Doyle Sails Northland

Pelle Petersson

Pelle began his carrier in the 80s at a large Doyle Sails loft in Sweden learning the trade on sails from one design to Americas Cup. He was then racing in the country’s popular one design class 606. A couple of national championship wins were squeezed in whilst working on several Whitbred/Volvo Ocean sail projects.

In 1989 he came to NZ to work with Jim Lidgard and here met his Kiwi wife. They returned to Sweden to participate in a Swedish Americas Cup Challenge and then started a North SailsLoft in the city of Kalmar.

In 2003 the family was drawn back to the warmth of NZ. The beautiful coastline of Northland was chosen as their new home and the opportunity in Whangarei for a skilled sailmaker was apparent with the many overseas cruising boats needing service. Pelle now races and cruises his First 40.7 called Vilda Hilda, around Northland and has chosen to be a part of the Doyle group again.