Submitted on June 27, 2006 by Richard Wood

Question: I have been quoted for a 150% genoa on my Contest 48ft sloop using NorDac NSP Premium 220. A further quote is for 135% genoa using NSP 390. I am concerned that the larger genoa in NSP 220 may not be strong enough for ocean passage making albeit on a cruising boat. Please advise & let me know the equivalent sailcloth weights.

Regards -
Richard Wood

Answer: Dear Richard,

NorDac Premium 220 is a 5.8oz cloth (sailmaker's square yard, ie: 28.5" by 36"). NP390 weighs 8.8oz per smsyd. Sails for your boat made from Premium NorDac will look good and be very tough. In my opinion the cloth choices outlined sound very reasonable. Presumably you will want the 150% genoa to readily fill in windspeeds well below "whitecaps" conditions, and every extra ounce of cloth weight makes that job much harder. That said, I wouldn't call 5.8 an especially light cloth so the plan sounds like a good compromise between performance and strength "headroom".

Regards,

Tom Davis
North Cloth

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