Crew

The crew at Port Townsend Sails has more than 80 years combined experience in the marine trades, 50 of which were full time sail making. Crew members have cruised their own vessels, lived aboard, sailed locally and afar, and currently have two pilots, two riggers, a canvas worker, a shipwright, and an arborist amongst their crew.

The crew prides themselves in providing sailors with outstanding cruising sails that are designed and built for longevity, durability, and performance.

Megan Hudson came to Port Townsend Sails in one of those magical, right place at the right time, meant-to-be moments. A friend of hers, who worked in the boat shop below the sail loft in Point Hudson, had just helped her move back to town the day Carol Hasse asked him if he knew someone who might like to learn to make sails. Megan interviewed and was working within a few days, May 1st 2001, her Nana Hudson’s birthday. Though she started specifically in the handwork department it didn’t take long for her to find her niche designing and building light air sails. This included a mostly self taught, crash course in applying custom artwork into sails, a process known as inlay. Over the years Megan has dabbled in almost every aspect of sailmaking both Dacron and Nylon. She continues to expand her knowledge and apply the skills and methods she learned from Hasse and all the talented sailmakers she had the pleasure to work with over the years.

Erica Georgaklis grew up sailing and racing in New England before moving to the Pacific Northwest. Once there she quickly found a 1938 Ed. Monk sloop, moved aboard and began exploring the Salish Sea. Smitten with boat life and all things cruising, she left work in arboriculture and started working at Hasse and Co. Port Townsend Sails in 2017. Erica now manages Port Townsend Sails under the Shipwright Coop and with the stellar crew at “the loft” works diligently to build the longest lasting, most durable bluewater cruising sails available. Erica and the crew take serious sailors’ reliance on their craftsmanship and their need for self-
sufficiency.. It is an honor to continue Carol Hasse’s tradition in empowering sailors. While not at the sail loft Erica enjoys spending time with her partner and young son, and sailing her Ed. Monk, “Blossom”, working on their homestead, and further adventuring by land and sea.

Alison Wood grew up sailing the Intercoastal waterways of the Southeast. She was part of an all female crew to deliver an Irwin 43 from Key West to Annapolis for the famous Tanya Abei. She completed an apprenticeship with Brion Toss Yacht Riggers before joining the crew of Port Townsend Sails in 2008. She feels so fortunate to be able to continue Carol Hasse’s legacy of sailmaking under the PT Shipwrights. In the machine room, her favorite part of sailmaking is re-fairing a mainsail and fitting its patches and runners. In handwork she loves completing the tack of a main. It includes seizing, rat tail, leather and a cleat. She loves teaching the craft to any and all but especially to contribute to the self-sufficiency of fellow cruisers. When not at work, Alison enjoys cruising with her husband on their Downeast 32, working in her garden, biking and dancing.

Lacey Capel began working at Hasse and Co. Port Townsend Sails in 2014. Though she did not have a background in sailing, she was pursuing her private pilots license at the time and saw quickly how her understanding of aerodynamics and wing design could further her education in sailmaking. She joined the design department in 2016, and has since enjoyed being a part of and seeing the sails go from hand drawings, to 3D designs, to beautifully crafted sails on the floor. Lacey has since become the proud steward of a 1987 Laurent Giles Vertue, “Patience”, and is thrilled to be learning the art of sailing on her own vessel. When not at the sail loft, Lacey enjoys spending time with her daughter surfing the chilly waters of the PNW, traveling, sailing, and making plans for more adventures down the road.