People with sailboats use them in many ways, but broadly speaking we define them as either cruising or racing. The proper sails for each of these activities varies widely, but at the level most people engage in cruising and racing, we can simplify the differences between the sails required if we talk about performance, design, and materials.
Summary Of Sail Differences Based On Boat Size
The differences between racing and cruising sails can also be viewed across three size ranges—small (under 35 feet), medium-sized (35 to 45 feet) and large (longer than 45 feet).
Among racing boats under 35 feet, sails are often made with light laminates, incorporating Mylar or other film and fibers made of Spectra or aramid, and in many cases, different 3Di products begin to appear. In restricted classes, some race sails will be made of Pentex (a low-stretch polyester) and others of Dacron.
Cruising sails for both small and mid-size boats are typically still made with Dacron, laid out either in cross-cut or radial panel configuration. The warp-oriented Dacron sails such as North’s Radian fabrics cost a bit more but deliver notably better performance than the stretchier crosscuts.
But somewhere around 40 feet in length—and definitely by 50 feet—Dacron is no longer a rational option for cruising boats. Given the loads, the material doesn’t hold it’s design shape long, and it’s heavy, typically a 10- or 11-ounce cloth, so the boat heels more easily and the sail is harder to furl. At this size, light laminate sails and North 3Di ENDURANCE and OCEAN sails become the norm.
Mid-size boats that both cruise and race will choose light laminates or 3Di ENDURANCE, balancing the small increase in weight for an extra layer of material for durability. For single-purpose race boats, both mid-sized and larger, using Dacron is out of the question and the primary question becomes whether to buy laminated sails or choose an advanced 3Di RAW sail.
Learn more at: https://www.spinsheet.com/north-sails-resources
