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| Rossiter Pintail Mortagne sur Gironde, near Bordeaux |
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Sailmaking |
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RS400atC 
Really should get out more 
Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011 |
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 Topic: SailmakingPosted: 28 Aug 11 at 3:01pm |
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Couple of points:
there are many sailmakers making a reasonable living doing repairs, covers, various one-off stuff, you don't need to be at the front of a dinghy fleet for this. All careers are tough at the moment, if you can get a training place, go for it, you can always do A levels and college later in life. A bit of shop floor experience in a small business like sails will help you understand the worls of work and business, worthwhile even if you end up doing something else. |
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Andymac
Really should get out more
Joined: 04 Apr 07 Location: Derbyshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 852 |
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Posted: 28 Aug 11 at 10:02am |
I couldn't agree more.
Went into full time sailing instructing for 9 years. my leisure sailing got to be like a 'busmans holiday'. Ironically, (opposite to Jim) I took to cycle racing for 20 years, before a young family meant lack of training time, and I eventually picked up on sailing again (having changed career some time ago).
I would never again try to mix business and pleasure.
Having said that, good luck with whatever path you choose.
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blueboy
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Joined: 27 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 512 |
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Posted: 28 Aug 11 at 8:34am |
Experience is important, getting contacts is important. Yes, for a limited period of time, it would be a good thing to do and give you some idea if this is really what you want to do. It's a tough business. Mind you, right now, they all are. |
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G.R.F.
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Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 7:36pm |
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I find this interesting, in windsurfing it doesn't necessarily follow that you have to be a good windsurfer to be a good sailmaker.
Good at sailing doesn't necessarily mean a chap has what it takes to be good at sailmaking. Good at sail making imv requires skill with a sewing machine, good attention to detail, patience. At 15, I'd suggest asking for work at a loft, any jobbing loft, you'll soon find a lot of the commerce of a loft is more about boat covers, shop awnings and other sewing and cloth assembly work. Floor sweeping, tea making and tidying up are the first requisites of a good sailmaker.  If you do happen to become good at sailing, then make your own sail and your natural talent has it at the front of the fleet then folk buy it as a result, you're off. But I wouldn't quit your day job, or duck out of school or GCSE's, the obvious question is, are there any sail lofts near you?
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Guests
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 6:54pm |
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The above advice of concentrating on your sailing is spot on. Focus on getting as good as you can and understanding as much as you can and work as hard as you an at school. Do A-levels! Being a good sailor and having good understanding will help you get into sailmaking. Pushing hard at school at getting some good qualifications will help, should you then decide sailmaking isn't for you.
Also, start out in a dinghy racing loft, not a yacht loft. You'll be a much better sailmaker for it. |
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JimC
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Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 5:03pm |
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Also consider: do you love sailing with a passion? If so it may not be what you should do for a living. I ride bikes, and used to work in the bike trade, but it wasn't too long before I discovered that the last thing I wanted to do at the weekend was hang around with more damn bikers, especially if they were customers and so I was always having to guard what I said just a little bit: you're never really off duty if you socialise with your customers. There's a lot to be said for having a bill paying job which is not your hobby...
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Jack Sparrow
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Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 4:43pm |
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Jack Sparrow
Really should get out more
Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 4:32pm |
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Good sailors seem to get the jobs in lofts. It's logical when you think about it, sailing well in a fleet with a given set of sails from a loft, equals more sales in that fleet. If you want anything more than being a back room seamstress, I suggest concentrating on you're sailing. Then have a really long think about if you really want to go into an industry that is very poorly paid, and is reducing it's work force to purely design and sales teams ( not many jobs ) and out sourcing the manufacture to the far east. I'm not sure that getting into a loft with sewing skill and without another complimentary skill, that the loft needs ( i.e web developer, RYA youth squad sailor, etc... ) is going to happen. But if you want to start somewhere to understanding how to sew sail cloth, start making kites. There are plenty of kite shops around that sell materials, as well as plenty of books, internet sites describing how to build them. This should at least help you decide if you want to spend many hours hunched up over a machine and cutting table.
Edited by Jack Sparrow - 27 Aug 11 at 7:33pm |
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Jon711
Far too distracted from work 
Joined: 04 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 465 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 4:29pm |
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Yes, Good Luck.. however, you may find that most lofts seem to want good sailors to be the sailmakers (ie those that now, or in the past have been at the top of the game)....
If you really want a career in the Marine Industry (Been there, got the T-Shirt), it is easier to get into the boatbuilding side. Do a year a year course with the IBTC (or similar), and once known, you may be able to branch out into sails. I did a year at the IBTC and two years later, was a nearly foreman(! - it's along story!) and ended up specialising in rigging... It is a great business, but, unfortunately, I need to earn money to pay the bills.... I could not do that in the marine industry.. Good Luck Jon |
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Blaze 711
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RS400atC
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Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 2:23pm |
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Asking around sailmakers is a start.
Maybe try to get a work experience week and talk to people in the job. You might also try the Association of British Sailmakers and find out what training is out there. good luck! |
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