Harwich, West Mersea and the Solent

Sails and covers made to measure since 1964.

Cruising and racing sails, sprayhoods, biminis, enclosures and awnings. Designed in CAD, laser cut and finished by hand at our own lofts on the Essex coast and the Solent.

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Wind from W 263° Move your pointer across the sky to shift the wind

  • 1964 founded in a Harwich garden shed
  • 3 lofts Harwich, Mersea, Solent
  • Oyster Yachts supplier since the mid-1990s

Tell us your boat. We may already have the pattern.

Through Tecsew, we hold a CAD pattern library built over more than 40 years, including original factory canvas for many of the major production builders. If your boat is on file, we can often quote without a first site visit.

Not on file? We measure on site and draw a new pattern for you.

What do you need?

Patterns likely on file

We supplied original canvas to Hanse builders and importers, so we are likely to hold patterns for your Hanse 460. Send us your details and we will confirm and quote within three working days.

What we make

Everything is designed and built in-house, from a single sprayhood window to the fabric structures on a superyacht.

From first call to final fit

Every order follows the same six stages, and we keep you updated at each one.

  1. 1

    Quote

    Tell us about your boat and what you need. We aim to send your quote within three working days.

  2. 2

    Order

    Confirm your order and pay a deposit, usually 50%. We then book your site visit.

  3. 3

    Measure and design

    We use a pattern from our library, or take digital measurements on board and draw a new design in CAD.

  4. 4

    Make

    Once you approve the design, every panel is laser cut and sewn at the loft.

  5. 5

    Fit

    We fit it on your boat on a date that suits you, and adjust anything that needs it.

  6. 6

    Aftercare

    You get care, fitting, repair and storage guides, and we stay on hand for the life of the product.

A yacht sailing with Dolphin sails

Sails and canvas for Oyster Yachts since the mid-1990s

Our relationship with Oyster, the world-renowned bespoke builder on our doorstep, began in the mid-1990s and continues today. We know these boats, their rigs and their canvas in detail.

Oyster owners can build a wishlist for their model and we will put together a complete sails and canvas package.

Build your Oyster wishlist

Sixty years on the same stretch of coast

Founded by Brian Vincent and Pat Webb, now run by Brian's son Matthew and his wife Kate.

  1. 1964

    Friends Brian Vincent and Pat Webb start making sails for racing dinghies in a garden shed.

  2. 1983

    We move into a former cinema on Main Road, Harwich, with room to make sails for boats up to 70 feet.

  3. 1990s

    Our long partnership with Oyster begins, supplying sails and canvas work.

  4. 2002

    We expand into covers, awnings for boats and homes, and travel bags.

  5. 2026

    Tecsew and Heritage Garden Canvas join the Dolphin family, adding a south coast loft.

Aerial view of the Dolphin Sails loft on Main Road, Harwich
The Harwich loft, 400 Main Road

Book your winter sail and cover service

Bring your sails and canvas to any of our three lofts when the boat comes out. We will wash, inspect and repair them, then store them dry until spring.

Book a service

  • Wash and inspect

    Cleaned, dried and checked panel by panel.

  • Repair and overhaul

    Stitching, chafe patches, zips, windows and luff tapes.

  • Off-season storage

    Kept dry at the loft, ready for collection or fitting.

  • Embroidery

    Boat names and logos on covers, cushions and bags.

Visit a loft

Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm. Call ahead and we will have someone free to talk through your boat.