Recent content by Steve The Seagull

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Reefing jibs can work really well. I have done them on a variety of boats, in the Multihull scene they are very popular, but more as a J4 style setup. Below are some photos of some Mini jibs we did last year. These are 2 reefs due to the limit on sails in the class rules, meaning 1 jib has to do...

Sail Pack by BSG Developments in France

I have drawn up below some sails to try and help show the difference between sails. 12.5m boat Red spinnaker (Runner) is 140sqm Blue Spinnaker (All Purpose) is 125sqm Yellow Spinnaker (Reacher) is 105sqm As you can see the runner is wider with more luff and leech round, and the reacher has the...

Generally yes. Vectran is a crosscut only cloth, good for certain applications, generally higher aspect sails. DP Pro Radial is currently the best radial woven polyester cloth. It successfully took Jean Luc Van Den Heede around the world in the Golden Globe Race. It's very well woven, finished...

I must disagree in part with this. Low end radial Dacron is not worth it, but the high end products, like Dimension Polyant Pro Radial are most definitely a very good cloth. For extended cruising in boats under 40 foot it works very well.

This is a good thread and is a nice example of the variety of thinking and options available in the sailmaking market. It also reinforces though that what works for one design of boat, sailing in a certain set of conditions does not necessarily work for another, and it is important to remember...

Soft hanks are widely used, especially with larger boats using textile headstays where metal hanks are not desired. Soft shackles work, and either need looped or hand stitched in place. There are variety of other options from snap buckles, to webbing loop and toggle, Velcro and even poppers in...

I agree with the above comment of under £3000, I had a real quick look at the specs and estimated around there. Second hand sails can work, but you must check carefully what you are buying. Often they are for sale as stated above because they have been replaced so you must ensure they are not...

It all very much depends on the boat and sailing style. The majority of cruising boat run with a single furling headsail, which, yes is deffinatley a compromise when partially furled, but for ease of use is a win. Multiple headsails are in theory a better option, but it requires you to have the...

Battens should be tensioned so as to take the slack out of the pocket. They are there to hold the shape, not force it. If there are vertical creases in your batten pocket, increase the tension. If there are horizontal creases above and below the pocket, decrease the tension.

Torsion ropes can degrade over time, there are a variety of brands and quality out there, and deffinatley the ropes from the past few years are much improved from ropes from 7/8 years ago when they were first becoming mainstream items. Another thing to be consious of is the size of rope you are...

It is an interesting rule they have created. It is written in a way that limits how small the sails can be so they in effect can not replace jibs. Time will tell wheter there is much uptake, but I think the rating penalty will put off many until it is a more known configuration. A well...

Keep the spacing the same all the way up. Spacing between approx 650 - 750 mm. Before you get stuck in check your mainsail foot will not be too long once you have added the slides. Depending on how you attach the slides this can add enough distance to max your outhaul out.

I have seen them and they look good. The idea behind them is old, rubber boots with neoprene lining, still activley made by Le Chameau, Aigle and Rouchette and activley used by a lot of different professionals. They are very warm and waterproof and even if they do get wet they stay warm, but...