Your Opinion on new Sails for a 26M

[mjgill1]

So we're probably ready for new sails on our 26M and I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and get them.

We currently have the 135% Genoa and single reef stock mainsail. If you don't know the effect of worn out sails, we are experiencing greatly increased heeling and reduced performance as sail shape and efficiency are compromised.
Our goal in new sails is to increase efficiency, performance and comfort, but because we trailer a minimum of 2 hours every time we sail, high performance sails, e.g. Mylar etc. wouldn't be a good option for us according to the folks I've talked to.

I called Doyle sails in Chicago as we are in the Midwest and they produced the original sails. Speaking with John, he suggested a traditional cruising main with a racing roach and a 110% jib in the front. . I have spoken with Todd at Blue Water Yachts and he concurs that a jib on the front of the 26M is the best configuration for all around comfort and performance. Todd likes the flat top sails as they offer a bit more area and John suggests the the aforementioned configuration. Obviously the materials, longevity, sail shape etc. in the new sails from either vendor would be far superior to what the boat came with in every measurable way. I also called another sail maker and the price compared to Doyle and BWY was higher. They're out. Blue Water Yachts sails are a bit less expensive then Doyle. Both John from Doyle and Todd from Blue Water Yachts were great to deal with. I wouldn't hesitate to refer anyone to either person. Great guys!

Aside from a couple of hundred dollars in price difference,I am interested in hearing from folks who have purchased aftermarket sails, what you got and how it affected the boat. Are you happy, disappointed, thrilled?

I know it would be easy to digress from the subject and am asking for only folks who have purchased and experienced aftermarket sails on their 26M.

Thanks a bunch!

[Tomfoolery]

I'm still using the antique OEM sails on my X, but I can tell you that it will point higher with the working jib than with the 150% genoa. I can sail it with the jib alone, but it won't point higher than a beam reach unfortunately, though the helm is surprisingly neutral(ish). I just tried that last weekend, so it's fresh in my mind. Got 5 kts out of it, with a goodly amount of heel (30-35 deg) - not the fastest way to sail, but I was feeling too lazy to unwrap the main, and with squalls on the way, I wanted to be able to roll it up fast without having to go on deck (I got soooooaaaaked ).

It sails better with the genoa alone than with the jib alone, presumably because it's both larger, and because the center of effort is further back and therefore closer to the CB.

But for 'normal' sailing in some reasonable wind, in the case of my boat I just can't beat the jib/main combo. The boat doesn't point all that tight to the wind anyway, so I'm almost always better off with the jib/main than with the genoa/main combo. With a roller furler, it's a pain to change sails, and I usually just keep the working jib on it.

So I guess I agree with the sail vendors. Or they agree with me ha ha.

[dlandersson]

I use a 150% Genoa (which I will "shorten" if the wind conditions warrants it.

Not aguing with anyone, but I routinely sail close hauled (up to 30 degrees) with no problem. I find my best speed is at 45 - 60 degrees.

I suggest checking in with JudyB re: sails. You want to have the best time possible sailing.

[NiceAft]

I have a flat head main, and I enjoy it.

When the wind picks up, because of the extra cloth you have up high, you will find yourself either letting out more mainsheet, or reefing earlier than you are accustomed to.

Ray

[sailboatmike]

BWY sails are made by Doyle, I just bought a set and Im impressed at the quality for the price point.

Also be aware that the BWY advertised price is inclusive of delivery in the USA.

The square top main is a nice option but you need to use your vang to get the best from it or the head will twist away dumping the wind, HOWEVER importantly the square top looks VERY cool

[mjgill1]

I have a flat head main, and I enjoy it.

When the wind picks up, because of the extra cloth you have up high, you will find yourself either letting out more mainsheet, or reefing earlier than you are accustomed to.

Ray

Is that you out there? What kind of head sail are you running in that picture? The boat is pretty tender as it is. One of the reasons for a new main is to get an extra reef point so we can get out in a wider variety of conditions. Is it true that the flat top has a vertical batten in it that has to be removed if you want to put it into the stack pack?

[NiceAft]

Yes, that is me out there.

We were sailing on the Delaware River at Philadelphia with Matt Kress and his wife. They took the photo from their .

I was sailing with a furled 150.
There is an extra reef point in the mainsail, but we did not use it, because we were playing. My wife is not intimidated by a heel of 40 degrees or more.

To just lower the main when not using it, you don't need to remove that top batten. If you wish to use the sail cover when the main is lowered, you then must remove the batten. It's no big deal. You can see the shadow of it in the photo. You can also see that I really don't care about what people think about sailing with your fenders down

Ray

[sailboatmike]

Some like to sail on strange angles, the beauty of new sails is you get the choice of sailing upright or on strange angles.

With the old blown out things there is no choice. Im keeping my old blown out things as they are light weight and baggy, perfect for when there is best part of no wind

[NiceAft]

When we do sail in “strange angles”, I have to make certain to close the operating ports on either side of the cabin. I told my wife there is a technical nautical term for when water enters an open port. It's called sinking

Ray

[sailboatmike]

The technical definition of sinking is when your taking on more water than you bilge pump can empty out in a given period of time.

[Baha]

I have to strongly endorse both the use of a 110 jib and Judy B at Hyde Sails Direct. I bought a new jib last year and cannot believe the difference. If I could do it right now I would also order a new mainsail from Judy. Customer service and quality is the best.

I just got back from some pretty complicated sailing in all kinds of conditions off the Norfolk coast and on the Rivers Orwell and Stour. Lots of strong tidal flows in gust conditions, not to mention a lot of confused water where 2 major rivers and the sea all come together. I had the original main reefed and the jib on my furler. It was not easy, but it was manageable with both sails up. Before the jib, I had to only use the main or the genoa in these conditions.

River sailing was amazing with just the jib. At one point, I was getting 5 knots this way, which is not bad for a lazy sailor.

Those of you who don't sail in tidal waters much really need to experience it....loads of fun, and you even get to move backwards at times...

[NiceAft]

In 2012 we sailed from Tollesbury Marina on the River Blackwater with Andrew Widger on his Yarmouth 24. I believe that is just below the Rivers Orwell and Stour.

Ray

[Herschel]

This is perhaps only an echo of previous posts by others, but I did recently purchase a replacement mainsail for my '98 X. I pretty much have all the sail work for my four sailboats done by Doyle Sails in Stuart Florida. I have been very pleased with their rep in that office, Scott Loomis. And, yes, my main is beautiful. I went with just one set of reef points, but the new main has four battens instead of the three in the original. It has a traditional head, not the flat one. I would try to throw in a picture but I have had a lot of trouble with the Photobucket lately, at last the free version.

[mjgill1]

That's pretty funny stuff Ray! Is that a furled Genoa or a handkerchief? It must have been blowing pretty good there. I've been known to leave the jewelry out once in a while too. Thanks for the info. I have the stack pack that Blue Water Yachts makes and imagine I would have to take out the batten each time I dropped the sail. The admiral isn't really scared of high degree heeling, however she prefers to keep it under 30 degrees if possible. Even 30 is sailing at reduced efficiency from what I understand. I guess the most important part is getting out there and playing with it.

Baha: I'll give Judy a call and see what she thinks and her prices too. Thanks!

[sailboatmike]

30 degrees is toward the top end of the performance envelope for the X, according to these guys here (real life experience is always better than theoretical calculations) its right in the middle of the M performance envelope. Not that either boat is unsafe at these angles, far from it, they just slow down due to water friction and wind spilloing from the sails