Do your sails effect your sailing?

[Warren]

Old Sails

Old Sails!My Main & Jib on my O'Day 22 are 33 years old!My Genny is 29 years old!I'm a "day sailor" and never race. When I store the sails for the winter, I stuff them into the sailbags (never fold). The sails are bent on every time I sail (12-15 times a year), so they are not in the sun very long.I'm sure they are "out of shape" but they work well for my type of sailing.When I ordered these sails from Chow Lee in 1972, I requested one weight heaiver that requiored....This has really paid off. The quality of workmanship was many times better than the "stock" sails that would have come with the boat.

 

[Bob]

To each his own ...

said the little old lady as she kissed the cow. Sails that a racer would consider throw-aways are more than acceptable to lots of cruisers and daysailors. Two years ago I sent 2 well-used sails to SailCare and they came back looking good (clean) and feeling great. However, their shape was obviously not optimum and when racing the boat was back and middle of the pack. That summer I sprung for a new main and genoa, and the difference was spectacular: we ran up front right away, the sails were much easier to read and trim, and the boat was more satisfying to sail. So for me, it was well worth the money. Even a relaxed afternoon no-destination sail will find me fiddling with the trim just because the boat feels better when things are properly adjusted. People use boats to go from A to B, or just to go period, and whether that involves maximizing performance (along with attendant costs)is a choice each of us is free to make. But if you own a sports car, you probably aren't satisfied with worn out bushings, tie rods, ball joints, etc.

 

[Alan]

My rags ;D

When I bought my boat, I never used the factory sails. I spent an extra 15g's and had a good set made. I've replaced the main once, bought a new light #1, added a light air reacher and some used spinnakers. Just bought an almost new 1/2 oz Akite for less than 1/4 of a new one. My heavy #1 is still in great shape as well as my blade #3. Next winter I'll be in the market for a new main.Definition of a boat: ..a whole in the water into which you pour money.....we're all mad, but I love sailing!!

 

[Doug Leithauser]

RE: Streched Main Options

I do not claim to be the sail expert, but no one else has replied, so I thought I would send in my $0.02 worth.If the sail is not too bad, a decent sailmaker can recut the cloth to suck in that "belly".If the sail is too far out of shape, you probably will be advised to replace it.I have delt with UK sailmakers in Detroit & would recommend them if you are anywhere near this area. They were happy to inspect my mainsail & do some minor repairs, for a reasonable price.There are used sails available from various sources, I would suggest looking into that if the main needs to be replaced & cost is a big concern, as it would be with me.Doug Leithauser

 

[G]

The buoy?

To response # 18 on sail shape discussion:The pic provided looks as though your boat was being pinched at the windward mark by the leeward boat. Did you clear the mark without touching it? Did the other yachts give you room, afterall your yacht is in the lead, clearly.Thanks.

 

[JOHN POPP , 1975 MARINER]

SAILCARE

I have to give a thumbs up to sailcare also. We just recevied our 1975 sails back and i almost fell over. We can not wait to get them on the boat they look like new and we had the jib, main and 150% genoa done for less than the price of a new main. Now i know they are not new but they look and feel darn close.

 

[Jon W.]

Response to G

I have no idea who's boats those were, and I don't know what happened. I can tell you it was at Whidby Island race week, near Oak Harbor Wa.SorryBut clearly the boat at the mark was either clear ahead, or had an inside overlap within a two boat length circle of the buoy. In either case that boat has right of way. A leeward boat is required to give room. So I assume he rounded no problem.http://www.sailingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=200177&typeID=402&catID=595

 

[Scott]

Telephoto Lens

The photo shows some pretty cool racing action. The shot was obviously taken with a telephoto lens, which compresses the distances and makes everything look very dramatic. It looks like the windward boat is right on top of the mark and the leeward boat is impossibly close to the windward boat. If it was really that close you'd think that everyone in the photo would be focused on a collision!From an overhead view, it probably would be revealed that room was available without any giving way. Even so, mark roundings can be intense!