Sails for 60 foot made by Doyle Raudaschl

Interview with Florian Raudaschl and Nándor Fa

Interview in written version:

Nandor Fa:
Florian, your father was a successful finn sailor, and after that became a sucessful sailmaker. You became a successful finn sailor, and now a successful sailmaker, right after your father. How do you see this faily career?

Florian Raudaschl:
It came quite naturaly i think. I started wind surfing at the age of 10 and developed to a sailor and in the summer holidays during school already, I worked here in the loft. I made windsurfing sails and sailing sails, it came really naturally, I never really thought about it.

Nandor:
So you never wanted to be a doctor, or an enginner or something else…

Florian:
No, no…if you grow up on a lake and you’re dedicated to sports, it’s so obvious…

Nandor:
So you are happy with the direction of your family.

Florian:
Yes, I’m still happy. For sure.

Nandor:
So you are out of the Finn right now, concentrating on the loft.

Florian:
Yeah, it was my big goal to make the olympic qualifications one time. This was always a big goal. So when I reached it, I thought it’s enough. Especially because of work. None of my rivals would have a day off, they were professional sailors, training every day, sailing every day. I was concentrating on business and sailing so this was tough. And I thought: I made it, now I’ll concentrate on other things, mainly on the loft.

Nandor:
So if I understand well, you don’t want to try the next one.

Florian:
It would be good because of my lake conditions but no, it’s such a hustle and so much work. There are some other interesting projects and interesting work, like your one.

Nandor:
You are working on my sails now, for an IMOCA 60 footer, which is a huge sail size. What other large sizes do you make here?

Florian:
The biggest we did was for …? 84 . But we always design with a designing software. It got so good that we nearly don’t really have to lay out the sail. You put them together, you do all the finishing work, and you never get folden up. You can be really happy with your software, you see the design in your computer, and then go for it. And we have, of course, the Doyle group which helps us design. So you know, this is not trying something like we do this or this… We know that this is the main sail, this is the shape, and it’s proved successful, so that’s it. This is a big help, of course.

Nandor:
Yeah. When your father started, he was on his own. And right now you have a big bear behind you, the Doyle from New Zealand who makes everything, this is a huge help.

Florian:
That’s right. That’s the biggest. It’s like we have the IMOCA design, we got them – you got them, and it’s without testing sails. I remember when you were with my father and all the plans, I’ve seen them. Testing, testing, testing…this sail was good, the other one may be not so good. From here, you start with the best.

Nandor:
Twenty years ago it was a blind jump, right now we are doing the sure. Absolutely these materials, the stratis material, the technology, everything is well-tried, was running and were doing several races so I’m really happy to have this. And it’s a big improvement for you, I think, to join this family.

Florian:
Yes, of course. I learned a lot, did some learning in New Zelaland, in Australia, in the States. This was a really big help for me and now also with these projects, I learn a lot and it is so fascintaing. This is why you do it actually.

Nandor:
So as I understand well, step by step, you are much more of a sailmaker than a sailor. In spite of that, you have to try yourselves. That sail you are building for other people – also for me – to start the business.

Florian:
Yes, this is a big motivation. You get the order, you design it, you try it and you make it. If everything is perfect, the customer is happy and you get the results, it’s the best.

Nandor:
When I was looking for you, the secretary said: Florian is sailing at the Caribics, Florian is sailing the Adriatics, Florian is sailing somewhere on the lakes…. Florian is always sailing. When are you working?

Florian:
My thing is just like yours. When you get customers and they decide to get your sails, it’s also in the whole thing together, that you deliver the sails and test the sails. This is also a big part of it, which is the nice part.

Nandor:
The owners expect you to come. So it’s a service. It’s the same for me….Thank you…

Written version by: Lili Fa