How old are your sails?

[Champagne Murphy]

Go on then, who's got the oldest sails STILL IN REGULAR USE?
I'll start the ball rolling; 1981, 32 years. Shamefull isn't it? In fairness the annual budget has been going on other stuff for the last 5 years (since taking over)

 

[jimi]

I'm thinking you don't do a lot of sailing to windward ;-)

Sails I have just replaced were 17 years old.

 

[Rossynant]

Main & mizzen probably from 1972. Bought with the boat, and she was standing last few years so no 'regular use' - sails still usable though. There were no others, to be clear; only foresails are younger and good shape - that is over 20 years...

 

[tillergirl]

Spinnaker from 1964! Colour's run a bit!

 

[Evadne]

I don't have a date for the remaining two sails I bought with the boat in 1985, the small jib (No. 2 or 3, I'm not sure) and the spinnaker. They hardly get used and could date from the 60's when Evadne was still regularly raced. I hesitiate to call the spinnaker "regularly used", unless an an annual outing counts. The small jib is called the storm jib, and gets used accordingly, i.e. I don't set out deliberately knowing it is going to be needed.

I did replace the jib stamped Dolphin sails, 1967, in the late 80's so 20 years seems like a reasonable time before the reinforcing stitching turns in to tear-along-the-dotted-line. 32 years is very good, did you have it recut at some stage or is as baggy as Aunt Aggie's bloomers? I bought a new main last year, the first new sail in 30 years. Go and do it, you will be amazed at the difference it makes.

 

[wotayottie]

2005 vintage and now looking a bit tired.

 

[sailorman]

I used a 34 year old Hood heavy No1 on Saturday

Go on then, who's got the oldest sails STILL IN REGULAR USE?
I'll start the ball rolling; 1981, 32 years. Shamefull isn't it? In fairness the annual budget has been going on other stuff for the last 5 years (since taking over)

 

[Champagne Murphy]

32 years is very good, did you have it recut at some stage or is as baggy as Aunt Aggie's bloomers? I bought a new main last year, the first new sail in 30 years. Go and do it, you will be amazed at the difference it makes.

Two mains, Much used cruising main, affectionately known as Granny's knickers'. Now used as an emergency backup! Original racing main is still pretty flat and, surprisingly, does quite well to windward. Next year, I think the whole budget is already spoken for!

 

[dombuckley]

Sails on the "big boat" date from the mid 80s, but I still have the original cotton sails for my GP14, made by Ratseys in 1958.

 

[Zagato]

15 years but the main maybe younger (slightly different colour in a picture I think, havn't had them up yet ) Need to check a few stitches!

 

[Ruffles]

I replaced our main last year and I really wish I had done so sooner. Sailing to windward is transformed from a pain to a pleasure.

 

[Koeketiene]

Current suit of sails (main, genoa and cruising chute) is 3 years old.
Previous set was 24 years old - mainsail has been binned, genoa still serviceable and kept as a spare.

 

[blackbeard]

Sails on my little cruising yacht are 12 years old, seem OK.

Genoa on my GP14 dinghy is nearly brand new - well, I thought so until I checked the date it was measured - about 6 years ago. New by my standards, then.
The main was signed by the measurer in 1979. I have to admit, though, that it's got a bit baggy and the leech flaps about like the proverbial, so maybe I ought to replace it; but since it's had rather a lot of use, it hasn't done badly. Last year it won a minor Club trophy. (Musto & Hyde, since you ask.)

 

[dunedin]

Mine is a sailing boat and we like sailing - so this is a priority area for investment.
- Mainsail - 2012
- Genoa - 2011

Two other mainsails, original supplied cheap dacron and racing kevlar. Also three other jibs/genoas, dacron and kevlar

PS Seems quite abstemious - son's racing dinghy at top level used 2-3 suits of white sails per season, and once sailed a championship week where the winning sailmaker used new sails each day (sold on as "championship winning sails") !

 

[Champagne Murphy]

Mine is a sailing boat and we like sailing - so this is a priority area for investment.
- Mainsail - 2012
- Genoa - 2011

Two other mainsails, original supplied cheap dacron and racing kevlar. Also three other jibs/genoas, dacron and kevlar


PS Seems quite abstemious - son's racing dinghy at top level used 2-3 suits of white sails per season, and once sailed a championship week where the winning sailmaker used new sails each day (sold on as "championship winning sails") !

love sailing too, engine is an elderly necessity so new main has had to wait. Maybe next year.....

 

[BarryH]

My jib, hank on, was supplied new with the boat in 1979. Its never been used.......still in the original packaging with the sail makers tags on it.

 

[Blueboatman]

I have a 'lucky' storm jib that was bought 'as new' IIRC 1982, that has passed from boat to boat ( and attic to attic) ever since.
Compared to some on here, it is barely run in tho

 

[Lucky Duck]

Mine is a sailing boat and we like sailing - so this is a priority area for investment.
- Mainsail - 2012
- Genoa - 2011

Two other mainsails, original supplied cheap dacron and racing kevlar. Also three other jibs/genoas, dacron and kevlar

PS Seems quite abstemious - son's racing dinghy at top level used 2-3 suits of white sails per season, and once sailed a championship week where the winning sailmaker used new sails each day (sold on as "championship winning sails") !

If that was the case then I would have been tempted to read the sailing instructions/class rules as this is often forbidden unless the sail has been damaged.

Back to the OP, the main and jib were new last year (2012) with a new genoa due for delivery this March. I have kept the old sails (2005) and swap them over at the edges of the sailing season.

 

[Marakei]

I was chatting yesterday with a lady who bought her Westerly 22 new in 1964 and is still using the original main.