Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boat?

[trouville]

Last week i went to a pleasent cafe and sat at a table behind large glass windows makeing the bright winter sun as walm as early summer.

I ordered a salad which came with slices of local sausage and a small bowl of hot light cheese.A large basket of crisp French bread and a liter of good local wine from Bandol.

While waiting i checked my email,then looked at a folkboat site between rounds of crisp fresh bread sausage and a dip of the cheese i wondered if the boats cruising and raceing hear http://www.vss.nu/ were faster and handeled faster with raceing sails?

Next i took a glass of cool clear white wine and went to the folkboat central where i found that a new set of cruising sails cost 1048 euros.I went to their secondhand section and found they are selling a set of "raceing" sails used for one season for 845 euros plus VAT.

I finished my salad and sent an email asking about the markings,they answerd that the sails come with a long sail bag which doubles as a sail cover with velcro fastners and the sails will be supplied with my sail number.

I orderd a coffee and took some comte cheese while i asked them how the sails were cut and of which material there made.To this i dident and havent yet had an answer.

As the sails are for the folkboat class all sails raceing or cruising are the same size,are raceing sails lighter stronger and better shaped? There are two types of sail one for the wests coast where there are stronger winds and another cut for the east coast and lighter winds which is the cut i would want.

Should i seriously consider buying secondhand raceing sails or stay with a cruising set??

 

[FWB]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

Whilst sitting in my warm conservatory, enjoying a coffee and never failing to enjoy the view across the valley, I checked the Forum and came across another of your nice posts.
Between the first and second biscuit, it came to me that the racing sails may not have any reefing points in them.
Something to consider while enjoying your glass of wine.

 

[Guest]

Trouville what happened????? Your entire post!!? was completely intelligible!!!! even eloquent! and only four!!!!! question marks??? and not a single ! ??????

Wasit the wine from Bandol that did it??? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

I have a mate who wins the Folkboat Nationals and stuff like that. He has racing sails which he treats like babies. He always takes them off with his crew and carefully rolls them without creasing them etc. etc.
Even when they take them down on the boat they roll the main alonside the boom and gently flake the headsail on the foredeck..

A bit like using a race engine in a car that you go out for a day's drive out. Not really suitable ( I know, I've done it)

 

[trouville]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

Reefing points would be an added cost,i hadent thought of that!

http://www.folkboat.dk/F-Forsiden/ENGELSK/F-Forside.htm hear is the FB central and they say:Tilfoj/Add

This:

4610 Set of cruising sails
4. Accessories 1081.00 EUR
Our FC-cruising sails might not be the most optimized, but they are easy to handle. Made from a sturdy 7 oz. Sailcloth, which stand being folded and stowed away. Only complete suits of sails are supplied. Please also ask about second hand racing-sails!

With the added VAT the price will be about the same as North sails with discount! The phrase "might not be the most optimized" put me off a bit!Thats why i looked at the raceing sails they have to be optimised.

I thought that raceing sails would be better in light winds.

Great images,i wonder if he sells his old sails from time to time?One of the biggest probles i have when buying anything and sails in particular is that i havent got any money to pay for them!Or not enough.

 

[FWB]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

Hey you've Lakesailored me with Lakesailor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

What is the penalty for this? Cant find it in the rules /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[graham]

Trouville after 2 bacon sarnies i think that generally speaking Racing Sails are intended to set superbly well when new but possibly not intended to last very long.

bit more brown sauce on sarnies.

Cruising sails will have more reinforcement at the stress points and usually be heavier cloth so will not set as well but will be less likely to disintergrate in a squall and probably last several years longer.

Large mug of tea now . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

Burp!

Another shot of espresso and a bite of roadkill baguette.

Racing sails often have windows as "round the can" sailors often do it in uncomfortably close company.

 

[trouville]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

I see raceing sails arnt really for me!Perhaps i was dreaming of light click clack sails that catch the slightest breeze 5 knots in a F2. It is winter and the time of dreaming of improvements both sailing and comfort.

The main thing is that raceing sails might not last very long,so better stay with more solid cruising ones with reefing points.The wind isent always as gentel as its been this winter.

Now to open a bottle of 1979 Burgundy to drink with rabbit stew which has the sauce made with a younger Burgundy and sang(French sounds better)fine beans crusty bread And no??? or!!! !!Difficult posting without at least a few!

 

[wavelet]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

How about a cruising chute, or genniker, for light winds. New sails definitly improve boat drive as shape much better than old baggies. Cruising sails need extras like third deep reef point and general reinforcement at clew, head and the other point of the triangle, which I forget, is it the clef? I once insisted on overweight sails so had eight ounce dacron instead of six on a twenty three foot Halcyon. They were beautiful but the jib was over heavy and kept collapsing in light breezes. Also I had 20mm jib sheets which could have been reduced to ten mm as they pulled the sail out of set in a light breeze but I liked them because I did not use the winch for the jib just my hands and thick sheets were easier to work. I now have a bigger boat and winches are necessary for the jib quite often.
Boat is a Folkdancer 27.

 

[bilbobaggins]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

"Two sugers in my coffee, miss....."

"Naff orf!"

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Are raceing sails better than crusing sails on a fast cruising boa

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Not his usual crew.