Loft's expertise is key to sailmaking value

Dear Valued Customer,

If you are considering the purchase of a new sail this winter, I hope you'll follow the advice of the experts: Buy from a local sailmaker who has the extensive racing and cruising experience necessary to create a sail customized to your individual needs.

Talking to the owner, measuring the boat and sewing the sail is only the beginning. The tough part is designing each sail to match the individual sailing habits of the owner, his boat and rig, and the wind and sea conditions where he (or she) sails. Only a sailmaker with many years of experience in a variety of racing and cruising environments can meet this critical design challenge successfully.

I've raced and cruised large and small boats for more than three decades. I take pride in applying my real-world experience to design sails that precisely match my customers' needs on the water, where every detail of sail shape, material and construction makes a difference in performance and durability. (Results? Our sails won back-to-back one design national championships in 1997 and 1998).

I hope you'll stop by my loft and talk to me about your boat and your sailing plans for next season -- whether or not you plan to order a new sail for the spring. I keep up with the latest products and technologies and I speak regularly with professionals throughout the sail industry about what works and what does not. It would be my pleasure to share this knowledge with you.

To help you get a head start on next spring, I'm offering a 10 percent discount on new sails ordered before January 1 for spring delivery. That discount is applied to top-quality work and is deducted from a competitive price. To top it off, I'll provide a sailbag free of charge with each sail ordered this year.

Hendrickson Sailmakers, Inc. also provides quality cleaning, repair and inspection services. Annual maintenance will add years to the life of your valuable sails.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Richard Hendrickson
Hendrickson Sailmakers, Inc.