Our Story
Carl and Bettina Crafoord (formerly Harken and then Quantum Sails Australasia distributors) based in Sydney, Australia, created an online shop to cater for the budget conscious boater. Carl started his career as a sailmaker, under the guidance of Hugh Treharne and studied navigation with Stan Darling back in the late 70's and early 80's.
Carl then sailed professionally globally in maxi yachts and competed in international regattas in all sizes of yachts until he took on the distribution of Harken Yacht Equipment in 1993 basing himself back in Sydney, since then he has maintained his competitive yacht racing career and this year will be completing in his 33rd Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in his Cookson 12 named "Sail Exchange".
In July 2016, the website was launched, and to date thousands of sails have been consigned and sold worldwide. The vision of the business is to recycle sails and yachting equipment to help reduce landfill and our carbon footprint while assisting yacht owners with affordable used products. Ultimately we understand the necessity of what we are doing, we have a life long passion for the sport and the industry and we are well aware that our recycling of sails whether it is for decorative of non marine use is assisting in taking care of the planet.
Sail Exchange is now moving into Spars and other equipment whilst partnering and creating an international network of "recyclers" while sourcing new and used sails and boating equipment from Carl's large sailing network.
Read the BLOG POSTS created by industry experts.
"We love being able to offer affordable products in an expensive industry"- Carl and Bettina Crafoord
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Sail Exchange Racing Team
Carl and Bettina purchased a Cookson 12 (Sail Exchange) in 2017 and have been actively competing in offshore and harbour racing. Winning their first regatta, Brisbane to Gladstone 2018 in IRC Division One, and backing it up with their second offshore race Sydney to Gold Coast 2018 winning IRC div 3.
Recently, Sail Exchange Racing has come 1st place in Div 3 of ORCi, 2nd place in IRC Div 5 and 49th in line honours in the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Follow Sail Exchange Racing on Facebook for more photos and results!
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FOOTAGE of the Sydney to Gold Coast 2018 Start |
RESULTS for the B2G 2018 race |
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Carl receiving trophies at the MHYC annual prize giving for the 2018 season. Carl and the Sail Exchange racing team won the Nigel Holman memorial trophy- best placed MHYC boat in the 2018 Rolex Sydney to Hobart. He also won the best placed MHYC boat in cabbage tree island race 2018. |
Trophies from 2018 Rolex Sydney to Hobart. Sail Exchange racing places second in ORCi division 4 and third place in ORCi division 3.|
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Team Sail Exchange Racing passing Cape Raoul on their way to Hobart in the 2019 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. 
Tim and Carl at the prize giving for the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart. The crew placed: Sails For Kids Initiative
Sail Exchange has started the Sails For Kids Initiative, a donation drive to collect your un-used sails for the benefit of funding youth sailing programs around the country. To find out more information about this program click HERE.
