ST CROIX — Since 2018, Sofia Holloway has been at the helm of Kraken Sails, a sail loft that specializes in sails, canvas, shade sails, cushions, customer covers, and kite repairs. Located in the heart of Christiansted Harbor, Sofia has been busy doing her part to put St. Croix on the sailing map.
Born in Svendborg, Denmark, and raised on St. Croix from the age of 1, Sofia grew up surrounded by sailing. She worked on charter boats throughout high school and attended a semester at sea on Danish tall ship Georg Stage. It was during this time that she learned more about sailmaking and truly fell in love with being on the water. “Prior to my semester at sea, I didn’t think it was possible to become a sailmaker on St. Croix,” Sofia recalled. “It wasn’t something I had ever seen before, but this experience allowed me to explore the possibility of bringing this trade back to St. Croix.”
Following her semester at sea, Sofia learned of a trade school in Denmark that focused on sailmaking. Over the course of four years in trade school, she interned at several lofts that offered a range of experiences, from making full enclosures and dodgers for boats to working on the floor at North Sails Denmark, the world’s premier sailmaker for racing and cruising sailboats. Sofia also spent time learning traditional sailmaking, making sails for historic tall ships in Denmark and Norway with Duradon canvas. Upon completion of her studies in Denmark, Sofia and her husband moved back to her island home and opened Kraken Sails.
In addition to making sails and canvas for boats and yachts, Sofia has made several items for various clients, including carousel tops for amusement park rides and shade awnings for restaurants to provide coverage from the sun. She has also made coral seeding tents for The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) St. Croix chapter. This global environmental nonprofit restores coral reefs, protects beaches, and safeguards wildlife in this paradise of islands and sea. These tents made by Kraken Sails are instrumental to TNC’s initiative to address the coral reef crisis in the Caribbean. “Being on an island, you have to be ready for almost anything that walks through the door,” shared Sofia.
To learn more about Kraken Sails and the services they provide, visit their Instagram page @KrakenSails or give them a call at 340.642.2588.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard
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