We’re excited to be exhibiting at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2026, taking place on 21–22 February 2026 at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre. You’ll find us on Stand L30, sandwiched right between some of our biggest customers — Hartley Boats, Topper, and Pinnell & Bax.
This year’s show will see the launch of our all-new 15mm Dynamic Blocks, which will be on display for the first time. These blocks have been designed to be super low profile, making them ideal for small-diameter lines up to 3.5mm, particularly elastic take-up systems. With a maximum working load of 160kg, they are not intended for high-load applications but excel where compact size and minimal weight are key.
Currently, two versions are available, with further designs anticipated over the next 12 months, including a 15mm sheave cassette.
A2015WEB: designed for attachment via a 10mm webbing strap.
A2015Tii: featuring a hole to tie or splice the block directly onto the rope.
When compared side by side with our classic 20mm Dynamic Block, the size difference is remarkable. Come and see for yourself at the show.
Also on display will be Tom Gillard’s brand-new Fireball, built by Winder Boats. This is one of the very first all-carbon hull Fireballs and features a high-performance Allen fit-out, including top-spec blocks throughout and an adjustable mast raking system.
Alongside this, we’ll be showcasing Peter Wolstenholme’s Mas Marine Snipe. Although the boat is almost two years old, it is still running its complete original Allen fit-out, demonstrating just how well our hardware stands up to multiple seasons of intense racing.
We’re also pleased to say that Tom “Mozzy” Morris will be spending time on the Allen stand during the show, giving visitors the chance to meet the well-known sailing YouTuber in person.
We look forward to welcoming sailors, builders, and the wider sailing community to Stand L30 and sharing what’s new from Allen Brothers at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2026.
We’re Heading to BOOT Düsseldorf 2026 with Lindemann
We’re pleased to be attending BOOT Düsseldorf 2026, taking place from 17–25 January, one of the world’s leading watersports exhibitions, where we’ll be showcasing a selection of our performance sailing hardware on the Lindemann stand.
You’ll find our products on display in Hall 10, Stand C76, giving visitors the opportunity to see the latest developments from Allen Brothers up close.
Our Sales Representative, Simon Potts will be attending the show for the first weekend, while Nic Tolhurst will be on hand during the final weekend to discuss our products, applications, and upcoming developments. Throughout the middle of the week, the knowledgeable Lindemann team will be available to answer any questions about the Allen Brothers range.
We look forward to welcoming customers, partners, and new contacts to the Lindemann stand and continuing to strengthen our presence in the European sailing market.
Welcome to The Hardware Handbook, 2025 Recap Issue. In this edition, we’re sharing a mix of product news, behind-the-scenes engineering, and updates from the wider Allen sailing community.
You’ll find highlights from recent projects, including new and specialist hardware developments, insights into boats and classes using Allen gear, and the latest news from our Team Allen sailors. We’re also showcasing some of our newest products and giving a glimpse into the processes and thinking behind them.
Whether you’re a racer, boat builder, or weekend sailor, we hope there’s something here to inform, inspire, and help you get the most out of your time on the water.
So, grab a cup of tea, sit back and find out all the highlights from an amazing 2025 season.
Chris from Sail Hub swung by the Allen stand at METSTRADE to take a closer look at our brand-new High Performance Swivel Cleat – recently nominated for a prestigious DAME Award.
Although the cleat didn’t take home the top prize this year, we’re incredibly proud to see our engineering and design innovation recognised on the global stage. It’s a great motivator for the team and a reminder of why we continue to push the boundaries of performance sailing hardware.
Watch the video below to hear Chris’ thoughts and get an up-close look at the cleat in action.
We’re excited to return to METSTRADE 2025, the world’s leading marine equipment trade show, in Amsterdam from the 18th to the 20th of November. You’ll find us in Hall 1, Stand 516, where we’ll be showcasing our latest innovations in performance sailing hardware – all designed and manufactured in the UK.
This year, we’re introducing an exciting line of new products that highlight our continued focus on strength, efficiency, and user-friendly design for sailors and boat builders.
The Melges 15 is quickly becoming a popular dinghy class worldwide. It was designed to be both accessible and exciting, offering a stable platform for learning while also delivering high-performance racing for more experienced sailors. The boat is responsive, fast, and simple to rig, which makes it a favourite among sailors of all levels.
If you are looking to upgrade or replace the hardware on your Melges 15, it helps to know exactly which fittings you need and what their role is on the boat. Below is a breakdown of the fittings used across the major systems, based on a complete Allen Brothers fit-out, along with some tips on upgrades. After that, you will also find a clear summary of tuning advice to help you get the most from your rig and sails.
Product Feature: A New Generation of Precision – The Acetal Pivoting Mast Step
At Allen, we’re always refining performance through engineering innovation. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Acetal Pivoting Mast Step – a lightweight, cost-effective evolution of our popular Aluminium Pivoting Mast Step.
First developed as a breakthrough in the dinghy and small keelboat market, our original aluminium pivoting mast step was inspired by the ball-and-cup design commonly found on catamarans. However, instead of multi-directional articulation, our step offers controlled fore-and-aft pivot within the mast step channel. This allows for dynamic rig tuning on the water without compromising mast alignment or deck integrity.
Now, we’ve taken everything great about that original design and, in partnership with Jon Turner, we have made it even more accessible.
The WASZP is a high-performance, single-handed dinghy that is surprisingly simple to rig. Although the setup is fairly straightforward, it’s crucial that all the systems run smoothly and efficiently. Well-functioning control systems will make the boat easier to handle and noticeably quicker on the water. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the upgrades you can make to improve the usability and overall performance of your WASZP.
We’re Now a Full Distributor of Clamcleat® Products
We’re excited to share that Allen is now a full distributor of the complete Clamcleat® product range.
We’ve proudly stocked a selection of Clamcleat products for many years, but following the unfortunate closure of one of their distributors, we were offered the opportunity to take on the full range. It’s a natural next step in our long-standing relationship with Clamcleat and we’re pleased to be strengthening our partnership with another great British brand.
Team Allen sailor Ross “Rossgo” Banham brought his latest foiling craft, the SWITCH One Design by Element 6, to the Allen factory for a full refit. Working alongside Ben, Ross upgraded key control systems to reduce friction and enhance performance. Along the way, they shared some classic boat chat—check out the video below for a full tour and behind-the-scenes insights.
Below, we’ve compiled a detailed fitting guide listing all the Allen components used in the upgrades, along with alternative options to suit different budgets and needs.
Please note: At the time of filming, no class rules were in place. The hardware replacements listed are based on our alternatives to the OEM-fitted hardware, with a few exceptions where doubles have replaced two single blocks.
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