802-655-SAIL

About Us

Our History

We opened our doors in 1981 doing business as Shore Sails on Main Street in Winooski, VT. Founding partners Don and Ann Brush sought to establish a world class sail loft in the Lake Champlain basin. Our association with the Shore sails group was very beneficial in that it gave us the ability to design and build top quality racing and cruising sails for our customers.

In the fall of 1985, the old sail loft burned to the ground, and for the next 17 years we were located near the Burlington waterfront at the corner of Pine St and Marble Ave. In May of 2003 we moved to our current location on West Canal St. in Winooski. It is a 4000 sq.ft. purposefully built sailmaking facility.

Over this time we forged a very close relationship with many other sailmakers in the Shore Sails group, but in particular, with Win Fowler at Shore Sails in Maine. After purchasing a sail plotter/cutter in 1993, Win was able to provide us with the valuable service of cutting our sail panels. In 1996 Win left the Shore Sails group and began operating as an "independent" sail loft; Maine Sailing Partners.

Since that time, our relationship with Win has grown stronger.  We share designs and production efficiencies, and consult on big projects.  in 2004 we began doing business as Vermont Sailing Partners. 

Our Personel

Bill Fastiggi - Owner/Manager - Bill is an expert sailmaker and rigger. A graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy, Bill has worked as a sailmaker since 1986. Bill is also a world class sailor having won many accolades over the years including a Gold medal at the Pan Am Games in 1999, and runner up at the 2000 and 2005 Lightning NAs. Bill is also a top level tactician, sail trimmer and sailing coach.

 

 

 

Caroline Patten - Caroline is a recent graduate from Hobart and William Smith Colleges where she was a four year varsity letterman on the sailing team and was named to the honorable mention All-American sailing team.  She is our service manager and an expert dinghy sailor.  When not sailing and sailmaking, Caroline enjoys surfing and snowboarding.  She was born in New Jersey but we don't hold that against her!

 

 

 

Rob Henkel - Rob comes to us via Maine where he worked for another sailmaker for 6 years.  He's a talented sailmaker and all-around great guy.  He's a great addition to the VSP sailmaking team!

 

 

 

 

Chelsea Rapin - Chelsea has been working here at Vermont Sailing Partners for over a year on a part time basis.  Chelsea graduates from UVM this spring but continues right into her Physical Therapy Masters program.  When not helping out at the loft, Chelsea was the captain and top scorer on the varsity UVM Women's Hockey team.  She's been racing Lightnings with us a few times and likes doing anything competitive.

 

 

 

 

Connor Aswad - Conner has worked with us since he was in high school when he would cut bags, sail numbers and batten pocket parts.  He's been at VSP on and off since then and has become a very skilled sailmaker. He is back at UVM as a full time student, and comes in part time and during school vacations.  He took a school sabatical last year to work at VSP full time.  When he isn't racing his Lightning, crewing on J-24's or racing with the UVM sailing team, he is busy taking a lot of great photographs and breaking bones snowboarding! 

 

 

 

Al Capone - Our trusty Mascot handles customer relations and serves as our greeter.  He also keeps our Van organized.

Vermont Sailing Partners