30 years together

Helsinki-based WB-Sails was founded 30 years ago to manufacture sails for the Olympic classes and small racing boats. Fastest sails and best quality was obtained by careful studies of aerodynamics and by the proven method of trial & error. We wanted to be faster and better. 

During the past twenty years WB-Sails has turned from a small backyard loft into a respectable sailmaker. We have been pioneering sailmaking CAD/CAM in the world. Since 1979, the loft has been designing sails with the aid the computer. In 1988 we started to cut our sails with a Laser-cutter which was designed to our specification, the first Armstrong Taurus-cutter.

WB -Sails has invested substantially in R&D. In cooperation with the Helsinki University of Technology, we have developed computer programs which accurately predict sail flow and strain under aerodynamic loading.

Besides a better understanding of the dynamics of the sails, these programs have provided us with useful and important tools for designing better sails for different boats and different conditions. Personal VPP, MacSail, StressMapper and MastCam- ShapePlot are some of our proprietary software tools that also have a commercial future.

WB -Sails offers a complete range of sails from the tiny Optimist dinghy to the big Maxi racers. The sail-loft in Espoo cut the sails for two Finnish Maxi boats participating in the 1989-1990 Whitbread Round the World race: Belmont Finland, and the ill-fated Martela O.F.

WB-Sails also cut the sails for the Russian America's Cup contender, "Red Star", which never touched water. In the summer of 1992, the 120-foot schooner Helena participated with great success in the Tall Ships' Race, with the help of WB-Sails, naturally. Other sailing ships sporting WB-Sails include the beautiful wooden replica Linden.

In yacht racing, WB-Sails has enjoyed great success. In the Olympic 470 class, our sails have contributed to winning the European Championships and a bronze medal in the Worlds. Most recently, our Finn-sail has scored top results in the international regattas.

In offshore racing, success continues in the Ton classes with a victory in the 1991 Half Ton Cup. WB also did the sails for "Ville Cherbourg", winner of the UAP Round Europe-race, and sails for the very successful IMS-maxi "Nicorette". WB-Sails' dedication to research and development has led to a quality and know-how that few sailmakers in the world can match.

WB -Sails Estonia WB-Sails started a subsidiary in Tallinn in 1989. Tallinn is only 40 nm away from Helsinki, on the opposite side of the Gulf of Finland. The loft is animated by Tiit Haagma, former iceboat World Champion. The sails are designed and cut in Helsinki by our design team. The Laser-cut panels are shipped over to Tallinn, where the sails are assembled and completed. Tallinn is the natural and the best way to enter the Russian sail market. The low labor cost enables us to produce sails to boatyards in Finland and in Europe.

The Loft ...