History
Five Decades of Sailmaking Legacy
In 1978, Carol Hasse and Nora Petrich founded Port Townsend Sails as Hasse and Petrich in the Old Armory building in Point Hudson Marina.
Driven by the urge to learn the art and science of sailmaking, Hasse spent two years with Franz Schattauer, a Guild Master Sailmaker based in Seattle, before she and Nora opened shop in Point Hudson Marina. They worked diligently and developed suits of sails that are world renowned for their longevity, beauty, ruggedness, and stellar performance. For two decades, the Seven Seas Cruising Association’s membership surveys have acknowledged Port Townsend Sails for building the best offshore cruising sails available, anywhere.
Over the years, Port Townsend Sails has employed many of the talented craftspersons in the wider area and has continued their tradition of astute attention to detail and drive to power self-sufficient sailors globally. Petrich retired from the sail loft in 1995 and Hasse retired in 2021. Hasse continues to provide an advisory role for Port Townsend Sails with her many decades of valuable experience.
In early 1996, Hasse hired Sandy Goodall, globally recognized sailmaker and designer, as sail designer and consultant. Sandy still works with the existing crew today.
In 2021 the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op purchased Port Townsend Sails / Hasse and Co. from Hasse, and four of the five experienced crew transitioned to PTSC with the loft.
As part of Port Townsend Shipwrights, Port Townsend Sails joins a long-standing establishment within Boat Haven Marina. In 1981, a group of shipwrights in Port Townsend banded together to purchase a ship saw. They built a shop over it and created a viable space to work on all types of boats.
Over 30 years later, Port Townsend Shipwrights, Inc. has expanded to five buildings and is able to offer a living wage to over 55 employees and has been able to keep alive the historical trade of working on boats. As a full-service shop, the Shipwrights Co-Op provides exceptional customer service and project management to a wide array of clients and vessels.
The sail loft is honored to join Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op and their embassy of services.