Team
Hyde has been making sails for over 40 years. Since the day the company was established, its commitment has been to deliver sails of high performance and impeccable quality with a service to match.
Whether you are racing or cruising, in dinghies or in yachts, Hyde Sails has the designers, the technology and the experience to tackle any sailmaking challenge
Whether you are racing or cruising, in dinghies or in yachts, Hyde Sails has the designers, the technology and the experience to tackle any sailmaking challenge
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Designed & Built by ProAction Creative Ltd.