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Alan, Thank you for your reply & input.In the sage words of Indiana Jones, "It's not the years, its the mileage." If you sail/race a lot (say weekly, all season) your race sail will break down faster
than it will if you sail/race less. Sun and wind (not water) are the major risk factors. I get about three seasons out of a $350+ class legal race sail, and I know it is time time to get a new one when the boat just feels, well, slow, which is usually in the third season. The all white, Class legal sail is very well made but not that much better than the far less expensive Intensity race cut sail. Some people use an Intensity for informal club racing and practice and save the Class legal sail for Class sanctioned regattas.
Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
As sails age, the resin that is impregnated into the sailcloth, breaks down, the cloth looks and feels softer and the max draft tends to move aft. The leach may also loosen up a little. It won't point as high and off the wind it lacks the "punch" of a newer sail. You will feel the difference more than see it.
Alan Glos
L&VW,View attachment 35678
FWIW, my old racing sail—later ripped along each spar by a "cell"—appeared to have a "blouse".
By hand, and with no wind pressure, I could pull it down maybe a ½-inch below the boom.
I have been racing with the racing sail since it came out in 1990 or so. Alan is correct, and the way you can tell what he is talking about is sailing against others and they are pointing higher or going faster vs you than they used to.As sails age, the resin that is impregnated into the sailcloth, breaks down, the cloth looks and feels softer and the max draft tends to move aft. The leach may also loosen up a little. It won't point as high and off the wind it lacks the "punch" of a newer sail. You will feel the difference more than see it.
Alan Glos
I have been racing with the racing sail since it came out in 1990 or so. Alan is correct, and the way you can tell what he is talking about is sailing against others and they are pointing higher or going faster vs you than they used to.
That said, a good sailor can do better with an old sail than a poorer sailor can do with a new sail. Two cases in point. I got fairly well whomped at the 2019 Midwinters and the fall 2019 Massapoag regatta with my “good” sail, which has been in service since 2013 but mostly only used at regionals, NAs, etc. I of course thought “can’t be me, must be the sail.” So I started looking around, and at the top of the fleet at each regatta were a mix of new and definitely not-new sails. So you can go fast if you are good and have spent a lot of time in the boat regardless of your sail. But I have decided it’s time to break a new one out. Mine is getting soft and I think it’s time.
In regard to changes in the cut, there haven’t been any (with 2 exceptions.). Laser Performance unexpectedly provided non-North Racing sails for the Colombia Worlds a few years back and the US Sailing Championship of Champions. They were flat and slow vs North sails. The racing sails today are North even tho the label says LP.
However,the sailcloth has varied some. The current sails seem to either have more resin or are of a bit heavier cloth. That seems good as the draft stays in place in gusts better.
I think I have some of those around. Unfortunately, I'm not really getting how to use tells!Mine comes off a vintage Grateful Dead cassette
Thanks so much for everyone’s input.I have been racing with the racing sail since it came out in 1990 or so. Alan is correct, and the way you can tell what he is talking about is sailing against others and they are pointing higher or going faster vs you than they used to.
That said, a good sailor can do better with an old sail than a poorer sailor can do with a new sail. Two cases in point. I got fairly well whomped at the 2019 Midwinters and the fall 2019 Massapoag regatta with my “good” sail, which has been in service since 2013 but mostly only used at regionals, NAs, etc. I of course thought “can’t be me, must be the sail.” So I started looking around, and at the top of the fleet at each regatta were a mix of new and definitely not-new sails. So you can go fast if you are good and have spent a lot of time in the boat regardless of your sail. But I have decided it’s time to break a new one out. Mine is getting soft and I think it’s time.
In regard to changes in the cut, there haven’t been any (with 2 exceptions.). Laser Performance unexpectedly provided non-North Racing sails for the Colombia Worlds a few years back and the US Sailing Championship of Champions. They were flat and slow vs North sails. The racing sails today are North even tho the label says LP.
However,the sailcloth has varied some. The current sails seem to either have more resin or are of a bit heavier cloth. That seems good as the draft stays in place in gusts better.
They were on their way home after a day of racing; lusting for that first beer.Interesting, that at least one racer is reclined inside the cockpit!
BTW, to keep my best secrets when I'm racing, I use transparent tell-tales.
A good telltale reference
What I would like to know is does he use them when he's on port tack instead of starboard tack like in this photo. Meaning, does he have them placed far enough back from the luff so that they are clear of the turbulence caused by the mast pressed against the sail when he's on port tack?View attachment 36150
Champion Doug Kaukeinen, so you can be pretty sure he has the telltales in useful locations.
Just wait it out.Beating Doug Kaukeinen in at least one race in my lifetime is high on my bucket list, but so far it has not happened - must be his superior telltale placement....
Alan Glos
Caszenovia, NY
Thanks so much for everyone’s input on this. Yes, Based on Mr. Kaukeinen’s performance, his telltale placement must work for him very well!View attachment 36150
Both the picture posted by Tag and this one are good references. This picture is of former Sunfish NA Champion Doug Kaukeinen, so you can be pretty sure he has the telltales in useful locations. Looks like he is sailing on his home waters of Irondequoit Bay, NY.
Would it help to use spray-starch to extend a new sail's life?In the sage words of Indiana Jones, "It's not the years, its the mileage." If you sail/race a lot (say weekly, all season) your race sail will break down faster
than it will if you sail/race less. Sun and wind (not water) are the major risk factors. I get about three seasons out of a $350+ class legal race sail, and I know it is time time to get a new one when the boat just feels, well, slow, which is usually in the third season. The all white, Class legal sail is very well made but not that much better than the far less expensive Intensity race cut sail. Some people use an Intensity for informal club racing and practice and save the Class legal sail for Class sanctioned regattas.
Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
Thanks, I really appreciate your input, I’m going to make some of the wire, gaff mounted tales for this upcoming racing season & start figuring out how to use them!Ticktack
The tell tale on the front boom is important to see the apparent wind direction to help adjust the sail. If you sail in light wind this indicator will pick up the shifting wind. The telltales on the sail help maintain the proper flow over the sail.
I actually had seen that in here before, Great design!link here for wjejr's version:
Making a Sunfish Wind Indicator
Hi everyone, I made a wind indicator for my Sunfish a while ago and have been very happy with it. I thought I would share it here with the hope that someone finds it useful. The design is similar in concept to the "coat hangar" model, but uses a flat piece of stainless steel which I think...sailingforums.com