P&B HISTORY

1974- Robbie Storrar and Alan Bax joined forces and created the Storrar & Bax brand, manufacturing championship winning sails, repairing boats and spars and supplying chandlery and clothing from their base in Newcastle.

1985- Ian Pinnell an already well known sailor, World, European and National Champion and a previous winner of the 'Helm Of The Year' award became partner to Alan Bax at the helm of the business.

1986- Moved the business to Talbot Road, Northampton to become a central hub for everything dinghy sailing. The then new midland base location provided perfect access across the UK with over 40 sailing clubs within a 30 mile radius.

1991- The name was changed to Pinnell & Bax - P&B to its friends - and it is this name which is now synonymous with UK sail making.

1994- First plotter was installed into the Talbot Road premisses to make the sail making process more efficient and help meet the increasing demand for P&B sails.

1997- P&B had developed into a thriving, full-service sailing business which required more space than Talbot Road could offer. This saw P&B move operations into a brand new purpose built premises in Kings Heath, Northampton, equipped with sail loft, mail order, chandlery and repair workshops. This year also saw the arrival of another P&B stalwart Dave Wade, who has since progressed through the sail loft to eventually become Sail Loft Manager.


1999- As the business thrived and the demand for P&B services increased from the UK and across the globe the Kings Heath premisses was extended further to accommodate larger shop space and a new workshop areas.

2011- After producing numerous sails for World, European and National Champions the in-house sail loft team took the step of introducing Smar Azure, a sail making software which helps us reach the optimum sail design for over 30 classes.

2012- Following another successful year both on and off the water P&B were awarded the MTA’s Retailer of the Year at the Marine Trades Association / Boating Business Awards.




2014- The first P&B built boats hit the water. After a successful introduction earlier in the year P&B brought boat buildng in-house with the P&B/JP Solo.

Today P&B is a global operation, supplying customers and mounting campaigns around the world; from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to the Far East and Australasia, and across the Atlantic to North America.

P&B staff are respected for their sailing successes, recognised for their technical knowledge and renowned for their service. When you buy from us we stay with you. That's our commitment too - after-sales care, technical advice, the attainment of boatspeed.