Submitted on October 24, 2005 by Bart Toby

Question: We have just bought an 1984 Elite 32 MkII centerboard; we have never sailed her, but understand that after 15 knots of wind she needs a reducion of sail area, ie reef in the main or roll in some of the furling 150% genoa. Would a flatter sail with more stiffness allow the boat to sail longer with the existing sails up before reefing? And if so would this reduce performance in light air? And what would be the best design and materials to make these sail of? Does weight aloft make much difference in a small boat as were concidering new halyards also? I know that this is the cruising page but it does matter when cruising to be comfortable.

Bart Toby

Answer: Hi Bart,

The answer to all of your questions is "yes". Weight aloft has a direct effect on heeling and pitching moments. Flatter sails allow you put off reefing longer and they will be slower in light air. In most cases it is safe to say that a centerboard model will be even more sensitive to reduction in weight aloft since its ballast package is a little closer to the boats center of mass than the same boat with a fixed keel. In all of your purchase decisions you should consider the weight of the equipment and factor it against the materials performance, durability and cost.

Flatter sails can be used in more wind than deeper sails. What you are really looking for is sails that will not get deeper (through stretch) as the wind strength increases. Stretch resistance is not necessarily related to weight. It is related to the fiber choice and the way the fiber is held in place in the sail construction. The trade off is between stretch resistance and durability. A more stretchy sail (woven dacron products) will last longer and weigh more than a lower stretch fabric that is made by laminating straight fibers between mylar films. The question that you need to answer with help from your sailmaker is, "how much durability do I need?". If you are a coastal sailor in a seasonal area, an honest assessment of how many miles and hours you intend to sail might show that you don't need the durability of dacron. In that case you could look at some lighter weight, lower stretch alternatives.

Good luck with your new boat.

Regards,
Dan Neri

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