For over three decades, Paul Beaudin has been a constant presence in one of the world’s most iconic sailing environments. Living and working in the heart of New York City, Beaudin proudly describes himself as “New York City’s sailmaker”, and notably, he remains the only dedicated sail specialist who actually lives within the city.
Beaudin has spent 36 years in the sailmaking industry, beginning his career with North Sails in 1990 before joining Doyle Sails in 1997, where he has built a reputation as a trusted sail expert serving sailors throughout the New York region.
His path into sailmaking began with family; when his father purchased one of the earliest J/24 boats, it sparked a lifelong passion for racing. Beaudin quickly became immersed in the sport, and his enthusiasm for sailing soon led to an opportunity.
“My dad buying one of the first J24s is a big reason I became a sailmaker,” Beaudin explains. “I became an avid racer, and I was actually recruited by North Sails at a J24 regatta.”
From the very beginning, Beaudin’s sailing journey has been closely tied to innovation and experimentation. In 1987, while sailing his Kiwi 35 Adrenalin Again, he created what he regards as one of the earliest asymmetric sportboats. Inspired by the asymmetric spinnakers used in dinghy racing at the time, he modified the boat with a retractable bowsprit and asymmetric spinnaker configuration, a concept that would later become standard across modern performance boats.
Alongside his work as a sailmaker, Beaudin has enjoyed significant success on the racecourse. One of the highlights of his competitive sailing career came in 2001 when he and Mark Ploch won the Sonar World Championship. Entering the class relatively new, the team relied on the performance and support of Doyle Sails One Design sails and expertise to compete against an exceptionally strong fleet.
“We were new to the boat and working with Jud Smith and the Doyle Sails One Design loft, where they provided us great sails and support that certainly propelled us to victory against a ‘who’s-who of sailing’ fleet,” Beaudin says.
Another meaningful highlight came sailing with family, when he helped break a 124-year-old record for the most wins of the Ladies Cup at the Lake Champlain Yacht Club. The historic trophy, first contested in 1888, is one of the oldest in American yachting.
Winning the race for the sixth time while crewing for his 88-year-old father alongside his two brothers and two nephews created a particularly special moment.
“Winning that race crewing for my 88-year-old Dad with my two brothers and two nephews, three generations of Beaudin’s on the smallest boat in the fleet. That was one of the most enjoyable things I have done sailing.”
Over nearly three decades with Doyle Sails, Beaudin has continued to focus on the aspect of sailmaking he enjoys most: innovation and problem solving. Whether reconfiguring a race boat, developing tuning guides, or refining onboard systems such as the well-known Doyle StackPack, he is constantly looking for ways to make sailing easier, faster and more enjoyable.
“My years with Doyle Sails have greatly improved my skills as a sail specialist,” Beaudin says. “The level of world-class talent within Doyle Sails speaks for itself. The innovation and development across Doyle Sails have been key to the growth of the brand and have created amazing breakthroughs in how we sail our boats.”
Beaudin was also part of the naming process of Stratis in the early 2000’s, which is now one of the company’s flagship technologies. Combined with developments such as Structured Luff Cableless sails and the renowned Doyle StackPack, the Doyle Sails product range gives him the tools to deliver highly tailored solutions to each customer.
“Doyle Sails provides me with all the solutions I need to help my customers get the most out of their sailing,” he explains. “It allows me to make every order a custom sail experience and put the needs of our clients as the top priority.”
Despite decades in the industry, Beaudin remains an active and enthusiastic sailor. He regularly races and day sails his J/105 Loulou out of the Harlem Yacht Club, continuing to enjoy the simple thrill that first drew him into the sport.
After 36 years in sailmaking and a lifetime on the water, one thing hasn’t changed. “I still get a big kick out of getting moved by wind.”
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ABOUT DOYLE SAILS // Doyle Sails strives to deliver success through high-performance, high-quality, custom sails that continue to redefine the boundaries of sailmaking technology and innovation; whilst connecting sailors to inspire, support and encourage sailing.
Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those with the same passion. Sailing is in our DNA, and we are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for four decades and counting.