Seasoned sailor and expert sailmaker Jeff Todd is leaving North Sails to work for the ultimate sailing institution: the U.S. Naval Academy.
His journey will be a short one, geographically: he only has to cross the Spa Creek Drawbridge from North Sails’ Easton loft to downtown Annapolis. But it’s been a longer journey to this point, in terms of Todd’s achievements. He has been manager of the North Sails service department for 23 years. He saw the loft through three location changes. He’s also a familiar presence in the local racing circuit.
Of Todd’s accomplishments, North Sails management writes:
“Jeff is an accomplished sailor and sailmaker who joined North Sails in 1995. His career with North has spanned J-Boat class titles, as well as providing local support and expertise to events such as the Volvo Ocean Race and transatlantic races during stopovers in Baltimore. Jeff somehow managed to repair the PlayStation Code Zero, despite the fact that the sail was larger than the loft floor.”
North Sails announced that Ridgley MacKenzie will take over for Todd as service manager for North Sails Annapolis. MacKenzie comes from a family of sailmakers with a half-century of history in the Annapolis area.
“Our loft and customers will miss Jeff, but we’re confident they are in good hands with Ridgley MacKenzie,” says Jonathan Bartlett, loft manager in Annapolis.
