Headsails are designed to take advantage of varying wind condition at sea

The sailors need to equip themselves with a host of sails to sail the boat in different weather condition and wind speed. Headsails are secondary sails designed to play the primary role when the Mainsail is lowered down when the wind is smooth and the vessel is running very smoothly. Headsails are the first sails that the wind encounters in the boat. They are placed ahead of the Mainsail and further towards the end of the boat. The most common type of headsails is Genoa and Jib. The headsails are furled or brought down depending upon the situation. The position of the Headsail should be continuously adjusted depending upon the prevailing condition. It helps in controlling the boat and take advantage of the situation. If they are set right, can provide good speed and control to the boat and if not set properly they tend to hinder the progress of the boat and endanger the ship.

Genoa, Jib, Genoa Staysails and Yankee Headsails are the common headsails used for cruising. Among them, Jib is the most common sail used during the maximum course of sail plan. Genoa is used for sailing in the light wind in the range of 10 to 20 knots. Jib is an all purpose sail that is used when the wind is in the range of 15 to 40 knots. Genoa Staysail is an overlapping sail used in strong weather and helps in boosting the average speed of the boat. Yankee Headsail is used in wide range of condition and especially in reaching and upwind sailing.

Competitive racing use almost five Headsails for different situation. Wind Seeker or Drifter, Light Headsail or code 1, Medium Headsail or code 2, Heavy Headsail or code 3, Code 4 Headsail, Genoa Headsail and Jib top are different Headsails used in racing competition.

The performance of the Mainsail is very important while manufacturing it

Sailing is one of the amazing sports that uses nature’s power manifested in the form of strong wind in the open sea. As the name suggests, the Mainsail is the primary sail being used in the boat to provide the power required for propulsion. Wind power is trapped within the Mainsail which generates enough force to lift and drag the boat simultaneously. It can be considered to be the power house of the boat and does the most of the work. It is located behind the mast of the sailing vessel. It is very huge and has large sail area. It

can be either rectangular or square in shape. The Mainsail is not only about speed but they must be rugged, reliable and easy to handle.  They are made from very strong material like nylon or polyester which are strong yet vary light. The lightness of the Mainsail allows for easy handling. Strength of the mainsail is important to retain its shape when load builds up in strong wind and lighter weight decreases heeling and pitching movements. Usually, the colour of the Mainsail is white which have few coloured stripes and logo of the team or the sponsoring company is printed on it. When the boat is running smoothly, the Mainsail is usually lowered down and the task is taken from the secondary sails called as Headsails. Headsails are rather expensive but they can last for a decade if the material is of good quality and they have been handled with care despite the fact that the average life of the Mainsail is three to four years. The Mainsails are custom made based on the design of the boat in which it is to be used. Second hand Mainsails are also available in the market at affordable cost but good quality.

Storm sails may be the last item on the safety gear list but never avoided while sailing

Safety concerns are very important while venturing out in the open sea and all protective gears are put in place for the safety of the crew members. But, storm sail which are also called as storm jibs are given last preference despite their crucial role play in bad storm.  Most of the sailor keep go by the perception that the best safety technique while going for sailing is to plan the sailing during favorable weather and the storm sails will remain unused forever in some cramped corner. However, it must be remembered that storm sails are like seat belts or air bags in the car which play crucial role during bad accident and manage to save lives. 

The storm sail functions well in strong and disturbing winds as it offers very less sail area as compared to other sails making it easy to move the boat downwind. The other bigger sails trap more wind and generating more power which very easily stalls the boat.

Storm sails are used in storm to maintain just the minimum sale area required to maneuver the boat out of the situation because of its smaller size. They are made of bright orange colour so that the boat can be spotted easily in bad weather condition against the grey backdrop, so that rescue team can easily reach them and move them out of the life threatening situation. They must be made up of heavier cloth and must be heavily stitched, heavily reinforced in the corners and must be cut flat for strong winds.

Ability to hold shape and strength of the mainsail is very important for sailing in all wind speed

Sailing is a very thrilling sport where the sailor gets the opportunity to test his strength and prowess. It is an amazing experience to use the power of the wind to sail along the waves of the incredible ocean. People often venture out in the deep ocean to enjoy the scenic views. It is not only fun but also therapeutic in nature as it calms the mind. Nothing can be more relaxing than spending time in the ocean in utter silence except the noise of the wind and waves, away from the noisy world.

The boat uses the aerodynamic structure of the sails to trap the wind and generate enough force to push the boat ahead. There are different types of sails that are available to move the boat in various wind speed and its direction. The sail which is majorly used as the powerhouse of the boat is known as Mainsails. It provides the power and speed to the boat and also helps in steering the boat in desired direction. The mainsails must be strong and light for smooth movement of the boat. The mainsail must be strong enough to hold the shape when load builds up in heavy blows else the sail will collapse in strong wind.  The lightness of sail prevents the boat from heeling and reduces pitching movements. They must be able to easily adjust to the changing condition of the wind and take shape accordingly. It is located at the main mast of the boat and supported by a horizontal boom. It is positioned at tight angle to the boat such that it moves against the direction of the wind also known as upwind sailing. They must be made from strong yet light materials for the optimal performance. They must be durable enough to withstand the vagaries of weather conditions for a longer period. 

The manufacturers and suppliers of sails custom design the Mainsails to provide best fit to the boats as every boat is unique in design and features.

The sailors must not avoid storm sails to save money

The adventurous sailors often venture out deep into the ocean for sublime experience when they often have to come to terms with the fury of the nature in the form of unpredictable weather condition such as heavy rain, gusty storm which are also accompanied with lightning and thunder making the situation worse. The sailors should always be prepared for such unreliable conditions. They must always carry storm sail which has been designed to function well in the bad weather.

Many sailors have the perception that weather forecasting system and communication channels are so advanced and reliable that they do not need storm sail as they will never venture out in bad weather. But they forget that weather can be very unpredictable especially in the deep ocean and communication channels can fail miserably in bad weather.

The storm sails are designed keeping in mind the bad weather and adverse situation it might have to face in guiding the boat out of the sticky situation. The usual sails do not function well in strong winds and can lead the boat to heel. They are built using strongest materials and its components are also of best quality. The lining and stitching are done by hand for extra strength and durability. The shape of the storm sails allows sufficient control over the boat and helps in moving out without getting overpowered by strong wind. Stainless steel cringes are used along with double tabling for extra strength. The storm sail is made in orange colour for easy visibility by the rescue team in bad weather. The storm sails must be designed for reliability, easy fitting and easy handling.

Quality Headsails are available for sale at affordable rates

If you are bored to death with the mundane activities of daily life and looking forwards to something very exciting, then Sailing can work wonders for you. Sailing is a very adrenaline pumping, thrilling adventurous sport. People take up sailing during the weekends to relax and energize oneself for the coming week filled with the same hustle and bustle of daily life. It is great to escape in loneliness once in a while away from the madding crowd. 

Sailing uses different types of sails to be used in different weather condition and wind speed. The major categories of sails that are being used are mainsails, Headsails, Spinnakers and Storm sails. The rest of the sails are variation of the above mentioned categories.

The head sails are the secondary sails which are used during the boat journey. The headsails are used for moving upwind along with the mainsails as the main power generator for the boat. There are two types of commonly used headsails known as Genoa and Jib. They are placed in front of the mainsail in the boat and hence their name. They are first sail that the wind has to encounter. They are always remain fixed to the boat and rarely removed unlike the mainsail which is removed when the wind is very strong. Genoa is larger in size than a Jib and used when the speed of the wind is low. Its larger size helps in generating maximum drag when the speed of the wind is low. Jib on the other hand is used when the speed of the wind is high because of its smaller size which functions well in high wind. The Genoa overlaps with the mainsail but Jib remains below the mast. 

Headsails are very important for sailing in a given weather condition and must be designed and constructed for safety and easy handling.