Can anyone recommend a good sailmaker in Greece

[charles_reed]

I need a new main, about 30m2, fully battened, for which I'll supply all the hardware.

Probably in either Thessaloniki or Athens as it needs a fairly big loft to cut the sail.

The option of getting it made in the UK is possible, but transport costs are likely to make it more expensive.

 

[paulingreece]

Transport costs not that bad, I had my fully battened main done by Crusader and sent by courier, in Greece I use Kilada sails, pm me if you need the details.

 

[Carmel2]

Have a chat with NornaBiron of this parish.

 

[charles_reed]

Transport costs not that bad, I had my fully battened main done by Crusader and sent by courier, in Greece I use Kilada sails, pm me if you need the details.

I've already dropped a line to Paul, who've I've known for a long time. Unfortunately their e-quote is totally inadequate for my needs.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

I think that most lofts even in Greeece can handle a main for a 31 footer, Charles!

However, if your current main will get you there, I can thoroughly recommend Antonios Giatras at Quantum Sails in Kondokali, Corfu. He is currently doing a job for me However there is another "sailmaker" down at the other end of the village who is just awful.

Antonios's website is www.quantumsailscorfu.gr

He is second generation and his parents, both excellent sailmakers still work in the business, formerly "Elvstrom Sails, Corfu".

 

[charles_reed]

I think that most lofts even in Greeece can handle a main for a 31 footer, Charles!

However, if your current main will get you there, I can thoroughly recommend Antonios Giatras at Quantum Sails in Kondokali, Corfu. He is currently doing a job for me However there is another "sailmaker" down at the other end of the village who is just awful.

Antonios's website is www.quantumsailscorfu.gr

He is second generation and his parents, both excellent sailmakers still work in the business, formerly "Elvstrom Sails, Corfu".

Thanks for that Steve, I've got to get to the CA Rally @ Samos, from Thasos and from Kos back to Messolonghi, about 800nm, the extra 122 nm to Corfu is unlikely to prove a major challenge. However most roads lead to Athens so getting things to and from there are simpler than Corfu.

 

[lurob]

We had a new genoa made by Waypoint in Lefkas (also a Quantum Sails franchise/agent) this winter. We're very pleased with the result and the after sales (pardon the pun) service. The cost was quite a bit more than UK based companies but, as our rig is not standard, we preferred to have the sailmaker do all the measurements.

 

[1bobt]

Quantum sails work out of Athens.

 

[Glyka]

Very good sailmaker with reasonable prices. Most of my friends use him, I only made there my asymmetric but will use him for my next sails as my previous sailmaker has, very unfortunately, passed away.

It's George Kakitsis in (near) Athens:
http://www.sailmaker.gr/html/oursailen.html

 

[charles_reed]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Nearly all the local sailmakers in Greece seem to act as sales agents for a large sail loft where new cruising sails are concerned. Some large lofts actually use their fabric suppliers to specify cutting specs and have the assembled sails delivered, presumably from the Far East.
This plethora of distribution levels results, frankly, in prices which are uncompetitive.
I've therefore stuck with one of the UK lofts that I know, using fabric suppliers I know and with whom I can discuss things in detail. Shipping costs are insignificant compared to sails shuttled all around the world to save a few € on wage rates.

 

[Talulah]

I've therefore stuck with one of the UK lofts that I know, using fabric suppliers I know and with whom I can discuss things in detail. Shipping costs are insignificant compared to sails shuttled all around the world to save a few € on wage rates.

I tried to do this when we purchased a new Genoa last year. I was assured the sail was made in the UK. Sewn into the sail is a small label with "Made in Shri Lanka." Nothing wrong with the sail but I was trying to support local people.

 

[charles_reed]

I tried to do this when we purchased a new Genoa last year. I was assured the sail was made in the UK. Sewn into the sail is a small label with "Made in Shri Lanka." Nothing wrong with the sail but I was trying to support local people.

Twelve years ago Jeremy Robinson, of Team/Sobstad, told me he found it impossible to find machinists in the UK - I suspect the market has moved in response to availability of labour. Conversely laminate sails replace human machinists with computers.
There are now, 4 main weavers of sail fabric Bainbridge (UK), Challenge (US), Contender (Netherlands) and Dimension Polyant (Deutsch) - they all produce very similar fabrics, they batch-produce to order, so volume is all important. The small bespoke sailmaker is an endangered species.
Interestingly, even for racing, woven is making a comeback, using carbon fibre, HDPE and various acrylics to give the correct stretch/strength/porosity and glueing instead of stitching for putting the things together.
But for ultimate UV resistance nothing matches polyester - and, in the Med, that's the main agent of sail entropy.

 

[Marsupial]

Twelve years ago Jeremy Robinson, of Team/Sobstad, told me he found it impossible to find machinists in the UK - I suspect the market has moved in response to availability of labour. Conversely laminate sails replace human machinists with computers.
There are now, 4 main weavers of sail fabric Bainbridge (UK), Challenge (US), Contender (Netherlands) and Dimension Polyant (Deutsch) - they all produce very similar fabrics, they batch-produce to order, so volume is all important. The small bespoke sailmaker is an endangered species.
Interestingly, even for racing, woven is making a comeback, using carbon fibre, HDPE and various acrylics to give the correct stretch/strength/porosity and glueing instead of stitching for putting the things together.
But for ultimate UV resistance nothing matches polyester - and, in the Med, that's the main agent of sail entropy.

Hi Charles, I don't think Jeremy looked very far, we have Sanders, Wilkinsons, Northropp, W and Hyde here in the UK without even thinking about it - oh and Jeckells and Crusader and Parker and Kay (as was) and Dolphin - and although they do use CAD CAM with the far east they also make in house. Bainbridge is american bye-the-way Boston to be precise with a subsidiary in the UK the cloth is American I bet its made on the same looms as Challenge - but I don't know that for sure.

Sioux sails at Vleho did a very good job on my genny a couple of years back (600 sq ft), I am sure they could manage your mainsail.

 

[charles_reed]

Hi Charles, I don't think Jeremy looked very far, we have Sanders, Wilkinsons, Northropp, W and Hyde here in the UK without even thinking about it - oh and Jeckells and Crusader and Parker and Kay (as was) and Dolphin - and although they do use CAD CAM with the far east they also make in house. Bainbridge is american bye-the-way Boston to be precise with a subsidiary in the UK the cloth is American I bet its made on the same looms as Challenge - but I don't know that for sure.

Sioux sails at Vleho did a very good job on my genny a couple of years back (600 sq ft), I am sure they could manage your mainsail.

Bainbridge were founded as Howe & Bainbridge in 1917 in the UK - they were bought by Dexter Corporation (a US Fortune 500 company) in 1976. In 1990 John Short took the business private, out of Dexter, incorporated in the UK.

Whilst it does have a large American operation I'd categorise it as a British company.

 

[Marsupial]

Bainbridge were founded as Howe & Bainbridge in 1917 in the UK - they were bought by Dexter Corporation (a US Fortune 500 company) in 1976. In 1990 John Short took the business private, out of Dexter, incorporated in the UK.

Whilst it does have a large American operation I'd categorise it as a British company.

Fair enough Charles, but when I was in Bainbridge Boston Mass in 2007 they thought they were completely American and had been since 1917 - as Bainbridge!; and it was the British bit that sent me to head office in Boston Mass! Corporate structure don't you just love it!