Specialty Sails
Specialty Sails
Section titled “Specialty Sails”Purpose-built sails for specific conditions and applications. These are safety-critical items — material selection and construction quality directly affect crew safety.
Storm Sails
Section titled “Storm Sails”Heavy weather headsail for survival conditions (35+ kts). Covers dimensions, materials, independent luff attachment, ISAF/ORC compliance, and deployment procedures.
Heavy weather mainsail replacement. Covers dimensions, dedicated track vs shared groove options, independent sheeting (not boom-attached), and regulatory requirements.
When to Recommend Storm Sails
Section titled “When to Recommend Storm Sails”| Customer Profile | Storm Jib | Trysail | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore racing (Cat 1-2) | ✅ Required | ✅ Required | Regulatory mandate |
| Offshore cruising | ✅ Strongly recommended | ✅ Strongly recommended | Safety essential |
| Coastal cruising | ⚠️ Optional | ⚠️ Optional | Good practice, not required |
| Club racing | ❌ Usually not needed | ❌ Usually not needed | Rules vary by club |
Staysails
Section titled “Staysails”Inner Forestay Staysail
Section titled “Inner Forestay Staysail”- Purpose: Balanced helm and drive in heavy air with reefed main
- Material: Dacron (6-8 oz) or lightweight XRP laminate
- Luff attachment: Hanked-on or dedicated staysail furler (e.g., Profurl C-series)
- Typical area: 10-15% of foretriangle
- Best for: Boats with cutter rig or removable inner forestay
Drifter / Reacher Staysail
Section titled “Drifter / Reacher Staysail”- Purpose: Light-air reaching sail on inner forestay
- Material: Lightweight nylon (0.75-1.5 oz) or light laminate
- Best for: Long-distance cruisers looking for extra light-air performance
Other Specialty Sails
Section titled “Other Specialty Sails”Yankee (High-Cut Genoa)
Section titled “Yankee (High-Cut Genoa)”- Purpose: High-clewed headsail for reaching — foot clears bow waves and spray
- Material: Standard upwind laminate or heavy Dacron
- Typical LP: 110-130% of J
- Best for: Ocean passages where spray clearance matters
Windseeker / Drifter
Section titled “Windseeker / Drifter”- Purpose: Ultra-light air sail (0-6 knots)
- Material: Lightweight nylon (0.5-0.75 oz)
- Construction: Minimal reinforcement, maximum area
- Best for: Light-air regions (Mediterranean summer, tropics)
Related Modules
Section titled “Related Modules”- Headsail Reefing — Storm jib integration with furling reef strategy
- Components — Hardware specifications for corner fittings and attachment