I'm not coloured

[BrianJ]

I\'m not coloured

Why should we all have white sails on yachts, forget the Mylar and Kevlar, plus the old song “ Red Sails In the Sunset”
Is it because the cloth manufacturers only dictate we want white or are we all happy with what is on the market?
On smaller yachts you may see a coloured headsail, but always a white main. WHY?
Look at the brilliant colours of spinnakers…. No one sticks to a pure white spinnaker WHY
How about a coloured headsail then a white main with one or two strips of the same colour as the headsail incorporated.
Wadda ya think eh ?
BrianJ

 

[Cornishman]

Re: I\'m not coloured

I'm sure you can have whatever coloured sails you would like - but be prepared to pay for them. Tan sails of modern materials on traditional craft are quite common in this part of the world. There is one small yacht with GREEN sails - obviously not a traditionalist- sailing around Plymouth.
White sails can be more easily seen at sea - or at least that is what the sailmakers will say. Saves them buying bolts of coloured cloth which they might only half use.

 

[Guest]

Why are wooden boatowners more hairy ?

Some things are just the way they are.

Tan sails+wooden boat = Hairy Owner

Tan sails+wooden boat+gaffer = Very Hairy Owner

Same thing.

 

[claymore]

Re: I\'m not coloured

Shining a torch onto a white main is a good way of being seen at night when all else seems to have failed - not sure that red, tan or green really would do it as well

regards
Claymore

 

[ccscott49]

Re: I\'m not coloured

My sails are egyptian cotton coloured, don't like white on an older boat. White is cheaper, coz they make more, I guess.

 

[Strathglass]

Re: I\'m not coloured

It is purely a matter of cost. More white sail cloth is probably manufactured than all the other colours together. Because of this white cloth is less expensive. Sailmakers are obviously reluctant to buy rolls of coloured cloth just for one suit of sails then have the remains of the roll sitting on the shelf.
I remember several years ago, in large one design dinghy fleets when everyone, by choice, had identical white hulls and white sails. The reason- to hide in the crowd and make identification more difficult after premature starts and other indescretions.
Not all sail cloth will be made in colours so perhaps a compromise has to be made, but sails can be made in whatever colour you want. If you are prepared to pay.

Iain

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: I\'m not coloured

I just had a white genoa made with a white sacraficial strip because I couldn't find a blue strip which 'matched' my navy dodgers. Boating does bring out one's eccentricities.

 

[paulineb]

Re: I\'m not coloured

what's a sacrificial strip?

.... and Colin, you're not allowed to answer this one !!!

Pxx

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: I\'m not coloured

I'd never thought of it like that until I saw your wiggly logo next to the words. Sailcloth is easily damaged by ultra violet light. It's a strip of cloth on the outside of a furling sail which will take the ultra violet damage before the sail proper. When your sacraficial strip is knackered you just put a new one on, saving yourself the cost of a new sail.

 

[paulineb]

Re: I\'m not coloured

does the same sort of job as anodes? roughly.

Pxx

 

[tome]

Re: I\'m not coloured

Brilliant - anodes for sails! Never thought of that...

BTW it's usually blue and goes along the bottom (foot) and back (leach) of the sail. When it's rolled up, it looks like a solid blue sausagey sort of thing. Technical, eh?

 

[paulineb]

Re: I\'m not coloured

Please excuse my ingnorance mr arsewipe - you know exactly what i meant. I have sacrifical plates on my davits (if you know what they are) which do the same sort of thing as anodes - I just wondered if the strips on sails did the same sort of thing.

Pxx

 

[tome]

Re: I\'m not coloured

Sorry Pauline - wasn't taking the piss. I meant it was brilliant as it's exactly what they are and I'd never thought of it in that way. I'll never be able to call them anything other than sail anodes in future!

Humble arsewipe

 

[Spacewaist]

SAR prefers Orange

Dunno about being able to be seen at sea.

The Search and Rescue people claim white sails are difficult to see against a white sea. That's why storm sails are supposed to be orange ( err.. but mine isnt)

D'ya've a gd weekend?
We're through the worst of it now.....Oh!Gybe Ohhhhh..!

 

[graham]

Re: SAR prefers Orange

A heavy anode on a genoa could be dangerous to anyone on the foredeck.

On a more serious note theres at least 3 or 4 new genoas needed on boats moored next to mine after the 80 knot gusts that swept across Cardiff this morning.

A couple had stayed furled up but the wind had got in and shredded trhe leach without unrolling it.

Mine was ok but the mainsail cover was loose .Nothing could be done until late afternoon when it moderated enough to row out and sort it.

I suppose the lesson is to allways leave your boat as if a storm is imminent,but like most people I get complacent after a long gentle summer.

At least one boat was wrecked after breaking free and attacking the breakwaters.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: SAR prefers Orange

I have a big sock like affair, with a looooong zip, which goes over my sail (on a spare halyard) when I leave the boat for long periods, which also ties up, never have problems with my headsail, even in really bad storms.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: I\'m not coloured

Me! would I? 0 /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[Cornishman]

Re: SAR prefers Orange

Quite so, but I think BrianJ was talking of the plain sails when he posed the question.

BTW, who carries a trysail these days? That, along with the storm jib, should definitely be a l'orange which just goes to show that you can have any colour you want.

More wind and rain showing up over Plymouth as I write. Ugh!

Cornishmen Get Tin Deeper!

 

[ghostwriter]

don\'t wake the neigbours !

you don't want them peeping into your bathroom , now do you ??? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif

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[jamesjermain]

Re: I\'m not coloured

There is a slight issue of UV light here too. White sails reflect more light inc. more UV so last longer.

JJ