Maritime Studies at Orkney College in Stromness is running a 5 day sail making course for self-reliant sailors and those who would like to make their own sails or carry out simple repairs for their club.
This is, to our knowledge, the only sailmaking course in Scotland and has a strong emphasis on traditional skills and vessels. However, modern contemporary sails can also be constructed using the skills learned and a number of our students have gone on to find employment in sailmaking.
In October 2023 we exported this course to Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut USA, visiting the museum to train staff in our syllabus and delivery methods.
COURSE DATES FOR 2026:
20th to 24th April
21st to 25th September
The course is led by Mark Shiner, Head of Maritime Studies. Mark won UK Maker of the Year and Scotland Maker of the Year at the 2025 Heritage Craft Awards, which celebrate a heritage craftsperson who has made an outstanding contribution to their craft within the previous year. It recognises a contribution that is far beyond the ordinary, either in pushing their craft to new levels, contributing to its promotion or continuation in an exceptional way.
The course is mostly practical and broadly covers:
- Sail theory, designing and planning your own sails.*
- Cloth Selection.
- Machining Skills on a variety of sailmaking sewing machines.
- Measuring and lofting –battens and pins, chalk and tape measure.
- Drawing a balanced sail plan and sail design.*
- Building a project sail as a group.
- Construction methods, materials and assembly.
- Aspects of sail repair.
- Traditional hand work for vintage sails.
- Setting and adjusting.
*These aspects are first introduced in two online learning modules, accessible from home.
These need to be covered before attending the practical week.
Our project sail is sometimes of a contemporary design but skills are transferable to more traditional designs. Students should leave with appropriate skills to create and build sails for small to medium sailing craft. We will also study traditional hand working techniques such as hand roping and cringle corners.
The course includes online learning materials to be studied before the course commences.
Please Bring with you:
- Your own Sail Maker’s palm. If brand new we will show you how to fit it and soften it up!
- Please also obtain and bring a copy of our main text book: The Sail Maker’s Apprentice by Emiliano Marino. Cost, around £15.50 on Amazon. With your own copy you can mark pages, make margin notes etc and then take it home.
- Costs: Complete Course £550. [includes online modules]
Online modules are available separately, please enquire.
Accommodation not included but information is available.
For more information please contact: Mark Shiner. (01856) 569401 mark.shiner@uhi.ac.uk
Zone Scotland