01 March 2010 |
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February 2010
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02 September 2009 |
| | New Sails for our New Agent in Israel |
Nadav Wirtheim Lidgard sailmakers new agent in Israel has sail tested his first set of new Lidgard Cruising sails, the yacht a Lidgard 48' is now sporting a new set of Carbon Kevlar "XCELL" membrane sails built in New Zealand. The new mainsail and genoa were first sea trialled off the coast of Cyprus with Nadav reporting the fit is great and it made the boat fly like a plane!!!!!
Nadav is currently involved with the local yacht club where the top Israeli optimist sailor is sea trialling our latest optimist designs.
Nadav also has on order a Beneteau 217 drifter being built from Dimension CZ.
Nadav started sailing when he was 1.5 years old in the Mediterranean Sea, since then he has sailed on numerous cruising yacht racing yachts as well as serving in the navy.
To contact:
Nadav Wirtheim
Mobile 00972544363229
E-mail rubplast@netvision.net.il
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01 September 2009 |
| | Whitby Island Race Week 2009 Oak Harbour |
Lidgards have had continued success in the latest Whitby Island race week held off Oak Harbour in Washington's Puget Sound.
Congratulations to:
- Charlie Macauley 1 tonner "Absolute" 1st Fleet 2
- Jeff Whitney C&C 115 " Elusive" 5th Fleet 2
- Gary Morgan Tripp 37' "What a Tripp" 1st Fleet 3
- Tom Kerr J-33 "Corvo" 3rd Fleet 3
- Mike Mechaelis Rocket 22' "South Lake Union Trolley" 3rd Fleet 6
- Mel Marshel S2 9.1 "Rubicon" 3rd Fleet 7
For further information go to: www.whidbeyislandraceweek.com
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27 March 2009 |
| | SAILS PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED |
Lidgard Sails Auckland, New Zealand is pleased to announce their partnership with North Atlantic Sails, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
North Atlantic Sails builds sails that address the specific needs of yacht owners by offering cutting edge technology with outstanding personal service. Lidgard Sails, a pioneer in modern sail design, construction technique and materials has experience with the America’s Cup, super yachts and ocean racers. North Atlantic Sails and Lidgard Sails believe that taking care of their customers is paramount.
The North Atlantic-Lidgard partnership will merge world class sail design and construction with exceptional worldwide service. Shared sales, service and warranty
support in North America, the Caribbean, Europe and the South Pacific will give owners “do it once, do it right” service seamlessly, whenever and wherever they need it. Shared manufacturing capacity in both the northern and southern hemispheres, year round, will allow the North Atlantic-Lidgard team the ability to provide the best delivery times in the industry.
For further information, visit the partnership web sites:
www.northatlanticsails.com or explore Lidgard Sails web site.
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20 March 2009 |
| | ORION II Wins Lipton Cup! |
Congratulations to Martin Robertson and crew on Orion II in beating a strong fleet to win the 82nd Lipton Cup, 2nd on Line and going for his 5th straight win was Jim Mackay sailing "Tamarau". 
Tamarau and Orion II battled it out at the front of the fleet for most of the race in 18kt easterly winds out on the Waitemata harbour last weekend. It was only over the last down wind leg that Orion II was able to break the shackles and pull away from the win.
Lidgard Sails had sails on the 1st,2nd and 3rd boats in the fleet.
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27 November 2008 |
| | Japan National Champs |
Lidgard Sails had wins in both the X35OD and the Dragon Japan National Champs held earlier this month. Both crews put in extensive training leading into their respective events, with both boats working with Lidgards on rig and sail tune. The X35OD used our new Fibreline product.
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26 October 2008 |
| | Shenandoah Visit |
 Shenandoah, the beautifully restored 165’ schooner, is back in New Zealand waters for a 6 week stint in Orams yard, the crew and team at Orams are completeing some maintenance jobs before the superyacht heads on her next trip in November.
Shenandoah will be back in Auckland next year for an extensive refit. Lidgards are completing some service work on her heavy airs sails and are also building a new 300sq m fore golly wobbler.
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18 June 2008 |
| | Swiftsure success (again) with Lidgard sails |
 Sean, I want to thank you and your staff for building such a fine product. This year’s race started out with very light air, and often our boat speed was 0.8 knts. With a heavy boat, this was not something we enjoyed. The wind came up in the early evening hours as we neared the mark. We jibed back out and headed on a rhumbline course toward the Canadian side, and the finish line. The wind continued to build and we saw 25-30 knots all the way down the shore. The big code 6 spinnaker you built out of airex really did the job! We beat both J boats in our class straight up (one ran aground, and the other owed me 30 seconds per mile). I guess their North product was not faster like their ad says!
Michael J. Pack
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25 March 2008 |
| | Lipton Cup 2008 |
 Congratulations to "Tamarau" for winning the Lipton cup challenge on the 15th of March. Tamarau sailed another superb race over the 22 nautical miles to make it 4 races on the trot. The race was sailed in a mix of light to very light breezes with the wind swinging from a southerly direction right round to the north and back again, during the race all the boats were
becalmed at least a couple of times each at various stages during the day.
The lead changed numerous times with three - four boats enjoying the top position. As they say, the cream always rises to the top.
The first three places went to
Tamarau 1st
Snatcher 2nd
Orion II 3rd
Snatcher was also 1st on handicap
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25 October 2007 |
| | Racing News From New Caledonia/Turkey |
Some racing news from New Caledonia: The last long race was won by Allan Quere's boat on the line, and corrected times went to Exocet a 30 year old boat. Both boats carried New Lidgard racing Kits. The race was a 110 miles with a finishing line off Ouvea Island.
Hi Sean
We just got back in to port after a couple of months looking around. Two days after getting the sails we got stonkered by some 50 knot stuff and had to beat off a lee shore with the storm sail and triple reef in.
The sails were perfect and and I dear say that they have already paid for themselves so we are stoked. A few other people have noticed them and we have been recommending Lidgard Sails to other sailors.
Thanks again,it was a pleasure dealing
with someone who knows what's going on,especially when you are from the other side of the world.
Clint and Jacinda
News From Turkey
Miharbi's X-46 "Jarramas" has started racing, she is a brand new boat with a full Carbon racing set of sails. This last weekend, there was an offshore race and Jarramas finished first on line in their class and a creditable 4th on handicap.
Well done, once these guys have a handle on the boat and get it fully tuned they will be very hard to stop.
Nai'a Cruises Ltd - Premier Pacific Diving Expeditions have just received a new Yankee for their flag ship the SY Nai'a 116'.
Nai'a has been using Lidgard Sails now for 14 years and is upgrading their Sail inventory. Nai'a completes extensive ocean passages to Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and New Caledonia all under sail.
Attached photo is of SY Nai'a
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20 August 2007 |
| | Lidgard Success at East Aegean Race Week |
The East Aegean race week is the biggest race week held by the Turkish Offshore Racing Club. Boats entering from all over Turkey are treated to some spectacular weather and tight sailing in some very competitive classes, and this year's regatta was no different.
The regatta is held over four races with three round the buoys and one 100 miler making up the series in light to moderate winds.
The A fleet was made up of a number of Farr 40's, Mumm's, X Yachts, One tonners and IMX yachts.
Turkish yacht "UNO" (Ex Orient Express III" a Ed Dubois Custom 38ft 1 tonner received two new headsails and a symmetrical spinnaker from Lidgard Sails in Auckland before the first race.
Alkim Gulcan - Owners Rep, Ex North Sails designer says: "Never having used Lidgard Sails before we were a bit apprehensive about getting sails designed and built so far away by a company we new little about, we did know that they had a good reputation for quality and design and thought it worth a crack."
"Right from the word go they were great to deal with, listening to our sail concerns helping us out with boat set up and recommendations on fabrics and design ideas."
"The sails arrived on time and out of the box they looked great, the quality of workmanship was first class. However good sails don't only have to look good, they need to perform to the standard we expected."
"I must say Lidgards did not disappoint on that front either with the sails being fast out of the box and they fit with no fuss!!"
"UNO" is generally a good all round boat but we do struggle in the medium conditions especially against the class and superior speed of the Farr 40's. The first two races went as we expected with the new sails performing well, we had better speed and height than we have had previous."
"Race three was where we were able to step up to a level not seen before with a gun!!! I have to underline the fact that the only bullet we had was with the new medium genoa from Lidgard Sails."
"Before that, we couldn't win any race with more than 14-15 kts of wind. That day, the average was 16kts and we rounded the first top mark in front of the Farr 40's !!! The crew and the owner were very happy."
"The long race was held in very light and fluky conditions with the lead changing through out the race, with two miles to go most boats struggled to finish."
"Overall series results UNO finished a very creditable 4th."
"Thanks to Sean and the team for the great sails and helping us to a result we can all be proud of."
Regards
--Alkim Gulcan.
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10 July 2007 |
| | Fontaine Launches Lastest Yacht |
Fontaine 40' Sea Trials have been very successful.
Fontaine Yachts have launched their latest Friendship 40' "SY Cary Ali" in Whangarei.
Sail Designer James Heckler was on board for the launching. We had a beautiful sailing breeze of around 8 knots to test her Gennaker, Mainsail and Genoa. The sea trials went very well with all onboard impressed with the way the boat handled under the conditions in all points of sail.
Well done to everyone.
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08 June 2007 |
| | Race Report: Michael Pack : Satisfied Customer |
Michael Pack's latest report to Sean Lidgard
Hi Sean 
I raced the Cape Flattery Race in Swiftsure this year. I finished 6th out of 79 boats.
The conditions were perfect! 15-20 knots on the #3 most of the way out to the mark. For a short while we went to the #1 near the American shore.
Then the wind went from 8 to 25 in about 3 seconds. Switched back to the #3, rounded the mark, up goes the kite, and we are off and running!
The wind built to steady low 20’s with sustained gusts to 30. We decided to drop the kite (fear of a broach, rather than fear of destroying the kite), and pole out the #3, which carried us all the way to the finish. We knew the kite would give more speed, but we were at 9-11 knots (past theoretical hull speed of 8.5) and a bad jibe or broach would ruin everything we fought for all day long.
On the delivery home we hit a new record 12.4 knots with #4 and full carbon main broad reaching.
It was a great race, and the Lidgard sails delivered!
Michael Pack is the Owner and skipper of CAELESTIS, a Wauquiez 49' sailing out of Seattle, Micheal has a set of Carbon scrim race sails and Airex Kites.
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30 May 2007 |
| | Race Results-Panmure Yacht Club |
 Race 1 of the Panmure Yacht Club winter series was held in a 10 knot South Easterley breeze
The course was inner harbour.
1st Etchell "Sally"
2nd D28 "No Response"
3rd Y88 "Rush"
4th Elliot 8.1 "Bouy" Racer
Race 2 was held in 15-20 knot Northerly. The course was also inner harbour,
1st Y88 "Rush"
2nd "Salty"
3rd"River Rebel"
4th E 8.1 "Buoy Racer"
E 5.9 "Elligater"
Picture: shows "No Response" Davo 28' on her way to getting second in the first race on day.
one of racing.
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29 May 2007 |
| | Swiftsure 2007 |
A Class 138 Nautical Miles
Rest 103.8 Nautical Miles
VICTORIA, British Columbia - The wind gods smiled on the Strait of Juan de Fuca this past weekend, making the 64th running of the Swiftsure International Yacht Race one of the fastest on record.
Two hundred and six racing yachts hit the starting line Saturday off Clover Point at Victoria's waterfront.
Almost 1,000 spectators were on hand to witness the ideal sailing conditions for the start of one of the West Coast's premiere yacht racing events.
Crews from all around the West Coast converged to take part in Swiftsure for a weekend of races and parties, and they weren't disappointed. Principal Race Officer Andrew McBride commented:
"Steady westerly breezes contributed to an exciting start, which enabled the lead boats to head toward their rounding marks at a record-setting pace."
Taking into account each yacht's time allowance, preliminary results showed Rob Fleming's Coruba, from Seattle, as overall winner of the Swiftsure Lightship Classic, making this Coruba's third overall victory in the past five years-winning in 2003, 2005, and again this year.
Coruba NM 68 - 1st in class, 1st Overall
Neptune's Car SC 70 - 3rd in class, 3rd Overall
Caelestis Wauquiez 49 - 2nd in class, 6th Overall
Mystique J-30 - 2nd in class
Bluefin Thomas 35 - 3rd in class
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