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Newsletter, Autumn 2005
Michele Stevens
Sailloft Ltd.
a family tradition since 1910
2nd Peninsula
902-634-9338
The fair winds of July brought Michele and Al home from their 10 month Caribbean adventure. Their CS 36 “Easy Listening” slid into her berth at Lunenburg Yacht Club like a homing pigeon to its nest! It was a glorious summer day, not a cloud in the sky and the dock lined with family and friends all waiting for a hug. During the course of their trip they were delighted to meet many friends as well as meet new ones, all sharing the same wonderful experiences.
While sailing in the BVI’s Michele made contact with the owner of the Tallship ‘Concordia’ which resulted in the Loft securing an order for 5 sails to be delivered to the ship while she was in Halifax in May.
Thanks our many loyal customers who kept us busy during the year with new sails, repairs and numerous custom jobs.
After logging 6000 nautical miles Michele and Al have high praise for their ProFurl in boom furling system. Not once did they have a problem and were able to reef from the cockpit in 3 minutes or less.
As many of you know, Michele was delighted when her dream turned into reality and Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. was awarded the contract to supply a new mainsail for the Bluenose II. For three weeks, spanning August and September, the Loft was hopping as plans were made as how best to go about completing this special project. Constructing what is known to be the world’s largest working mainsail was both a challenge and a thrill. Michele, Brenda, Melanie, Laura and Robert all rose to the occasion delivering the sail in good time. Royal Stevens, assisted by his eldest son, Jonathan (another generation in training!) burned the midnight oil to finish the bench work in time for a September 10th delivery.
Be sure to watch our website for photos of ‘History in the Making – the Construction of the Mainsail for Bluenose II”.
While browsing our website please contact us if you would like a quote on a new sail or custom work.
Please don’t shoot the messenger but… it’s almost time to think about hauling out for the winter. Why not bundle up your sails, dodger, bimini’s and sail covers, drop them off at the Loft and let us worry about them for the winter? We’ll provide FREE winter storage while inspecting them for wear and tear and then advise if repairs are necessary. One less thing to worry about and you’ll be good to go come spring.
If you would like to get together with your sailing buddies (between Halifax and Shelburne) and drop your sails in one place we will be happy to pick them up at a pre-arranged drop off point and bring them back to the Loft for check over and repairs.
If you are thinking about having a dodger, awning, bimini, cockpit or interior cushions fabricated autumn is an excellent time to have the patterns made with final fitting once your cover comes off in the spring. If a new sail, dodger or UV is on your wish list check out the latest shades of Sunbrella® available. “Because Sunbrella® a fabrics are woven they are also highly breathable, which is why they dry quickly with air exposure. It’s also important to know that these fabrics are treated with a fluorocarbon finish which enhances water repellency. The finish requires replenishment after vigorous cleaning”.
According to the information we have available “Sunbrella® fabrics will not support the growth of mildew, but dirt on the fabric can lead to mildew growth. This makes regular cleaning very important and your environment has a great deal to do with cleaning frequency. Items should be brushed off as soon as you start to see an accumulation of dirt and debris such as leaves or pollen. Just a few minutes of prevention will keep your Sunbrella® items looking fresh and prolong the life of the fabric.”
We have a number of "used”, “gently used” and “like new” sails here at the Loft.
Check out our website www.tallships.ca/sailloft for more information or drop by the Loft.
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to have a closer look.
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Michele preparing her famous Lemon Chicken and Rice.
Michele with Derek Hatfield, during their Cooking on Board ‘Cook off!’
The Crew of Michele Stevens Sailloft Ltd. at the 2007 Halifax Boat Show.
