| Which categories of racing or cruising sailor do you fit | | | | and sail thread. Use sails with a "softer" hand for better |
| into? You will want to match the number and type of | | | | durability. |
| boat sails in your inventory to your answer. Learn how | | | | Traditional sailors |
| to sail a boat better, faster, and with more power once | | | | Choose a soft-hand Dacron sailcloth. These sails are |
| you select the six sails you need for peak | | | | lighter, easier to handle by short handed sailing crews, |
| performance. | | | | and add less weight to provision-laden cruising |
| Match the sails you carry to the type of sailing you do. | | | | sailboats. |
| Racing sailors need sails that keep their sail shape | | | | Carry these six basic sails |
| longer and give great performance over a narrow | | | | * Mainsail with two rows of reef points |
| wind range. With larger sailing crews, racing sailboat | | | | * 150% Genoa (all purpose) |
| skippers can make sail changes as often as they'd like. | | | | * 130% - 135% Genoa |
| Small cruising boat sailors need durability and sailboat | | | | * Working jib |
| sails that can take salt, spray, wind, and UV light for | | | | * Storm jib |
| hours or days at a time. Their sails must be smaller, | | | | * Spinnaker (symmetrical or asymmetrical) |
| lighter, and easier to handle because of short handed | | | | Why carry two Genoas? As convenient as furling |
| crews. | | | | headsails are, they will never be able to take the place |
| Which categories match your type of sailing? | | | | of a Genoa made for a specific wind range. Each |
| World class sailor and master sailmaker Brian Hancock | | | | wrap of a furling headsail causes the luff to rise higher |
| says that most sailors tend to move between three | | | | off the deck. Heeling and weather helm increase. |
| specific categories--club racers, performance cruisers, | | | | A smaller 130% - 135% Genoa carries a shorter luff |
| and traditional sailors. | | | | and higher clew to provide you with powerful drive on |
| Club racers | | | | reaches in choppy conditions without the worry of |
| Do you like the occasional one-day-a-week (or | | | | excessive heeling. |
| weekend) race around the buoys? Select a suit of | | | | Consider these additional sails |
| sails that give great performance and hold their shape | | | | Racers might add a light weight 150% Genoa and light |
| well. Sailing skippers that demand the best might use | | | | air drifter. Coastal or offshore cruisers might add |
| Spectra or Vectran to get the best shape. But most | | | | another mainsail (with three rows of reef points), a light |
| club racing skippers will be happy with Dacron sailcloth | | | | air drifter, a hank-on staysail (use this on a removable |
| for good performance and more durability at a fraction | | | | headstay rigged inboard of the headsail furling gear), |
| of the cost. | | | | and a storm trysail. |
| Performance cruisers | | | | Choose the sails you need based on the type of |
| If you enjoy a coastal or blue water cruise, you will | | | | sailing you do. This sail inventory will help you learn how |
| want to focus on durability. Your sails will take more | | | | to sail a boat better with a limited wardrobe and still |
| punishment offshore. Even in light winds, flutter, salt, sun, | | | | give you blazing speed, power, and |
| dirt, dust, and spray all combine to break down fabric | | | | performance--without breaking your bank account! |