Legendary Sailmaking Team retire from North Sails

by Veronica Brown on 1 Apr 2010 For more than 35 years, British Columbian Dave Miller, a well-known sailor and Olympic Medalist, has built and serviced sails for North Sails in his Richmond-based loft outside Vancouver, British Columbia. Dave got his start in sailmaking at his Dad and Uncle's sail loft, Miller Sails, in downtown Vancouver and opened the first Canadian North Sails loft in that same location in 1974.

Eight years later, Dave's (future) wife Marcia joined him at the loft to 'help out for a few days' - and the rest, as they say, is history. On March 19th, Dave and Marcia (who has already 'officially' retired) will hand the reins of North Sails over to Ross Macdonald, a BC native and fellow Olympian.

'It's bitter-sweet to see Dave and Marcia retire,' said Gary Weisman, president of North Sails. 'The impact they have both made on this company is substantial. But I am happy to see them retire and fulfill their dreams of relaxing, traveling and maybe a little more sailing for fun,' Weisman continued. 'Dave and Marcia both have been fantastic role models for our younger sales and sail care representatives, along with office managers here at North. They are extremely patient, knowledgeable and dedicated to our company. While they will be dearly missed, we hope they enjoy many relaxing and enjoyable years ahead,' concluded Weisman.

A three-time Olympian, Dave got his start in sailing at a very young age at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. He raced the Club's Cadets and Sabots and quickly climbed the ranks — participating in four Junior North American Championships (Sears Cup) culminating with a win in 1960.

He went on to race in the 1964 Olympics in Japan, the 1968 Games in Mexico and the 1972 Olympics in Germany, all in different classes. It was in 1972 in the Soling Class, that Dave earned his coveted Bronze Medal. 'Standing on that podium was my finest hour,' said Dave. 'Winning an Olympic Medal gave me an immense feeling of accomplishment and pride,' he said.

In 1971, the year prior to the Munich Olympics, Marcia moved to Vancouver from England and worked in advertising and sailed in her free time. She joined the Bluewater Cruising Association of British Columbia to meet people and keep busy as their Membership Watch Keeper. It wasn't until 1980, however, that she met Dave at a Christmas party and they started dating, marrying 3 1/2 years later.

'The ironic part of it all is I used to read and clip articles written by Dave from Pacific Yachting because I enjoyed his columns immensely,' said Marcia. 'After we had dated a couple times, I realized it was the same Dave Miller from Pacific Yachting who I was now dating! I showed him the articles I had placed in a scrapbook and we both got a kick out of it,' she said.

Dave and Marcia approached Ross Macdonald – a five-time Olympian who won a Bronze Medal at the 1992 Games in Barcelona and a Silver Medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens – last November and asked him if he would be interested in taking over the loft.

'It was something my wife (also named Marcia, who is a three-time Olympic sailor and who won a Gold Medal at the 1995 Pan Am Games in Argentina) and I have talked about for a number of years, but it wasn't until this year that the timing seemed right,' said Macdonald. 'We're at a stage in our lives now where we want to do a little less travel and not live out of suit cases in hotel rooms.' Ross and Marcia have been traveling the world for the past ten years while Ross was sailing professionally. 'The fact that Dave and Marcia have been working at North Sails for so long is not only a testament to them, but to the company as well.

They didn't really have to sell me on the job because I've always seen from the outside the respect that Dave commands and what the expectations are, so that's really important going into this position,' continued Macdonald. 'It's great that Dave has been here for the past five weeks while I learn the ropes. It's impossible for him to teach me everything he has learned over the past 40+ years but I feel he has taught me the important things and I look forward to what my future holds here at North Sails.'