Why people prefer sailboats over the motorboats

Sailboats and motorboats are different in terms of craft, construction, engineering and the ‘fun’ factor. People prefer one over the other according to their convenience and will. While a motorboat is fast, don’t require air to sail forward and is a hassle-free vessel for short trips with friends and family, sailboats combine the thrill, adventure, and excitement of manual sailing. Although motorboats are convenient and easy to sail, those who are passionate about sailing will always vote for the sailboats. Many of such Pro sailors even sail with kids on board.

First of all, sailboats are less burdensome so far as the maintenance is concerned. Not only the buying cost, day to day maintenance expenditure of the sailboats is low. It’s absolutely wallet-friendly. By spending a small amount for engine maintenance and parts, you can enjoy sailing the boat for many years. Besides, since fuel requirement is low, these boats are economical. Just a few gallons of gas and it can last for the season. You and your friends can plan long trips, whenever you like, without feeling weighed down because of the fuel charges.

Now let’s get to the main point, the real reason behind sailboats being preferred by the bravehearts. With a sailboat you can set yourself free with the wind and the waves. Nothing can match the thrill of finding your way against the odds and the excitement of feeling the adventure on your skin while the high knots and waves throw a challenge to your courage. This cannot be experienced on a convenient motorboat.

But if there’s a hero of the show in sailing, then it’s the sail itself. We always suggest sailors to go for custom built sails, if they are not in a hurry. Custom sails provide better performance and control than stock sails. Do check the link to take a look at our inventory.

How to buy customized sail boats and sails online

Buying a sailboat requires well-planned execution of calculated ideas, basic understanding of your sailing challenges, and type and form of the sail boat you would need for cruising. With the availability of a host of online sellers who offer unique ranges of functional sail boats ready for delivery after tweaks and customization, the task of choosing a sail boat has become simpler.

You just need to decide on the features and functionalities you would require-- its shape, size, basic configuration and brand. Online sellers have uncomplicated the process of buying your custom-designed sailboats.

Like the sailboats, sails too can be customized based on your necessity – be it a spinnaker or a mainsail. Online sellers usually have templates and entry form in which you can key in your custom information. You can enter your name, email, boat type, type of spinnakers etc., address for shipping, other comments and then submit.

Doing this, you can expect a quick reply from the online sellers who would provide you with a predesigned mockup of your sails. You can review it and after some basic modifications you can get it ordered online. Once done, the custom-designed sail will be ready for you and be delivered at your doorstep. The process is as simple as this!

There are a number of such vendors online but you need to check the credentials before ordering. One of such companies is here – you can compare, view, review, and order your custom sails boat or even customize one depending on your personalized and budgetary needs.

The company has been helping clients with quality yet affordable sails and sailing equipment with a mission to help sailors rule the seas. Click the company website for custom-built sails. They have a range of in-stock sails too. You can pick one if you are in urgent need.

What does it mean by a custom-built sail?

The trend of buying custom-designed sail is up, and for some good reasons. People are opting for bespoke designed sails depending on their specific requirements and surfing habits. Instead of just adding ready-made sails to the cart they are learning about the types, built and quality of the sails.

And they definitely don’t buy if they don’t seem happy with the product descriptions. Besides, some vessels are so designed that you cannot think of anything else than specially designed sails.

This trend is not a new one. In the early days of seafaring, sails had always been custom designed. There was no internet and online shopping. Sailors and owners of the boats used to visit the sailmakers, discuss about the sail plan, provide them with the measurements and the sails were made.

20th century had to introduce bulk production and ready-made sails to cater to the rising demands but almost 50% sail buyers always preferred custom sails like they do today.

A sail should be designed in such a manner so that it can withstand the wind and bring a balance between surfing time and power. It is designed based on certain quality aspects so that to provide the surfer with necessary grips and edges.

When it is designed on the basis of custom preferences of a customer, it is called a custom-built sail. Even in the ‘70s or ‘80s buyers needed to make an appointment with the sailmaker and he used to visit the boat, take measurements before getting into work.

Today, everything can be done online. You just need to log in to the supplier’s site, learn about the ordering process, provide the details and place the order. The sail will be delivered at your doorstep. Check our site for example. We are the proud supplier of Rolly Tasker sails. But if you want to have a ‘loft’ experience, you are always welcome. Your custom sail order will be taken care of anyway.

Would you buy or would you build?

Many sailors feel the confusion whether to buy a ready-made sail or to ask a good sailmaker to provide custom built sails for their vessels. We know that many a time people don’t have choice but to buy stock sails if they are in a hurry. 

But we shall always vote for custom sails if you are going for a long trip off-shore or going to participate in a competition. For these two occasions you need to make sure that you’ve got what is best for you. 

Custom sails are always built keeping in mind the specific requirements of the boat and the sailing itinerary. Not all the time you can get a stock sail fitting in perfectly. If you have enough time in hand before you set out, do go for custom sails. 

Any kind of off-shore sailing makes the sails exposed to differential wind conditions. So, first you need a proper inventory so that you can switch sails as and when required.
Secondly, while going off-shore you are bound to pass through the areas where winds blow at more than 20knots on an average and anytime you can find yourself in a stormy weather. 

To withstand the extra pressure, sails need triple stitched seams, UV stabilized threads, reef reinforcements, and premium Dacron crosscut high aspect sailcloth, heavy duty batten pockets and so on. 

If you are going for a weekend sail trip in a nearby lake, a performance Dacron crosscut sailcloth in one-row three step seam will do. But for coastal cruising, high modulus Dacron crosscut sailcloth is what you’ll need. 

If you are going to take part in a competition, you will need sails that will provide extra push to your boat speed. 

Sails may look simple from a distance but each one is constructed with lots of engineering and even if you are seasoned sailor, you should always consult with a sailmaker for the custom sail that will serve you the best.

The benefits of self-tacking headsails

Sailing is all about smartness. We, the sail makers and sailing hardware innovators always brainstorm on how to make things simpler. A self-tacking headsail is highly recommended for those who love to sail alone or for yachts that have limited number of crew members.
Without self-tacking, your crew will have to take one jib-sheet off and wind the other.

Now that’s not so easy for those who are new to sailing. By using the self-tacked headsails you can cut the hassles.

How it works 

A self-tacked headsail has one jib sheet and the hardware installation is so done that when needed you can automate the process. 

The jib-sheet will move from the clew to the stand-up block that is mounted on the self-tracker track. The sheet will then be back down inside the mast and will go back to the winch. 

It will be like sliding from one side to the other on its own.  

Benefits

Any kind of automation does come with a set of benefits and there’s no exception with a self-tacker. 

• You can move the headsail in no time without keeping any crew member engaged with the process.

• If you are sailing alone then you must have a self-tacker.

• If you have a yacht boat full of inexperienced crew members, you won’t have to train them or scratch your head to make them learn how to move the headsail.

• For small family yacht sailing, a self-tacker is highly helpful. One of the adults can keep an eye on the children while the other will keep the boat running.

• With a self-tacker you can make your headsail last longer since there’s no chance of getting it caught on the guard rails.

• You won’t have to ask your friends or crew to move out so that you can grind the winches.

What is a Storm Jib?

Those who are new to sailing should have a knowledge about the sails that are used during storms. Even if they don’t have any plan to head toward zones that are prone to high winds, they should at least learn to differentiate between a storm jib and a trysail. Both are storm sails but are different. 

A ‘Storm Jib’ is a typical storm sail that is engineered to withstand extreme wind conditions. 

The basic features of a storm jib are—

• It has a high clew

• It has no foot round

• It’s made of a heavy fabric, ideally heavy Dacron

• It weighs between 280 gm to 400 gm approximately

• Behind each hunk, there are reinforcement patches

• It has oversized corner reinforcement patches

• It has got a set of sheets spliced to the clew

• It should have a strop spliced at the tack

• The sail is always raised off the deck so that waves can pass without any obstacle

• It is set either on the forestay or on the inner forestay

Sometimes sailors try to cut a storm jib out of an old sail. We shall recommend not to do that. Ordinary sailcloth is not strong enough to withstand gusty winds. 

It is not only the shape of the sail that matters, the strength of the cloth and all the other related features mentioned above are all important. Maybe highly experienced sailors can choose an appropriate piece of cloth and can build a Jib on their own but new sailors should never think of trying anything of that sort.

They should always ‘buy’ a storm jib. If they have budget issues, they can look for used sails.

While buying a Jib, pick one that has got fluorescent color. Most sailors prefer fluorescent orange as it glows in the dark and the other boats nearby can identify the vessel. 

Put an emblem, or ask for floral prints

The best part of ordering custom sails instead of buying ready-made ones is that you can design the sail the way you want. For those who take sailing as a passion and want a signature on everything they do, custom sail is the option.

It will reflect your style, your persona and will make your vessel stand apart from all the other boast or yachts on the water.

You can ask the sailmaker to print an emblem on all the sails you have ordered or you can ask for any motifs or floral prints on the dacron. We are not telling that all the lofts actually can deliver any kind of customization you are seeking.

But there are suppliers who are dealing with the sails and sail supplies for more than two decades. Approach them and they will be up for it. If you talk about us, we have already kept a section on our website for our customers so that they can design their spinnakers.

This is actually fun. Just choose the type of spinnaker you want, fill it with the colors you like, save the template and send us. Of course you will need to mention the measurements.

If you are sailing a Catalina, then you may not think otherwise but a custom sail option. These luxurious yachts are meant for special people and need to be treated in a special way.

We provide sails for almost all the Catalina models. You just need to tell us what the measurements are.

Fully-battened Mainsail: The best cruising sail

Although sailors do vary in their opinions about whether mainsails should be fully battened or not, almost 90% of our customers voted for fully-battened mainsails and we do not dare to challenge the feedback. They are the people who have dealt with this sail and got good results.

And we too do believe in this.

Most of the modern yachts have high aspect rigs. They have got long masts and short booms. The idea is to take advantage of a greater sail area and battens can provide the support needed by this kind architecture. This is the chief reason for choosing fully-battened mains for cruising.

High aspect rigs require larger mainsails and if such kind of sails are not fully battened they will take more time to reef, raise and strike. Besides they will be less suitable to endure higher loads.

A fully battened main means there is less flogging, a strong hardware support and a less exposure to weather. Battens definitely increase the lifespan of the sail and keep it in proper shape.

But you will definitely need good quality hardware at the luff ends. Battens extended to the leech from the luff means there is a great deal of roach. Fully battened mains can maintain an aerodynamic cross-sectional shape and this is why it’s best for cruising.

Besides many cruisers seek quiet sailing experience and leech flutter makes them irritated. Full battens dampen the sail motion and reduce the noise. Battens are very helpful in reefing and flaking. Those also serve you good to depower the main. 

If you can install a lazy-jack system, reefing and dousing will be more easy.

Cruising is meant for relaxing and simply enjoying the serenity of the blue waters and you should always keep it as quiet and hassle-free as possible. Full-battens are made for the purpose.

Types of Asymmetric Spinnakers

There are a number of asymmetric spinnakers which are popularly mentioned in codes. Sometimes new sailors get confused with these names since those are only numbers. If you too have faced the problem, please go through this post. 

 Here we have tried to simplify.

Before getting into the classification, let us reiterate the definition of an asymmetric spinnaker.

An asymmetric spinnaker is a sail which is not attached to the forestay along the luff but it is attached on the corners only. It does not require a pole since it’s fixed to the bowsprit. It is easy to gybe and highly recommended for the fast planing dinghies.

Asymmetric spinnakers are classified on the basis of their roles at different wind conditions. The nomenclature of 0 to 6 which is normally used to code-name the asymmetric spinnakers follow the rule of odd and even numbering.

What makes people confused is that the numbering is not consecutive for reaching and running sails. We have got code 1, 3 and 5 for reaching sails, code 2, 4 and 6 for running sails and code 0 for the most upwind capable tight reaching sail.

So if we count from 0 to 6 keeping in mind the wind conditions and the usage of the sail we shall get the following order--

Code 0-- The tight reaching sail, a hybrid of genoa and spinnaker, most suitable to sail upwind

Code 1-- A reaching sail for light air, where the apparent wind angles are less than 90 degrees

Code 2-- A running sail for medium air, meant for apparent wind angles of more than 90 degrees

Code 3-- A reaching sail for medium air, meant for the times when the apparent wind angle is near 90 degrees

Code 4-- A running sail for the heaviest wind conditions, but not storms

Code 5-- A reaching sail for the heaviest wind conditions

Code 6-- A perfect storm sail

Tips to plan a sailing trip

Whether you are going to have a weekend sailing trip or planning to spend weeks on your boat, a good sailing plan can keep you away of worries and make the trip as enjoyable as possible. It starts with placing an order for custom built sails well ahead since these sails take time to get delivered.

It is not that buying a custom sail is necessary but it has got its own advantages. You can customize the design, the color scheme or put an emblem of your choice to make it special for you and your co-travelers. You can buy stock sails as well. Only make sure that those are of good quality.

Below are certain tips on planning a sailing trip.

• Decide your itinerary even if you are going for a simple lake sailing and then buy a cruising guide for that area. You need to know how much fuel you will require considering the estimated average vessel speed, common for that zone at that time of the year.

• Read voraciously the sailing blogs and articles of experienced sailors. Increase your knowledge, learn about tricky situations that may appear and how to solve them.

• Make a proper float plan that has got all the details of your boat and a complete itinerary. Send the copies to people you can rely on, those who will not be on board with you.

• You should always keep an extra ignition key. Get it made before anything else.

• It is needless to mention that you need to triple check the mechanical and electronic system. You should have enough PFDs, more than in number than the total number of heads to be on board.

• Buy more than enough food stock, check the fresh water supply, keep enough medicines and first-aid items. 

• You need to watch the weather conditions. Take out a printed forecast for next ten days minimum and keep provisions to get internet-connected throughout the journey.

Do make an exhaustive check-list and before setting out, tick out all the points at least twice.

Check the details of the storm sails

Storms are test times for a mariner and even a seasoned one may feel flabbergast. A lot depends on the quality of the sail and so instead of just jumping on any deal of storm sails for sale, which seems lucrative, look out for quality sails, manufactured by experienced sailmakers. 

If you have a huge experience as a sailor, have handled different kind of boats and sailing equipment, sailed extensively at different wind conditions, be it off-shore or along the coast, then you should be an expert in picking up exactly the kind of sail you need for your trip.

If you are not, you need to know that the sailcloth, type of stitch, extra stitching, reinforcement-- the checklist is long for a good quality sail. It should be so made, with such a craftsmanship and a kind of material that can withstand any sort of gusty wind condition. 

Dacron is the most ideal and durable sail material. It has many variations, meant for different usage. For example, if you are going off-shore you require Premium Dacron Crosscut as the material is more stretchable than High Modulus Dacron Crosscut which is ideal for coastal cruising.

But only the sailcloth won’t save you from the storm. Stitching is the next big factor, one that ensures that the sail will not tear apart. Type of stitching and hardware do vary according to your sailing itinerary.

If you will be going for a calm lake cruising then you may not require a three-row zig-zag stitching, mandatory for off-shore sailing. If these details seem exhaustive, you may just find a reputed sail supplier, one that has included all the necessary features in the products.

All you have to do then, just sort through the sails in offer and purchase one that suits the luff, leech and foot measurements of your boat.

Design your own spinnaker

Have you ever thought of designing your own sail? If you are a passionate cruiser you must be the one who enjoys getting busy with anything related to sailing like the equipment, sails or the vessel itself when you are not sailing. Add another activity and design your own spinnaker. It is such a fun. Just log on to our site and visit custom sails section.

Although we have a range of ready-made spinnakers which you can find in our spinnaker section and buy right away but if you are not in a hurry, you should go for this creative option. It is as simple as putting colors to a drawing. We will just need to know the kind of spinnaker you require-- Radial head, Tri-radial or Star-cut.

First choose the category and immediately a drawing will appear on the screen. You will find a panel of color boxes below and a movable coloring tool. Click on a box to choose a color and you shall find the name of the color popped up on the top. The design of the spinnaker will be displayed as a line drawing with a number of horizontal and vertical panels.

After you select the color, click on a panel and you will see the panel has caught the the same. Isn’t it a fun? You will have the liberty to experiment as long as you want. Color-change-reselect-color... just enjoy your moment. If you have a child then for him/her also it can be a very creative activity.

When you are done click on the submit button and you will find an order form. Fill out all the measurement details and then click on the small question mark icon on the top right corner of the box. The rest of the mailing procedure will be mentioned there.

12 tips for the new sailors

We think we are veteran enough to give some tips to the youngsters in sailing. Our lofts are frequently visited by new sailors and many of them stay back for hours. Soon after they finish sorting through our spinnakers, mainsails or headsails for sale they ask for tips. New sailors, specially those who are relatively young at age, never run out of queries. We never mind and in fact we love to answer.

So we thought of sharing these basic tips here, for those who are new to sailing. You should start with a small boat and practice sailing in calm waters initially. 

•  Check weather conditions before setting out. Take detailed notes of the tide and wind forecast.

• Sail setting is the most vital part. Your sail should remain flat if you have normal wind conditions. During moderate winds, it should be full. Ease the setting when you are bearing away.

• You should learn to sense which way the wind is blowing. Take it as a practice session.

• The boom swings and many new sailors make themselves injured. You just need to remain cautious. 

• When you are sailing downwind, you should keep the boom down and place crew weight astern.

• In upwind condition, place crew weight to the windward side. Raise the centerboard slightly and take control of the speed.

• Always wear life jackets and take enough number of boat cushions. For the kids, attach whistles with the jackets.

• Learn the common sailing terms and teach the team well. On board, it is required to communicate in short.

• Initially allow all the other boats to overtake you. This is your learning phase.

• Always maintain a safe speed.

• Steer the boat in a straight line. Unless you will find difficulty in adjusting your sails.

• A flat boat is always a fast boat.

Take good care of your Mainsails

Sails are long term partners for a mariner. Once bought they can be used for years, provided you take good care of them. Seasoned mariners know how to take care of the sailing equipment but for those who are new in cruising, require some tips. Specially we are concerned about expensive Mainsails. We have a range of fresh-from-the-loft Mainsails for sale and sometimes we come across customers who have got their Mainsails worn out too fast.

How long a Mainsail will last depends on the kind of weather it gets exposed to and how it is being preserved when it is not in use. Wind, Damp and Ultraviolet Rays are the three most common enemies of sails. Racing boats are highly exposed to wind and their Mainsails normally last 1 to 3 seasons. But boats that cruise mostly along the coasts should have their Mainsails last up to 5 years. For private yachts, the period should be as long as 10 years.

We got to know a couple of customers in our 18 year old journey who have private yachts and had to discard their Mainsails after a couple of years. The most common reason that we have found is mildew. The first and foremost task to maintain a Mainsail is to keep it dry when preserved. Even if you have rolled and kept it inside the cover neatly, you have to check time to time whether it is catching moisture.

For commercial boats, the greatest threat becomes storms. That is why it is advised to take the Mains off, if the boat is going to stay at a port for a very long time. It will be unnecessary to make the Mainsail deal with the gusty winds or UV rays. Besides how you are rolling it down, can also leave some impacts. If you have full battens, roll it straight otherwise the battens will be bent.

Sail happy and sail safe, wish you a very happy new year

If you have a yacht that means you are a seafarer by passion and cannot ignore the catcalls made by the endless volumes stretched up to the horizon, storing beneath an ocean-full of mysteries. Looking at the sea for a long time makes you seek another voyage. You feel the urge to hoist the storm sails once again and set out for faraway co-ordinates, a virgin shore waiting for the first footstep. A true mariner always wants to spend the very special moments at sea. We know that many of you are planning for a new year boat party, all set to do the final countdown on board. Some of you may have a plan to spend a few days sailing long distance. National Sail Supply, the sails and sailing equipment supplier, wish everyone a happy and safe sailing experience this new year.

“Every new year is like a new voyage. You are filled with excitement, you have a map and direction but you never know whether a storm will bring a topsy-turvy moment for you. You should be ready for all odds and pick the proper stuff before you set out”, says Rolly Tasker, the principal sailmaker. He is making sails for more than fifty years and all over the world, more than ten thousand vessels are using Rolly Tasker sails. He has lofts in Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong and France. If you are looking for custom built sails, National Sail Supply is the place. They supply headsails, mainsails, spinnakers, Catalinas, ropes and all the other sailing equipment.

“We are too passionate people, the sea-goers. It does not matter whether you own a luxury yacht or a small boat, water won’t be sweet anyway and the storms will not spare us either. In fact, we, the mariners have a special chemistry with the storms. We are threatened as well as thrilled. We pray hard before sailing but if it strikes us, we feel volcanic from inside. We gather all of our energy and strive to ride the storm in style”, he went on, “how seasoned you are in seafaring is often measured in terms of how many times you have surfed through the gusty winds and managed to fight the phenomenon. We have seen even experienced seafarers fail sometimes. Technique and skill are definitely two important aspects but the type of sail used and the quality of equipment, both are vital. We especially recommend private yacht owners to pick the best quality sailing equipment within their budget.”
 
Budget is definitely an issue for all of us and for any kind of purchase but when you are sailing, you cannot just compromise with the quality of the equipment. And, specially if you are getting ready for a special new year bash with your friends and family on your yacht, do make sure there is no loophole.

Go to the loft for tips, advises and sails

Many new seafarers feel confused while buying the spinnakers for their vessels. They often find difficulty in choosing the right kind. That is why we always recommend the new mariners and private cruisers to consult a good sailmaker. Buying from his loft will be a different experience altogether as  these lofts are filled with people who have spent quality time at sea and can share a number of tips and advises.

If you are not a seasoned mariner but planning to spend a few days cruising with your private vessel or you are going to join a crew for some serious seafaring business, you should have a clear knowledge about all types of sails and if you feel like you are falling short, you can even approach a local sailmaker for some tutorials.

Some people get confused with the codes designated to the spinnakers. Just remember the basic, running sails are even number sails and reaching sails are of odd number. Now, depending on the wind speed and angle the choice of sail will differ. Codes are designated to represent the sailing conditions. When the vessel moves forward along its course, it gets exposed to the changing wind conditions and spinnakers need to be chosen accordingly.

When you are going downwind, you need a code 2A which is a medium air sail that surfs through 7knots or 8 knots. The code 2 sails cover 7 knots to 20 knots wind and sometimes is mentioned as ‘All purpose’ spinnaker. Code 4 is for winds more than 18 knots and if you are sailing offshore you must take code 6 that withstands very windy conditions.

Now applying logic you can figure out that code 1 is meant for mild wind conditions. See, it is easy and will be easier with a loft experience.

Put your name on the sail

Buying sails for your vessel is one of the most critical tasks and this is what you should do very carefully. Do not get too fascinated by brands. We are not at all against brands but the point we are trying to make is that sometimes custom built sails serve better. May be these sails are not coming from a big factory but from a local loft. That does not mean these customized sails will be of inferior quality.

Most of these lofts employ experienced craftsmen who have worked for big brands. Besides these lofts are owned by seasoned mariners. They can actually guide you if you are a new seafarer. Ready made sails sometimes do not match the exact requirements of the boat. If you are choosing custom, then the sailmaker will have the option to go see your boat and take the measurements so that the sails fit perfectly.

They will also ask where you will be heading. Is it offshore or along the coast? Will you be catching up with the trade winds or traveling through the  gusty weather conditions. This information is vital in deciding the type of sailcloth to be used and the type of headsails to choose.

But the greatest perk of choosing a custom sail is that you can put an emblem or write a name, which will be visible from a long distance.

Choose Headsails according to your sailing plan

When you are off to shop to buy the Headsails for your vessel, you need to choose according to your sailing plan. Depending on your destination, requirements will change. If you are sailing offshore, the type of sails you need are different from those you will require while sailing along a coastline. The sail configuration changes from vessel to vessel also.

When your mainsail is big enough, you will need a heavy weather jib and a 120% roller-furling Headsail. With this new roller-furling technology, we have reduced the number of sails in use but it is good for coastal sailing. The moment you go offshore, you are exposed to changing wind conditions and single Headsail will not help you.

For an offshore sailing boat, two Genoas can provide an adequate support-- one 135% that can be reefed around 95% and another 105% which reefs to 75%. But roller-furling has a side effect. Changing the sail set midway is difficult and so you need to make a sail setting plan depending on your sailing route. Large Headsails will be required if your sailing through the high pressure conditions. But if you are going to catch up with the trade winds, you need smaller ones.

Rig configurations are not same for all the boats. Some sailors even modify them to accommodate two Headstays. It is in fact necessary to have two Headsails at least, if you are planning to sail offshore.

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.