Key Yachting named UK North Sails One Design J/80 and J/70 dealer

by Gemma Dunn on 26 Feb 2013 Key Yachting are excited to have been appointed official North Sails One Design agent for the J/80 and J/70 classes in the UK. This will enable Key Yachting, who are the sole agent for J Boats in the UK, to offer their customers some fantastic deals on suits of sails for these phenomenally successful sportsboats.

Boats equipped with North Sails have proven themselves time and again in the long established J/80 class, having topped the podium at many UK and International regattas. Already this year North-powered boats have taken first and second positions at both Key West and Monaco’s Primo Cup.

Throughout the design stages of the first J/70, North Sails in the States had the opportunity to be in on the ‘ground floor’ of the project. Working closely with J Boats, North One Design were able to develop the rig and sail plan for the boat using only computer generated measurements. After comprehensive testing the North designed sails hit the water and, from the word go, clients are enjoying great success.

The new partnership is headed up by Paul Heys, Managing Director at Key Yachting, North designer Ruairidh Scott and North’s European Salesman Hugo Rocha, who is based in Spain.

The new J/70 has become one of the fastest growing one design classes in the world, and is already the fastest selling J Boat ever. It is the boatbuilder’s first slipway-launchable keelboat and is satisfying the need for an easy-to-own, high performance one-design that is exciting to sail, stable enough for the family, and built to last. Meanwhile the J/80 is the perfect combination of family dayboat and one-design raceboat. Thanks to its simplicity, its strength and its performance record, this 8m trail-able keelboat has become a worldwide reference, and remains so despite being launched two decades ago.

North Sails One Design will be heavily involved with both classes, including the 2013 J/80 UK National Championships and the inaugural J/70 UK National Championships, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron in June. North will be based at the Sailcare loft in Cowes Yacht Haven for the duration of the event, where they will stock new sails, battens and other parts, as well as be able to carry out repairs big or small.

For more information about the J/80 and J/70 Nationals please visit Key Yachting.

North Sails One Design are pleased to answer any technical questions, customers should contact info@northonedesign.com.