC Spring Chicken race was a light wind affair with big wind shifts, making it challenging for both the competitors and race officer Henry Leonard's team. The triangular course was eventually shortened after the fifth leg. Nice timing given that the rain had just arrived!

Onboard "YoYo" we had a useful practice session with sister ship "Hot Cookie" prior to racing. "Hot Cookie", with FF guru Alan Green helming, NS colleague Shane Hughes trimming plus noted tactician Marty O'Leary aboard eventually won the "battle of the sisterships" beating us on the water by 12 lengths or so.

The J97 "Windjammer" had a stellar day, beating us both on the water as did the J112 "Jib 'n Tonic". We await the "FECHO" results with bated breath!

Dun Laoghaire's Royal St. George Yacht Club host an ‘Upwind Boatspeed’ talk with ‘Prof’ Maurice O’Connell, tomorrow, Saturday 2nd March, at 12:00 pm. 

O'Connell of North Sails Ireland will utilise North’s advanced sail trim simulator in his talk. 

Irish Buffet Breakfast available 1.15 – 2.15 pm

€15 per person (inc tea and coffee)

To book a place, please contact Laura at Reception on (01) 2801811

North Sails Ireland had the pleasure of presenting their latest sail trim seminar at Howth YC last night for its members and guests writes Nigel Young. I counted over seventy people in the audience and my colleague Maurice "Prof" O'Connell took the lead backed up by Shane Hughes the newest member of the North Sails Team here in Ireland.

Both Maurice and Shane as well as being top level sailors are exceptional coaches both on and off the water. Not only do they know their subject inside out they have a really nice way of presenting that makes the complicated subject of sail trim understandable for expert and beginner alike.

The NS Team at Howth YC - from left Prof O'Connell, Nigel Young and Shane Hughes

One of the big features of the latest talk is the use of North Sails Trim simulator. Please take a look at the link to download your own copy to experiment with at home: North Sails Trim Simulator

This fantastic training tool was developed by Bill Gladstone and his Team at North U, the training and teaching arm of North sails. The simulator uses real information from the North Sails Design Suite to produce a really accurate presentation of the real changes to sail shapes when you make a change to the set up. You get to view the changes from on board and off the boat all in the comfort of your own home without getting your feet wet!

The North Sails Roadshow has been all over the country during the last few weeks and Prof is in action again this weekend in The Royal St George YC Sat 2nd March at 12pm. Then we are off to the East Antrim Boat Club on the following Wednesday the 6th March.

Keep an eye out for a North Sails Talk near you!

Sail Fast!

Nigel Young North Sails Ireland

North Sails Ireland will bring their "Upwind Sail Trim And Escaping From The Start" to Howth Yacht Club next Tuesday on Feb 26th.

Using "North U" Sail Trim simulation software and supporting video, the full North Sails team of Nigel Young, Shane Hughes and Prof O'Connell will demonstrate the theory and practice of upwind sail trim and how to optimise your set-up for different wind and wave conditions.

The talk starts at 7.30pm and all are welcome.

North Sails Ireland is offering the members of Foynes Yacht Club and visitors a presentation on the latest theory and techniques for improving and refining upwind trim and boat speed.

North Sails Ireland will be hosting the Sail Trim & Boat Speed Talk in Foynes Yacht Club this Friday 15th February @ 19.30. 

All are welcome, members and visitors. Entry fee is €10 per person. The revenue goes to the FYC Under 25 Sailing Squad.

We are delighted to be invited to FYC and look forward to meeting the members and maybe we can even get a photo with Mermaid Champion Darragh McCormack!

Rush Sailing Club in North County Dublin is the venue for the next North Sails talk where North Sails Ireland agent Maurice O'Connell will talk about upwind sail trim and escaping from the start.

RSC is the home club of the Kelly family, owner's of the giant-killing J109 "Storm II", winner of the 2018 Scottish Series, RC 35 Series and the Howth YC Autumn League. David Kelly is the RSC vice-commodore.

"Prof O'Connell will be utilising the North U Trim Simulator to illustrate different sail concepts and also video footage from racecourse around Ireland in 2018"

We will be utilising the North U Trim Simulator developed from the powerful North Design Suite to illustrate different sail concepts and also video footage from racecourse around Ireland in 2018.

Prof using North Trim Simulator at a recent talk at Greystones SC

All are welcome and there will be food and refreshments are available.

North Sails Ireland enjoyed a great day out last Friday with the Royal Cork Yacht Club Under 25 Academy. We were looking at some new 1720 3Di Nordac upwind sails and the North 1720 T-6 Class spinnaker writes Nigel Young.

EY has sponsored the U-25 squad and as part of that North Sails Ireland was delighted to be involved with the provision of a new spinnaker complete with the EY Logo.

Annamarie Fegan, Head of sponsorship at Royal Cork Yacht Club with Nigel Young of North Sails

The EY logo emblazoned on the 1720 U25 RCYC team

We were blessed with amazing conditions for the photo shoot on Friday, 10-knots of wind, 10 degrees temperature and even the odd glimpse of the sun!

As well as the official pictures we had our own media guys on the case. 'Young Productions' were filming onshore and flying the drone to give a different view on proceedings.

New 3Di Nordac upwind sails for the U25 1720 team

We would like to wish the U-25 squad good luck for the 2019 season and we look forward to playing our part as the season unfolds. Please take good care of that new spinnaker!

Sail FAST!

Nigel Young

RYA NI is hold its Cruising Conference in Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in Cultra, Co. Down this Saturday Jan 26th starting at 9.30am.

As part of it, North Sails Ireland's Prof O'Connell will be giving a talk on "Cruising Sails - New Technologies And Developments".

"North Sails are industry leaders in advancing cruising sails design and manufacturing techniques. The "trickle down effect" from our winning Vendee Globe, Volvo Ocean race and Round The World record breaking campaigns greatly benefits our cruising clients and I am really looking forward to a good interactive session in RNIYC this Saturday, " O'Connell told Afloat.ie.

The video below is of an NSI trialling of new North Sails Tour Xi cruising sails on Strangford Lough recently on Peter Niblock's Moody S31 "Zeelander".

All are welcome at the conference!