Nigel Grogan - Managing Director
Nigel Grogan is a law graduate who began his business career with the Mars Corporation before setting up a chain of VW and Audi dealerships, which he sold in 2003. He then took on a variety of new challenges, including consulting for Hyde Sails, eventually taking control of the business in 2008 when Edward Hyde - who founded the brand in 1965 in partnership with Keith Musto - decided to sell the business to concentrate on his golf swing.
Nigel is a keen sailor who owns a number of boats racing in classes as diverse as the OK dinghy, Squib and Melges as well as cruising in his Beneteau 50...Get in contact
Nigel Grogan is a law graduate who began his business career with the Mars Corporation before setting up a chain of VW and Audi dealerships, which he sold in 2003. He then took on a variety of new challenges, including consulting for Hyde Sails, eventually taking control of the business in 2008 when Edward Hyde - who founded the brand in 1965 in partnership with Keith Musto - decided to sell the business to concentrate on his golf swing.
Nigel is a keen sailor who owns a number of boats racing in classes as diverse as the OK dinghy, Squib and Melges as well as cruising in his Beneteau 50...Get in contact
Richard Franks - sales & marketing director
Richard has been with Hyde Sails since 1990 joining the Board in 2003 as Sales & Marketing Director.
Richard has the advantage of experience in three key areas of the business, production, sales and development. Richard's experience will continue to be invaluable as he becomes increasingly involved in the relationships with major customers.
Richard started sailing 30 years ago in a Mirror dinghy and went on to singlehanders where he competed at national and international level. He has crewed and skippered many yachts in a range of events from top regattas to club racing, logging numerous miles cruising in coastal and offshore waters....Get in contact
Richard has been with Hyde Sails since 1990 joining the Board in 2003 as Sales & Marketing Director.
Richard has the advantage of experience in three key areas of the business, production, sales and development. Richard's experience will continue to be invaluable as he becomes increasingly involved in the relationships with major customers.
Richard started sailing 30 years ago in a Mirror dinghy and went on to singlehanders where he competed at national and international level. He has crewed and skippered many yachts in a range of events from top regattas to club racing, logging numerous miles cruising in coastal and offshore waters....Get in contact
Mike Lennon - Technical director
Mike has been with Hyde Sails since 1986. Mike is responsible for the success of Hyde Sails in the yacht sail market, producing a stream of competitive and innovative sail designs, which rapidly established Hyde as a leader in this intensely competitive sector.
Mike championed the move to the Philippines and went out there for 18 months to establish the facility and set up production. Mike remains responsible for production but is based in the UK.
Mike is still sailing at the highest level in his 14 and foiling Moth having won the POW in 2006, along with a string of national titles in various dinghy and keelboat classes...Get in contact
Mike has been with Hyde Sails since 1986. Mike is responsible for the success of Hyde Sails in the yacht sail market, producing a stream of competitive and innovative sail designs, which rapidly established Hyde as a leader in this intensely competitive sector.
Mike championed the move to the Philippines and went out there for 18 months to establish the facility and set up production. Mike remains responsible for production but is based in the UK.
Mike is still sailing at the highest level in his 14 and foiling Moth having won the POW in 2006, along with a string of national titles in various dinghy and keelboat classes...Get in contact
Paul Austin - sales manager
Paul has been with the company for 15 years, eight of which were spent making yacht sails. This gives him the detailed product knowledge to guide customers through the labyrinth of options in the yacht sail market.
Paul is a keen racer and has sailed in a wide variety of One Design boats and handicap yachts including 1720, SB3, Beneteau 40.7, various J-boats and Squibs...Get in contact
Paul has been with the company for 15 years, eight of which were spent making yacht sails. This gives him the detailed product knowledge to guide customers through the labyrinth of options in the yacht sail market.
Paul is a keen racer and has sailed in a wide variety of One Design boats and handicap yachts including 1720, SB3, Beneteau 40.7, various J-boats and Squibs...Get in contact
Charles Devenport - sales east
Charles has a wealth of expertise built up over 30 years of sailmaking. His knowledge and experience have been invaluable in dealing with customers from as far afield as St Malo, the USA and Scarborough.
Charles races a Merlin Rocket with his partner locally and nationally, and regularly competes on IRC circuit, including events such as Sail East, Burnham, Medway and the IRC nationals...Get in contact
Charles has a wealth of expertise built up over 30 years of sailmaking. His knowledge and experience have been invaluable in dealing with customers from as far afield as St Malo, the USA and Scarborough.
Charles races a Merlin Rocket with his partner locally and nationally, and regularly competes on IRC circuit, including events such as Sail East, Burnham, Medway and the IRC nationals...Get in contact
Wooderz - sales south west
Based in the South West, Wooderz has been sailing for over 35 years, ranging from club racing and cruising, to racing on national and international circuits. Some six years' experience selling sails has given him excellent product knowledge.
Before joining Hyde's, his career included managing and working in various sailing schools, project managing an International Six Metre, racing an offshore maxi, boat building in Dorset and Cornwall and managing a corporate yachting company...Get in contact
Based in the South West, Wooderz has been sailing for over 35 years, ranging from club racing and cruising, to racing on national and international circuits. Some six years' experience selling sails has given him excellent product knowledge.
Before joining Hyde's, his career included managing and working in various sailing schools, project managing an International Six Metre, racing an offshore maxi, boat building in Dorset and Cornwall and managing a corporate yachting company...Get in contact
Richard Lovering - Sail designer
Richard Lovering has been working for Hyde Sails since 2000. He started sailing at the age of 11 in an Optimist dinghy, and went on to be involved in the Youth 420 Squad, travelling to numerous European and World Championships. Between the ages of 18 and 22, Richard took part in an Olympic Campaign in a 470 for Atlanta 1996 and was tune-up boat for John Merricks and Ian Walker.
Richard is currently sailing Musto Performance Skiffs and various types of yachts...Get in contact
Richard Lovering has been working for Hyde Sails since 2000. He started sailing at the age of 11 in an Optimist dinghy, and went on to be involved in the Youth 420 Squad, travelling to numerous European and World Championships. Between the ages of 18 and 22, Richard took part in an Olympic Campaign in a 470 for Atlanta 1996 and was tune-up boat for John Merricks and Ian Walker.
Richard is currently sailing Musto Performance Skiffs and various types of yachts...Get in contact
Ian Flanders - Sail Loft General Manager
Ian has been with Hyde Sails since 1987. Born just two miles from the old Hyde loft in Essex, he moved to the Philippines to help set up Hyde's new Cebu-based production facility in the late 1990s.
With a strong sailing and windsurfing background and extensive sailmaking production experience, Ian has been instrumental in building the highly skilled 200-strong workforce that is so essential to produce Hyde's high quality sails...Get in contact
Ian has been with Hyde Sails since 1987. Born just two miles from the old Hyde loft in Essex, he moved to the Philippines to help set up Hyde's new Cebu-based production facility in the late 1990s.
With a strong sailing and windsurfing background and extensive sailmaking production experience, Ian has been instrumental in building the highly skilled 200-strong workforce that is so essential to produce Hyde's high quality sails...Get in contact
Scottish Service Centre - GRM Marine Ltd.
Graham Campbell has a strong relationship with two other Scottish Hyde agents, Kevin Aitken and Peter Watt. Graham explains: "With the addition of a service centre which would offer sail repair and service facilities to Hyde's existing customers, all the Scottish agents would be pulling together in terms of the service they can provide. Also boat covers and rigging can be offered through this centre further promoting the Hyde brand. Hyde is a global brand and the tie-up allows us to offer competitive prices on sails from a well known and respected company."
Graham has been involved in sailmaking for over 25 years, including sail design, manufacture, covers and canopies and rigging. An active sailor who races regularly at club level and travelers' events mostly in one-design classes, Graham has had many sailing successes over the years in the Sonata, Flying Fifteen and local one-design classes, winning the overall trophy at the 1998 Scottish Series, and twice taking the Loch Long class championship. He has designed and built sails from Maxi yachts to Mirror dinghies and is fully versed on all the latest innovations within sailmaking. GNM Marine is based within Kip Marina on the River Clyde, and as Graham explains the facilities are ideal: "We have all the machines required on site for sail servicing, canvas work, bespoke covers and a fully equipped rigging department. We intentionally chose Kip as the base as it makes sense to be on site and within reach of potential customers and all the benefits that go along with being within Scotland's premier marina."
Graham says: "We feel very positive about the future of the partnership for various reasons, we are delighted to have the backing of a global company such as Hyde Sails as it demonstrates consistency of product for us. We know when we sell a sail to a customer they will get exactly what was ordered delivered by Hyde, this is extremely important in the one-design classes where accurate reproduction is required."..Get in contact
Graham Campbell has a strong relationship with two other Scottish Hyde agents, Kevin Aitken and Peter Watt. Graham explains: "With the addition of a service centre which would offer sail repair and service facilities to Hyde's existing customers, all the Scottish agents would be pulling together in terms of the service they can provide. Also boat covers and rigging can be offered through this centre further promoting the Hyde brand. Hyde is a global brand and the tie-up allows us to offer competitive prices on sails from a well known and respected company."
Graham has been involved in sailmaking for over 25 years, including sail design, manufacture, covers and canopies and rigging. An active sailor who races regularly at club level and travelers' events mostly in one-design classes, Graham has had many sailing successes over the years in the Sonata, Flying Fifteen and local one-design classes, winning the overall trophy at the 1998 Scottish Series, and twice taking the Loch Long class championship. He has designed and built sails from Maxi yachts to Mirror dinghies and is fully versed on all the latest innovations within sailmaking. GNM Marine is based within Kip Marina on the River Clyde, and as Graham explains the facilities are ideal: "We have all the machines required on site for sail servicing, canvas work, bespoke covers and a fully equipped rigging department. We intentionally chose Kip as the base as it makes sense to be on site and within reach of potential customers and all the benefits that go along with being within Scotland's premier marina."
Graham says: "We feel very positive about the future of the partnership for various reasons, we are delighted to have the backing of a global company such as Hyde Sails as it demonstrates consistency of product for us. We know when we sell a sail to a customer they will get exactly what was ordered delivered by Hyde, this is extremely important in the one-design classes where accurate reproduction is required."..Get in contact
The Sail Loft
The Sail Loft is based at Port Edgar marina, near Edinburgh. Started by Kate and Craig Thomson in 1997, the loft is managed on a day-to-day basis by Chic Medley. Originally a saddlemaker by trade, Chic Medley joined the business five years ago. "A lot of machinery is the same, and when I started sailing I became completely addicted to the sport, so sailmaking was a natural step." The team has grown over the years and developed a unique skills base, widening their range from doing mainly sail repairs, canvas work and rigging to a variety of commercial applications. The company’s banner work can be seen outside the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, while the Atrium Restaurant in Edinburgh features an unusually-shaped fabric ceiling, but the core of the business is still in the marine sector.
The tie-up with Hyde’s was a logical progression. Chic explains: "It's very tidal up here and most areas dry out, so there area lot of bilge-keelers. Hyde stood out as the company offers different ranges of sails, covering everything from hi-tech racing to sails for small leisure boats." Used to dealing with repairs for sails that he found to be poorly-finished, high quality was an important factor for Chic. "As a result I think we've picked up a number of orders from people who want to buy locally rather than over the phone."
The Sail Loft offers a boat measurement service, and all the reassurance of a local loft with repair support, and the added benefit of its association with Hyde's. The Sail Loft will also have access to all the specialist cloths used by Hyde's for any repair work, which previously wouldn't have been available. With a strong local fleet of Musto Skiffs, as well as other dinghies and keelboats already using the Hyde marque, this also means the loft can further improve its repair services. When not running the loft or sailing with clients, Chic races his Projection 762 'Hobb’s Express' from Port Edgar...Get in contact
The Sail Loft is based at Port Edgar marina, near Edinburgh. Started by Kate and Craig Thomson in 1997, the loft is managed on a day-to-day basis by Chic Medley. Originally a saddlemaker by trade, Chic Medley joined the business five years ago. "A lot of machinery is the same, and when I started sailing I became completely addicted to the sport, so sailmaking was a natural step." The team has grown over the years and developed a unique skills base, widening their range from doing mainly sail repairs, canvas work and rigging to a variety of commercial applications. The company’s banner work can be seen outside the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, while the Atrium Restaurant in Edinburgh features an unusually-shaped fabric ceiling, but the core of the business is still in the marine sector.
The tie-up with Hyde’s was a logical progression. Chic explains: "It's very tidal up here and most areas dry out, so there area lot of bilge-keelers. Hyde stood out as the company offers different ranges of sails, covering everything from hi-tech racing to sails for small leisure boats." Used to dealing with repairs for sails that he found to be poorly-finished, high quality was an important factor for Chic. "As a result I think we've picked up a number of orders from people who want to buy locally rather than over the phone."
The Sail Loft offers a boat measurement service, and all the reassurance of a local loft with repair support, and the added benefit of its association with Hyde's. The Sail Loft will also have access to all the specialist cloths used by Hyde's for any repair work, which previously wouldn't have been available. With a strong local fleet of Musto Skiffs, as well as other dinghies and keelboats already using the Hyde marque, this also means the loft can further improve its repair services. When not running the loft or sailing with clients, Chic races his Projection 762 'Hobb’s Express' from Port Edgar...Get in contact
Peter Watt
Peter Watt is a familiar sight on the West Coast of Scotland, with a string of successes racing his pretty, classic Scandinavian-designed 33-footer 'Vaila'. Peter has been working with Hyde Sails for five years now, and was drawn to the Hyde brand due to the quality of their sails
...Get in contact
Peter Watt is a familiar sight on the West Coast of Scotland, with a string of successes racing his pretty, classic Scandinavian-designed 33-footer 'Vaila'. Peter has been working with Hyde Sails for five years now, and was drawn to the Hyde brand due to the quality of their sails
...Get in contact
Steve Douthwaite
Hyde Sails has announced the appointment of a new agent, Steve Douthwaite Sails based on the River Tyne. Steve started his loft in Gateshead in 2006, moving to larger premises at North Shields on the banks of the River Tyne in February 2010. Close to the main marinas and boatyards on the River Tyne, the new loft has an increased floor are with plans for the addition of a new mezzanine floor and a new long arm sewing machine to work on the larger sails.
Offering sailmaking, repairs and cover and canopy services, the loft has a range of modern sewing machines and tube bending equipment to carry out most jobs. Steve explains: “Most of my work services the local cruising yachts as well as visitors to the River Tyne. However the local sportsboat fleets keep me busy after a windy weekend! In recent years the booming sport of kite surfing has seen me repair a growing number of kites.”
Steve started sailing in his teens sailing Mirrors, 420s, Miracles and Fireballs at Derwent Reservoir and learned his trade as a sailmaker over 16 years ago, with short break at University to do an engineering degree. He currently sails a Flying Fifteen 3936, in which he competes regularly nationally and abroad, as well as racing on various sportsboats and cruiser/racers on the North East coast.
Steve says: “I chose to team up with Hyde to enable me to offer a quality product that my customers in the North East are demanding. Many boat owners follow the latest sailcloth developments and design advances and want to take advantage of them.
“Hyde Sails is a quality brand, well respected by cruising and racing sailors alike. A partnership with Hyde Sails with their resources means northern boat owners can choose Hyde Sails with the confidence that not only will they get a great quality product, but they will also get a personal, local back-up service to match...Get in contact
Hyde Sails has announced the appointment of a new agent, Steve Douthwaite Sails based on the River Tyne. Steve started his loft in Gateshead in 2006, moving to larger premises at North Shields on the banks of the River Tyne in February 2010. Close to the main marinas and boatyards on the River Tyne, the new loft has an increased floor are with plans for the addition of a new mezzanine floor and a new long arm sewing machine to work on the larger sails.
Offering sailmaking, repairs and cover and canopy services, the loft has a range of modern sewing machines and tube bending equipment to carry out most jobs. Steve explains: “Most of my work services the local cruising yachts as well as visitors to the River Tyne. However the local sportsboat fleets keep me busy after a windy weekend! In recent years the booming sport of kite surfing has seen me repair a growing number of kites.”
Steve started sailing in his teens sailing Mirrors, 420s, Miracles and Fireballs at Derwent Reservoir and learned his trade as a sailmaker over 16 years ago, with short break at University to do an engineering degree. He currently sails a Flying Fifteen 3936, in which he competes regularly nationally and abroad, as well as racing on various sportsboats and cruiser/racers on the North East coast.
Steve says: “I chose to team up with Hyde to enable me to offer a quality product that my customers in the North East are demanding. Many boat owners follow the latest sailcloth developments and design advances and want to take advantage of them.
“Hyde Sails is a quality brand, well respected by cruising and racing sailors alike. A partnership with Hyde Sails with their resources means northern boat owners can choose Hyde Sails with the confidence that not only will they get a great quality product, but they will also get a personal, local back-up service to match...Get in contact
Hyde Sails Cowes
Situated at the former UK Halsey premises, the latest addition to Hyde's UK network is headed by Rob Larke, who has some 20 years of sailmaking experience, including two years managing the former Halsey loft.Rob spent nine years working for Hyde's prior to widening the breadth of his knowledge with a number of other world class sailmakers.
The Cowes loft is situated in a prime location ideal to serve the sailors of the Isle of White and the Solent. Rob Larke and his team have designed and constructed many regatta-winning sails. Most recently this has been seen in the Sigma 38 fleets (top five boats at the nationals) and in the J/80 (Warsash Spring and Hamble Winter Series winners). Loft manager Rob Larke commented: "Hyde Sails is a forward thinking business that is expanding world wide whilst not forgetting its roots and its customers. I am excited about this new step, which will be mutually beneficial. We plan to work closely together to develop new technology, Hyde's can also offer international support that will enable us to construct more sails therefore increasing our capacity to service and repair sails in house." Hyde's Sales and Marketing Director, Richard Franks, said: "The Cowes loft is a perfect addition to our UK distribution and service network, enabling us to continue to deliver a high quality, personal service to our customers at a local level. It will be particularly useful during Cowes Week when we will once again offer our popular repairs service, with the added benefit of the Cowes-based facility."...Get in contact
Situated at the former UK Halsey premises, the latest addition to Hyde's UK network is headed by Rob Larke, who has some 20 years of sailmaking experience, including two years managing the former Halsey loft.Rob spent nine years working for Hyde's prior to widening the breadth of his knowledge with a number of other world class sailmakers.
The Cowes loft is situated in a prime location ideal to serve the sailors of the Isle of White and the Solent. Rob Larke and his team have designed and constructed many regatta-winning sails. Most recently this has been seen in the Sigma 38 fleets (top five boats at the nationals) and in the J/80 (Warsash Spring and Hamble Winter Series winners). Loft manager Rob Larke commented: "Hyde Sails is a forward thinking business that is expanding world wide whilst not forgetting its roots and its customers. I am excited about this new step, which will be mutually beneficial. We plan to work closely together to develop new technology, Hyde's can also offer international support that will enable us to construct more sails therefore increasing our capacity to service and repair sails in house." Hyde's Sales and Marketing Director, Richard Franks, said: "The Cowes loft is a perfect addition to our UK distribution and service network, enabling us to continue to deliver a high quality, personal service to our customers at a local level. It will be particularly useful during Cowes Week when we will once again offer our popular repairs service, with the added benefit of the Cowes-based facility."...Get in contact
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