Meet the Team

Dominic Hanley

Director and floor manager

Dominic started sailing aged 6 and has never looked back. He is a talented sailor regularly competing in the Plymouth area and J24 circuit. After leaving school to become an apprentice carpenter / joiner, he moved onto sail-making with Westaway Sails in 2008 as a trainee Sailmaker. Dominic quickly established himself as an accurate and diligent worker with a remarkable learning rate, becoming loft floor manager leading the team of sailmakers in 2010. In 2011 he moved to Ullman Sails gaining valuable experience in all aspects of sail making.

In 2015 Dom and Sean joined forces, purchasing Dart Sails and Covers from Simon and Jane. He now splits his time between the office and the loft floor ensuring high quality goes into every new sail and carrying out alterations and recuts to reinvigorate clients existing sails.

Dominic won the Impala Nationals in 2022 in Impulsive and remains involved with the class. He now sails his Formula 28 ‘Stitch’ or a J24. In his spare time Dominic enjoys sailing, walking his dog, surfing, and riding anything with two wheels.

Sean Semmens

Director and Sail Designer

Sean has been sailing for over 35 years both competitively and recreationally. Sean is a multiple National and European champion in dinghies, small sports boat Keelboats and yachts. Sean joined Westaway Sails as a trainee in 1987 under the guidance of then MD Simon Unwin, leaving briefly for what was then Proctor Masts SW who was the leading SW based mast fabricators specialising in custom rigs for large multihulls and monohulls.  In 1993 Sean left spar making and returned to be re-united with Simon at Westaway Sails to become loft floor manager. Since 1993, Sean has developed his expertise in all aspects of sail-making from designing to the production and fitting of sails, tailored specifically to customers’ requirements.

Sean has an excellent reputation as a knowledgeable and honest Sailmaker and Sail designer. Within the past 10 years Sean has designed sails for many National and European Championship winning boats but also for Blue Water cruising boats and beautiful classic yachts where quality and durability is of absolute importance. Sean is extremely knowledge on all sail materials enabling him to recommend the most suitable products for each individual clients needs.

Sean is a RYA National Race officer organising major sailing events in the SW mainly from his hometown of Brixham. Sean spends most of his spare time supporting his son Thomas with his sailing campaign. Thomas competes at high level in Toppers where he’s considered one of the best in the country having won the Topper 4.2 National Championships in 2022.

Helen Pedrick

Sail Maker

Helen was part of the team that relaunched Dart Sails and Covers in 2006 with Simon and Jane. An excellent machinist with a keen eye for detail. She has over 20 years of sailmaking experience working on everything from dinghy sails to Brixham trawlers. Helen is also a talented sailor, having owned and raced many boats including an Impala! Helen enjoys being outdoors, either riding her bike, walking, surfing or camping in Cornwall.

Jamie Pring

Canvas and Cover Maker

Jamie is a talented cover maker with a keen eye for detail. Jamie has worked at Dart Sails & Covers since 2012 and is now an essential part of the team.  Previously running his own canvas manufacturers there is not much that Jamie has not come across before. Jamie has the ability to envisage what is and what is not practical with regard to all things covers. Jamie will then happily go on site and make a pattern of what is required and then turn it into a cover the owner will be proud to own.  If it can be covered Jamie can make it! Jamie enjoys playing guitar and Surfing in his spare time.

Laura Eydmann

Office Manager and Graphic Designer

Laura used to work with Sean many years ago, before going off to University to study Graphic Design. She recently joined Sean and Dom and the rest of Dart Sails and Covers, helping to re-design the new logo and branding for the business, and the website and spec sheets for sails and canvas. She is also the office and accounts manager, manning the phones and sorting the paperwork a few days a week. Laura has owned and raced an Impala, as well as sailing dinghies and cruiser-sailing abroad.

Mark Underwood

Canvas and Cover Maker

Mark aka “Tom”, joined the team in 2022 having run his own successful cover making business for many years. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge with him from over 30 years in the industry. A talented machinist with a real talent for intricate bespoke details. Mark is a very welcome addition to the team helping us keep up with the high demand for new covers since Covid.  Mark has a real love for the outdoors spending his spare time, hiking, wild camping, and surfing. He’s a talented musician too regularly playing guitar in his band “hang five”.