The search begins for good quality race sails.... My Beneteau was equipped with Neil Pryde Dacron cruising main and genoa. So who do you suggest has the best product/value/service? What about the costs? Some of these high-tech sails are manufactured overseas (China) and is the quality still good? I am not building this sail inventory for the Volvo Cup but I would like to know what I should work towards for the basic requirements. Thank You.
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I always liked North Sails
When I was racing all the boats I raced on used North Sails. On one particular boat we had North make a main for the boat....that main was awesome! I think a lot depends on which sail makers you have in your area. It is a really good idea to have the local sail lofts come out and speak with them. One other source is to check with some of the other racers in your area and see who they are using and how they like them.
When I was racing all the boats I raced on used North Sails. On one particular boat we had North make a main for the boat....that main was awesome! I think a lot depends on which sail makers you have in your area. It is a really good idea to have the local sail lofts come out and speak with them. One other source is to check with some of the other racers in your area and see who they are using and how they like them.
Best local sailmaker
I'm not racing any more, but I spent enough time hanging out at the Doyle Sail loft in Cleveland to see that having a fine sailmaker to consult with before during, and especially after you buy your sails is critical. Greg Koski is the sailmaker there. He made a couple of trips to see my boat, and understand our inventory and needs. He understands the latest in sail technology advances, and how they apply to any set of needs, and budget. Storage through the winter, and an annual inspection are free. He knows (and races) the local conditions as well as anyone I have met. He cares that you have a good experiance with his sails. Doyle is not the only loft in the area. But any racer who didn't have an advisor and supported like Greg in his corner would be accepting a major handicap. In my book, the same advice extends to cruisers like myself. But flying the best possible set of sails is a huge factor in racing a sailboat. And the prices and inventory are also larger. So find the good loft(s) in your area, and pick the one you want to work with. It's a must to be competitive. David Lady Lillie
I'm not racing any more, but I spent enough time hanging out at the Doyle Sail loft in Cleveland to see that having a fine sailmaker to consult with before during, and especially after you buy your sails is critical. Greg Koski is the sailmaker there. He made a couple of trips to see my boat, and understand our inventory and needs. He understands the latest in sail technology advances, and how they apply to any set of needs, and budget. Storage through the winter, and an annual inspection are free. He knows (and races) the local conditions as well as anyone I have met. He cares that you have a good experiance with his sails. Doyle is not the only loft in the area. But any racer who didn't have an advisor and supported like Greg in his corner would be accepting a major handicap. In my book, the same advice extends to cruisers like myself. But flying the best possible set of sails is a huge factor in racing a sailboat. And the prices and inventory are also larger. So find the good loft(s) in your area, and pick the one you want to work with. It's a must to be competitive. David Lady Lillie
Ford, Chevy or Dodge
Everybody is going to have ther own idea, I have bought a sail from Koski and service was the main reason. All the sail's UK, North, Doyle and so on are going to have fast sail's. Service and price is the key, I am a HUGE fan of the UK Tape Drive and would not buy anything else. I blew up my main on my Tripp 26 and called my UK Loft and it was going to be 3 weeks. I called Koski on Mon morning and we talked. He made the call to the plotter had the sail cut on Mon. Wed was July 4th and I picked the sail up on Fri for a race we wanted to do on Sat. This was service that went above and beyond my expection's. Buying from a over sea's loft or from someone not local will not be able to give you the service. I bought my UK 155 and hauled it up the 1st time to find it was to long on the luff. Not a problem to fix but if it was from a mail order place or over seas you would take your new sail to a local loft have them make the change and pay for it on the way out. For me Service will always win out over the price on something like this Cliff
Everybody is going to have ther own idea, I have bought a sail from Koski and service was the main reason. All the sail's UK, North, Doyle and so on are going to have fast sail's. Service and price is the key, I am a HUGE fan of the UK Tape Drive and would not buy anything else. I blew up my main on my Tripp 26 and called my UK Loft and it was going to be 3 weeks. I called Koski on Mon morning and we talked. He made the call to the plotter had the sail cut on Mon. Wed was July 4th and I picked the sail up on Fri for a race we wanted to do on Sat. This was service that went above and beyond my expection's. Buying from a over sea's loft or from someone not local will not be able to give you the service. I bought my UK 155 and hauled it up the 1st time to find it was to long on the luff. Not a problem to fix but if it was from a mail order place or over seas you would take your new sail to a local loft have them make the change and pay for it on the way out. For me Service will always win out over the price on something like this Cliff
I Can't Afford to Go Local
The local sailmaker gave me a quote of two over the past decade. He has high overhead, a nice vehicle, kids in college and seems to live a good life. When I got the quote I could see how he afforts that lifestyle. Having a modest income and a production boat that was paid for I saw it was time to look overseas for sails. My spinnaker was made to my specification and my new main contains american made sailcloth with foriegn labor. Both sails exceeded my expectations and cost half price. If this approach is good enough for American business it's good enough for me. My main was made in Indonsia and the spinnaker came from Thailand. Ordering was simple by fax from companies I found in Cruising world magazine. Pay attention to details when you measure and you'll be happy with the final product. Buying American can't be too important to you since you have a French boat!
The local sailmaker gave me a quote of two over the past decade. He has high overhead, a nice vehicle, kids in college and seems to live a good life. When I got the quote I could see how he afforts that lifestyle. Having a modest income and a production boat that was paid for I saw it was time to look overseas for sails. My spinnaker was made to my specification and my new main contains american made sailcloth with foriegn labor. Both sails exceeded my expectations and cost half price. If this approach is good enough for American business it's good enough for me. My main was made in Indonsia and the spinnaker came from Thailand. Ordering was simple by fax from companies I found in Cruising world magazine. Pay attention to details when you measure and you'll be happy with the final product. Buying American can't be too important to you since you have a French boat!
But Phil wants to race
And three of us have pointed out the advantage of a local sailmaker for a racer. When you go to sexier cloth to hold its shape for racing, the labor cost goes down as a fraction of the sail cost, and the chances for an error in an expensive material go up. But the biggest advantage of the local guy is his expertise, advice, and maintenance of your whole sail program. David Lady Lillie
And three of us have pointed out the advantage of a local sailmaker for a racer. When you go to sexier cloth to hold its shape for racing, the labor cost goes down as a fraction of the sail cost, and the chances for an error in an expensive material go up. But the biggest advantage of the local guy is his expertise, advice, and maintenance of your whole sail program. David Lady Lillie
Local knowledge.
The local guy is also going to have "local knowledge" of your conditions. I live in an area of fairly light winds, with exclusively upwind/downwind racing (no reaches) about 75 miles from San Francisco, where the conditions are extremely different. Most of the sail lofts we all use are in the SF Bay area, but many have a local rep familiar with our conditions here. Not necessary that the loft you work with be actually located locally, but make sure they have a knowledgeable rep in your area, who himself has an impressive racing resume gained in the local area, that you can communicate with, and who can communicate with you. You can learn a LOT of how to do well in local conditions from a knowledgeable and experienced local rep. That advice & info can be as valuable to your racing success as the sails themselves. Good luck!
The local guy is also going to have "local knowledge" of your conditions. I live in an area of fairly light winds, with exclusively upwind/downwind racing (no reaches) about 75 miles from San Francisco, where the conditions are extremely different. Most of the sail lofts we all use are in the SF Bay area, but many have a local rep familiar with our conditions here. Not necessary that the loft you work with be actually located locally, but make sure they have a knowledgeable rep in your area, who himself has an impressive racing resume gained in the local area, that you can communicate with, and who can communicate with you. You can learn a LOT of how to do well in local conditions from a knowledgeable and experienced local rep. That advice & info can be as valuable to your racing success as the sails themselves. Good luck!
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