North Sails

Final day of the North Sound Maxi Regatta, and V delivered. With North Sails President Ken Read calling tactics, the WallyCento stepped up when it counted. Powered by a refined North Sails inventory—3Di for range and shape, Helix Structured Luff for dynamic trim, and a new mainsail that elevated their performance—V showed up for every condition thrown at them. “The regatta’s been worth every bit of effort to get here,” said Read. “We’ve had a huge variety of conditions—whoever won this thing had to be good in all of them.” That performance was the result of a full team effort. Read credited North sail designer Magnus Doole, onboard throughout the week, and sail program lead Matt Kelway for continually pushing performance gains. “It’s our mantra: what did we learn today, and what can we do better tomorrow?” And just ashore, the North Sails service team—flown in from Europe and working around the clock—kept the fleet race-ready. “They’re as important as the teams on board. Without them, this regatta doesn’t happen,” said Read. Huge congrats to all North-powered teams for an unforgettable week of racing—and to V, the first-ever North Sound Maxi Regatta champions. ?#NSVictoryList #NorthSails #MaxiRegatta #BitterEndYachtClub #NorthSound #VirginGorda ?? Vertigo Films | Maxi Regatta

The breeze turned it up a notch in the British Virgin Islands, and the fleet made the most of it—ripping around the North Sound in a 34-nautical mile coastal race that capped off an incredible week at the inaugural North Sound Maxi Regatta. After six races in every condition the Caribbean could serve up—North-powered V came out on top. With an elite crew and a fresh #North3Di mainsail in the mix, V delivered when it counted, and is officially the first-ever North Sound Maxi Regatta champion. “We’ve been waiting for a day like today,” said North Sails President Ken Read, Tactician on V. “Immaculate boats, speed demons around the course, and 20-knot trades—it was proper Grand Prix racing. Mentally exhausting in the best way. Every tiny decision mattered.” And that’s what makes this win even sweeter—V proved itself across the board. As Read put it: “Whoever wins this regatta can say they were the best through a wide range of conditions—and that’s exactly what V did.” Not far behind—the Maxi72 Balthasar kept the pressure on and crossed the line in second overall. From the race course to the loft, it’s been a full team effort. North experts were onboard, on the dock, and in the loft, with our regatta service crew working around the clock from Bitter End to keep sails in top shape and boats on the water. As Read said: “They’re as important as the crews onboard—these events don’t happen without them.” ?? Full results: maxiregatta.com/#results ?#NSVictoryList #NorthSails #MaxiRegatta #BitterEndYachtClub #NorthSound #VirginGorda ?? Carlo Borlenghi | Maxi Regatta

Racing mode: ON. ?? Ride along with Bryon Ehrhart's Juan K 88 Lucky at the North Sound Maxi Regatta — powered by #North3Di and geared up in #NorthSailsPerformanceClothing. When the breeze is on and the racing’s tight, this crew’s all in. ???? #NorthSails?#MaxiRegatta #BitterEndYachtClub #NorthSound #VirginGorda ?? Vertigo Films | Maxi Regatta

Yesterday delivered the kind of day sailors dream about—classic North Sound conditions with 18–20 knots on the dial and a fleet of 100-footers going head-to-head in the final two windward-leewards at the North Sound Maxi Regatta. It was textbook big-boat racing, and North-powered WallyCento 'V' delivered a standout performance to secure its second win of the event, keeping the pressure on as teams jockey for position at the top of the leaderboard. With just one coastal race to go and the points tighter than ever, it’s all on the line. #NorthSound #MaxiRegatta #BitterEndYachtClub #NorthSound #VirginGorda ?? Carlo Borlenghi | Maxi Regatta

Triple Head Sunday = speed, strategy, and serious sail power. The North Sound Maxi Regatta dialed it up with a fresh format and perfect breeze. From max pressure to fine-tuned trim, North-powered teams made it count on the reach. Scroll through to see what pushing 20+ knots looks like when everything clicks. #NorthSails #MaxiRegatta #BitterEndYachtClub #NorthSound #VirginGorda ?? Carlo Borlenghi | Maxi Regatta

Day 3?? at the North Sound Maxi Regatta introduced something new: Triple Head Sunday, a time trial-style race where each team picked their perfect moment to send it down a 1.4-mile reaching course. With the pressure on to go as fast as possible, strategy and timing were everything. North Sails-powered Balthasar came out on top on corrected time. “That was a nice bonus,” said North Sails expert and project manager Bouwe Bekking. But beyond the result, it was the unique format and full-team effort that made the day memorable. “It was a big day for us,” said Bekking. “We had the owner's family and friends onboard, which was really special. I’d say they were our lucky charm. We nailed the timing, had good pressure in the first run, and got our triple-head configuration dialed in.” Sailing at 20–22 knots with three headsails flying—a jib, genoa staysail, and a smaller sail on the bowsprit—Balthasar showed what the team (and the sails) could do when everything clicks. Triple Head Sunday delivered exactly what this week is all about: good breeze, clever racing formats, and a whole lot of fun—on and off the water. More breeze, more racing, and more stories to come from the North Sound. #NorthSails #MaxiRegatta #BitterEndYachtClub #NorthSound #VirginGorda ?? Vertigo Films | Maxi Regatta

Blue water, breeze, and a big win. ?? Day 2?? of the North Sound Maxi Regatta delivered on its promise—a 26-mile coastal race that started and finished in the heart of the North Sound, threading through islands and tight corners, with conditions that kept tacticians on high alert. Balthasar, powered by North Sails, sailed a smart and steady race to take the win on corrected time, while V claimed line honours. “It was very intense at the beginning—way more breeze than expected,” said North Sails expert Bouwe Bekking, project manager onboard Balthasar. “We nailed our timing at the start and got clear air. That helped us march to the first mark. We’ve done a lot of offshore races, so we know the angles, we know our sail settings. That really helped today.” With two races down and momentum building, Balthasar now leads the fleet—proof that performance, preparation, and precision continue to pay off in the Caribbean’s most scenic battleground. Back at it today. More breeze, more battles, more racing to come. ????? #NorthSails #MaxiRegatta #BitterEndYachtClub #NorthSound #VirginGorda ?? Vertigo Films | North Sound Maxi Regatta

Maxi racing is heating up in the North Sound. ?? ??? Day One of the North Sound Maxi Regatta delivered stunning conditions and tactical challenges as seven of the world’s most elite Maxis took to the water. Two windward/leeward races were completed in lighter-than-expected breeze, kicking off the week with intense strategy and razor-thin margins. Onboard V, North Sails President Ken Read called tactics and helped the team recover from a tough Race 1 to take the win in Race 2. “Winning the second race was very important,” said Read. “Not just for our psyche, but for the overall competition. These are the days you have to survive—and we survived today just fine.” Meanwhile, strategist Steve Hayles and the crew on Balthasar put together a steady performance in the smallest boat of the fleet, posting two second-place finishes that kept them firmly in the hunt. “We’re often sailing just off the back of the bigger boats, so for us it’s about saving time and managing losses. Both races were really close at the end. Every second counts,” said Hayles. The fleet is back in action today, building up to Sunday’s first-ever Maxi Triple Head time trial to crown the fastest in the North Sound. With a world-class fleet and some of the sport’s most experienced sailors on the line, this regatta is just getting started. #NorthSails #MaxiRegatta #BitterEndYachtClub #NorthSound #VirginGorda ???Vertigo Films?|?Maxi Regatta

Racing kicks off today at the inaugural North Sound Maxi Regatta on the waters of Virgin Gorda. With breeze set to build all week, the stage is set for fast, competitive sailing in one of the most beautiful venues in the world. Among the seven-boat fleet, Balthasar, Lucky, and V are powered by North Sails and ready for the challenge ahead. As North Sails President and tactician on V, Ken Read put it: “It’s hard to imagine a better place to go sailboat racing. With top-level competition and conditions turning on, this week is going to deliver.” #MaxiRegatta #NorthSails #BEYC #NorthSound #VirginGorda ?? Vertigo Films

The Royal Ocean Racing Club Griffin Project completed 4 days of training on the Solent to prepare 3 teams of 18-30 year olds for their season of racing offshore. North Sails Expert Ronan Grealish joined them to share his skills in preparing your sails and setting up the boat for speed. "I’m proud and privileged to be asked to mentor the next generation of RORC’s offshore sailors. After spending time with them the past few days, I’m confident that the future looks bright. I’m especially encouraged by the number of strong female sailors in the teams.” The Sunfast 3600, Griffin, powered by North Sails will undertake its first race this weekend with sailors also kitted out in #NorthSailsPerformanceClothing. #NorthSails #RORC #offshoresailing ?? Hugh Brayshaw | Andrew Palfrey