Andy Longerela�s loft in Malaga, Spain, is very close to the Strait of Gibraltar, which makes it strategically located to give service and assistance to the boats arriving or leaving the Mediterranean. It is also key in UK-Halsey�s America�s Cup work now that the Cup will be battled for in Spain.
The loft has 600 sq/m of clear-span floor and all the modern tools for sailmaking. Production is divided in three departments: Cruising sails, Racing sails and One Design.
Currently they are doing the sails for the TP-52 BALEARIA that is skippered by Antonio Gorostegui, one of the most important helmsman in Spain. His resume includes an Olympic silver-medal. The European Transpac 52 fleet has truly taken off this year with 17 boats competing in the Copa del Rey.
In the 2005 seasson, the Dehler 36 CARD & OIL had a great success with UK-Halsey sails in the in IMS-670 class on the Mediterranean circuit, thanks to a closer relation between the loft and the crew to achieve a better rating with the better sails.
In the cruising market, UK Spain dressed up the Swan 77 SAYONARA with a complete set of UK sails with taffeta on both sides of the laminate. Even in the light-air sea trial the boat was noticebly quick. In December, look for the loft�s sails on two top-end cruisers doing the Cadiz to Santo Domingo race. In that trans-Atlantic race, the loft will have sails on an Oyster 65 and a Shipman 55.
In the One Design department, the loft is still working to keep its winning Opti sails at the front of the class. UK-powered kids have won many first places around Europe. In the last Olympics for disabled sailors, UK-Halsey Spain made the sails for the two 2.4�s used by the Spanish team, which took gold and bronze.
Over the last three months, loft has been working with the UK-Halsey team doing sails for the China America�s Cup team. The loft has recut some of the sails and will become more involved in designs and construction in the next few months.
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