New mainsail

Old colleagues at North donate sail for John Merricks

North Sails, a corporate partner of the John Merricks Sailing Trust, has very generously donated a 3DL mainsail to the Farr 45 John Merricks. The yacht, recently donated to the Trust by David McLean, is on loan to the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme for the next two years.

Simon Fry at North Sails said, “We are delighted to be able to give an input to this programme which offers young sailors a year round race training schedule aboard this grand prix yacht.”

John ‘Jonny’ Merricks worked at North Sails and was due to compete in the Farr 45 World Championships, the month after his accident. It is therefore particularly fitting that this yacht,with sails donated by North, is being used to provide training to a number of young sailors who in turn will be pivotal to future British keelboat projects.

North Sails also contribute tremendously to the John Merricks Sailing Trust by running their annual North Sails Golf Day in aid of the Trust. This event has become one of the longest standing fundraising events for the JMST raising more than £69,000 over the years. In 2004, the event raised over £11,000 and was attended by an array of Olympic medallists, top sailing professionals and marine industry associates so there was plenty of tacking going on along the fairways!

The 9th annual North Sails Golf Day, held in aid of the John Merricks Sailing Trust will be held on Friday October 28th, at Cams Hall Estate Golf Club, located close to the M27 near Fareham. Further details and entry forms to be announced shortly.