Author: Thomas Wilkes

OK Dinghy Worlds 2019

Thomas Wilkes Dinghy Masts, Marine articles, Recent news
OK Dinghy Worlds 2019

With the OK Dinghy World Championships beginning next week in New Zealand the fleet sailed a Pre-Worlds during the weekend of 2-3 February. This event is always useful to get an idea of how the different mast /sail combinations are working with most of the top sailors in the class taking part.

Jan Kurfeld (GER 18) on day 1 (Robert Deaves)

Our congratulations to Jan Kurfeld (GER) who won the event, closely followed by Nick Craig (GBR) in 2nd both using Ceilidh Composite Technologies PRO masts.

For further information on the Worlds please use one of the links below.

Event website including results and notice board: 2019.okworlds.org
Wakatere Boating Club website: www.wakatere.org.nz
 
Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OK_Dinghy_Class
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OK-Dinghy-197171683649284/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxRW4POh1vghfqFhFIP2Bqw

Racegeek Mast displays (updated 2023)

Thomas Wilkes sailing, Specials , ,
Racegeek Mast displays (updated 2023)

Racegeek products are no longer being made or sold. We will provide service for any holders we have built in the past conform our terms and conditions.

UPDATE – Our new Racegeek D10 carbon holder version 2 is in production at the moment. 5th April we will be able to show the first photos of the product and shortly thereafter we will add the holder to our online store.

For now a rendering of our concept to suit a double display for a J-109.

RaceGeek twin display holder
Racegeek D10 with prototype carbon mast bracket

The superb Racegeek D10 mast instrument is now available through Ceilidh Composite Technologies B.V. With its clear backlit display and intuitive user interface the Racegeek D10 guides you round the racecourse. Featuring built in GPS, compass and simple integration with existing NMEA 0183 or NMEA 2000 systems it provides a great solution for boat data at the mast. 

The system can be used as a repeater, showing data which is available throughout the NMEA setup on your boat, but it is far more than that. The D10 offers full GPS integration with distance to startline, while switching directly through to the data you need after the start. With WIFI connection to the iPhone/Android app the D10 can store routes and waypoints to guide you around the buoys. For those racing on Windward/Leeward courses the systems ‘sees’ the windward mark and remembers it location for you (without having to push any buttons!).

Ceilidh has a system available for demonstration purposes and will naturally be offering a suitable carbon fibre mast bracket solution for the D10. For further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

OK Europeans success

Thomas Wilkes Dinghy Masts, Marine articles, Recent news
OK Europeans success
Fredrik Lööf, European Champion 2018.

Having placed 2nd at the World Championships earlier this summer Fredrik Lööf from Sweden has won the European Championships after a thrilling final day of racing. After changing material supplier after the Worlds, Fredrik has been working together with Ceilidh and Green Sails to find the best combination to suit him. Racing was close, with 3 sailors  challenging at the top in the great conditions of Bandol. In the last race Fredrik pulled away to secure his first title in his class. Congratulations.

Postma takes bronze at Finn Worlds 2018

Thomas Wilkes Dinghy Masts, Marine articles, Recent news
Postma takes bronze at Finn Worlds 2018
Finn Class Medallists Aarhus World Championships 2018

Congratulations to the medal winners at the 2018 Finn World Championships which just finished in Aarhus, Denmark. 

Especially rewarding for us was the return of Pieter Jan Postma to the Finn fleet. Having approached us exactly 90 days before the start of this event to work together the team has further developed a new concept of mast performance and control which had given us some success in 2016. At that stage the sailmakers were struggling to keep up with our developments which came too close to the Olympic Games.

With a short but intensive preparation together with PJ, Ed Wright, North Sails UK and Dinghy Racing Centre this time the performance improvement is marked. Our thanks to everyone involved for the enthusiasm, belief and confidence in our design. Also our thanks to the sailors for keeping us on the edge of our seats for the last week.

We are looking forward to the next stage of development to support our sailors during the selection process for Tokyo 2020.

Ed Wright – GBR 11
PJ Postma – NED 842
PJ Postma, 3rd place

OK Dinghy Worlds 2018

Thomas Wilkes Marine articles, Recent news, sailing
OK Dinghy Worlds 2018

The Ceilidh Composite Technologies OK Dinghy mast dominated the recent OK Dinghy World Championships 2018 held in Warnemünde, Germany. With André Budzien (GER) taking first place after a very closely fought event (Taking Gold with the tiebreaking last race win) our masts were used by 7 of the top 10. The mast has been developed to suit each sailmakers requirements which helped to ensure 3 different sailmakers were represented in the top 10. This year has seen the introduction of our PRO mast, which with added High Modulus material to modify the response of the mast in wind and waves. While this mast suits the more physical sailor our standard mast proved also to be a race winner.

 

Results

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Soling Mast Prototype

Thomas Wilkes Keelboat Masts, Marine articles, Recent news
Soling Mast Prototype

Ceilidh Composite Technologies and ‘Group Orion’ are currently developing a new carbon fibre mast profile for the Soling Class. With approval from the Soling Class the first 5 sections have been manufactured to show the possibilities. Including a bend curve which is as good as identical to the current Aluminium spars and detailed finishing to increase reliability and ease of installation the group looks forward to class approval of this exciting development.

Carbon fibre Soling mast
Carbon fibre Soling mast

For further information please link here to the dedicated web page.

 

Carbon Yard for Norfolk Broads

Thomas Wilkes Custom, Keelboat Masts, Marine articles, Recent news

Recently we supplied a new carbon fibre yard for the 94 year old ‘topsail’ rigged ‘Breeze’ on the Norfolk Broads. In order to achieve the required stiffness fore-aft to ensure suitable leech tension on the mainsail the new Soling Mast profile was chosen. At 105mm * 70mm with an integrated sail track this profile gave an improvement of around 50% of stiffness compared to the original carbon tube while weighing in at 13kg for a 7.5 meter spar.

With a turn-around time of 22 days including transport to the UK the customer was pleased to get on the water at one of the important races in the Broads calendar.

For more information and enquiries, please contact us here.

Essence 33 delivered in USA

Thomas Wilkes Keelboat Masts, Marine articles, Recent news
Essence 33 delivered in USA

The sleek lines of the Essence 33, developed by Yagt B.V. from a classic Hoek Design have allowed Ceilidh Composite Technologies to prove their passion for product development. The detailing of the spars has been completed together with Michel Hof of Essence Yachts, looking at every fitting to improve design and functionality. Internal retrieval lines to take up the slack, simple solutions for lazy-jacks and clean stainless steel fittings have been designed specially for this project. Recently Michel completed delivery of boat number 6 in Greenport, USA. This is the second set of spars that Ceilidh has supplied, and with 2 more sets on order the development and quest for the optimal product remains unabated.

Price increase 01-02-2018

Thomas Wilkes Recent news, sailing, Uncategorised

Having been able to keep our advice retail prices constant for the last year we are unfortunately faced with a significant price increase of our raw materials for the following year. We regret to inform our customers that as of 1st February 2018 all prices will be increasing by up to 5%. All current orders (pre 1st February) will be supplied at the offered prices.