Question is prompted by today's windsurfing TV livestream.
Boards&more is the head of Fanatic, Ion and Duotone. They used to produce their sails under the brand-name North Sails. All r&d, marketing and distribution was in the hands of b&m, they just payed the license to use the name North Sails. They decided to part with North, as the license was to expensive and started to produce their sails under the name of Duotone. North sails started to design own kites and stuff and hired a few big names in the market. Still waiting to launch their windsurf-sails.
Select to expand quoteDB2 said..
Boards&more is the head of Fanatic, Ion and Duotone. They used to produce their sails under the brand-name North Sails. All r&d, marketing and distribution was in the hands of b&m, they just payed the license to use the name North Sails. They decided to part with North, as the license was to expensive and started to produce their sails under the name of Duotone. North sails started to design own kites and stuff and hired a few big names in the market. Still waiting to launch their windsurf-sails.
hecka cool thanks. I guess there was a time in the industry where windsurf sails made by established boat sail makers eg neil pryde carried more weight than labelling your sails after your board brand?
^^ Not just a time - I'd say most of it with 30yrs of NP, Gaastra and North that were all big yacht sail manufacturers. Dunno when North was taken over thought but was still doing yacht sails even after the takeover i think (?) so i guess it counts
Most big board brands have an associated sail maker.
Tabou / GA (gaastra).
JP / Pryde. ( used to be Pryde / F2 ).
Mistral and Gaastra long time ago.
Quatro / Goya
North worked with Ezzy in the 1980s to early 1990s in the windsurfing sailmaking brand. Team sailors included Ken Winner, David Sheen, Dave Kalama, Rohan Cudmore, Mark Pedersen, Scotty O'Connor (?), Holly North, Ian Boyd and Dave Ezzy.
Many other lofts eg Elvstrom, Hood, Horizon etc had windsurfing divisions in the 1980s when it was gangbusters.
Lowell North founder of the original North sails had a daughter Holly North who lives or lived in Australia and was a North windsurfer.
Ezzy in early 90s parted ways with North and went back on his own.
At some point North Sails, licenced "North windsurfing and kitesurfing" ( a separate business).
Duotone/Fanatic decided to rebrand their sailmaking/kiting to Duotone and gave up the licence and associated fees.
The new North sails is entirely independent of Duotone and Fanatic and is part of North sails sailmaking business and has access to the North 3D technology. I recently sailed on a Farr 40 OD in a 48 Nautical mile offshore race a few weeks back when we used the North 3D no. 1 Genoa and it was a pretty efficient, black and fast sail so I expect the racing sails for windsurfing coming out of North in 3D will be pretty elegant. There are rumours (Ben Profitt) the new North race sails don't have camber inducers but this is a rumour and may be nothing to take seriously. I don't believe the cost of the 3D sails will be justified for the average recreational windsurfer but I might be wrong.
Select to expand quoteDB2 said..
Boards&more is the head of Fanatic, Ion and Duotone. They used to produce their sails under the brand-name North Sails. All r&d, marketing and distribution was in the hands of b&m, they just payed the license to use the name North Sails. They decided to part with North, as the license was to expensive and started to produce their sails under the name of Duotone. North sails started to design own kites and stuff and hired a few big names in the market. Still waiting to launch their windsurf-sails.
Some rumors says b&m wanted to sell the company but they could not sell the North logo on their product unless they sold to north itself an agreement was not found and the 2 group parted ways.
And yes WS sails are soon to arrive in the market!
Select to expand quoteMadge said..
Most big board brands have an associated sail maker.
Tabou / GA (gaastra).
JP / Pryde. ( used to be Pryde / F2 ).
Mistral and Gaastra long time ago.
Quatro / Goya
Severne and Starboard
Select to expand quoteKitekeeper said..
Some rumors says b&m wanted to sell the company but they could not sell the North logo on their product unless they sold to north itself an agreement was not found and the 2 group parted ways.
And yes WS sails are soon to arrive in the market!
Again !!!!! if you want to sell this product get your story right !!!
Select to expand quoteDB2 said..
Boards&more is the head of Fanatic, Ion and Duotone. They used to produce their sails under the brand-name North Sails. All r&d, marketing and distribution was in the hands of b&m, they just payed the license to use the name North Sails. They decided to part with North, as the license was to expensive and started to produce their sails under the name of Duotone. North sails started to design own kites and stuff and hired a few big names in the market. Still waiting to launch their windsurf-sails.Select to expand quoteAUS4 said..Kitekeeper said..
Some rumors says b&m wanted to sell the company but they could not sell the North logo on their product unless they sold to north itself an agreement was not found and the 2 group parted ways.
And yes WS sails are soon to arrive in the market!
Again !!!!! if you want to sell this product get your story right !!!
@AUS4
Mate I got the story right..especially the 3Di part, which you suggested it was a B&M Tech...and they dropped it, utterly wrong as they had nothing to do with it in the first place!!
The 3DI technology was born under the North Sails loft , they own the intellectual property.
Windsurfing sails to arrive in the country soon, you are welcome to try them and judge yourself.
Also...no need a story back up to sell this product.. there is nothing like this in the market, performances, durability, look and weight even when compared to the best membrane sails out there.
Time will tell.
