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Technique

Trim, tuning, sail care and how-to guidance from the loft floor.

Photo © UK Sailmakers

J/109 Feleena sailing downwind under a red, white and blue spinnaker

TECHNIQUE

Tips on Purchasing Used Sails

Purchasing a brand new sail should be a rewarding experience, like applying a fresh coat of varnish on your teak or rerigging with new sheets and halyards. For those on a budget (i.e. “most…

May 15, 2026

Man in UK Sailmakers hoodie folding a yellow sail bag on a dock

TECHNIQUE

Boat to Bag: How to Pack Your Sails Like a Pro

If you’re bringing your sails into the loft for service or storage using a drawstring sail bag, you may be staring at that gold UK Sailmakers bag that’s been stashed below deck for months,…

January 16, 2026

UK Sailmakers logo on a grey sail cover, viewed from the cockpit looking aloft

TECHNIQUE

6 Tips For Winter Sail Service

As sailors across the Northern Hemisphere enter autumn, many are wrapping up their sailing season. For some, November and December mean hauling out for the winter; for others, it’s simply a…

October 10, 2025

Grand-prix raceboat heeled hard under a dark mainsail and headsail on open water

TECHNIQUE

Join the UK Sailmakers Group

Are you interested in joining a strong, collaborative, and globally connected group of independent sailmaking lofts? UK Sailmakers International (UKI) offers powerful resources,…

October 8, 2025

Black-and-white photo of the Oyster 575 Lisanne heeled under an X-Drive® mainsail and genoa

TECHNIQUE

Tips for Photographing Sailboats

Everyone loves a great photo of a sailboat—especially if it’s theirs. At the same time, we’ve all seen our share of shots that end up as nothing more than tiny white triangles on the…

August 22, 2025

Elliott 30 Liquid Luck reaching under a full Titanium spinnaker off New Zealand

TECHNIQUE

Join the Crew: Career Openings at UK Sailmakers

Sailing isn’t just a passion—it’s a profession. At UK Sailmakers, we’re proud to be one of the most respected and established names in sailmaking worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned…

July 25, 2025

Two sailors hoisting a mainsail stitched with the UK Sailmakers burgee logo at the dock

TECHNIQUE

UK San Diego: Sales Representative

We're looking for a motivated and personable individual to join UK Sailmakers San Diego. This role includes sail and canvas sales, customer service, onboard measurements, installations, and…

June 25, 2025

King 40 Check Mate reaching hard under a black mainsail and blue spinnaker

TECHNIQUE

5 Tips to Label Your Sails Like a Pro

Smart Systems for Smarter Sailing Whether you're racing offshore or managing a charter boat with a deep sail inventory, one of the simplest ways to boost efficiency and reduce mistakes is…

May 27, 2025

Blue, yellow and white spinnaker laid out across the UK Miami loft floor

TECHNIQUE

UK Miami: Sewist and Loft Floor Worker

UK Sailmakers Miami, located in the Coconut Grove area, is seeking a motivated individual to join our team! We’re looking for someone who enjoys hands-on work, can sew, assist on the loft…

May 2, 2025

Two sailmakers marking up a mainsail on the loft floor with pencil and measuring tape

TECHNIQUE

UK Northeast: Loft Floor Manager

We’re looking for an experienced sailmaker to head up our loft floor staff at the UK Sailmakers Northeast loft, located in Mamaroneck New York. This is a hands-on leadership role that…

April 20, 2025

UK Sailmakers representative in a company shirt looking up the mast on a sailboat

TECHNIQUE

UK Northeast: Sales Representative

UK Sailmakers Northeast is seeking a Sales Representative to serve the Metro New York area. The ideal candidate will be an experienced racer with strong communication and sales skills. This…

March 16, 2025

SOULMATES sailing under a dark mainsail and jib, heeled to leeward

TECHNIQUE

SOULMATES Design Details - How To Turn A Racer Into A Fast Ocean Cruiser

SOULMATES is a unique performance cruiser. Most cruising sailors would turn away from her because of her eight-foot draft, powerful sail plan, small tankage and tiller steering. She is…

February 28, 2025

UK Sailmakers loft worker in a company polo operating a sailmaking machine on the floor

TECHNIQUE

UK Fremantle: Sailmaker

UK Sailmakers Fremantle is looking for a new team member to join our busy sail loft in Fremantle, Australia. We’re seeking a motivated individual who is interested in a hands-on career in…

February 21, 2025

Oyster 575 heeled hard under X-Drive® sails, spray flying off the bow

TECHNIQUE

HOW TO BUY A SAIL - 10 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

Buying a new sail should be an exciting and straightforward experience—not an overwhelming or confusing one. With so many options available, it can be tough to know where to start. Whether…

January 13, 2025

Foredeck crew Victoria Willetts jumps for joy as MINKE crosses the finish line first

TECHNIQUE

15 TIPS FOR GETTING INTO LOCAL RACING

Entering the local racing scene can be both exciting and intimidating, especially for those new to the sport. However, with the right approach and mindset, even beginners can find…

February 22, 2024

Sailboat crashing to windward through steep waves, closehauled under a full mainsail

TECHNIQUE

COLD FRONT SAILING TIPS FROM PAUL EXNER

PROFESSIONAL TIPS AND TACTICS TO LEVERAGE SYNOPTIC WEATHER Every sailor, without exception, will experience a shift in the wind’s direction as they sail near or through a Cold Front — the…

July 5, 2023

Amoore chases the fleet under a pink spinnaker past a wooded headland

TECHNIQUE

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: 5 TIPS FOR REVERSE PHRF RACING

Every dog has its day, and pursuit racing is an excellent way to make all competitors feel like they have skin in the game. Pursuit racing, commonly called reverse handicap racing, is a…

May 9, 2023

MC Scow sailor hiking hard to keep the boat flat in a gust

TECHNIQUE

COMEBACK HACKS

We've all been over early and had to restart after the fleet has sailed away or we have to comeback from missing a big shift. Mike Considine of UK Sailmakers Chicago offers some great…

March 9, 2023

MC Scow sailor hiking hard to keep the boat flat in a gust

TECHNIQUE

HOW TO CLAW YOUR WAY BACK INTO THE RACE

Unfortunately, there have been a few times where I have not had a great start or sailed a bad first beat and have found myself in deep positions in the fleet. In most cases, I have been…

February 18, 2023

Video frame: yacht with black mainsail dousing a blue-and-white spinnaker, arrows marking retrieving line, clew and tack

TECHNIQUE

Spinnaker String Takedown

The Stretch-and-Blow Spinnaker Douse allows you to sail practically right up to the leeward the mark with the sail drawing fully. When it is time to drop the spinnaker, the pole is eased to…

January 23, 2022

Cruising sloop with a Swedish courtesy flag sailing past a rocky coastline

TECHNIQUE

How to Center your Rig

The first and most important step in tuning the rig is to get the tip of the mast over the center of the boat. If the mast is off to one side, even just a little, it will cause the boat to…

January 23, 2022

Close-up of a jib clew and inhauler line rigged along a teak foredeck

TECHNIQUE

Gaining Extra Height With Inhaulers

Barry H ayes of UK Sailmakers Hong Kong For decades, most top racing boats had great big overlapping headsails, which develop a lot of power as the overlap of the main by the genoa slows…

January 23, 2022

Video frame: a sailor in a yellow jacket on the side deck rigging an outboard sheet lead on the genoa clew

TECHNIQUE

How to Rig an Outboard Sheet

For years UK Sailmakers has been helping sailors learn the racing rules of sailing with our animated Rules Quiz program. Now we are taking on teaching sail trim and sail handing with a new…

January 23, 2022

Sailboat's bow anchor rode with a rope snubber, shown split above and below the waterline

TECHNIQUE

Tips for Better Anchoring Techniques

The three-strand rope snubber becomes a shock absorber. By Darren Seltzer who is sailing around the world with his wife Amanda on their Amel Sharki, a 39-foot ketch. For those seeking to…

October 21, 2021

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