Lessons Learned

In this Lessons Learned Short, host Buttons Padin talks with Belgian sailor Quentin Dubois 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. Dubois describes choosing a strong weath...

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 ca...

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...

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 circumnavi...

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,...

Join host Buttons Padin on the 23rd episode of the Lessons Learned podcast by UK Sailmakers, featuring special guest Commander Gregory Storer of the United States Navy. In this extra-special episode, we step outside the world of sailmaking as Commander Storer discusses his journey from sailing small boats like Optis and Lasers in his youth to commanding the USS Springfield, an LA-class fast attack...

Join host Buttons Padin on the 22nd episode of the Lessons Learned podcast by UK Sailmakers, where he dives into the world of team racing with Jack Fenwick, the Sailing Development Manager of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. They discuss the intricacies of organizing team racing events, the role of team racing in sailing culture, and the unique events hosted by Royal Thames Yacht Club such as the Cumb...

Welcome to the twenty-first episode of Lessons Learned, the UK Sailmakers podcast hosted by Buttons Padin. In this episode, Buttons is joined by UK Sailmakers’ lead designer, Pat Considine, to break down the effects of headstay sag on sail performance—and to show how our headsails with ISL (Integrated Structural Luff) technology provide a modern solution. They explore what headstay sag is, why it...

Welcome to the twentieth episode of Lessons Learned, the UK Sailmakers podcast series hosted by Buttons Padin. In this episode, Buttons explores the art of sailing photography with world-renowned yachting photographer Sharon Green. Sharon shares how she got her start behind the lens—shaped by the influence of her Hall of Fame sailor father, Don Green—and reflects on capturing some of the sport’s m...

Welcome to the nineteenth episode of UK Sailmakers' Lessons Learned podcast series, hosted by Buttons Padin. In this episode, Buttons speaks with Butch Ulmer, former president of UK Sailmakers and a member of the Sailing Hall of Fame. Together, they break down the 2025 changes to the Racing Rules of Sailing, with this episode's particular focus on obstructions and proper hailing protocol....

Join us for the eighteenth episode of Lessons Learned, UK Sailmakers' podcast series. Listen as host, Buttons Padin, talks with Bill Henson about his thrilling experiences aboard his JPK 45 SIRENE. From purchasing the boat in Lorient, France, to participating in the Middle Sea Race, sailing through the Suez Canal, and recently racing in the Sydney Hobart, Bill shares his unique insights and mo...

Join us for the seventeenth episode of Lessons Learned, UK Sailmakers' podcast series hosted by Brendan Huffman, featuring special guest Rodney Pimentel. In this episode, Rod discusses his recent division win at the 2024 Pacific Cup onboard his Cal 40, AZURE. Rod talks about how upgrades to the boat, crew selection, and sails by Sylvain Barrielle of UK Sailmakers San Francisco helped to power...

Join us for the sixteenth episode of Lessons Learned, UK Sailmakers' podcast series hosted by Buttons Padin, featuring special guest David Dickson. In this episode, David discusses the history of the Shannon One Design—a unique wooden boat crafted for the Shannon River and still raced today near Athlone, in the heart of Ireland. David, alongside Barry Hayes from UK Sailmakers Ireland, has been par...

Tune in to the fifteenth episode of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers, hosted by Buttons Padin and featuring special guest Dick York. Dick is a passionate advocate for Safety at Sea, continually researching the latest techniques and technologies to give back to the sport he loves. As a member of the Safety at Sea committees for US Sailing, the Storm Trysail Club, the New York Yac...

Tune in to the fourteenth episode of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers, hosted by Brendan Huffman and featuring special guest Christian Williams. Listen as he recounts his 1979 Fastnet race experience, sailing trips to Bermuda and Hawaii, and insights into towering waves, sargassum weed, books, and jazz. Williams, a former Washington Post editor and investigative reporter during...

Tune in to the thirteenth episode of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers, hosted by Brendan Huffman and featuring special guest Marie Rogers, a trailblazing figure in the world of offshore racing and advocate for diversity in sailing. As the skipper of the Alan Andrews-designed 56-foot sailboat, GOOD TROUBLE, in the 2023 Transpacific Race, Marie Rogers is a force to be reckoned wit...

Tune in to the twelfth episode of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers, featuring Mia Karlsson and Nikki Henderson, two of the amazing women who lead offshore passages with 59º North. In this episode, Mia and Nikki talk about their experiences as women in performance sailing, the unique challenges in the industry, and a promising future for more diversity in the sport. Mia discusses...

Tune in to the eleventh episode of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers, featuring lead sail designer, Pat Considine from UK Sailmakers Chicago. In this episode, Pat answers a series of questions about what considerations go into designing a custom asymmetrical spinnaker. Pat delves into key measurements used for spinnaker design including the luff, leech and mid girth (SMG). He als...

Tune in to the tenth episode of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers, featuring Stefan Voss of UK Sailmakers Germany. In this episode, Stefan explores the growing popularity of shorthanded sailing in Germany and shares his tips and tales for sailors who are keen to try it out for themselves. Stefan dives into the specifics for how he provisions and prepares for shorthanded sailing,...

Tune in to the ninth episode of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers, featuring Brendan Huffman as he shares his journey competing in his second Singlehanded Transpacific Race aboard his Santa Cruz 33, SIREN. In this episode, Brendan reflects on the insights gained from his nine races to Hawaii, discussing the lessons learned, and how he enhanced his performance for the second Singl...

Tune in to Episode Eight of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers featuring Tripp Brower, Captain of SV RESILIENCE and Executive Director of the non-profit Apparent Winds. In this Episode, Tripp discusses his Lessons Learned passage making as he circumnavigates the globe, working with marine researchers and sharing stories of environmental and cultural preservation through film. Prep...

Tune in to Episode Seven of the Lessons Learned Podcast series by UK Sailmakers with Justin and Christina Wolfe, a pair of incredible offshore double handed racers. This year, the duo have been campaigning their J/111 RAKU in the Pacific Northwest and RED RUBY, a SunFast 3300 in Europe. They talk about double handed racing in both regions, and preparations and modifications to the boat and the way...

Tune in to Episode Six of the Lessons Learned Podcast by UK Sailmakers with Sylvain Barrielle, as he recounts some moments in his incredible lifetime of sailing. Sylvain was born in Marseille, France and began sailing dinghies in his youth, but quickly advanced to racing maxi yachts when he was in his mid-teens. Sylvain has taken part in six America's Cup campaigns, and is still very active in...

Tune in to hear Nathalie Criou, an accomplished offshore racer, discuss her incredible experiences in events including the Race to Alaska,  Singlehanded TransPac, Double-handed Pac Cup and a whale encounter on an offshore delivery. Nat will also explore the unique strengths of her sailboat ENVOLEÉ, a Beneteau Figaro II. Like and subscribe to the UK Sailmakers YouTube channel to be notified wh...

This is the fourth episode in UK Sailmakers Lessons Learned podcast series. Tune in to hear Adam Loory discuss plans and preparations made for his cruise from the Long Island Sound in the Northeastern United States to the South Pacific. Adam will be retiring in the Spring of 2023 and is looking forward to embarking on this double-handed adventure with his wife Jenni. The couple have made extensive...