New sail design - the Max Jib

The main and self tacking jib has certainly been more than enough for new Seaon sailors and still is in most conditions. However it seems the "need for speed" will always grow when becoming more experienced. In very light wind conditions, approx less than 7-8 knots the more experienced sailor (and the racing crew probably up to 10-12 knots) will enjoy the added approx 9 sqm sail area of the new overlapping Max Jib developed by Mats at Gransegel (also a Seaon founder). On the pictures you can see a furling version (the Gransegel "Glider" concept) of the Max Jib. This means the Seaon 96crb will carry 70 sqm sail area upwind on approx 1400 kg.

/Jan

Seaon Stockholm Event

On March 5th we had a meeting with Stockholm Seaon owners (and close friends) with main objectives to discuss and inform about:

• Critical and difficult manoeuver handling issues. Discussion was led by our "Seaon Team Rider Expert Magnus Olsson" - one of the most merited Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Racing sailors and 60 fot trimaran sailors in the world.
• Racing program 2007
• Seaon status on production, developments etc

/Jan

Bernard says hello from Bretagne!

In the every day stress and challenges - This is the kind of customer feed back that keeps you going....

On November 19th Bernard wrote:

"This morning, between 11 am and 1 pm i have sailed with jean lou, an happy few. Wind s sw force 5 sometimes 6 flat sea and sun shinning -1st reef and small jib we have seen 23.9 kts on the speedometer with a right boat and without water in the face. For a longer trip we would have the second reef. One more time 12 kts to catch the buoy - what a foot!

Yellow "Eureka" arrived in Bretagne!

First boat out of our new (own!) production. Bernard's (and our!!) long waited for yellow Eureka has "landed" in Bretagne. On the agenda now it is sailing, sailing, sailing.....

Yellow Eureka was first launched in small harbour nearby our production. I cannot tell you how proud the staff was. With Bernard kindly enough to let all the staff to have a test ride it caused for a two night celebration including Bernard and his wife Michelle

Starting our OWN new production

Finally, after many considerations and outsourcing trials we now opened our fully own production. Having looked at more than 30 facilities we found our place: Close to a 1000 square meters and approx 250 square meters of office space is perfect for our needs!

Someone might know we partly had our own production for a short while, however not in appropriate facilities.

In theory outsourcing is good, but when you are in the front line of technology your supplier will not put any efforts (or in effect admit any mistakes ) on R&D (however to be honest – I would proably have acted in the same way. Shipyards are not among the most profitable business´). As a customer (Seaon that is) you will have to pay for all developments without having the pleasure of actually owning them and being able to develop them further. Boy, have we spent resources on repairing other peoples jobs…not that we are totally innocent of doing mistakes… however it feels better to be fully responsible and repairing your own mistakes.

Also when outsourcing as a small customer …..well, I do not know how to put it…you are for sure not a high priority especially if it is about some more advanced technology. The chasing, begging for deliveries is a full time jobb for many people! (As an “anekdote” – two years ago we had an orderbook of 10 boats….but could not deliver. That is part of the reason to why there has not been an extensive newsfeed from Seaon)

Anyhow – we are so convinced about our concept! Full steam ahead! Now we need to build the “preg”room, oven, paintbox with environmental filters, gigs etc.