Email received January 21, 2012:
"Hello John
We are looking for a new cruising chute, luff length 13 metres. Can you give us an estimate for one?
We bought a reefing genoa from you in 2006 and after 36,000 miles it is in very good shape - it was described as a work of art by the sailmaker in Callao (Peru)!
Kind regards, Linda"
(Photograph approaching Tahiti)
We have been producing a wide range of long-lasting, well-shaped cruising sails for 20 years now and many of these are still being used today to the delight of their owners.
These include heavy-duty cruising sails for sailing schools, many of which are being used on a daily basis throughout the year, to suits of sails for 100 foot Jongerts for world cruising.
Rutgerson spiked toothed stainless steel rings are used on all of our sails for maximum corner strength. All corners are also heavily reinforced with radial panels to give lighter and stronger sails. Batten pockets are double machined and their outboard ends have strong velcro retaining tabs with extra tie retainers on battens over 4 feet.
With our care in design and attention to detail and manufacture, we hope you will also become one of our regular customers.
CLASSIC YACHT SAILS
Saturn Sails have been supplying new sails in 'Classic Cream' sailcloth for the sail training ship "Spirit of Fairbridge".
"Spirit of Fairbridge" is unique. She is used by the charity Fairbridge as part of a long-term personal development programme for marginalized young people. A hard working vessel, she sails all year round with different crews of young people on board. Fairbridge chose Saturn Sails for their quality and durability.
"THRESHOLD"
September 15, 2009
Steve and Karen James as part of their world tour ended up cruising into our part of the world during the autumn of 08. They were organising the laying up of "Threshold" at Fairle Quay ready for next years cruising, when they dropped in and saw us to discuss some new sails.
While in the Mediterranean they had met some of our customers cruising, who recommended they came and saw us when they were next looking for replacement sails.
Threshold was launched in June 2002 and her original sails were made by North sails from a spectra laminate and had seen many repairs over the last couple of years cruising.
After discussions with Steve and Karen, they felt the weight of fabric was not an issue for them and would prefer a woven fabric for its durability. After a full rig measurement, and close inspection of the existing sails, we suggested improvements on the design and detailing for areas that gave the most problems.
The fabric we selected was Hydra-net radial, which has a spectra fibre content within a woven fabric. The fully-battened mainsail used two weights of fabric and we serviced and refitted the batten receptacles, reef blocks and battens where possible onto the new sail. Steve and Karen were keen to utilise as much of their old sail as possible. We saved leech lines and cut up the number area of the old sail and made a couple of bags.
We serviced the existing staysail, including fitting a new U.V strip and modification to make it sheet properly to the staysail sheet track.
The headsail used one weight of fabric with foam luff pads to help flatten when reefed. The U.V strip was made from Acrylic with our own unique trademark wave. Both sails had seam-kote applied to protect the stitching from U.V and chafe.
THRESHOLD'S DIMENSIONS
- LOA: 54' 6"
- LWL: 49' 6"
- Beam: 15' 3"
- Draft: 6' 9"
- Displacement: 44,000 lbs.
- Ballast: 16,000 lbs.
- Sail Area: 1,259 sq. ft.
- Disp/L Ratio: 189
- S.A./Disp Ratio: 16.16
(Designer: Chuck Payne; Class: Kanter 54.5)
