NARRABEEN & NEWPORT · SYDNEY'S NORTHERN BEACHES
Skiff Sail Branding & Graphics — 13ft, 16ft & 18ft
Sydney skiff sailing has a visual culture all of its own. The graphics on a 13ft, 16ft or 18ft skiff do more than identify the boat — they tell a story about the crew, the sponsors, and the standard they hold themselves to.
At MTM Signage we produce skiff sail branding and hull graphics from our Newport workshop. We supply crews racing at Manly and on Sydney Harbour, as well as Belmont Skiff Club and St George Sailing Club. We know these boats, we know the local fleet guidelines, and we know what great branding looks like at speed on the water.
BRANDING STYLES
Skiff branding styles
We offer four branding styles — choose vinyl only for a clean, cost-effective result, or add a paint base for maximum contrast and a premium finish.
Centre Band
The classic skiff branding layout — a bold horizontal band running across the sail from luff to leech, carrying the sail number and sponsor branding. The most readable format from the water and from a camera. Seen across Sydney Harbour and Manly fleets every weekend of the season.
Vinyl only
Diagonal Strike
Runs corner to corner across the sail, creating a dynamic, energetic visual that stands out in a fleet. Popular with crews who want a more contemporary look and with sponsors who want branding that reads as bold and active. Works particularly well in the Manly fleet where tight racing puts boats close together.
Vinyl only
Centre Band with Paint Base
A custom colour coat applied to the sail surface before the vinyl graphics go on. Dramatically increases contrast and gives a more premium, high-visibility finish. The preferred approach for crews racing on Sydney Harbour with clear sails where sponsor presentation and visual impact are priorities.
Paint base + vinyl
Diagonal Strike with Paint Base
The Diagonal Strike layout with a painted base coat for higher contrast and a premium finish. The most impactful option available. Requires more lead time — plan ahead for regatta deadlines at Belmont, St George, or Manly.
Paint base + vinyl
THE SKIFF WORLD
1. Skiff sailing: the classes and the culture
The skiff classes we work with
The 13ft, 16ft and 18ft skiff classes are among the most demanding and spectacular forms of dinghy racing in Australia. Each class has its own character, its own fleet culture, and its own rules around how boats must be presented and identified on the water.
The 13ft skiff is the traditional entry point into skiff racing — a junior class with a strong development fleet around Sydney. The 16ft skiff sits in the middle ground: fast, physical, and deeply embedded in Sydney sailing culture. The 18ft skiff is in a class of its own — one of the fastest open development grand-prix boats in the world under 10 metres, racing on Sydney Harbour and Manly in front of spectators who genuinely can't believe what they're watching. These boats represent some of the best sailing spectator sport in the world, and their branding is a core part of that identity.
Australian 18 Footers League — class rules, regatta calendar, and fleet information
Why branding matters in skiff racing
In skiff racing, branding is part of the culture in a way it isn't in most other sailing classes. Sponsors are a real part of how boats are funded and run, and how a boat looks on the water reflects on everyone associated with it — the crew, the owners, and the sponsors themselves. A well-branded skiff is taken seriously. A poorly presented one isn't, regardless of what happens on the racecourse.
Beyond sponsorship, your sail branding is functional — it acts as your on-water identity, allowing the race committee, officials, and other competitors to identify your boat quickly and accurately. Getting the contrast or sizing wrong, or using graphics that don't hold up to racing conditions, makes it hard for the starter boat to spot you at the pin end.
The clubs and venues we work with
MTM Signage is based in Narrabeen and produces all our work from our Newport workshop. The bulk of Sydney skiff racing takes place at Manly and on Sydney Harbour — the home waters we know best — but we also supply crews at Belmont Skiff Club and St George Sailing Club. Wherever you race, we can get your branding right.
We're not a sign company that happens to take sail orders. We're embedded in the skiff sailing community and understand what crews and sponsors actually need. When you come to us with a skiff branding job, you're talking to people who know the difference between a Centre Band and a Diagonal Strike and why it matters at the pointy end of a fleet.
SPONSOR BRANDING
2. Sponsor Branding and Club Guidelines
How skiff identity works on the water
In the world of 13ft, 16ft, and 18ft skiffs, your identity isn't a sail number—it’s your sponsor’s brand. Because Australian skiff fleets rely on high-impact corporate logos and registered sail ensigns for race management, local club guidelines and class associations govern how this branding is presented.
While there is room for creative design, there are practical requirements covering dimensions, placement, and high contrast on mainsails, jibs, and spinnakers. Whether you are racing at Manly, Double Bay, Belmont, or St George, the goal is ensuring your sponsors get maximum exposure and the race officials can clearly identify you at 25 knots. We work within these fleet guidelines so your boat looks sharp and professional the moment it hits the water.
Our full sailing and marine signage service →
Sponsor decals and hull graphics
Sponsor decals on the hull, boom, and wings are a key part of how competitive skiff crews present their teams. We produce sponsor decals to exact size and colour specifications supplied by the sponsor or the crew, and we'll flag any issues with colour accuracy or material suitability before we produce anything.
For crews managing multiple sponsor relationships, consistency matters. The same logo applied to the hull, the sail bag, the boom cover, and crew apparel should look identical across all applications. We can help you maintain a consistent approach to sponsor presentation that works perfectly across all your surfaces.
Our apparel graphics service →
Applying graphics to sails: what you need to know
Sail graphics require materials and application methods quite different from standard signage. The sail surface moves, flexes, and is subject to intense UV exposure, salt water, and high loads. The vinyl we use for sail graphics is selected specifically for flexibility, UV stability, and aggressive adhesion to modern sailcloth.
Application technique also matters. Whether you choose to have us professionally apply the graphics at our Newport workshop or use one of our DIY kits at the club, the vinyl needs to be applied with proper pressure and alignment. A graphic applied with air bubbles or lifted edges won't last long under heavy racing conditions on Sydney Harbour or Lake Macquarie. We ensure you get the right materials and the right advice so your sponsor's brand stays locked to the sail.
WORKING WITH US
3. Working with MTM Signage on your skiff
What we need from you
Getting your skiff branding right starts with a clear brief. Here's what helps:
-
Your class (13ft, 16ft, or 18ft).
-
Your preferred branding style (Centre Band, Diagonal Strike, with or without paint base).
-
Sponsor logos in vector format (AI, EPS, or PDF with outlined text).
-
Brand colours and any placement specifications from the sponsor.
-
The sail itself — bring it to us or let us know the make and model.
-
Your deadline — particularly if you have a regatta coming up.
Timelines and regatta deadlines
We understand that skiff racing runs to a calendar, and a sail that isn't ready before a major regatta is a serious problem. We work with crews to meet realistic deadlines, and we'll be straight with you if a timeline isn't achievable — it's better to know early than to rush a job and compromise the result.
For paint base jobs, allow extra lead time — the painted base needs to cure properly before vinyl goes on. If you're planning a new look for a new season, getting your brief to us a few weeks before you need the sail back gives us room to do the job properly.
Design guidance and artwork preparation
MTM Signage doesn't have an in-house design team, but we can guide you through what works and what doesn't for skiff sail branding. If you have a concept in mind but no artwork, we can connect you with designers who understand the format. Artwork for sail graphics should be supplied as vector files — AI, EPS, or PDF with all text outlined. If a sponsor sends you a low-resolution file, let us know before you assume it'll work — we can often advise on alternatives.
PRICING
4. Pricing and how to get a quote
Every skiff branding job is different
The cost of skiff sail branding depends on the style chosen, whether a paint base is included, the number and complexity of sponsor logos, the number of sails being branded, and the timeline. A simple set of class-legal sail numbers is a very different job to a full Centre Band with paint base and six sponsor logos — and pricing reflects that.
We don't publish set prices because a quote without understanding your brief and your sail wouldn't be accurate or useful. We work with crews across all budget levels, from junior 13ft sailors fitting out on a tight budget to competitive 16ft & 18ft teams with full sponsor packages running at Sydney Harbour and Manly. Talk to us about what you need and we'll give you a clear, honest quote.
What affects the cost
-
Branding style — vinyl only vs paint base (paint base adds cost and lead time).
-
Number and complexity of sponsor logos.
-
Number of sails — mainsail only, or jib/spinnaker as well.
-
Urgency — rush jobs requiring compressed timelines.
-
Sail condition — new sail vs re-branding an existing sail.
-
Hull, boom, and mast decals if a full boat rebrand is needed.
Getting a quote
The best way to get started is to contact us with your class, your preferred branding style, and any sponsor logos or brief you have. If you're not sure what style suits your boat, send us a photo of the sail and tell us what you're trying to achieve — we'll come back to you with options and a clear quote within one business day. We work with crews from Manly, Sydney Harbour, Belmont Skiff Club, and St George Sailing Club, and we can arrange logistics for sails that aren't local to Newport.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before getting in touch.
We offer four styles: Centre Band (vinyl only), Centre Band with Paint Base, Diagonal Strike (vinyl only), and Diagonal Strike with Paint Base. The Centre Band is the most traditional and widely used format across Sydney Harbour and Manly fleets. The Diagonal Strike is a more contemporary option that creates a dynamic corner-to-corner visual. Both are available with a painted base coat, which dramatically increases contrast and gives a more premium finish popular at the competitive end of 16ft & 18ft racing on the Harbour.
What branding styles do you offer for skiff sails?
How long does skiff sail branding take?
A standard vinyl-only job — sail numbers and a Centre Band or Diagonal Strike without a paint base — can typically be turned around within a few business days once we have the sail and approved artwork. A paint base job requires more time: the base coat needs to be applied and fully cured before the vinyl goes on, so allow at least a week and ideally more if you're working to a regatta deadline. Contact us with your timeline as early as possible and we'll give you a realistic turnaround estimate.
Do you make sponsor graphics and sail ensigns for Sydney skiffs?
Yes — MTM Signage produces premium, marine-grade hull and sail graphics tailored for the 13ft, 16ft, and 18ft skiff fleets. We know skiff racing on Sydney Harbour, Manly, Belmont, and St George doesn't use standard sail numbers. Your identity is your sponsor.
We specialize in transferring high-impact sponsor logos, custom text, and registered sail ensigns onto high-performance sailcloth and hulls. We make sure the sizing and contrast allow the race committee to easily identify you from the starter boat, while ensuring the materials withstand the heavy spray and high speeds of a Saturday afternoon race.
Do you install the skiff graphics, or can I do it myself?
It’s entirely up to you. We can professionally apply your sponsor logos and ensigns at our Newport workshop, or supply them as ready-to-apply kits if you prefer to do it yourself. While professional application guarantees your graphics won't lift at the edges under heavy racing conditions, we use premium marine-grade vinyl that is highly forgiving if you choose the DIY route. Drop your sails to us, or contact us to discuss shipping kits directly to your club at Manly, Belmont, or St George.
Can you match sponsor logo colours exactly?
We work to the colour specifications provided by sponsors — typically supplied as Pantone references, CMYK values, or a brand style guide. Exact colour matching on vinyl is very achievable for most brand colours. Where a specific colour isn't available as a standard vinyl, we can discuss alternatives that are as close as possible. If a sponsor has strict brand guidelines, share them with us upfront and we'll confirm what's achievable before you commit.
What do I need to supply to get my skiff branded?
At minimum: your class, your preferred branding style, and your sail size. For sponsor logos, vector files (AI, EPS, or PDF with outlined text) are ideal — if a sponsor only has a JPEG or PNG, let us know and we'll advise on whether the resolution is workable. If you have a full brand brief from a sponsor, supply that too. The more complete your brief, the faster we can produce an accurate quote and get into production.
Do you work with junior 13ft crews as well as competitive 18ft teams?
Yes — we work with sailors at all levels, from junior 13ft crews getting started through to competitive 16ft & 18ft teams with full sponsor packages racing on Sydney Harbour and at Manly. For junior crews and families getting into skiff racing for the first time, we understand that budget is often a consideration and we'll help you get the most from what you have. We also work with crews from Belmont Skiff Club and St George Sailing Club — wherever you race, we can help.
Can you brand the hull and boom as well as the sails?
Yes — we produce hull decals, boom graphics, mast decals, and sponsor panels for skiffs in addition to sail branding. If you're doing a full boat rebrand at the start of a season, it's worth thinking about all your surfaces together — hull, boom, mast, sails, and possibly crew apparel — so everything is consistent whether you're on Sydney Harbour, at Manly, Belmont, or St George. Let us know the full scope of what you need when you enquire and we'll quote the whole job.
Get a quote for your skiff branding
MTM Signage is based in Narrabeen with our production workshop in Newport. We supply crews racing at Manly and on Sydney Harbour, as well as Belmont Skiff Club and St George Sailing Club. Whether you need smaller decals, a full Centre Band with paint base, or a complete seasonal rebrand, get in touch and we'll help you put your best sail forward.