Lessons Learned

In Episode 32 of UK Sailmakers’ Lessons Learned, host Buttons Padin chats with Matt Gallagher, Rear Commodore of the Storm Trysail Club and chairman of the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) series, about the IOR’s role in developing future offshore keelboat sailors. STC is made up of approximately 1,100 offshore sailing enthusiasts, and one of the Club’s missions is to help young sailors transition from dinghies to offshore keelboats.To accomplish this, for the past 25 years STC and Larchmont Yacht Club have co-hosted the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta on Long Island Sound over Columbus Day Weekend. This year’s event, October 10-11, will host teams from 45 colleges and universities. The recently completed Great Lakes IOR (September 26-27) has been sailed since 2015, co-hosted by Chicago Yacht Club and Columbia Yacht Club with 18 teams. New this year is the Pacific Northwest IOR at Seattle Corinthian Yacht Club, November 14-15, with registrations still open.Matt traces how the series started on Western Long Island Sound and how it has grown, and explains how the Storm Trysail Club and the independent Storm Trysail Foundation fund the IOR so students sail at no cost, made possible by generous boat owners and onboard owner’s reps focused on safety. He also gets into demand outpacing available boats, a new team selection process, the Callisto Cup series trophy, growing female participation, and plans to expand into more regions. Matt credits UK Sailmakers and a core group of volunteers for helping make the IOR what it is today.Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.Thumbnail photo ⓒ Storm Trysail Club | Steve Cloutier.

In Episode 31 of UK Sailmakers' Lessons Learned, host Buttons Padin catches up with Tripp Brower, executive director of Apparent Winds, aboard the 75 foot aluminum ketch Resilience in Mo'orea, French Polynesia, just in from Fakarava in the Tuamotus.Tripp explains how Apparent Winds grew from a planned two year circumnavigation into a 10 year expedition focused on collecting and sharing stories of community led environmental and cultural preservation, and on making "affordable science" possible by offering researchers low cost access to a capable sailing platform and accessible tools like a 6,000 meter drop camera. He traces the route from Maine to Grenada, across the Caribbean to Panama, out through French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga to New Zealand, and back north this season through the Marquesas and the Tuamotus, with relationship building as the foundation for the work.Tripp covers the partnership behind the 12.5 million square kilometre Moananui Sanctuary, a NOAA research charter in American Samoa this October focused on coral, and introduces the crew. He also gets into how the ketch rig is handled shorthanded, his passage making advice ("don't sink" and "leave the dock"), and what is next: a refit in Whangarei, New Zealand, and a separate Chile to Antarctica expedition.Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

In Episode 30 of UK Sailmakers’ Lessons Learned, host Buttons Padin talks with Brendan Huffman, co-owner of the UK Sailmakers Los Angeles loft, fresh off winning ORR 4, the Gosling's Rum Division, and the perpetual Carl Schumacher Award in the 2026 Pacific Cup aboard his refit Express 37, Dorado. He took the lead in the last 100 miles of an 11.5 day race.Brendan walks through a stop-and-start two and a half year restoration, including major deck and rig updates, a cracked diesel tank that contaminated the bilge and water tank weeks before the start, and last-minute equipment changes.He details his offshore sail plan using UK's X-Drive® laminates, why he left the J1 at home, and how a spinnaker net helped prevent headstay wraps while sailing deep in rolly trade wind conditions. He also explains why he chose a five-person crew, how they managed systems and navigation, and what's next for the boat.Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

In Episode 29 of UK Sailmakers' Lessons Learned podcast, host Buttons Padin talks with Ceris and Paul Arns about Obsession, the Mark Mills designed MAT 1245 they campaign out of Western Australia.Ceris and Paul are the poster children for a husband and wife team fully committed to a racing program. "We're just committed to racing Obsession. If the boat is not used, we feel bad," Ceris noted. That commitment has paid off with back to back Ocean Racing Western Australian Championships and a long list of major wins.They trace their path from New Zealand to WA, coming back to sailing after raising a family, and building a crew culture that Ceris describes as "as much a family as we are a crew of good sailors."Paul credits three things for the results: seamanship and boat management, disciplined maintenance and sail upgrades, and strong team leadership from Geoff Bishop, owner of UK Sailmakers Fremantle. "We discussed our sail inventory, and we went entirely with UK Sailmakers' recommendations. We were a test platform for UK's new Integrated Structural Luff technology, and ISL, like all our UK sails, just plain works!"The episode also covers the WA sailing scene and clubs, what makes the MAT 1245 such a delight upwind, sea survival training, and their decision to truck Obsession 4,000 km east to race the Sydney to Gold Coast and then Hamilton Island Race Week in the Whitsundays, Queensland, which runs 15 to 22 August 2026.Whether you are building an offshore program from scratch or looking to get more out of the one you have, this episode is full of practical takeaways from two sailors who have achieved a lot in the last few years.Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.Thumbnail Image: The Obsession crew on the rail at the 2025 Geographe Bay Race Week, equipped with Titanium sails from UK Sailmakers Fremantle. Photo Ⓒ TP72 Nautical Imagery.

In Episode 28 of UK Sailmakers' Lessons Learned podcast, host Buttons Padin talks with UK Sailmakers Northeast Loft Manager Emmett Dickheiser and co-skipper Cat Chimney about their 2026 Newport Bermuda Race in the Double-Handed Division aboard the J/44 Kenai.Though both were experienced Bermuda Race sailors, racing double-handed together was a new challenge. Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of Kenai’s owners Chris and Karen Lewis, they were able to borrow the boat and tackle the iconic 636 nautical mile race.Emmett and Cat explain how they transformed the J/44 into a capable short-handed racer by adding a furling system, a specially designed UK Sailmakers non-overlapping jib with vertical battens, and choosing a smaller, easier-to-handle Code Zero. They also discuss overcoming an electrical failure that left them hand-steering and carefully managing battery power, the importance of conserving your own "personal battery" during an offshore race, and the many small decisions that make double-handed sailing both challenging and rewarding.Whether you're interested in offshore racing, short-handed sailing, or simply hearing a great Bermuda Race story, this episode is packed with practical lessons and honest insights from two experienced sailors.Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

In this Lessons Learned Short, host Buttons Padin talks with Belgian sailor Quentin Debois after he established a world benchmark time sailing a Mini 6.5 from Miami to New York (about 900 miles), a category with no prior official record attempts. This follows his earlier 2026 record breaking transatlantic crossing from Cadiz to San Salvador in the Mini 6.5.Debois describes choosing a strong weather window with router Basil Rochu, using the Gulf Stream for an average 2 knot push (up to 3) until Cape Hatteras, and managing changing wind strength over the passage. He details his sail plan: solent and main upwind early, then flying UK Sailmakers Matrix spinnakers from the cockpit, and praises his UK Sailmakers Belgium sails, including a reefable solent with a zipper system.Back in Belgium briefly, he plans to return to New York in early June to repair significant hull delamination found after hauling out in Raritan Bay before preparing to start another Atlantic crossing in an attempt at the west to east record.Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

In Episode 27 of UK Sailmakers' Lessons Learned podcast, host Buttons Padin talks with Andrew Weiss, owner of Christopher Dragon XII, and UK Sailmakers' Chief Designer Pat Considine about a major shift in offshore sail inventory: replacing the Code Zero with a smaller, flatter A3.For boats racing under ORC, particularly those that won't get up on a plane, the rating penalty paid to carry a Code Zero may not be worth it anymore. Andrew has taken his Code Zeros off the boat entirely, and instead sails with a new generation A3 spinnaker. He's getting comparable performance in typical Code Zero conditions while avoiding the rating hit, a decision that's paid off in every distance race he's entered this season heading into the Bermuda Race.Andrew and Pat trace this evolution from his early IRC experimentation with masthead Code Zeros, through the rating tradeoffs and complexity of carrying too many sails under ORC, to a "back to basics" approach for his Italia 11.98. The new A3, about 83–84% mid-girth, is designed to cover key reaching angles while simplifying onboard sail-handling decisions. Pat walks through how UK Sailmakers is designing this new generation of A3s using their ISL (Integrated Structural Luff) technology.The episode closes with a look at Christopher Dragon's full inventory for the upcoming 2026 Newport to Bermuda Race: A3, A1, two A2s, J1–J4, storm sails, and two staysails.For sailors evaluating their own offshore inventory, this episode offers a clear case study in rethinking sail selection for rating efficiency without sacrificing performance.Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

In Episode 26 of UK Sailmakers’ Lessons Learned podcast, host Buttons Padin speaks with Belgian offshore sailor Quentin Debois about his Mini 6.5 campaign, his sailing background, and his recent record-breaking Atlantic crossing.Quentin only began sailing at age 31 after a friend introduced him to a Hobie 16 on the Belgian North Sea. What started as curiosity quickly became a passion, leading him to formal training in France and ultimately into offshore racing in the demanding Mini 6.5 class—a 6.5-metre (21-foot) solo offshore racing boat known for its speed, instability, and extreme demands on both sailor and equipment.One of Quentin’s standout achievements is his recent east-to-west Atlantic record attempt, sailing from Cádiz, Spain, to San Salvador in The Bahamas via a Grand Canaria waypoint. He completed the crossing in 24 days, 19 hours, significantly lowering the previous under-7m record of 30 days, 22 hours. The campaign was supported by a dedicated team including a router, coach, technical preparer, and mental coach, highlighting the level of coordination required even in “solo” offshore racing.Preparation played a critical role. Quentin and his team fully rebuilt the boat before departure, and UK Sailmakers Belgium supplied four key sails that performed throughout the crossing. When he required repairs on an older mainsail for a subsequent record attempt, UK Sailmakers Miami supported a rapid turnaround to keep the campaign on track.Quentin’s approach is highly disciplined—he sails without an engine and constantly manages boat trim, including shifting approximately 250kg of internal ballast during manoeuvres. His focus now turns to future record attempts, including Miami to New York and New York back to the UK (Lizard Point), each timed around precise weather routing.Quentin Debois represents a new generation of offshore sailor—combining performance sailing, technical precision, and structured support teams to push the limits of what small offshore boats can achieve.For potential partners interested in supporting Quentin’s campaign, contact him directly at [email protected] and you can also follow his adventures on Instagram @quentindebois.Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

Join host Buttons Padin on the 25th episode of the Lessons Learned podcast by UK Sailmakers, where he sits down with solo circumnavigator Istvan Kopar as he prepares for his fourth and most ambitious voyage around the world.Istvan shares his journey from learning to sail on Lake Balaton behind the Iron Curtain, to 13 years in the Hungarian merchant marine, to completing a solo one-stop circumnavigation in 1990-91 with no electronics. He also recounts his experience as the only American to finish the 2018-19 Golden Globe Race, and details his upcoming Anniversary Challenge: a solo, non-stop, westbound circumnavigation at age 73, departing alongside the 2026 Golden Globe Race fleet.Istvan also discusses his Valiant 42 refit and his new sail inventory from UK Sailmakers Miami. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will help you #SailWithConfidence.Tune in for an enlightening conversation that will help you sail with confidence. Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.Thumbnail Photo © Aïda Valceanu.

Join host Buttons Padin as he sits down with Adam Loory for the 24th episode of Lessons Learned, the UK Sailmakers podcast series. Dive into an engaging discussion on Adam’s lifelong dream of sailing around the world, plans, and preparations for his upcoming voyage to the South Pacific.Discover detailed insights about the refit and transformation of a race boat for long-term performance cruising, the complex itinerary, key navigational preparations, and essential tips for any aspiring global sailor. Don’t miss this thrilling episode packed with valuable lessons and inspiration from Adam's journey, Reaching thru Retirement.Tune in for an enlightening conversation that will help you sail with confidence. Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers Spotify channel to be notified when more great content from our channel is uploaded. The Lessons Learned Podcast is also available for streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.