Tips to buy the right sails for your boat online

Many a time we have seen that purchasing sails is treated as the last thing to do. Sailors tend to keep their chief focus on the equipment purchases and when it comes to buy sails they either visit a local loft or add to cart in a hurry.

Sails should never be bought that way. Ideally one should go for an inventory of custom-built sails.
But if you are short in time then you have no other option left but to buy ready-made ones. But never give in to the cheap sale deals.

Let us share a few tips on how to choose the right sails online.

From exclusive sail suppliers only
Never buy sails from multi-product shopping sites. Do find out exclusive sail suppliers. Most of them sell sails coming from their own lofts and it’s more likely that you’ll get quality sails on those sites.

Check the credentials
Even before sorting the products, check the credentials of the sailmaker and the supplier.
Write down the measurements
Sails are bought according to the boat size and specifications. Before you’ve logged in, note down all the details in a piece of paper. This will help you to sort products and also to pick the appropriate sails for your boat.

Read product descriptions carefully
Be it a mainsail, headsail or storm sail, you should take note of the sailcloth, type of stitching, kind of batten pockets, radial patches etc. According to your itinerary, the specifications will differ. For example, if you are going off-shore, then the mainsail should be constructed with alloy headboards.

Get a good sail plan
You should ideally consult with an experienced sailmaker to get a sail plan done. Sail plans are made keeping in mind the itinerary and the measurements of the boat. If you have one ready, buying online will be easy. 

Consult a sail supplier for the sail plan

A sail plan is basically a two dimensional representation or sketch of the sail that defines its area, rig type, size and shape in general terms. It also shows the mainsail and the other important parts of the sailboat.
The task of the sail plan is to provide the sailmaker with enough details so that he can estimate the power of the boat’s sails and also make sure that the center of these sails cooperates properly with the hull so that it results in a well-balanced sailing.
As the sail plan is mainly a two dimensional figure, it does not actually provide sufficient amount of details to create a good sail. In the majority of the cases, the sails are 3D figures with intricate works on them.
Sail design involves taking the two dimensional sail plan and creating a 3D rendition of it.
A sail plan is generally a combination of sail proposals made for different wind/weather conditions. It can be a normal or working sail plan, a storm sail plan and a light air sail plan.
If you are an experienced sailor, you can chalk-out on your own and provide it to a sailmaker so that he can build you following your sketches. If you are a new sailor, then it’s better not to try your hand in it.
Just make a detailed description of your sailing itinerary and consult with a good sail supplier and sailmaker. They will guide you in a proper way. You can highly visit a loft and set a meeting face to face.
Alternatively ask them to visit your place and see your boat. That way they can take the measurements on their own to come up with an ideal solution. If you are a new sailor then you should invest for an inventory of sails and the experienced sailmakers can guide you on that regard. 

How about an Easter party on board?

Here comes another celebration time and we all are very excited. Everyone around is planning to do something special on this Easter weekend and we say how about an Easter party on board with the spinnakers on?

This occasion is a nice chance to catch up with the cousins, in-laws, parents and grandparents or with a league of friends whom you haven’t met in 10 years, after leaving school.

If you are a passionate sailor, then simply make arrangements and give them a surprise party on board. And if you are thinking of a tête-à-tête, your partner will definitely love the idea.

They will be high. We bet.

Just go by the checklist below before setting out for a short day-trip --

• You should keep type III life jackets with whistles, x+2 in number. Extra jackets are good to keep.

• Each crew-member should have one rigging knife

• Keep heaving line, radar reflector, handheld spotlight.

• You will need sailing gloves, hats and glasses straps. 

• Make provision for boat shoes, rain gear, towels, blankets.

• Your first aid box should contain tampons, gelusils, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, chapstick, hand cream and Kleenax

• Motion sickness pills are must-haves. Also keep acupressure wrist bands and artificial tears.

• Sunscreen or tanning cream is optional of course.

• Do not forget to get loads of band-aids in different sizes, adhesive tapes, Q-tips, cotton balls and sterile pads.

• Your navigation kit should include the log-book, compass, knotstick, tide tables and all the geometric equipment that come in handy.

• Keep in your tool box flashlight, wire cutters, assorted bungee chords, duct tape, spare winch handle, leatherman, vise-grips, dacron lines and nylon lines.

• 7x50 binoculars are must in at least 3:1 ratio-- one per three people. No one should feel left out when all be watching a sunset or a flock of birds flying towards the horizon.

• Bring pre-cooked food, foiled, packed and ready-to-eat confectioneries, patisseries. We think there’s no need to remind you about the beverages. That’s the first thing you will pick up, we are sure.

Storm sailing: Coastal and Offshore

Storms are the challenge times for the sailors and if you are a new kid on the block we have got some tips on how to get yourself through this kind of weather. Do not just jump on the so called lucrative deals of storms sails for sale up on the web. First learn what you would require and then buy.

For Coastal Storms

Shortening the sail is the best option.

• When the wind blows over 15 Knots, drop to the first reef.

• If it goes beyond 15 but below 20 Knots, roll up the Genoa. 

• Beyond 20 Knots, put in the second reef.

• Then again if it rises up to 25, sailing under the reefed main is the option. Furl up the Genoa.

• Now if it is over 30, drop the main. On those times sailing under the bare poles is the wisest option.

Now what will happen if the threat is beyond? If there’s a sudden strong squall or high sea?

Apply ‘heaving to’. This is simply setting up the rudder and the sails in a way that they oppose one another. This will stop the boat making headway. 

For Off-shore Storms

• Typically all the off-shore sailors carry Trysails and most essentially a storm jib.

• You can also reef or furl regular sails but generally the fabric of these sails cannot withstand strong winds. So you should always carry special sails for storms while going offshore.

• Staysails are great weapons to fight storms off-shore but you should ideally get those custom made. Vessel type does matter for the construction.

• Lying Ahull is one of the best techniques to combat off-shore light storm, not high storm. Simply drop the sail and stop steering. The boat will fare for itself.

  
   But, there is a but. It is applicable if the waves are not that big.

Single Reefing Vs Separate Headsails

This is one of the most common dilemmas that our customers suffer from often. Although we always vote for a suite of individual headsails, many of them argue in favor of a single reefing one.

We are absolutely not against Rolling Genoas. Many new age sailors will always put their thumbs up for this option since it cuts many hassles.  

Both the options have some pluses and downsides but as we have mentioned many a times before in our blogs that the kind of sail you choose should be based upon your sailing itinerary. If you are new to sailing do consult with the sail supplier instead of just adding to your cart.

If you are going for an off-shore trip, it is not advisable to go for single reefing. A single sail cannot perform best in all wind conditions, specially when the chances of getting exposed to strong winds are high.

For off-shore cruising, you need a full inventory of headsails-- three large Genoas, one Working Jib, one Heavy Air Jib and a Storm Jib.

Are you doing mental maths now? Trying to figure out how much will it cost you? Borrow, if you can’t spend that much or find some used sail deals on the net but never ever play the risk unless you are an old man on the sea.

It’s true that we have seen a few experienced sailors managing with lesser number of headsails, for example say, if the boat is fractionally rigged, has got a large mainsail and a small fore-triangle.

If the plan is to simply cruising along a coastline, single reefing is a good choice since it is more practical and it will provide you with a variable sail area. But always remember that if you have a Rolling Genoa, it should have its clew much higher than the tack.

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

Pros and Cons of fully battened Mainsails

There is a good deal of debate on whether fully battened Mainsails are good or not. These sails have become an in-thing over the last few years and there are solid reasons behind the trend.

Still there are certain criticisms. Sailors do differ in their opinions. By speaking with some of our old as well as new customers we have learned about a number of points both in favor and against the full-batten mainsails.

Being a sail supplier we cannot make any comment since we are supposed to build sails according to our customers’ needs. If they prefer full-batten we are on, if they don’t that will not make any difference to us.

So we are putting it neutrally. Below are the pros and cons. 

Pros

• Battens help to hold the sail in shape. 

• The usable sail area is more via larger roach.

• Suitable batten hardware and matching lazyjacks make these sails easy to handle, can be stacked neatly on the top of the boom. There will be no blowing all over the deck if you lower the halyard.

• An ideal choice for large boats

• Full batten sails flog less, providing you with a quiet sailing experience. 

• Less flogging means the stress level on the rig is low. The sailcloth lasts longer.

• If racing is in your mind, full-battens are good as these help in generating more speed.

• Full-battens are highly useful for motor-boats 

Cons

• Apparently the biggest drawback of full-batten is its cost. The sail becomes expensive since added expenses incur for incorporating batten pockets and batten cars.

• Because of the locked-in shape it’s hard to slow down or stop if there is a man-overboard situation.

• In case of boats with angled spreaders, the battens rub and anti-chafe patches are difficult to put since no one knows exactly where the battens will be in contact with the rigging.

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.

Sail for love, spend your Valentine’s Day on board

Have you ever sailed for love? No? Try it out this year. What more you can ask from life when the day of love falls on a Saturday. We have got the whole weekend this year to celebrate and don’t just let the opportunity pass by. Unpack your headsail , brush up your boat, check the equipment and set out for a romantic journey.  

 

It doesn’t matter how far you go, what matters the most is being on board with the people you love the most. The Valentine’s Day is all about making everything special for those who have made our life beautiful. Throw a surprise boat party, make them go “wow!” with your idea and give them a memory, never to be forgotten.

Does it sound weird? Well, it may but as passionate seafarers, we actually love to connect every aspect of our lives with sailing. This is the reason why we started the journey of National Sail-- a very strong excuse to get busy with the sails, the boats and other equipment round the year. 

If you too are that passionate about sailing like we are, do sail for love. Not every time you will get a weekend around this day. The Valentine’s Day 2015 deserves to be something different.

Think of a nice theme. If you are a family person with kids, ‘Pirates’ will do good but if you are seeking a ‘two-of-us’ time, ‘The Love Boat’ can be a nice one or else you just put it simple-- your favorite music on, a bottle of wine of your choice and your partner by your side.

Love steps in places where peace prevails and flows between two souls, unmasked and uncomplicated to each other.

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.

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.

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.