Thistle Newsletter Fall 2021
Fellow Thistlers!
Though “Evolution Sails” may be a new name to many Thistle sailors, the people who stand behind this exciting brand are long-time Thistle competitors and one design sailmakers. Our team has amassed a resume of numerous regatta victories, including National, Midwinter and Regional Championships over the past 40 years.
Greg Fisher, Greg Griffin, Karl Felger and Ryan Kyle have long been recognized as those representatives whose focus is to ensure that their customers not only receive the finest and fastest sails available, but also the personal service and attention to meet their sailing goals.
OUR ‘NEW’ SAIL DESIGNS
Quite frankly, our designs are not new, but in fact, the very latest Evolution of the Fisher designs Thistle sailors have been using to win regattas for almost 40 years. They are the result of tedious sail testing coupled with our latest thoughts and experiences on what makes a Thistle sail go faster and point higher.
OUR 2022 EVOLUTION THISTLE SAILS
Fred Hunger, 1st Place 2022 Lake Erie Districts
Our sail designs for 2022 reflect the result of countless days of speed testing and racing during the 2021 season. Our speed testing involved some of the very best Thistle sailors in the class, and was both enlightening and exciting for all involved. We are pleased with the subtle changes that have helped the Fisher design sails perform even better in lighter air and flatter water, as well as big breeze. We tested an array of the latest fabrics from the best cloth manufacturers in the world to be sure we chose the best fabrics, and we are confident our sails are both durable and fast.
As our upwind sails are simply the evolution of the Fisher designs Thistle sailors have been using for years, the tuning and trim guides that have been so successful for years are still appropriate for the new Evolution Thistle main and jib.
We have compiled the most comprehensive and descriptive 2022 Evolution Sails Thistle tuning guide ever… 11 pages!
Greg Griffin, 5th Place 2021 Nationals (with finishes of 3, 1, 3, 7, 4, 9 & 33)
Our race ready cross-cut spinnaker is built with AirX 600, a fabric that has been proven to be both fast and durable. The cross-cut spinnaker excels on the reach and has the power to soak low on the runs. While we do offer a radial design, the cross-cut has proven to be the best all-around performer.
2021 Regatta Highlights
Jack Hunger, 8th Place 2021 Nationals
2022 Lake Erie Districts - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th*, 7th*
2021 Nationals - Championship Division 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th*, 14th*, 15th, 16th
2021 Lake Erie Districts - 2nd
2021 Great Lakes Championship - 6th
2021 Eugene Midsummer Regatta - 5th
2021 Brown Jug Regatta - 1st
2021 Nationals - President’s Division 1st
2021 Old Goat Regatta - 4th
2021 Wild Turkey - 3rd
* Partial Inventory
Our Commitment to Service & Support
Our mission is to reconnect the sailor to the sailmaker, and we recognize the importance of being present, accessible and supportive of our Evolution customers. We have attended numerous events this season, including the Nationals in Cleveland, and will continue to work hard to be sure all Thistlers have the support they need. We plan on starting 2022 with a bang, and Evolution Thistle reps will be attending both the 2022 Midwinters West and East.
JOIN OUR TEAM
We are proud to have the team of incredibly talented sailors who have made the switch to Evolution and have been so instrumental with all our development and tuning. Thank you to Wayne Pignolet, Stu and Matt Fisher, Craig Koschalk, Chip Balough, Fred Hunger, and John Howell…. Just to name a few! Thank you! We’d enjoy having YOU join them on the Evolution Team as well. Our focus is to help you achieve your sailing goals!
Evolution Sails summer speed testing session.
SAIL AWAY WITH SAVINGS
Take advantage of the best pricing of the year and upgrade your inventory with new Thistle sails from Evolution Sails.
Save 15% on sails ordered in Sep 2021 (Extended for the Thistle Class until Oct. 15th, 2021)
Save 12.5% on sails ordered in Oct 2021
Save 10% on sails ordered in Nov 2021
Special fleet pricing of 20% off is available on orders of 10 or more sails. And let’s discuss a clinic for your fleet or club to help you sail your fastest with your new Evolution Sails!
Visit https://www.thesailinginc.com/news/sail-away-with-savings or contact one of our One Design experts to learn more about how you can save on news sails.
See the Thistle Order Form at the bottom of the Thistle Newsletter with our retail pricing!
about evolution sails
Over the past decade, Evolution Sails has grown from a stand-alone loft in Auckland New Zealand, to an internationally recognized brand for durable, high performance sails. They feature an expanding network of affiliate lofts in major markets, a proprietary membrane facility supplying an extensive list of independent lofts around the world, and a healthy stronghold in numerous areas in the sailmaking market.
Rodney Keenan, owner of Evolution Sails New Zealand, says, “From the outset, I took the view
that we would not compromise on quality throughout our operation. We had one shot at
getting this right and could not afford mistakes. That approach has paid off.” While Evolution Sails has established a strong name for itself in offshore and maxi yachts, clearly all Evolution sailmakers appreciate the importance of a strong one design presence and results, whether it’s a 70 ft grand prix racer or a 17 ft Thistle.
about sailing inc
For over 40 years, Sailing Inc. has been representing the best brands in the sailing industry by providing a single source for premium sailing and marine related products, services and support to the sailing community. With multiple locations, Sailing Inc. is positioned to offer professional service and support across the United States.
Many of our team members, such as Greg Fisher and Greg Griffin, joined the Sailing Inc. team to focus their tireless energy and vast experience on building the Evolution Sails brand and help expand the Sailing Inc. mission of reconnecting the sailor to the sailmaker. Our team’s commitment to service and support is unparalleled in the industry, and we work hard to provide easy access to useful insights into rigging, tuning, sail trim and much more from some of the best sailors in the country.
CONTACT US
Visit https://www.thesailinginc.com/thistle or reach out to our class experts today to learn more about the evolution of our One Design sails.
Greg Fisher greg.fisher@thesailinginc.com 410-212-4916
Greg Griffin greg.griffin@thesailinginc.com 904-226-0770
Karl Felger karl.felger@thesailinginc.com 216-346-0878
Ryan Kyle ryan.kyle@thesailinginc.com 419-656-4106
spring speed testing SESSION
Tips from Greg Griffin:
During our speed testing session in April, our Evolution Sails team looked at multiple sail designs as well as the modifications to the Evolution Thistle sails in an effort to design and build the fastest Thistle Sails on the water. Greg Griffin shares his experiences from these 4 days in Charleston, SC.
Subscribe below for more tips and news from Evolution Sails
