Kieler Woche 2014 - North Sails to set up mobile workshop

by Kieler Woche on 29 Nov 2013 Kieler Woche 2014 is being held from 21st to 20th June. In 2014, Hamburg-based North Sails will twice set up a mobile workshop at the Olympic Marina Kiel-Schilksee – complete with sewing-machine, tool kit, spare parts and sheets of cloth in tow.

'It’s great to have the North Sails sail repair service with us at Kieler Woche for the seventh time now,' says Nikolaus Rickers, General Manager of Kieler Yacht-Club marketing agency Point of Sailing. As official sponsor of the world’s biggest sailing regatta, North Sails will again be at hand with fast and effective help for damaged sails at the marina. 'We’re very happy with the fact that our successful seven-year partnership will be extended to the effect that sailors may count on the help of the North Sails sail makers at the 2014 ORC Worlds, too,' explains Rickers.

From Ancona/Italy, where the official ISAF offshore world championship took place this year, the event will return to the North of Europe next year. Held only a month after Kieler Woche, the organizers at Kieler Yacht-Club expect more than 100 yachts from more than twelve nations in Kiel. Even now 40 yachts from eight nations have already registered, among them the 2013 and 2012 world champions and vice champions.

'It‘s important to us to lend our support not only at Kieler Woche, but also at the ORC Worlds. The ORC class is strong worldwide, and we are eager to support the sailors with our full commitment and knowhow', says Stefan Matschuck, General Manager of North Sails Germany.

North Sails is clearly a competent partner, being the world-leading manufacturer of sails for one-design and Olympic classes as well as for custom-built and series-built racing, cruising and classic yachts. The company produces more sails than all other sail makers worldwide. It has 63 production lofts and 56 service, sales and satellite lofts in 29 countries. Since 2007, North Sails is present in Hamburg with a 400-square metre service and sales loft. Centrally located, North Sails Germany offers the full range of services from pre-sale consulting and sales up to repair services for cruising and racing.

At Kieler Woche some 4,500 sailors can rely on the fast and professional repair service for damaged sails. Year after year 1,800 teams fight for medals on the various race courses off Kiel – from in-port to offshore. Stormy conditions often cause considerable wear and tear for man and material. This not only reflects in high numbers of damaged sails, but also in the severity of their damage.

In 2013, as many as 250 sails needed repair at Kieler Woche – from dinghy spinnakers to heavy lug sails right on up to foils and membrane sails. The round-the-clock workshop tent saw eight sail makers taking shifts to get the work done. In June, the participants of the Olympic, international and offshore classes at Kieler Woche will again be able to count on North Sails’ first-class first aid service, and so will the ORC Worlds teams a month later.

For more information on Kieler Woche visit the event website