Cameron Appleton joins North Sails

by Bridgid Murphy on 17 Jul 2014 North Sails is pleased to announce that world-renowned helmsman and tactician Cameron Appleton has joined North Sails. Appleton is a key hire within North’s Class Sail Development (CSD) team. His experience and talent across a wide range of classes from Big Boat One Design and Mini-Maxi to Superyacht means Appleton is perfectly placed to take on this new role within North Sails.

His position as one of the world's leading tacticians makes Appleton a valuable asset to North’s design, sales, customer service and marketing teams. His on-the-water testing and feedback is essential to progressive sail design. He will continue to work closely with Vice President of Sail Design Per Andersson to further develop products and tuning techniques for key classes such as Farr 40, Melges 32, and RC44.

'Bringing Cam onboard is a phenomenal opportunity for North Sails to broaden our depth within Grand Prix sailing,' said Ken Read, President of North Sails. 'It is a stated goal for us to get young and talented representation on the race course. You can make a case that Cam is one of the best young talents out there right now; especially when it comes to servicing the owner-driver category.'

Appleton will collaborate with Paul Westlake, Global Head of Sales, to generate new sales opportunities and strengthen relationships with the sport’s opinion leaders worldwide.

'Champion sailors are one of the greatest resources to improve our offering,' explained Westlake. 'We need the input from the best sailors in the world so that North Sails can continue to remain the number one sailmaker. Beyond winning sailboat races, Cam is a great asset to North’s sail development and testing program. As a result of the trickle-down effect, the lessons we learn at the top end of the sport has a positive effect on every sail we make. Building the best, for the best leads to the highest performing products for all North Sails customers.'

'Joining North Sails is a great opportunity to be an active voice in the marine industry and part of the industry’s leading brand,' said Appleton. 'North has a long, credible history and rich tradition of being at the forefront of sailmaking. Our sport is at a crossroads and now is the time to include the younger generation; provide them with the knowledge and help develop their talents. An important part of my role is to bridge the gap between North Sails and the next generation of opinion leaders; the key to North’s product evolution.'

'My association with North gives me the ability to influence product development and the depth to deliver high-level results,' explained Appleton. 'From sail technology to design and development, North has a battery of tools to raise the level of the entire sport. As a North Sails client myself, my immediate focus will be to make the great resources that North Sails provides available to a wider range within sailing.'