5/31/2012

Max Skelley Joins North Sails One Design

Veronica Brown

Annapolis, MD-based sailmaker joins North Sails


May 31, 2012 – Annapolis, MD, North Sails is pleased to announce that Max Skelley has joined our One Design sales and service team in North America. Max’s primary job will be working with keelboat classes under the North One Design umbrella including the J/22, J/24, J/80, Melges 24 and Melges 32.

“The background and experience that Max brings to North Sails will help us provide better sails and customer service for one design sailors in the Chesapeake area and around the world,” said North One Design manager Vince Brun. “The fact that Max is not only a top level sailor but also an excellent sailmaker will help us to improve our products and reach more sailors,” Brun explained. “Our primary goal at North Sails is to give our customers fast sails that are easy to trim. This is the same philosophy Max has practiced in his own business and bringing that to North will be a plus for our team and our clients.”

Max and his father Ralph built Skelley Sails from the ground up becoming a formidable force not only in the Mid-Atlantic region, where they were based, but throughout the US, Caribbean and Europe over the past 25 years. Working as a team, Max and Ralph’s sail designs have recently helped achieve many top finishes in the Melges 24, J/22, J/24, J/80 and J/105 classes among others.

“Moving to North Sails is very exciting for me and many of my clients,” said Max who is an accomplished sailor winning every major Laser regatta at least once in the early 1990s along with the J/22 and J/80 Worlds and countless National and North American titles. “The technology and design resources behind North Sails are the strongest out there and as a sailmaker and sailor, joining North was a great way for me to continue to grow,” he said. “I have been competing with North Sails for over two decades but along the way, I have become very friendly with many North guys like Vince Brun and Andreas Josenhans, both of whom I have a tremendous amount of respect for. Joining the North team in many ways is a relief because now I can work with these accomplished sailors and sailmakers instead of competing against them which is a win-win for everyone,” Skelley concluded.

“North Sails was founded on the premise of designing and building sails using the best technology to give customers the best value,” continued Brun. “Max and his father built their business using the same philosophy so this a great fit and a fantastic opportunity for both of us,” Brun concluded. “We welcome Max to North Sails and look forward to his input and knowledge to help make North One Design sails even better.”

Max will continue to be based in Havre de Grace, MD at the North end of the Chesapeake Bay. He can be reached by e-mail at: maxS@od.northsails.com or by phone: 410-271-4282.