Hyde takeover Ullman UK

Sian Cowen reports from London International Boat Show

Hyde Sails have announced that they have become the new owners of Ullman Sails UK.

Hyde Sales and Marketing Manager Kevin Sproul explained the reasons for the acquisition: " this is a great business move for us as it means we can incorporate both Hyde and Ullman Sails technology in sail development and at the same time increase our already extensive share in the market place." He added: " it will also enable Hyde to offer our present customers added service as we will now devote the Hamble based Ulman loft to being a dedicated service loft."

The principle of Ullman Sails UK, Ian Simkins, will be joining Hyde and will continue to ensure maintaining and servicing existing Ullman customers and oversee the continued production of Ullman sails.

Hyde Sails have been making sails for 36 years and have remained committed to producing high quality performance sails and are the largest manufacturers of sails in the UK.

They started out developing dinghy sails and although they have been making sails for larger boats and more cruising yachts have gained a huge increase in the last five years in the big boat racing market.

Sproul joined Hyde four years ago and has played a key role in the growth in big boat sails, but explains that "many sailors grow up dinghy sailing and have been successful competitors using Hyde sails and as they get older and move on to bigger boats they want to stick with using trusted performance sails."

And now with their take over of Ullman they have become even bigger and aim to maintain their status as market leaders in sail technology and development and all with improved customer service.

To add to their bows they will be the sole sailmaker for the huge US boatbuilders Legend who have recently opened a factory in Weymouth.

Sproul also told madfor sailing of Hyde's plans for 2002: "Our aim is to consolidate our position in the big boat market. We have been major class winners in the past three years with the Corel 45 Nationals, the Ker 11.3 Nationals, 1720 Nationals and Round the Island with the Farr 50 Mandrake last year alone." He continued, "we hope to be the sailmakers for both the Commodore's Cup and the Admiral's Cup as well as continue to grow with Ker and Farr etc, it should be a very exciting and busy year for us."