Winooski / Vermont / United States
We opened our doors in 1981 doing business as Shore Sails on Main Street in Winooski, VT. Founding partners Don and Ann Brush sought to establish a world class sail loft in the Lake Champlain basin. Our association with the Shore sails group was very beneficial in that it gave us the ability to design and build top quality racing and cruising sails for our customers. In the fall of 1985, the old sail loft burned to the ground, and for the next 17 years we were located near the Burlington waterfront at the corner of Pine St and Marble Ave. In May of 2003 we moved to our current location on West Canal St. in Winooski. It is a 4600 sq.ft. purposefully built sailmaking facility. Over this time we forged a very close relationship with many other sailmakers in the Shore Sails group, but in particular, with Win Fowler at Shore Sails in Maine. After purchasing a sail plotter/cutter in 1993, Win was able to provide us with the valuable service of cutting our sail panels. In 1996 Win left the Shore Sails group and began operating as an "independent" sail loft ; Maine Sailing Partners. In recent years, our relationship with Win has grown stronger. We share designs and production efficiencies, and consult on big projects. in 2004 we began doing business as Vermont Sailing Partners. Bill Fastiggi - Bill is an expert sailmaker and rigger. A graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy, Bill has worked as a sailmaker since 1986. Bill is also a world class sailor having won many accolades over the years including a Gold medal at the Pan Am Games in 1999, and runner up at the 2000 Lightning NAs. Bill is also a top level tactician and sail trimmer and sailing coach. Ann Brush - Ann is one of the founders of our loft and has 25 years of sailmaking experience. Ann is a lifelong sailor who has raced extensively in Lightnings, J-24s, J-29s and J-35s. Scott Thibault - Scott is our production manager, a veteran sailmaker here at VSP as well as Sears Cup winner. Scott races on Lightnings, J-24s and all different types of PHRF boats. Christine Neville - Christine builds and repairs sails and is a top notch sailor and skier. She grew up sailing on Lake Chautauqua in western NY. She races Lasers, Lightnings, J-24s and anything she can get her hands on.
