North Sails

Active

Overview

North Sails is a sailmaker specializing in sails for racing and cruising sailboats, including America's Cup boats, superyachts, and one-design classes. It produces performance 3D and paneled sails, along with apparel and water sports products. The company holds a leading position in sailmaking technology, with operations across multiple countries.

History

Founded in 1957 by Lowell North in San Diego, California, applying engineering to sail design. Grew into the world's largest sailmaker with seven owned manufacturing sites in six countries. Moved headquarters from San Diego to Milford, Connecticut in 2001, later to Newport, Rhode Island.

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Racing Sails (3D performance)	High-end competitive racing	$5,000 - $50,000+
Cruising Sails (paneled)	Durable for recreational sailing	$2,000 - $15,000
One-Design Sails	Class-specific racing	$3,000 - $20,000
Superyacht Sails	Large-scale luxury vessels	$20,000 - $100,000+
Spinnakers and Headsails	Downwind and upwind performance	$1,500 - $10,000
Apparel (sailing gear)	Functional ocean wear	$100 - $500

Manufacturing

Operates seven wholly owned manufacturing sites (sail lofts) in six countries, including major facilities in Milford and Steelpointe Harbor, Connecticut, USA. All sail production is in-house using advanced materials and technology. Apparel and other products follow similar global in-house model.

Notable Products

3DL Sails - 3D molded sails using advanced composites for racing performance.
Panelled Cruising Mainsails - Durable paneled sails for recreational and long-distance cruising.
America's Cup Race Sails - Custom sails used on majority of America's Cup boats.
One-Design Class Sails - Sails for Olympic and world championship one-design classes.
Superyacht Genoas - Large genoas engineered for superyacht performance.

Reputation

North Sails is respected by racing sailors and professionals for technological innovation and race victories across America's Cup, Grand Prix, and Olympic classes. Cruising sailors value the durability of their sails. Some note high prices compared to competitors, but performance justifies the cost for serious users.

Sources (8)