I recently had excellent work done by UK Sails in Whangarei on my yacht Soy Libre, and the experience exceeded my expectations from start to finish. They handled general all-around maintenance on my main, jib, and mizzen sails, including fitting new UV strips that have already proven durable in the harsh South Pacific sun.
What began as routine upkeep eventually led to a full replacement of my Genoa. The new sail is of outstanding quality—beautifully built and thoughtfully detailed. They included custom foot and luff trim lines with easy adjustment right at the tack, something I had never had before. It made fine-tuning the sail shape so simple and convenient that it’s genuinely a pleasure to work with.
In addition to the Genoa, they also produced a new stack-pack cover for the mainsail. Phil personally came out to the boat, took precise measurements, supervised the fitting, and then custom-trimmed both the Genoa and the stack pack so they seated perfectly on Soy Libre’s specific rig.
Every estimated cost they gave me was met exactly; there were no surprises or last-minute add-ons.
Working with custom sail and canvas gear on a cruising yacht requires clear communication, and Phil delivered. I explained exactly what I needed, and he met those expectations through his calm, professional communication, decades of hands-on experience, and the consistently high skill and workmanship of both himself and his crew.
I would highly recommend UK Sails Whangarei for any sail or canvas work. Phil Houghton and his wife Becky are simply a pleasure to deal with—knowledgeable, friendly, and easy-going. Even on days when I had no active project, I would stop by the loft just to say hello; they always make you feel welcome to hang out for a few minutes. That kind of open-door atmosphere, combined with top-tier results, makes them a standout loft in the region.
What began as routine upkeep eventually led to a full replacement of my Genoa. The new sail is of outstanding quality—beautifully built and thoughtfully detailed. They included custom foot and luff trim lines with easy adjustment right at the tack, something I had never had before. It made fine-tuning the sail shape so simple and convenient that it’s genuinely a pleasure to work with.
In addition to the Genoa, they also produced a new stack-pack cover for the mainsail. Phil personally came out to the boat, took precise measurements, supervised the fitting, and then custom-trimmed both the Genoa and the stack pack so they seated perfectly on Soy Libre’s specific rig.
Every estimated cost they gave me was met exactly; there were no surprises or last-minute add-ons.
Working with custom sail and canvas gear on a cruising yacht requires clear communication, and Phil delivered. I explained exactly what I needed, and he met those expectations through his calm, professional communication, decades of hands-on experience, and the consistently high skill and workmanship of both himself and his crew.
I would highly recommend UK Sails Whangarei for any sail or canvas work. Phil Houghton and his wife Becky are simply a pleasure to deal with—knowledgeable, friendly, and easy-going. Even on days when I had no active project, I would stop by the loft just to say hello; they always make you feel welcome to hang out for a few minutes. That kind of open-door atmosphere, combined with top-tier results, makes them a standout loft in the region.
Andy Kopac
July 2026
