We at XS Marines are pleased to inform you of the latest development in SEABIRD sailing. Over the last two years a lot of work, time and effort has been spent in developing a Sloop rig for the SEABIRD Class of sailing boat i.e. the XS63 Rig & Sail plan. All the existing Seabirds can now be retrofitted with this new Rig & Sail plan.

FULMAR II one of the first of the ‘Mark 3 Seabirds’ built in 1987/88 has been retrofitted by ‘XS Marines’ with the new XS63 Rig & Sail. Her owner Cyrus Heerjee was keen to have a modern sloop rig and his constant request to me was one of the key factors in our proceeding with this new innovation. FULMAR II sailed her maiden race with the new Rig & Sail in the “ Kersi Navroji Memorial Seasons Flag off Regatta” held on Sunday 13th Oct 2013. It was a fitting maiden sail as Kersi was the first owner of FULMAR II.

The XS63 Rig and Sail Plan has been designed by a Naval Architect commissioned by XS Marines on the recommendation of friends from North Sails. Based on the drawings, the sail plan of the existing Seabird and the locally available Lightning mast extrusion developed by XS Marines for the Lightning Class in India, the Naval Architect was requested to design the new Mast Rig and sail plan using these existing resources. Captain Homi Motivala, the North Sails representative, suggested we go for an ultra modern rig – Flat Top sails, Jenniker, furling Jib. Taking all this into account the XS63 Rig & Sail Plan was developed.

We are confident that this innovation will add a new dimension to Seabird sailing in the near future.