San Francisco California
Sales, Service, One Design
Loft Info
440 Coloma Street
Sausalito, California 94965
415 339 3000
Specialties
Bend on / Bend off, Certified Service, Sail Hardware Upgrades, Sail Inspection / Evaluation, Sail Measurement, Sail Repair, Sail WashingHours
North Sails Experts

Nancy Crafts
Office Administration
nancy.crafts@northsails.com
+1 415-339-3000
+1 415-250-6160

Sean Cashel
Service Manager
sean.cashel@northsails.com
415 339 3000
914 844 8841
Contact
Local News
December 4, 2020
Build, Test, Rinse, and Repeat
Last week we announced the launch of our new Performance range of foul weather gear that will be available in Spring 2021. Each week, until launch, we’ll unpack how our team conceived the range, the …
December 1, 2020
X-Yachts Launches New Performance Cruiser
X-Yachts are excited to introduce their new model of cruising yacht, encompassing 56 feet of luxury and performance with an emphasis on comfort. The X5⁶ is one of the biggest X-Yachts models ever to be produced …
November 17, 2020
The America’s Cup Heats Up in Auckland
Time is closing in on the 36th America’s Cup which commences in Auckland on the 6th of March 2021, and with the recent launch of Emirates Team New Zealand’s (ETNZ) second boat, competition is heating …
November 13, 2020
Vendée Globe 2020 Video Series: Episode 7
"We know when we are departing, but we do not know when we will return," recalls Loïck Peyron in this seventh and last episode of our Vendée Globe video series. Although an absent crowd marked …
November 3, 2020
Vendée Globe 2020 Video Series: Episode 5
A record of six women are included on the 33 skipper roster for the Vendée Globe 2020. This is historic, considering only seven women have participated, and six have ever completed the race since its …
October 27, 2020
Vendée Globe 2020 Video Series: Episode 4
Singlehanded ocean racing is demanding and not for the faint of heart. It is a profession that requires a certain state of mind and a great ability to adapt. "It may not sound like much …
October 14, 2020
Jeffrey Bonanni Joins the North Sails Team
Bonanni is a five-time National and North American Champion, including the 2015 E Scow Nationals, and brings extensive experience in the E Scow class as the North Sails one design representative. An active racer in …
October 6, 2020
North Sails Strengthens Great Lakes Presence
North Sails is pleased to announce that John Baxter and Christina Donnermeyer have joined the Chicago loft team. Baxter, the former owner of Doyle Midwest, brings over three decades of sailmaking industry experience and consolidates …
October 1, 2020
Putting Away Your Toys
North Sails Expert Tom Davis is particular about sail storage. He’s shared his best tips below to ensure your sails remain in top shape for next season. Given how strange 2020 has been in many respects, …
September 25, 2020
Connecting Kiting and Sailing
It wasn’t flashy imagery or action sports videos that got Steve Calder, North Sails designer, interested in kiting. His love for the sport began when his son decided he wasn’t interested in sailing optis while …
September 24, 2020
Spotlight on Park City Sailing
In the Wasatch Mountain Range, the team at Park City Sailing has created a sailing haven, where people from all backgrounds, in all stages of life, have experiences and make memories on the water that …
September 20, 2020
Tuning Tips from the Top
Pros at the top of the fleet share how the North 9DSX Moth sail takes them through the range of conditions and their personal tuning tips. Shop Moth Sails
September 2, 2020
Sesto-Cosby Makes Waves in the Optimist Fleet
Making a name for himself in the fiercely competitive Optimist fleet is 14-year-old British sailor Santiago Sesto-Cosby. Having sailed the Optimist for an astounding 10 years, we were eager to find out about his journey …
August 20, 2020
First Hoist on Zephyr
Zephyr is an Outremer 55, equipped with a 3Di ENDURANCE square top mainsail, which currently has 7,000 miles on it. She also sports a 3Di OCEAN genoa, and has recently acquired a brand new NPC …
August 7, 2020
Building Sails for The IMOCA
November 8th, the next edition of the Vendée Globe race is set to start from Les Sables d'Olonne, North Sails has designed the sails for the ¾ of the IMOCA fleet, 17 of which have …
August 6, 2020
Steering Downwind
Steering off the wind, on reaches and runs, requires a coordinated effort between helmsman and spinnaker trimmer. The spinnaker trimmer often has as good a feel for performance as you do while driving, and together …
August 5, 2020
How To Improve Your Tacks
The most important element of upwind boathandling is tacking, though every once in awhile an efficient reef or genoa change could also win you a race. Tacking seems like a minor thing, but the difference …
July 28, 2020
Cruising Multihull Q + A
A: Having higher loads is the biggest issue. Because the boat does not heel and release the load, when the pressure hits it means every aspect of the sails and rigging must be up-specked for …
July 17, 2020
New Sails For Summer On Swan 78 Kinina
In 2018, Mr. Enrico Bonatti purchased Kinina, a Swan 78. Why a Swan 78? “I prefer the best quality,” he said. “And the 78 is the right size for me.” Mr. Bonatti then met with …
July 9, 2020
It Takes Two…
Owner and co-skipper, Catherine Pourre and co-skipper Pietro Luciani are the winning duo onboard Class40 Eärendil. Together, the pair are the reigning Class40 World Champions, have twice won the RORC Caribbean 600, The Atlantic Cup, …
July 8, 2020
Doublehanded Dream
With nearly 20-thousand miles under his belt, Sam Fitzgerald is no stranger to the challenges of going offshore, especially with only two sets of hands onboard. A naval architect and seasoned Class40 racer, with accolades …
In 2016, Ken and Liisa Bacco set sail from Newport, Rhode Island on December 1st during a snow storm onboard their Oyster 47.5 cutter rig, Altair, to meet up with the Oyster World Rally (OWR) …
July 1, 2020
The Best Sails for Cruising
A few months ago, North Materials Expert Tom Davis wrote an article titled “What are the Best Sails for Club Racing”. It only seems logical to have a companion piece to that, but with a …
June 26, 2020
ClubSwan 36 Collaboration
The ClubSwan 36, which made its debut in May 2019, is seeing significant signs of growth. Despite a delay in sailing in 2020, the North Sails team has spent the first half of this year …
June 22, 2020
Introducing DynaRig by Southern Spars
Southern Spars, a North Technology Group company, is proud to announce they have joined forces with Magma Structures to deliver a new generation of DynaRigs. The DynaRig concept has proven itself as an effective alternative …
June 12, 2020
3Di OCEAN: Your Questions, Answered
A: 3Di OCEAN is the newest line of 3Di sails from North Sails, designed and engineered exclusively for cruising. A: 3Di OCEAN is for you if you are looking for a premium cruising product, providing high …
June 9, 2020
Introducing the 3Di OCEAN Line Up
After an exhaustive research and development program, North Sails is thrilled to launch 3Di OCEAN 370, our latest innovative sail product that completes a line-up of 3D molded sails dedicated to cruising. This new product is …
June 2, 2020
Things to Look for in a Good Sail
You know when it feels right. It’s that moment when you could almost let go of the wheel and the boat could steer itself. A boat in perfect balance. Racing sailors will go to extraordinary …
May 26, 2020
North Sails Partners With World Cruising Club
North Sails announces an exciting new partnership with leading sailing rally organizers World Cruising Club. The aim of the partnership is to inspire sailors around the world to embark on a cruising adventure, using North …
May 22, 2020
Sails, Service & Local Support
It’s still a complicated time in many places around the world, and a huge thank you to our entire North Sails team, clients, and friends who have pulled together in a way that is quite …
May 19, 2020
Let’s Talk J/111 | Optimize Your Handicap
https://youtu.be/VYQZ87Xp2oo North Sails J/111 experts Seadon Wijsen, Jeremy Smart, Allan Terhune, and Jack Orr combine their knowledge to bring you a webinar on how to optimize your J/111 racing experience. With multiple podium finishes under their …
May 18, 2020
Let’s Talk J/70 | Downwind Boat Handling
https://youtu.be/mIXX-FBNr0A With visual support from images and video, North experts Allan Terhune, Eric Doyle and Alex Curtiss analyze downwind techniques in different wind strengths, including displacement modes and planing in heavier air. Pick up new techniques …
May 12, 2020
The Science Behind Your Sail Trim
By Tom Whidden One of the goals for our book, The Art and Science of Sails, is to connect the theoretical with the practical. An understanding of the physics of aerodynamics will help us better trim …
May 5, 2020
Let’s Talk J/111 | Upwind & Downwind Performance
https://youtu.be/17qsyQom5j0 J/111 webinar featuring North Sails Class experts Seadon Wijsen, Jack Orr, Jeremy Smart and Allan Terhune. Topics covered include: 2:35 Upwind Trim 39:12 Downwind Light Air & Superlight 44:30 Downwind Soak Mode 10-17 knots 51:34 Downwind Wing on Wing 13-15 …
https://youtu.be/Knn3YscY3xw North Sails Experts and Southern California locals Eric Doyle and Alex Curtiss talk about the conditions and what to expect in Marina Del Rey, home of the 2021 J/70 World Championship. Topics covered include: 9:35 - …
May 1, 2020
Are You Onboard?
Fill your social feeds with all things sailing. Each day North Sails is curating our social media channels with content that showcases our passion for being on the water. We're collecting images that inspire us …
April 14, 2020
Let’s Talk Etchells | New Australian Setup
Class Experts Noel “Nitro” Drennan, Alex Curtiss and Eric Doyle discuss the new Australian setup and new sail designs for the Etchells Class. Webinar Chat Questions Answered https://youtu.be/V9GrYvcua_o
April 10, 2020
North Sails Cut and Sew Mask Kits
Personnel, lofts, clients, and friends of North Sails are navigating this global crisis together. Many of our local Certified Service Centers have taken the initiative in their areas to build masks when possible and support their …
April 10, 2020
North 3Di: Innovative Sailmaking Technology
Lightweight, reliable, unique. North 3Di sails are engineered to minimum weight and maximum performance. By eliminating the use of mylar, 3Di will not delaminate. Each 3Di sail is precisely shaped on full-sized molds and built …
April 9, 2020
North Certified Service Spinnaker Sail Care
No matter where you are in the world, you can prepare for your next event or be ready for when sailing season picks up again by knowing what to look for when it comes to …
April 3, 2020
We’re Here To Help With Answers
North Sails President Ken Read checked in to give us an update on what’s going on at North Sails this week. Ken, like all of us, is working from his makeshift home office in Rhode …
April 2, 2020
Navigate Material Options With Sail Finder
Do you race, cruise or do both? North Sails offers a broad range of sail materials to meet a wide variety of needs. This can make navigating sail material choices daunting. Depending on whether you …
March 31, 2020
Cruising Sailors Tool Kit
Our experts have created a variety of articles to help you gain confidence for your next getaway. Topics include battens, weather, safety, durability of cruising sails, and more. Whether you are leaving land behind or …
March 31, 2020
Ken Read on Offshore Safety
Hardcore ocean racers and coastal cruisers alike should all make safety at sea a priority. Practices from racing around the world, including the toughest conditions of the Southern Ocean, can apply to sailors of all …
March 31, 2020
Why Checking The Forecast Matters
Libby Greenhalgh has navigated around the world twice with the Volvo Ocean Race; she's a director with the Magenta Project and has an offshore resume that ranks her among the top sailors in the world. …
March 27, 2020
Sizzle Wins Puerto Vallarta
Talented tactician and helmsman, Bill Hardesty has been part of sailing’s winning history in the J/70, Etchells, Melges 20, Melges 24, Farr 40, and has won a total of 12 World Championship titles, which include …
March 27, 2020
Sail Care & Maintenance Tips
There are many ways you can help prolong the life of your sails. Here are some pointers to keep you aligned with our sail care maintenance practices, which can be part of your regular routine …
March 27, 2020
Roller Furlers & UV Suncovers: What You Should Know
What happens if you furl your sail the wrong way? - with the sun cover on the inside instead of the outside of the furl? Unfortunately, we see the effects of this in our service …
March 25, 2020
North Sails Client Q+A
The North Sails teams around the world have received a bunch of calls and emails recently. A quick Q+A has been put together to help provide you with information on where we are at during …
March 19, 2020
What You Should Know About Battens
Thinking about battens? Preparing for a new season is something that is on everyone’s mind. Whether you’re staging your boat to launch, planning an extended cruise, or hoisting your sails for a weeknight club race, …
March 13, 2020
Cruising Sail Durability
Cruising sailors demand durability. Yet, durability is not an easily quantified element of sail performance. Predicting durability is a tough challenge, because sails are subjected to so many different forms of use and conditions. That …
March 12, 2020
A New Beginning With North Sails
Matthew Bitterman shares his journey to refitting his Hans Christian 38 MKII. We made it to Boston, sailing through Mexico then eventually deciding to ship the boat overland the rest of the way to get back …
February 25, 2020
What are the Best Sails For Club Racing?
For some sailors, “club racing” means a casual jib-and-main evening race aboard a well-stocked cruising boat carrying roller furlers and its anchor and chain in the bow. For others, it means a no-holds-barred weekend race …
February 21, 2020
The Difference Between Racing Sails and Cruising Sails
People with sailboats use them in many ways, but broadly speaking we define them as either cruising or racing. Cruising might be an hour-long daysail, with only one sail hoisted, or it might last a …
February 6, 2020
Sail Plan Dimensions
The basic rig dimension for a yacht are generally understood. However, there are some differences in how some sailors describe these dimensions. Here is how we define them at North Sails. I – Height of Foretriangle Elevation …
December 20, 2019
Partnering to Promote Double-Handed Racing in North America
Jeanneau America announced today that world-renowned American yachtsman and North Sails President Ken Read will campaign the new Jeanneau SunFast 3300 in the double-handed division of the 2020 Fort Lauderdale to Key West race along …
October 15, 2019
North Sails Supports One Design Racing at the San Diego Yacht Club
From October 18th to 27th, the J/105 fleet of the San Diego Yacht Club will be racing two consecutive events – the International Masters Regatta (October 18-20) and the Lipton Cup (October 25-27), proofing the …
September 24, 2019
Rolex Big Boat Series Recap
It is safe to say that it’s never a dull experience sailing in the San Francisco bay. For the crews taking part in the 55th edition of Rolex Big Boat Series, the culmination of sailing …
August 30, 2019
Rolex Big Boat Series
Nicolas Popp has a day job in tech and is not a professional sailor, but he says he started preparing his boat Invictus, a SunFast 3600, for the 2019 Rolex Big Boat Series as soon …
August 16, 2019
Speed Reading: J/111 Pre-Worlds
North Experts Seadon Wijsen on Skeleton Key and Allan Terhune on Velocity sailed the Verve Cup, which was also the J/111 Pre-Worlds. After three days and eight races, both teams had plenty of takeaway lessons. …
August 16, 2019
Patrick Murray’s Transpac Download
We caught up with Local North Sails expert and Transpac aficionado Patrick Murray to get his personal download on the race. What makes this race so special to you and other sailors who keep coming back? This …
July 25, 2019
NORTH SAILS CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES
The Rolex Big Boat Series always attracts world class competitors to the iconic San Francisco Bay. North Sails clients have a strong track record of commanding the leaderboard in the multiple classes of racing at …
July 24, 2019
#NSVictoryList: 50th Transpac
In division 1, Tom Holthus' Pac 52 BadPak (with North expert Jon Gardner) beat out Duncan Hine's Alive* by more than two hours. In division 2, Yabsley/Compton's RP70 TaxiDancer finished just ahead of Santa Cruz …
June 11, 2019
Employment Opportunity In Sausalito
Would you like to work in a fun, and fast paced environment with the worldwide leader in sailmaking? Since 1957, North Sails has led the sailmaking industry with our cutting-edge technology and knowledgable team. We …
April 19, 2019
Offshore Performance With The Experts
Planning on heading out into open waters? When racing offshore, sailors have to be prepared for anything and everything, and when the ocean tosses up a new challenge, it's what you have done to prepare …
March 27, 2019
Introducing The New F-1 Mainsail For J/70 Class
The One Design team at North Sails are driven by our commitment to find solutions for our customers and to always find more speed and boat performance. This is why the new F-1 mainsail was …
October 17, 2018
Introducing Our 2019 3Di Product Line
Development of 3Di began ten years ago and has continued at a rapid and accelerating pace ever since. 3Di is the sum of multiple technologies exclusive to North Sails, making it the ideal platform for …
December 1, 2017
How to Care for Your Sails this Winter
As we come to the end of the sailing season and head into winter, the North Sails global service team is gearing up for a busy period - from helping clients prepare for the Caribbean …
October 23, 2017
Etchells Worlds Interview
We caught up with Steve Benjamin to get his overall perspective on sailing the Etchells, which is one of the most competitive One Design Classes in the world. As many of you may already know, …
October 2, 2017
2017 Etchells World Championship
On Tuesday September 26th, 51 of the world’s top Etchells teams gathered at SFYC for the opening day of the 2017 Etchells World Championship. The day began with a postponement on the water until the …
August 28, 2017
The Key to Success at J/111 Worlds
After Peter Wagner’s Skeleton Key won the 2017 J/111 Worlds on San Francisco Bay, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club. North Sails caught up with tactician Seadon Wijsen, North Sails J/111 class expert and salesmen …
July 17, 2017
TRANSPAC 2017 – One for the Record Books
The Transpac Yacht Race first kicked off in 1906. As one of the longest ocean races, it is now considered one of the oldest distance races in the sailing world. North Sails is proud to …
Jim and Kristy Clark’s record breaking machine, Comanche, started their 2017 Transpac Race off with a bang. Halfway from Los Angeles to Hawaii, she broke the race’s 24hr distance record, averaging around 20.2 knots and …
July 12, 2017
Mighty Merloe Sets Transpac Multihull Course Record
When HL Enloe brought his Orma 60, Mighty Merloe, to California, he set a new bar for speed that was not only striking but rather inconvenient. “In the beginning, we convinced race committees to let …
June 28, 2017
SoCal Sailing at Long Beach Race Week
Long Beach Race Week 2017 was an absolute success with amazing breeze, comfortable warm temperatures, and lots of fun and exciting racing. Winds ranged between 10-24 knots all three days, keeping things interesting on all …
May 30, 2017
Coast to Coast Regatta Report: Snipes
Last weekend, Snipe sailors gathered on both coasts to take part in the competitive racing and friendly sailing the class is known for. On the west coast, Mission Bay YC hosted the Herb Shear Invitational …