Bull Sails. Sailmakers

One of the most frustrating parts of owning a yacht is finding and keeping a regular crew. It is not uncommon for skippers every week to be making numerous phone calls and sending emails out desperately searching for people to make up the numbers. It is an ongoing and very onerous task; remember we all sail for recreational purposes so who needs this hassle every week? There are two facets to this dilemma, firstly how do we find the crew we need and secondly how do we keep them? It is fairly well documented that a lot of sailors leave the sport in their late teens and tend to return again in the early to mid forties. Some of the reasons for this are obvious, as part of early adulthood most people are faced with quite a drastic lifestyle change, they are thrust out into the workplace or tertiary education takes over, for many of them they have their first pay packet in hand and have expendable income for partying and spending on themselves, not to mention the lure of the relationshi...

A Calm Head can help you get ahead. We all get the opportunity to watch a lot of sporting events. Whilst not one to sit for hours in front of a screen watching games, I do enjoy watching team sports when the scores or result is up for grabs. Regardless of the sport, a few things are almost guaranteed. The team that retains its composure and adheres to its structures will almost certainly prevail. Sailing is very much in this category. If you find yourself under pressure coming up to a finish, a mark, a start-line or just a cluster of boats, you begin to lapse into negative talk to yourself and as a group. Whether a single hander or a maxi. “Not again” “This always happens” “What if I make a mistake, it will be my fault, and I will let everyone down” “They (the other boat(s) are better than us” Pressure adds aggravation, the after guard want a quick solution and put unrealistic expectations on others. This is highlighted a lot in larger crews but not just for t...

Oops bad start! It has happened to all sailors, some on a more regular basis than others it must be said. That horror start where it just doesn’t seem to happen? It could come down to many factors, which may have been an error of judgement on your behalf, a malfunction or because of other boats actions (or sometimes inactions). But we have been there, back in the ruck watching the other boats sailing away from us. This is usually accompanied by feelings of disappointment and frustration. Address the issue It is so very important not to wallow in self-pity but to look at ways to overcome the problem. Whilst there is no doubt that a loss has been made. It is our immediate priority to minimise the loss and try and get back into the race. We can look at the factors that caused the bad start later and rectify them for the future, no point bawling out the crew for that override on the winch when you need to be in recovery mode. We can’t change the past but can learn from it. ...

It has long been accepted Polaroid sunglasses help see the shifts. What Sunny’s are best for your sailing. I always liked yellow. From Sailing World.

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Saving Sails and Canvas from Mildew It can be a rust stain caused by a loop of chain that spent the winter lying on a sail. Perhaps a bird crawled under the sail cover and built a nest, pooping on the sail for weeks. Laminate sails present a particularly vexing problem, since mildew likes the adhesive that bond the layers, resulting in stain that is sealed between waterproof layers. Some of these just look bad (rust stains), but others can slowly weaken a sail (mildew in the laminate adhesive). But in all cases, overly aggressive cleaning can make things even worse, weakening the sail more than the mildew ever would. Stains can be removed in three general ways. They can be physically removed, dissolved, or bleached (made invisible). Each requires different chemistry and a different mindset, so it helps to understand the stain. Most stains are linked to moisture. Good ventilation prevents condensation, and consider taking sails home for the off-season. Canvas should be water repel...

Cruising Asymmetric So you have been sailing for a little while in your new boat, discovering the joys of sailing as a recent convert or re-embracing the sport of your youth now you have a settled lifestyle. Coming more familiar with the nuances of your craft and developing confidence in your boat handling. The fun of participating in twilight or lower level recreational racing is apparent. What better than a bit of competition? As the racing bug takes hold, we develop the desire to improve our results and start to cultivate rivalries and greater challenges. Sound familiar! A lot of sailors go through this change of role for their boat. I have had more than one boat owner say to me twelve months into a boat ownership, “I should have got the taller rig/ spinnaker /racing sails option”. One of the more frustrating aspects these sailors encounter is running downwind in light to moderate conditions watching the fleet moving further away under spinnaker. Once you have decided...