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Brian Hayes
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We would like you to meet our Lightning
guru, Brian Hayes. Brian has been working for North for over 15
years. He works for the One Design division in Milford, CT. Lightnings
are his specialty but he also sail other classes including the
Sonar and Flying Scot. We are very proud to have such a great
member on our team, not only he does an excellent job for North,
but he also is a great guy that everybody likes to hang out with.
So, next time you see Brian around, feel free to say hi!
Nobody better then Brian to tell us his
own story...
 "I
started sailing when I was very little. My family belonged to
the Housatonic Boat Club in Startford, CT , which was a big Lightning
Club in the 50's and 60's, and our whole family sailed Lightnings.
The unusual thing was the original Connecticut North Sails loft
was right on the river less than 1/2 mile from our club. We knew
the seabreeze was filling when the flag on the North loft started
to fly. I started sailing in CapeCod Mercury and then sailed Blue
Jays and Fireballs a little bit as these were the Junior boats
at the time.
I started at North in 1987 working on the production
floor and doing handwork part time while I was taking some classes
at a local college. Basically I ran out of time for college as
we were always busy at the loft and part-time turned into fulltime
which turned into overtime which became ALL the time!!! I went
to work with the One Design Division when it was formed in 1993
with Vince, Chris, Ched and Greg as the original group of 5 that
started it.
I've had a lot of fun and had great chances
to learn from a lot of talented people since I started at North.
Certainly the people that I've worked with here at North would
have to be the main reason I still enjoy sailmaking so much. Certainly
what I do at North has changed over the years as well and that
availability within the company to find a niche where your skills
are most appreciated and utilized is also a big bonus. Lastly,
but certainly not least , would be the chances I have had to meet
and interact with so many people from all over the world. Working
for North has given me the chance to meet people I never would
have met and build friendships and relationships that I can say
will last a lifetime.
 On
the sailing side, I've had a ton of great memories. Sailing 1
tonners in the late '80's was a lot of fun as was the J35 racing
we did in the early '90's. Obviously every regatta win is special
as well. I'd have to say that my two most rewarding victories
were in the Lightning Class. One as a crew and one as a skipper.
Winning the 1993 Lightning North Americans as crew for Ched Proctor
was for sure a great win. My dad started sailing Lightnings in
the '40's and was 3rd as a crew in 1963. The other was as a skipper
winning the St. Petersburg Winter Championship in 1999. This event
is one of the big Lightning events every year and draws 70+ boats
and the top competition in the Class. It was really a satisfying
feeling to win an event like that against many of the best sailors
in the class.
I live in Milford-CT with my wife Kelley and
our two children, Olivia (4) and Brian Jr. (2). While sailing
is the main part of my working life my family is the most important
part of my whole life. My wife doesn't sail and both Olivia and
Brian have yet to get the "itch". My spare time is filled
with family time and, as often as I can, golf. While I really
love sailing I am determined to conquer the sport of golf.
On a personal level priority number 1 for me
is spending as much time as I can with my family and watch my
kids grow up and watch them develop as people. On a more selfish
level I'd like to have a successful campaign in the Lightning
Class this year and do well in the qualifying events for the PanAm
Games and World Championships in 2003. On a work level I'd like
to keep on helping the One Design Classes I'm involved in to grow
to their fullest potential and do the best job I can to get people
sailing and participating in One Design sailing. On a "never
gonna happen" level I'd like to pick the winning numbers
in a $100 million lottery and sail and golf the rest of my life
away!!!"
Brian, if you were a customer, what
are the reasons you would by a North sail?
"I believe North makes the best sails in the World. I know
it sounds like company rhetoric but I truly believe it as well
because I see it every day. I see the designers and the cloth
people and the production teams constantly striving to make the
product better. I also think that North Sails has the most talented
people in the industry as a group. This isn't to say that North
has cornered the market on all the most talented sailmakers, I
just think that I get to work with MOST of them every day."
To contact Brian, click
here.
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