The Rigging Company LLP was founded on the idea of offering customers complete, high quality, one stop, rigging parts and service… for the most competitive price available. The Rigging Company staff offers its customers 100 years combined experience in sailboat rigging. Sean Simmons and Jimmie Cockerill founded the company in 2011 after having worked and sailed together for over 6 years out of Bert Jabin’s Yacht Yard. The two had gained a reputation in the industry for knowing the complete aspects of sailboat rigging; all while striving to attain the highest quality work standards. Maintaining their ideals that each job should attain safety and functionality through simplicity, this became the company mantra. Today, The Rigging Company team prides itself in offering great customer service, along with the parts knowledge and experience to get the job done. So give us a call, we’d be glad to help.
The Rigging Company, LLP thanks you for your patronage and looks forward to your business! Please see our Meet the Staff and Contact Us Pages for location, hours and contact information.
Sean Simmons — 08/30/1970 — 11/12/2017, 29 years rigging experience, and 35 years sailing experience. Sean started in the marine industry in 1988 working for Harbor Yacht Rigging in Baltimore, Md as a Riggers’ Apprentice under the tutelage of a gentleman named Tom Snow. A few years later, he was promoted to a new job at the nearby Get-A-Way Sailing School as Chief Technician. Around 1993, he was hired at the original Tidewater Marine Center, also in downtown Baltimore, as their General Technician who specialized in Rigging. In 1997, Sean joined the rigging team at Chesapeake Rigging, Annapolis Spars Ltd. in hope of furthering his rigging skills and knowledge. Sean was able to take his skill-set to the next level under the tutelage and mentor-ship of the Mid-Atlantic’s best riggers, John Lyons (Master Spar Builder), and Patrick Jinks (Master Rigger/ Hydraulics Technician).
Sean succeeded with his quest to master his trade just a few years before Chesapeake Rigging Annapolis Spars was forced to close it’s doors in 2011. Within one hour of being laid off, Sean aggressively pursued the dream of starting his own business, known to this day as… The Rigging Company.
Just to touch on Sean’s vast sailing experience… he started sailing at the ripe young age of 12 with his step-father, friends and family. He and his siblings continued to sail regularly aboard his father’s boats until age 27, when he and his brother bought and campaigned their own J-24, USA 240 “Minor Threat”, for the next twelve years. Sean also actively sailed with many top Annapolis and Baltimore boats over the years. Winning trophies and achieving many accolades in competitive sailing.
Sean says, “Dad owned three boats in total (all at separate times) and was very meticulous about the boat’s care. Especially concerning the boat’s rigging and cleanliness. Dad always made sure that my sister, my brother, and I were always sharp and well cross trained so that any of us could manage any and all of the boats duties on our own, should we ever have the need to”.
~Sean Mathew Simmons unexpectedly passed away just 5 days past his company’s 6th anniversary in November of 2017. He died doing what he loved (not because of what he loved) with people that he loved, riding motorcycles. He will be missed.~
Jimmie Cockerill has been actively pursuing the marine industry since 2004. He began as a wood worker’s apprentice under the tutelage of Jody Leonard, the owner of Bodkin Marine Service. Jimmie’s initial focus was classic and historical yacht restoration. Within a short time, he found himself expanding his knowledge base into marine carpentry and  traditional rigging. As he gained experience in the boat yards of Annapolis and Baltimore, Jimmie found himself as an apprentice under the Annapolis area’s top riggers. Sean Simmons (Master Rigger), Patrick Jinks (Master Rigger and Hydraulic Technician), and John Lyons (Master Rigger and Master Spar Builder), were just a part of the team that helped influence and mentor Jimmie’s quick road to being a top choice for sailboat rigging in the Annapolis area. As a result of his focused apprenticeship as well as his skills in sales, business management, and customer service, Jimmie shortly found himself being promoted to General Manager of the premier mid-Atlantic rigging company, Chesapeake Rigging/ Annapolis Spars. In 2011, Jimmie Cockerill took his success in the rigging industry to new heights by becoming the proud co-owner of The Rigging Company; along side his best friend, rigging team-mate, and mentor, Sean Simmons.
Jimmie has been an avid racer and competitor several classes of boats, large and small since 2004. He has been on the fast track to numerous accolades and achievements in regatta sailing throughout the greater Annapolis/Baltimore area, up and down the East Coast USA, as well as his home country, Germany. Today, along with successfully running his own rigging business, Jimmie is still active sailing on various boats and expanding his knowledge and always looking forward to learning the next thing.
With the gift of the internet giving us the ability to communicate with the entire sailing world we, The Rigging Company, hope to share our vast array of knowledge and experience, not just at home, but all over. The staff at TRC have set out to create a new premier rigging company, one that can provide top notch customer service to all of its customers. The Rigging Company, LLP team have one common goal: to treat all of their customers with the utmost respect, and provide them with the right parts at the right cost to do the job. We believe that people pay a lot of money for our services and products, and they deserve to be treated accordingly.  The Rigging Company takes pride in its pursuit of perfection and its customers will benefit from this fundamental philosophy.
