Our Cruising Sails are designed to be tough and durable, yet still perform . . .
As experienced professional delivery skippers & blue-water cruisers ourselves, we know very well just how important it is that your cruising sails can stand up to the toughest of conditions, and still come out of the other side in the same good shape. That’s why when we build our cruising sails, we use these simple steps…
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Only genuine fine quality cloth as a base level
The material selected for a sail is unsurprisingly the most expensive component, yet it can vary enormously in quality (and in cost/profit to the sailmaker). We simply do not quote using anything but genuine quality cloth as standard. We then offer an upgrade option to our premium quality cloth that is literally the best cloth available. Always ask for details about the cloth make, weight and quality when ordering a sail.
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Only the best quality sail hardware available
Our reputation is worth far more to us than any savings to be made by using low quality fittings. Sail hardware needs to be tough for good reason, this is why we only use the best quality fittings available.
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Two rows of three-step stitched seams as standard
The seams of a sewn sail are potentially its most vulnerable point. Three step stitching is significantly stronger than ordinary zigzag and by doubling up the rows of quality thread we use, we ensure that our sails survive for longer. We always offer the choice of coloured thread so that wear can be spotted early. For the long distance Blue-Water cruisers, we also offer an option to add an extra row of stitching as well as build using a specially formulated thread that outlasts even the sail cloth in terms of UV resistance.
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Always webbing reinforced corners as standard
The corners of sails can experience fantastically high loads, this is why we only build using webbing reinforced corners as standard on all of our sails rather than an optional upgrade. This small increase in weight is more than worth it for the long distance cruiser who wants to keep their sails in good shape.
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Where possible, fanned radial patches (even on Dacron sails)
The way a sail cloth’s yarns are orientated is critical in controlling stretch. If a woven sail cloth has load running diagonally across its weave, it will simply stretch. This is obviously massively important in high load areas such as corner patches and is why we use radial patches in order to align the yarns in the most efficient way therefore reducing stretch. As this technique is more efficient, it reduces the weight of the cloth required compared to simply stacking up layers in one orientation like many lofts do.
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CFD tested designs
Like our racing sails, we spend a good deal of time testing our design moulds in simulated wind tunnel analysis programs. This means that no mater what materials we use, our cruising sails are still designed and engineered to perform better.
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Guarantee
We offer a two year limited guarantee against manufacture defects on all of our sails as standard. We also invite all of our customers to return their sails to us at the end of the first season for a free check over and winter storage as well as offer an optional laundry service.
We design and build all of our sails individually at our loft in Cornwall using the very best sailmaking equipment available globally. This means that not only do we know your sails inside out, we are always available should you need to discuss anything about them in the future.
We’re proud of our sails for good reason, and we’re sure you will be too!