Sailmaking

5 Day Sail Making Course - 1 week residential + online pre-learning

This is, to our knowledge, the only sail making course in Scotland and has a strong emphasis on traditional skills and vessels. However, modern contemporary sails can also be constructed using the skills learned and a number of our students have gone on to find employment in sailmaking.

Maritime Studies at Orkney College UHI in Stromness runs a 5 day sail making course for the self-reliant sailors and those who would like to make their own sails or carry out simple repairs for their club.

In October 2023 we exported this course to Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut USA; visiting the museum to train staff in our syllabus and delivery methods.

The course is led by Mark Shiner, Head of Maritime Studies; and the course is mostly practical and broadly covers:

• Sail theory, designing and planning your own sails*
• Cloth selection
• Matching skills on a variety of sailmaking sewing machines
• Measuring and lofting - battens and pins, chalk and tape measure
• Drawing a balanced sail plan and sail design*
• Building a project sail as a group
• Construction methods, materials and assembly
• Aspects of sail repair
• Traditional hard work for vintage sails
• Setting and adjusting

*These aspects are first introduced in two online learning modules, accessible from home. These need to be covered before attending the practical week

Additional Information