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UK sailmakers and reviews? Where do you get your sails?

Verfasst: Freitag 8. Juli 2011, 18:55
von BalladExchangeDB
Triola needs new sails, we go more sideways than forwards so i was wondering where those of you in the UK have gone your sails made and what you thought of them and their lifespan!?

Thanks again everyone!

Re: UK sailmakers and reviews? Where do you get your sails?

Verfasst: Freitag 8. Juli 2011, 18:59
von BalladExchangeDB
msn-algarveballad1 wrote on Oct 15, '08
Hi , I have used SANDERS SAILS in lymington. excellent genoa,we win races.he makes for the ballad fleet ,and knows the dimensions. regards ,Paul Kent . Yacht SULA.,Portugal.
msn-redmed6 wrote on Oct 15, '08
I did an exercise last year to ascertain costs for a new 'chute. The results were surprisingly varied.

Separately this season, during a holiday trip along the Devon and Cornish coasts I visited small and independent sailmakers in each town I visited (details if required): all declared interest, none sent estimates.

The original ones were made by Horizon in Sweden: do we have to ask them to quote, assuming little interest in UK (do I jest?).

My aim, was to establish a relationship with a sailmaker to whom I could entrust work, confident timetables would be met and upon whom I could rely as regards quality, commitment and budget for a range of other work.

I'd like a sock for the spinnaker, for example, which could be either seen as tail-end-charlie or a serious commercial opportunity to exploit, because the maker is not getting the main commission.

Is it possible hitherto there has been enough work around to make these people uninterested in new commissions?

Collaboration looks a good idea. by the way, your photos make it look as though the boat was going well!
msn-puredrop5 wrote on Oct 16, '08
I have used Kemp Sails in Wareham for new sails for CIAO, I live in Wareham so it is easy. Can't comment on the longevity of the sails but their valeting service is very good and they had no problems making a new main and No.2 jib.

Mark Bennett
msn-patentnick1 wrote on Oct 16, '08
Hi Mark:

Just out of curiosity, how much did Kemp charge for your main and No.2 genoa? I'm trying to compare prices between sailmakers in Greece and the UK.

Nicholas
Moments of Clarity #334
msn-derby411
reply
msn-derby411 wrote on Oct 17, '08
Thanks for the info everyone. Also should have added what sail clothes do you all use? We are thinking Pentex with taffita on both sides (i think thats it.. I'll probably have got it wrong, hehe).
msn-duchess191 wrote on Oct 17, '08
Depending on your requirements, I would recommend Sanders for racing sails (ours are dacron because we sail so much, but he will make excellent modern fibre sails), No 2 and No3 are worth trying the second hand place in Emsworth (they have a website, but I forget their name, as we're no longer in the area). You get excellent No 3s and No4s from bigger boats that will fit us!
Locally in the West Country, Westaway do a reasonable job (good sails) but some of the peripherals not always 100%. However, their attitude and prices can't be beaten - Sanders also great, but more expensive. Certainly we're pleased with our Sanders No 1s, both of which have lasted several seasons, our Sanders Mainsail (I think this is 5th season), our Westaway spinnaker and Westaway No 2. I would definitely recommend getting a second hand small spinnaker (bullet proof!). Good luck with a spinnaker sock, they seem to be a recipe for difficulty and disaster!

Janie
msn-gem2martin
reply
msn-gem2martin wrote on Oct 20, '08
Alte Liebe lives in the USA (San Francisco area). I have purchased my newer sails from Sobstad. Their mfg site is in China. I contact them via e-mail at www.sobstad.com and talk with Peter Conrad--the inventer of the molded said. He has the measurements for a Ballad 30. The prices are about half of a locally made sail. I've been pleased with the results.

Jerry Martin
Alte Liebe #1266
msn-minstrelsa269 wrote on Oct 20, '08
Perhaps you might also consider the services of FareastSails:
mgun@fareastsails.com (michael gunther) or browse www.fareastsails.com
msn-shebeen_982
reply
msn-shebeen_982 wrote on Oct 21, '08
Shebeen was treated to a new main, no1, no 2 and ap spinnaker last year, all from Sanders in Lymington. The ap is .9oz and very good. The main and genoas are pentex (no taffeta) and are brilliant. The extra power over our previous dacron sails was astonishing (ok ..we didn't excel at the UK Nationals in May but the human factor was involved!). I went to Sanders on recommendation from successful Poole racers. My brief was no cruising compromises except sliders rather than a rope luff on the main. Pete Sanders impressed... he spent time talking about how we sailed, our racing schedule (evening round the cans, occasional regattas, the Nationals, offshores fully crewed and shorthanded) crew work and how Ballads handle. He then measured everything, identified various areas to be sorted like the outhaul, main tack/reefing horns etc. The sails fitted like a glove and continue to perform and delight. The main and no2 have been partiucularly good during this horribly windy season.

I know you can get cheaper sails but life is too short... live it now!!

PS...No, I am not on commission, don't get a discount and no nepotism.

Incidentally, Janie (Duchess) mentioned Shebeen in an earlier thread regarding race ratings. I think the point was about us doing ok with our IRC handicap. Shebeen is rated IRC 0.867 which is tough. When we race triangles and windward-leewards in midrange conditions against Impalas and MGC27s we can't touch them. We can win if winds die and sheer b..minded obstinacy is involved and we win when the wind gets up and the waves get big!!

Our best race this year was the final 100mile leg of the 2 handed Triangle (Treguier-Torquay). Beam wind F6/5 with sparkling weather and a huge cross swell gradually diminishing to very light, breathless conditions off the Devon shore. We did 95 miles with a Contessa 32 just ahead and an identically rated Nicholson 303 just behind. Both gave us time. They finished very close together ahead of us. On corrected time the 32 beat us but we got the 303. That was close and very exciting. We turned right over the finish line, 100 miles back for the Round the Island Race (4 hours rest in Poole) and broke the boom off St catherines
msn-derby411
reply
msn-derby411 wrote on Oct 26, '08
Thank you that was VERY VERY helpful. This sail stuff is a bit hard to compare!?

Mark has now ordered a set of sails from 'Momentum Sails' and has gone with a Ventran (with dual taffeta) cloth. The genoa at 140% and roller. The price was only marginally different from Pentex (which we had first settled on but Mark decided to change *sighs*) but went with the ventran due to its moduless of 510 (however its UV lifespan will be less than Pentex the taffeta he hopes will help prolong it a little).

Shall let you know how they preform... and what Momentum Sails are like (so far so good though).

Long gone are the days of leaving the sails on the boat.. hahaha!