so with very little hesitation, Tom answered yes and in 2005 turned pro. Even though it meant a reduction in income, he eventually quit his job and never looked back. Tom says he loves the creative outlet sailmaking provides him and the opportunity to meet and work with sailors from all walks of life and from all over the world. He found that cruising sailors all know each other and trade information about their favorite vendors. As a result of this “referral network,” he has customers from South Africa, England, Scotland, Germany, Australia and France. They often contact him while in transit and come in just long enough to pick up their sails and continue on to whatever island or far-off port where they were headed. He’s equally happy to build high-tech racing sails for serious competitors. While some racers prefer to buy from big-name sailmakers, Tom explains he can utilize all Tom White repairs a Hobie Sail. Photo by Dave Montgomery the same Mylar, Kevlar and latest exotic sail cloths they do. About the only things While sailmaking will never make Tom White a rich he can’t provide are the one-piece molded sails favored by man, he’s doing what he loves, and the only stress factor is some of the wealthiest racers. With computer programs that finishing sails fast enough to suit impatient customers. The create a precise sail design based on a boat’s measurements accolades from happy customers more than make up for and a digital plotter that draws the outlines directly on sail that. Despite the economy, he’s done well enough to move cloth, Tom is able to build racing or cruising sails and spinto a larger air-conditioned location across the street from his nakers for just about any boat up to 65 feet. previous loft complete with a large computer-guided plotTom explains one of the big differences between a local ter. Is he a world class sailmaker? His customers from sailmaker like himself and one of the big online sailmakers, around the globe would answer a resounding yes. The soft is they rarely do repairs. He does. In fact a major part of his spoken Mr. White would probably shrug his shoulders and business is taking care of the rips, tears and seam failures of smile, content that he’s as good as anyone at what he does. older sails as they age. He grins and says sometimes he even For information: www.winddancersailmakers.com. fixes brand-new sails that customers bought elsewhere but that weren’t done right.
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October 2013
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