Sails2

Making the Sails for the Swan Pictures Below

The artisans at PT Sails built the sails for the Swan using a mix of traditional methods and modern materials to render the best possible sails for ocean voyaging. This kind of sailmaking is nearly a lost art, but with some effort, lofts committed to this wonderful craft can still be found.

Swan Sails Specifications ~

• Main: 233 sq.ft., 7.77 oz. dacron, loose-footed, no battens, two reefs (70% and 40%).
• Jib: 270 sq.ft., 7.77 oz. dacron, pendant to clear pulpit, hanked on.
• Stays’l: 75 sq.ft., 8.77 oz. dacron, one reef, pendant to clear life lines, hanked on.
• Drifter: 380.2 sq.ft., 2.2 oz. nylon (140%), cross cut, hanked on, graphic inlay.
• Storm Stays’l: 61.6 sq.ft., 8.77 oz. dacron with visibility patch, pendant, hanked on.
• Storm Trys’l: 66.5 sq.ft., 8.77 oz. dacron with visibility patch.
• We use Strong® track. It will make hoisting, dousing and reefing your main a breeze.

Battenless Main ~

I have always cruised with a battenless main. Hollowing the leach doesn’t cost much in usable sail area. It has very little effect on upwind performance. And, it will even help reduce that pulsing weather helm when broad reaching. The real advantages are easier hoisting, reefing, dousing and furling on ANY point of sail. No more chafed or torn batten pockets. No more battens caught on spreaders or shrouds. No more broken battens. And, you can forget about flaking your main. Just roll it up in a bunt and secure it with one tie in no time. Finally, you can get rid of those pesky lazy jacks!

Hanks On ~

The use of hanks instead of roller furling is a personal thing, really. A good roller furling system is certainly workable and somewhat easier to use, when the gear is working right. I just prefer the simplicity, multiple sail options, better shaped sails, and easier maintenance of hanks. Some of the things I don't like about roller furling:

• Sails rolled in to reduce sail don't set right.
• When reefed, the tack and head of the sail fall on unreinforced areas.
• Sails eventually distort through repeated stress in unreinforced areas.
• The rolled up part of the sail causes turbulence on the leeward side on one tack.
• There is a lot of windage in a rolled up sail (affects heaving to and lying ahull).
• If the system fails, the sail can unroll without you wanting it to.
• If the system fails, you can’t roll the sail up when you do want to, a disaster in a big wind.
• A sail can stick in the foil, making it impossible to raise or lower from the stuck position.
• The stay is not visible to inspect for damage, corrosion, etc.
• Roller furling systems are hard on jibstays, particularly parts aloft.
• It's a bitch to replace the stay, usually resulting in postponing the necessary.
• Head and tack rings tend to twist out.
• Critical parts of the sail suffer from exposure to the sun (clew, head and tack rings).
• The sheets are always in the sun.
• If the system fails, there is no backup.
• Changing sails in any kind of wind is a fire drill.
• Roller furling systems are much more expensive.

• Pictures below by Halie Duke except as noted.