After reading about Landyachts' skinny class 5 sail I had a go at making my own fat head class 5 sail.
I bought the machine for my birthday earlier this month and being practising hard.
The donor sail was a Naish 5.9m that I bought from the tip.
I cut the soft panel from a cruiser mainsail.
I still need to cut and shape the battens before I can take it for a sail.
Ben.
Ben, I suspect when you were 14 and someone had said would you like a sewing machine for your birthday, you would have spat in their eye. Well done.
I just love learning new skills.
Practising my sewing skills on my custom made sewing table.
Before I moved to the desert over 2 years ago my metalworking, woodworking and sewing skills were basic or non-existent.
If I was still windsurfing I would spend the $500 and buy a brand new sail use it and abuse it then bin it. However I am enjoying reverse engineering sail to make them the way I want. Every sail is different.
I spoke to a sailmaker in Bundaberg earlier this year about recutting my Hobie 14 sail for a land yacht sail but he said it would cost more to recut from old than to make from new. I think he is right.
I've got plenty of windsurfing sails now just need to pick one for my next sail.
I was thinking of a bigger lighter wind sail for racing. Most landsailing beaches and venues are near the ocean so they get stronger seabreezes. Here inland the winds are lighter and shiftier so a larger sail may be the go. With enough wind anything will sail.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sows' ear but you can get close.
Ben.
You can't make strawberry jam out of pig **** either but you can whip up a fair chutney. It looks like your in the chutney business now. What are you going to do when you run out of tea towels to practice on?
Tested this sail today.
Sail performed ok. Still working out best tuning settings. This sail need a bit of downhaul maybe 2kg.
Had slight issue with battens not popping around easily. Possibly the luff pocket is twisted or luff pocket to small.
Battens need some shaving.
After testing this sail I tested an un-cut 5.5m^2 Neilpryde V8 race sail 4 cam. This sail need more downhaul but had much better shape and more grunt.
Need to start looking for race sails now.