Advancing the art of sailmaking

Sailmaking will always be both an art and a science. Within the last 20 years, technology has played an increasingly important role in our industry. During that period, North has pioneered more technological advances than all other sailmakers combined, advances that have -time after time- become the accepted standard in sailmaking.

• North was first to scientifically test stretch and fatigue in sailcloth

• North was first to analyze sail shapes with computer flow programs

• North was first to perform computer structural analysis in sails

• North was first to computer model sails three dimensionally

• North was first to shape sail panels on both the vertical and horizontal axis to produce a smoother, faster vertical profile

• North was first to develop and use computer aided cloth cutting, dramatically improving the accuracy and consistency of sail production

• North pioneered the use of lasers in the cutting of sail panels

• North developed the first Mylar sailcloth

• North developed the first laminated Kevlar sailcloth

• North developed the first diagonally reinforced sailcloth.

• North developed the first Carbon Fiber sailcloth

• North was first to use warp oriented panel layouts

• North developed the first radial panel layout to better align fibers in sailcloth with loads in the sail

• North pioneered the use of Spectra for large cruising boats

• North developed 3DL, the first (and only}one­piece molded sailmaking technology

These developments have found their way into both our racing and cruising products to make your sailing faster and more enjoyable. Our goal today, as it was in 1957, is to produce sails that are lighter, longer lasting and easier to use. We've made history by always looking ahead.