Jerry Latell came to the Deltaville area in the late 1990s and found a job with the local sailmaker. He worked there for several years, spent time in the local school system, and started a small sailmaking business on the side. In 2005, when the opportunity came to take over the loft in Deltaville, he did.
Justin Ailsworth joined not long after. Together, they’ve been growing the business ever since.
Today, Evolution Sailmakers by Latell & Ailsworth operates out of three locations — Deltaville, Hampton, and Oriental, NC — with a team of 13.
A LOFT WITH HISTORY
The original Deltaville sail loft has its own story. The building started as a bowling alley in the 1930s. Jack Dozier converted it into a sail loft in the 1970s, and that’s where Jerry eventually took over. Over time, the business expanded into the building next door — a former firehouse — with help from a Middlesex County EDA grant that supported the move. They have since grown into a newer, larger facility built to handle the scale of work they’re taking on today.
“The old building was getting kind of small for a lot of years,” Justin says. “This building is really helping with our efficiency — getting all the big sails through here.”
The current loft has the floor space needed for the large catamaran sails that now make up a significant part of their work.
THE WORK
Evolution Sailmakers builds cruising sails, carbon fiber racing sails, catamaran sails, and traditional work. They also run a full canvas shop for dodgers, biminis, and enclosures, and offer sail repair, rigging, and sail washing.
Their traditional sail work has taken them beyond the recreational boating world. The loft has built sails for the Jamestown ships — the replicas of the vessels that carried the first permanent English settlers to Virginia — and recently completed a new topsail for the Mayflower. Justin has also built sails for the USCGC Eagle and the Godspeed.
DELTAVILLE AS A MARINE HUB
“Deltaville and Middlesex County have really grown into a world cruising destination. There are boats from all over the world that stop through here — get work done, haul their boats out for hurricane season, or just stop through on their way north or south.”
That steady stream of visiting boats is the market that supports businesses like Evolution Sailmakers, and the reason Jerry sees real opportunity for others in the marine trades.
“There are a lot of niche skills that are needed around the boating industry. When you drive down the street you don’t see it at first glance — but you dig a little deeper and there’s a lot of opportunity in this community.”
Evolution Sailmakers by Latell & Ailsworth
Deltaville, VA: 16273 General Puller Hwy, Deltaville, VA 23043
Hampton, VA: 102 N. Hope St, Hampton, VA 23043
Oriental, NC: 1101 Broad Street Extension, Unit 5, Oriental, NC 28571
Phone: 804-776-6151
Email: Info@latellsails.com
Instagram: @evolution_sails_chesapeake
Facebook: Evolution Sailmakers by Latell & Ailsworth
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Rising Tide: The Stories That Build Our County is a video series from the Middlesex County EDA featuring the entrepreneurs and business owners shaping Middlesex’s economic future.