Aug 2011 Newsletter - Opening
What a terrific summer!
The team at Dieball Sailing has been busy running from event to event and harbor to harbor to ensure that our customers are receiving the best service we can offer. In all this running, we have been a little delayed in getting the news of everything that has happened this summer to you. Time just doesn’t slow down these days and our hope is that you are able to enjoy the balance of the summer at your marina or club and certainly on your boat!
Our sailmaking team is full of pride, especially as it pertains to our One Design customers. You can read the details later in this issue, but the net result of all of our hard work from research through design and construction is that we are blazing a new trail in performance in One Design. Customers and friends have found the podium in all classes this year, and in particular in the biggest events of the summer.
Congratulations to Mike & Mardi Gillum for winning the Day Sailer North Americans in Houston. The sailing was tough, but the Gillums enjoyed great boatspeed and solid teamwork. Mike got us involved in the Day Sailer class a few years ago and we’ve come a long way! Congrats goes out to Craig Lee, Steve Lowry and Bob Damon for making our sails look good and finishing near the top! About a month after their NAs win, Mike & Mardi went on to win the Day Sailer PCCs. Congrats to them!
In other One Design news, our own Skip Dieball has been on a tear of late. He and his team of Tom Starck & Maddie Waldron won the Lightning Canadian Open Championship, which is one of the ILCA majors. He then teamed up with Jeff Eiber and Abby Freeman to win the Thistle Great Lakes, Highlander Nationals and Thistle Nationals all in July/August
On the offshore side, Rick Rothenbuhler and Ernie Dieball have been busy finalizing the first set of Melges 32 sails. The sails came out precisely to Rick’s design, which was based on the tools he’s used with great success in the Azure program. Made in a membrane-style laminate with Carbon and Technora, the sails are beautiful, light weight and have tremendous shape-holding. Rick and Ernie dove into this project with confidence and proof is in the end product!
Of course our Cruising business is still quite strong. In fact it is up 30% over last year and the number of Sunbrella UV covers going through the loft is some kind of a record! The finishing team has pumped out some incredibly nice looking cruising sails! All the options have been worked in one set of sails or another. Foam Luff, Furling Patches, UV in all flavors, Sail Covers, RF Mains...you name it! If it is time to upgrade, give the loft a call! There is still time to get those sails onto your boat and get them some use before you haul out in the fall!
Speaking of Haul Out, let us know when you are scheduled and which marina you are storing. We will do our best to coordinate your schedule with getting your sails into the loft for winter service. Like years previous, we are offering free storage on sails that are in for service and accounts PIF when service is complete. Our casa is your casa when it comes to sails. Keep those sails safe and dry.
