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SAILS FOR OFFSHORE SAILING SO, YOU HAVE DECIDED TO GO BLUEwater sailing. That itch finally has to be scratched. It’s time to get your boat ready. There is a lot to do especially when it comes to your sail inventory. The sails that you used for harbor hopping around the bay on weekends will probably not cut it when far from land when a sudden squall rolls through at two in the morning. With that in mind, let’s take look at sail engineering for offshore sails.
Weight, strength and durability mark the essential ingredients in well-made offshore cruising sails
by Brian Hancock
you pay for. You need to have three goals in mind; weight, strength and stretch resistance, and durability.
Weight is important, especially weight aloft. Unnecessary weight aloft adds to the heeling and pitching motion of the boat, which over time contributes to crew fatigue. Think of sailing to windward with a sack of potatoes tied to the masthead. It can’t be good. Lighter sails are much easier to handle and much easier to set and trim. First of all, it’s going to cost some money They also don’t take up as much space but that investment in fabric and engineer- below when stowed. ing up front pays huge dividends down the road. It really is a case of you get what Strength and stretch resistance is also of 28
BLUE WATER SAILING
