Withum Sailmakers

Withum Sailmakers would like to express our thanks to everyone that made 2009 a successful one and we look forward to serving your sailmaking & sail repair needs in 2010.
In 2009 we saw some significant changes, including our new website, which has improved our contact with, and service to, customers from Massachusetts to the North east Kingdom of Vermont, down to Newport, R.I. and all over New England.
Withum Sailmakers also added more equipment & machines to increase our quality sailmaking, sail recutting and sail repair capabilities.

Composite Sail Making Projects

We completed a number of composite sailmaking projects in our Massachusetts sailmaking facility this past year.
Kevlar, mylar, carbon and other fibers were produced on a Carlson plotter and the CAD-engineered components stitched together to produce fast, quality sails you may have seen sail past you last season. Are you going to watch them fly past you again?
We’re looking forward to completing a number of exciting composite sail projects in 2010. Stop by our Amesbury, Massachusetts sail making facility to see what we have going on & what we can make for you. We custom stitch Genoas, mains, spinnakers and any type of sail you might need, whether you’re racing or cruising.

Sail recutting

As always, we can recut your sails as necessary. To the left you’ll see an “in process” photo as we recut a sail for a 38′ Swan, last season. A fresh season is nearly upon us so don’t wait for the last minute to have those sail alterations performed. We already have a number of sail-cutting projects underway & we’ll be happy to provide you with the quality sailmaking/sail repair services you deserve.

It was a slow start to the season with all those June rains but when you finally made out on the water, if you aren’t flying a Withum sail yourself, you may well have seen a Withum Sailmakers spinnaker, genoa or mainsail in passing. 
We’re pleased many of our clients saw success with their sails, and Withum sails are flown in regattas from Plattsburg, N.Y. to Newport, R.I. and everywhere in between.
And, of course, our canvas work is seen throughout New England, cruising on Tartan 30s, Hinckley 50s and all manner of vessels.
Watch for Jeff & Joyce Stoehrs’ “Ayacucho” on the waters. This beautifully restored Tartan 30 proudly flies a new, custom mainsail from our shop.
(If you want to see more on the “Ayacucho”, you can find it on the Jeff & Joyces’ site, T30makeover.com.)
 If you’ve been by DefianceSailCharters or cruising the waters around Gloucester, Ma., you’ve seen a full set of Withum sails ~Main, mizzen & genoa~ flying from Captain Raffis’ 49′ Hinckley. Really a beautiful boat, well-cared for and well-handled. Ask Captain Kassabian about the quality and service afforded by Withum Sailmakers(and make sure to tell him we sent you)!
As for racing, Withum sails have indeed been making the regatta circuit this season, as they have for many seasons now. Did you see one fly by?!?
That may have been the spinnaker on Bruce Browns’ J-37 “Banzai”. A New England PHRF competitor, Bruce & the Banzai had a pretty successful season, from what we understand, and it’s quite possible you saw him sail past.
Don’t take it from us; ask around. Chances are you’ll find a neighbor, happily, cruising or racing with sails from Withum Sailmakers.

Good quality sails are probably more important to the cruiser than they are to the racer. If for no other reason than for that of safety, the cruiser should have structurally sound and good performing sails.

Consider these benefits of good sails;

1)Good Sails Save You Time ~With good sails it takes less time to arrive at the new harbor or anchorage, saving you crucial hours which can mean the difference between pulling into unfamiliar territory in daylight, rather than trying to navigate in darkness.

2)Good Sails Save You Work ~Along with the time factor is the work factor. Good sails save you time because they you save distance; you have to tack less which, in turn, saves you work. A strange harbor can be difficult enough without being fatigued from a long day of tacking

3)Good Sails Keep You Safe ~Because good sails make a big difference in your workload & that “fatique” factor, you’re more alert and more prepared to respond to any unexpected issues.

4)Good Sails Save You Aggravation ~Poor sails, sails with rotten stitching, spreader wear & chafing, sails suffering from UV degradation and general neglect will always blow out or rip at the worst possible moments(not that there’s any “good” time for a sail to give up the ghost)!

Cruising is(or should be) an enjoyable activity and high quality sails are a key componant of high quality cruising .