A few months ago we did some upholstery work for a Classic VW camper belonging to Jonny Edwards. The particular VW camper is being featured in an upcoming magazine article (www.volkswagencamper.co.uk) and our work is included. Always nice to be complemented! (The full article can be seen here)

Recently installed at the Hayward Gallery by Kite Related Design, is this interesting fabric structure. We were contacted a few months ago by Kite Related Design as they had seen our large sewing and work surfaces on our website (particularly this sailmaking video)

Kite Related Design required around 600 panels sewn together in a very specific order and remaining flat as the material used was easily marked and creased. After some test samples, the boxes of panels arrived and 14 days of relentless sewing later the work was complete. The panels were then ‘framed’ with battens and installed over a few days. Many thanks to Kite Related Design for using RB Sails and we look forward to working with them on future projects following the success of this one. Pictures shown are during manufacture and installation.

Wow! It has been a while since our last update, so apologies, but we have been so busy that the news page has been neglected! Here are a few highlights from the last few months.

Parasol covers for Breezefree Ltd
Our relationship with Breezefree Ltd has grown significantly this year. We have been manufacturing a large number of Parasol covers for them, many of which include branding.

Shade sails, sail structures and custom sail installations
This has been our busiest year yet and a large proportion of work has been of this nature. As well as those for private customers, we have also worked on various projects for Porthcurno Beach café, Pizza Patio and a number of restaurants and businesses around the country. The designs are usually site specific and fully bespoke. The images show an install that required fully removable stainless posts as a design specification.

Padded gym floor for Touchgloves
We recently expanded the padded floor area for Touchgloves gym in Penzance having previously worked on the flooring and will soon be increasing the area further as the gym expands. The foam specified was 25mm and was all glued. The PVC fabric overlay was all seam welded.

It’s that time of year when everyone is getting their boats back in the water and we are inundated with orders for new custom boat covers, sprayhoods, dodgers, cockpit covers and sail covers. Here is a recent example from a yacht in Gweek, Cornwall.

We were recently challenged to make some shade sails with a difference by the Playzone in Carbis Bay, Cornwall. They were required to act as safety screens on the edge of the demon drop slide as well as look aesthetically pleasing. The results are a complete success, with yellow and red acrylic canvas really looking great and clear panels to ensure the staff can still watch the slide being used safely.

We have recently delivered our annual order of windsurfing rigs to South West Lakes Trust which includes Stithians Lake, Roadford Lake, Siblyback Lake and Tamar Lake. The rigs come supplied with 30% Carbon Skinny masts (for sizes 2.5mtr and above) as they offer excellent performance and light weight, and a high performance boom. The sails are all made in house using the same X-ply monofilms and materials used in our wave sails so they can take the inevitable beating that learners hand out.

We take pride that our learner sails are built like ‘proper’ sails, rather than the Dacron handkerchiefs that you often see. Our sailing school customers are happy because the sails last for a long time without needing constant repair!

This fold away and removable Volkswagen seat came to us looking a right mess and left the work shop looking rather flash. The detailed orange stitching and contrasting light and dark grey fabric looked the business!!

As we continue to expand and improve we have invested in a new PVC fabric welding machine. This automated fabric welder allows us to form waterproof seams in PVC, giving a very neat finish in the process. It means large sheets can be made of virtually any size for roofing, PVC high tension fabric, lorry side sheets, banners and covers.

Wow! It has now been 3 years since we started RB Sails. We have gone from strength to strength and would like to give a huge thanks to all those who have helped and supported us. These include customers such as; Breezefree Ltd (and all the great staff there!), Cornwall fire and rescue service, South West Lakes Trust, Hove Lagoon Watersports and all the private customers that come back and also recommend us. Also, thanks to all our suppliers such as Kayospruce, Bainbridge, Dimension Polyant, O’Shea. No offence to anyone we have not mentioned but there are too many.

Plans for our 4th year are already underway. Our business has benefitted from working with Martin France, who with his expertise in computing, web development, and business is proving to be a huge asset and we thank him for his input so far. Our website is also being constantly developed. We have also invested in new equipment and there is more to come in the next few months including new sewing machines. Also planned for this winter is expansion of our factory with a second floor to help us keep up with demand, and allow us to employ more personnel.

Thanks again to everyone.

Ian and Jackie

One of the nicest jobs of the week was this tensioned Shade Sail for the Hopscotch Nursery in Hayle, Cornwall, just up the road from us! The shade sail was part of a project carried out by Darren Searle Landscaping, completely re-inventing the gardens of the Nursery. The fabric chosen was a Beige Acrylic Canvas, and it was installed using high quality stainless steel eyeplates, shackles and tensioning screws.
Click on the photos below to get close ups of another high quality shade sail from RB Sails.