TOPIC:

As a retilorurning Albacore sailer its surprised me that the class hasnt got Laminate sails, what are peolples views on this i am sure its been heavily debated in the past , but maybe it will produce some lively discussion on here, GPs are considering it, Scorpions have accepted it, I would like to use it, Ive lit the touch paper retired to a safe distance and await the fireworks.

YOU HERETIC!!!

(someone had to say it!)



I think Yurv Beanhad had something to say on this last April 1st, but his post was strangely deleted.



My personal view - once prices are on a par with Dacron (they are nearly there) it will become inevitable in the same way that dacron took over from cotton and ally masts replaced wooden ones. But obviously some rules changes would be required.

My boat will now be on the bonfire with yours.

JohnW2009-12-18 09:51:14

Its interesting that some classes who allow plastic sails still prefer dacron



TSF

Cotton sails with wooden masts are a thing of great beauty, but they do have some major disadvantages; dacron sails work well and are also beautiful, so if beauty is still an important factor in this rapidly changing world, then let's stick with dacron...

Non-existant user wrote:

Its interesting that some classes who allow plastic sails still prefer dacron



TSF

Will, Which ones? (other than for Jibs)

Surprised not more comments on this subject I might get a main made and see what the reaction is, has anybody actually tried this,

grahamd wrote:

Surprised not more comments on this subject I might get a main made and see what the reaction is, has anybody actually tried this,

I believe Warner Monterio in Canada has done some experimentation. It would be worth getting in touch with him.

I'll drop him a line.



John.

Warner has sent me this pic of a laminate Jib:





It was built as part of the dual window trials. His comments are as follows:






- photos are at www.waverate.com/images/DSCF4915.JPG ,


- there are more images through DSCF4927.JPG with a couple of exceptions,


- we took a bit of time in the summer of 2008 to play around with different windows and materials,


- the Dacron sails were Dimension/Polyant HTP Plus 165g/m^2,


- the Laminated sails were Dimension/Polyant PEN (Mylar film / scrim / scrim / Mylar film taffeta),


- PEN is the same material we used in Snipe jibs,


- we tried plain 5mil Polyester Monofilm but ended up preferring the 5mil Polyester Monofilm with X-Ply,


- sails were comparable,


- costs were comparable, and


- Laminated sails need leeches re-cut because they didn't stretch the same as the Dacron.

JohnW wrote:

Non-existant user wrote:

Its interesting that some classes who allow plastic sails still prefer dacron



TSF

Will, Which ones? (other than for Jibs)

John



Solo's is a good example, of a class where plastic is allowed but many people still prefer the Dacron equivilent




Other National classes like GP14 & Scorp are moving across to plastic this year. N.B. Mainsails only as Dacron jibs being continually wrapped out the masts last better + are easiler to read.



It will be a question the class needs to ask over the next couple of years...!



Merry Xmas




TSF