Jim Allsopp won the Star World Championship and the Star Europeans in 1976. He also sailed on three America’s Cup Campaigns, the Whitbread ‘Round the World Race, and had extensive experience on Maxis and European superyachts.

Soon after winning the Star World Championships, Jim became one of the last “Tigers” hired by Lowell North . Over the next 35 years, Allsopp made significant contributions to sailboat racing, sail development, and international relations as he rose from sailmaker to Director of Marketing for North Sails.

During those 35 years at North, Jim sailed a wide range of boats. He was passionate, not just about winning races in sailboats, but about sailing with people and encouraging them in their sailing endeavors. His knowledge of sailing, coupled with his friendly, outgoing nature, made Jim not only an excellent salesperson for North Sails, but a valuable crew member, advisor and coach as well.

After winning the Star Worlds, Jim was asked to trim main on Lowell North’s America’s Cup boat, Enterprise. He then went to work for North and he did extensive America’s Cup sailing over the next several years, including as sail coordinator and mainsail trimmer on Clipper and later as navigator on Eagle.

From the America’s Cup, he went on to other big boat programs, where he quickly established himself as someone who could get on any boat and make it go fast. His ability to listen and to use humor to unite crews endeared him to boat owners, and over the years he has become highly sought after to be a member of the afterguard on everything from George Collins’ Whitbread entry, Chessie Racing, to King Juan Carlos of Spain’s yacht Bribon, on which he won the Copa del Rey Regatta. While sailing with the King of Spain, Jim worked closely with many Spanish programs, opening doors of communication and even assisting with the opening of the North loft in Spain.

Well into his retirement, Jim was in demand as a tactician and strategist, especially in the superyacht scene, where he was a tactician aboard the 180’ Elena, 98’ Wavelength, and the 130’ J Class yacht Shamrock.

Sailing-Related Accomplishments

• 1980-2015 key member of many different programs (not listed chronologically):
  • 1st Les Voiles de St. Tropez, tactician, Elena, 180’ Herreshoff schooner
  • 2012 1st Opera House Cup
  • Won Copa del Rey on King Juan Carlos of Spain’s Bribon
  • Titan 15 (72’ Mini Maxi)
  • Set the Marblehead to Halifax record
  • Fort Lauderdale to Jamaica record (still stands)
  • Block Island Race
  • Antigua Race Week
  • BVI Spring Regatta
  • Running Tide IOR Race boat – SORC, among others
  • Spanish Navy 70’ IOR Maxi
  • Siemens
  • Alejandra (Superyacht)
• 1994 Promoted to Worldwide Marketing Director of North Sails
• 1987-1988 Whitbread Round the World Race aboard Chessie Racing, sailed the longest leg
• Navigator, 12-metre America’s Cup effort, Eagle
• Driving force behind Nantucket Race Week
• 1980 Sail Design Coordinator and Trimmer on 12-metre Clipper for America’s Cup Trials
• 1979 Infamous Fastnet Regatta
• 1977 Joined Lowell North’s America’s Cup team as trimmer on 12-metre Enterprise
• 1977 Last “Tiger” hired by Lowell North himself
• 1976 1st Star World Championship
• 1976 1st Star European and North African Championship