We have been tinkering with an iPad cover made from recycled sails for some time.   Many others on the market and we have spent some time researching what works best with sailcloth and we have finally come up with the following.   Still R&D, but almost there.   Colour options will follow.

Features that make it work well are as follows:  envelope opening, safer, secure, just looks better, doesn’t let any bits in with the precious ipad.  Reclaimed padding inside, small velcro fastening, covered with tag to hide stictching and ends (nice finish), soft lining and nothing inside to scratch surface.

Look at all our lovely products in the Beach Hut in Yarmouth.

Love the people who run this shop and love the shop

Our good friends Rapanui have recently been discussing the circular economy with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation which got us thinking about our sail recycling programme.

Regular readers will know our ambitions to be able to shred unusable sails and sell this back to manufacturing, but why not push that even further and say that a sail could be wholly reused without the need to produce new material ever again.   A tall order?  I read recently from another entrepreneur that ‘great athletes set impossible goals and achieve so much by getting half way there…’  (Gil Penchina in Wired).  Well, for one I don’t think it is impossible, but yes it is a big challenge and I am due to speak to the Foundation about how we can make this happen.

We have touched upon the cradle to cradle approach for sail manufacturing before and at the recycling end we believe we can shred sails and sailcloth to a material that is acceptable for use back into manufacturing.  The challenge is making sails from material that can be wholly recycled back into the making of a new sail.

The Island is alive with such forward thinking and we hope to play our part by being the first sail recyclers on the planet!

Innovation for wine carriers made from recycled sailcloth.   Our new six bottle wine carrier is strong, looks cool, spreads the load so is surprisingly easy to carry and flat packs.

We made this product for a lovely company on the Isle of Wight (Goodleaf tree climbing) to hold their flasks, but soon realised it worked just as well for wine bottles.   So we are introducing into our range and will also be making a four bottle version.

 

Congratulations to Pimms who by building a huge deckchair and placing it on Bournemouth Beach obtained National and International coverage.

At 8.5 meters high and 5.5 meters wide, weighing almost 6 tonnes it isn’t going to fall down.  That said, you wouldn’t want to get your fingers trapped in this one.

Stuart Murdoch, the sculptor who created the deck chair, also designed and built a full size Challenger Tank entirely out of egg boxes in support of Help for Heroes.  The deckchair won’t be there for long and no one is sure where it will go to next.

A thought occurred to us whilst making bunting the other day.  What do we do with the Clew’s and Head of the spinnaker?  From a sailmaker’s perspective, this is where all the strength of the sail is concentrated.  Thus, the sail is thicker in the corners and has a fixing point (normally a ring).   The light-bulb moment…. ping ….. why not cut out the two clews and the x metres of surrounding strengthened spinnaker, sew them together and what you have is the basis of a hammock!   As the clews are identical in size and shape, the hammock should be balanced.

Anyway, phase one of development proved to be most successful. It usually takes us at least four attempts to get to this stage.   Phase two coming up.

We have a mass of new products coming shortly, including crew bags, sun shades, foot rests (pouffes to you an me), pet beds (small pouffes), IPad covers and more.

We were going to make a pet bed anyway, but guess who already loves the prototype foot rest?

A belated Christmas present for us.

We won the Best Ecommerce web awards from UK2Net for 2011.

A little ironic given we are currently working on a new site, which we hope to complete by March or April.   Basically an upgrade, but new functions, easier processes, some back end improvements to make life easier and hopefully an all round better customer experience.

Always thrilled to be recognised however and thanks to the panel at UK2Net for the award.

BAFTA here we come!

Yachting Monthly asked a while ago about boat renaming ceremonies and we promised to dig out an ‘order of service’ we attended a long time ago.  Anyway, the scanner was playing up so I have painfully typed it in full, expect a mention for this please Yachting Monthly

Order of Service

The de-naming whereby the old name of the vessel is forgotten.

In the name of all who have sailed aboard this ship in the past and in the name of all who may sail aboard her in the future, we ask Almighty God, and the ancient gods of the wind and the sea to favour us with their blessing today.

Almighty God, Creator of Might Neptune’ king of all that move in or on the waves, guardian of the winds and all the blows before them:  We offer you our thanks for the protection you have afforded this vessel in the past.   We voice our gratitude that she has always found shelter from tempest and storm and enjoyed safe passage to port.

Oh might and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and crews are required to pay homage, we implore you to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the [name of boat] which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom.  As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea.

A metal tag bearing the old boat name is dropped from the bow of the boat into the sea.

Further, we ask that when she is again presented for blessing with another name she shall be recognised and shall be accorded once again the priviliges she previously enjoyed.  In return for which , we dedicate this vessel to your domain in full knowledge that she shall be subject always to the laws of the wind and the sea.  We now seal this pact with an offering according to the hallowed ritual of the sea.

Half a bottle of Champagne is poured into the sea from East to West.

[The vessel now has no name]

The Naming, Christening and Blessing

Neptune, Ruler of the seas and oceans, we implore you in  your graciousness to take into your records and recollection this worthy vessel, guarding her and ensuring safe and rapid passage throughout her journeys within your realm.

We now appease the angels of the wind to ensure smooth seas and fair winds.

oh mighty rulers of the winds, through whose power our frail vessels traverse the wild and faceless deep, we implore you to grant this worthy vessel the benefits and pleasures of your bounty, ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to our needs.

Facing the North – Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the North Wind, grant us permission to use your power, in the pursuit of our maritime endeavours, ever sparing us the scourge of your frigid breath.

Facing the West -  Great Zephyrus, exalted ruler of the West Wind, grant us permission to use your power, in the pursuit of our maritime endeavours, ever sparing us the scourge of your wild breath.

Then facing South -  Great Notus, exalted ruler of the South Wind, grant us permission to use your power, in the pursuit of our maritime endeavours, ever sparing us the scourge of your scalding breath.

Then facing East –  great Eurus, exalted ruler of the East  Wind, grant us permission to use your power, in the pursuit of our maritime endeavours, ever sparing us the scourge of your mighty breath.

We now bless this vessel with all four elements to insure it remains in balance with the forces of the world.

The first ancient element was AIR.  Air is the element of thought and logic of clear vision.  By blessing this vessel with air, we ask that the skipper be always blessed with clear knowledge and the skill to overcome all obstacles.  Feather

The second element is FIRE.  Fire is the element of change and magic; of transformation and of will.  I bless this boat with fire, God of mercy we ask your protection on this vessel and that she may behave well in the water.  Latern

The third element is WATER.  Water is the element of emotions and love; of relationships and friendships.  I bless this boat with water.  God of Love may this vessel always be surrounded by good friends.  Bottle of water

The last element is EARTH.  Earth is the element of basic needs and sustenance; of material things and health and financial matters.  I bless this boat with earth.  Creator God may all who travel in her have good health, wealth and happiness.  Salt

All present now take a glass of Champagne

Almighty God, who guided Noah in the building of an Ark, and calmed the raging sea, we call upon you to bless those who have prepared this ship for service, and to protect and preserve those who sail in her and surround them with your loving care.

I now christen this ship. In the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

I name this ship [name of boat]

Amen

A bottle of Champagne is poured over the bow of the vessel.

For thousands of years we have gone to sea.  We have crafted vessels to carry us and we have called them by name.  These ships will nurture and care for us through perilous seas and so we affectionately call them “she”.  To them we toast and ask you to celebrate the naming of [name of boat]

Then everybody raises their glass and shouts:  To … [name of boat]

Everybody takes a sip

Today we name this lady [name of boat] and send her to sea to be cared for

Let us pray.

We ask you  Almighty God  and the sailors of old to accept [name of boat] as her name, to help her through her passages and allow her to return with her crew safely.

The moods of the sea are many, from tranquil to angry.  We asj that this ship be given the strength to carry on.

We ask that You, invincible God keep the keel strong and the she keeps out the pressures of the sea.

Lord, be well disposed to our prayers and by your holy hand bless [name of boat] in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit this worth vessel [name of boat] and its passengers as you were pleased to let your blessing hover over Noah’s Ark in the Deluge.

Reach out your hand to them Lord as you did to blessed Peter as he walked upon the sea.

Send your holy angels from on high to watch over it and all on board to ward off any threat of disaster and to guide its course through calm eaters to safe harbours.  May You, in your loving providence, bring them back with glad hearts to their own country and home.

We ask this of you who live and reign forever and ever.

Amen

She is now sprinkled with holy water.

Now we salute [name of boat] and pour the champagne from our glasses over the bow to appease Your servant King Neptune.

This is the official press release from Sunsail, announced as part of their environmental initiative at the London Boat Show 2012.   We dressed their stand with a few deckchairs and some red white and blue bunting.   All very exciting:

Sunsail are pleased to announce at the London Boat Show, a new partnership with Wightsails which will see Sunsail sailcloth recycled to create new products, handmade on the Isle of Wight.

Simon Conder, UK head of Marketing commented:  ”Sunsail are proud to be working with Wightsails to recycle  our old sailcloth.  Responsible Tourism is an ongoing commitment to ourt customers and we are delighted that Wightsails are able to convert our old sails into new products to reduce landfill and create new products that people will use and enjoy.”

I then go on to say how thrilled we are and we are!   We will be making many products for Sunsail that will eventually be available around the world, setting up another sail collection centre in Port Solent and spreading the word of recycled sails.