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A Knack for Sailing: Christen With on 60 years in the service of sailing
August 5, 2026 · 27 min · 731 views · Nesøya
What this video covers
Sailmaker Christen With reflects on a 60-year career in the marine industry, detailing his transition from competitive dinghy racing to high-performance yacht rigging and sail design.Watch After early experience building masts and components at Abbott Boats in Canada, he returned to Norway to work for his family’s business, With Marine.3:50 He highlights the importance of iterative testing, noting that identifying what fails is often more valuable than knowing what works.6:39 His technical development includes vacuum-molding masts to reduce weight, a process he refined after observing Swedish inventor Lasse Bergström.4:31
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, With participated in intensive racing programs, including the development of IOR-rated boats and the Ultimate 30 class.12:38 He emphasizes the role of consistent training and competitive environments, such as the active racing circuit involving King Harald’s "Fram" series, in advancing sail technology.16:37 Current projects focus on performance cruising gear, specifically developing furling jibs with optimized depth for light air and inner forestays for moderate conditions.21:25 He continues to advocate for hands-on experience at sea as the primary method for developing skilled sailmakers.26:05
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