dunedin
Well-Known Member
I would definitely invest in decent sails - particularly a replacement mainsail, by the sound of things. As a SAILING BOAT, the SAILS should be top of the list of investment priorities - just below safety stuff (which includes primary safety, such as keeping hull seaworthy and watertight).
I am constantly amazed by people who seem happy to spend large sums of money on other stuff - engines, electronics, heating, TV & sound systems. But persevere with ancient sails on a sailing boat.
Any old rags will blow any old tub downwind at moderate speed. But going upwind a decent set of sails set properly will be massively more efficient, pointing higher, going faster and heeling less. Baggy sails cause both excess heeling and drag - meaning crew get cold wet and seasick (refer to start solo sailing threads) making slow progress, whereas boat with good sails is going flatter and faster, overtaking other boats around which is great for crew morale as they get into shelter, and perhaps the warm pub, sooner.
It was very noticeable in the Baltic that many of the locals sailed older boats with expensive / high tech sails, for enjoyable sailing in light winds. By contrast many/most British folks had big / expensive boats with cheap / inefficient sails.
One classic case, we left harbour and like all the Swedish, Danish, German and French boats hoisted sail and had an enjoyable mini “regatta” sailing at our best in the gentle breeze. The entire rest of the British flagged boats left later and motored with sail covers still on, making no attempt to sail. Each to their own, but effectively “motor boats with masts”.
I am constantly amazed by people who seem happy to spend large sums of money on other stuff - engines, electronics, heating, TV & sound systems. But persevere with ancient sails on a sailing boat.
Any old rags will blow any old tub downwind at moderate speed. But going upwind a decent set of sails set properly will be massively more efficient, pointing higher, going faster and heeling less. Baggy sails cause both excess heeling and drag - meaning crew get cold wet and seasick (refer to start solo sailing threads) making slow progress, whereas boat with good sails is going flatter and faster, overtaking other boats around which is great for crew morale as they get into shelter, and perhaps the warm pub, sooner.
It was very noticeable in the Baltic that many of the locals sailed older boats with expensive / high tech sails, for enjoyable sailing in light winds. By contrast many/most British folks had big / expensive boats with cheap / inefficient sails.
One classic case, we left harbour and like all the Swedish, Danish, German and French boats hoisted sail and had an enjoyable mini “regatta” sailing at our best in the gentle breeze. The entire rest of the British flagged boats left later and motored with sail covers still on, making no attempt to sail. Each to their own, but effectively “motor boats with masts”.
