The story of a well prepared boat fumbling it at the two yard line at this year’s Bayview Mackinac Race, plus a little on how ORC actually works. I’ve written before about the JPK 10.80 Smokeshow. It’s a very cool French designed and built short handed boat, and the owner, Jake, agreed to let us […]
Why Mess With a Classic? Changing an icon of one-design racing is considered blasphemy. The J/105 has had a strong, loyal following since the first boat launched in 1991, with over 600 boats built and active one-design fleets across the country. It was revolutionary when it was new: the first production boat to come standard […]
You’ve got a boat. Maybe it’s brand new, maybe it’s new to you, and maybe it came with sails that have seen better days. Or perhaps the boat is ready but you’re realizing it’s missing something: a spinnaker for those light downwind days, or a code zero to make the most of reaching angles. Either […]
Before anyone talks to you about materials, construction methods, or price, there’s one question that matters more than all of them: how do you actually use your boat? It sounds simple, but the answer shapes every decision that follows. A sail built for weekend day sailing is a very different product from one built for […]
When you request a quote for new sails, your sailmaker needs to understand the geometry of your rig in order to size the sails correctly. The way we do that is through a set of standard measurements that describe the key dimensions of your boat’s rigging. These measurements are referred to by the letters I, […]
Once you have a sense of how you sail and what sails you need, the next step is working through the options that go into each one. Every sail comes with a range of choices, some of which have a big impact on how the sail performs and how long it lasts, and some of […]
By this point in the guide you’ve thought about how you sail, where you sail, what options you need, and what materials make sense for your plans. Now comes the part where you pull it all together and make a decision. That’s what this article is about. Bringing It All Together The questions we’ve walked […]
Back in Article 3 we talked about the designer dimensions, the I, J, P, E, ISP, and SPL measurements used to size your sails and generate a quote. Now that you’ve made your decisions and are ready to build, it’s time for the next step: actually measuring your boat. This is a more detailed process, […]
You’ve worked through the decisions, settled on your options and materials, had your boat measured, and placed your order. Now comes the part that tests every sailor’s patience: waiting for the sails to be built. This article walks you through what’s happening during that time and how to plan around it. Sails Take Time to […]
The sails have arrived. After all the research, decisions, measurements, and waiting, you’re finally holding the product of all that work in your hands. This last article covers what to expect when you take delivery, how to handle the first day on the water, and what to do if something doesn’t look quite right. Taking […]
Hi, my name is Andy Camarda, and I am the founder of 180sails.com.
I started sailing before I could walk 30 years ago, and have been working for major sailmaking brands in the industry for over 8 years.
I have been a part of a team that has won every major event in Chicago including the Chicago to Mackinac, the Verve, and the NOOD.
