[Jeff_H]

If the sail is really 27 years old, it is probably dead already. I would not invest a penny in it. However I doubt that this is the original sail. The Dufours of that era typically came with sails made be Elvstrom (a small red crown in at the tack). My guess is that the Hathaway, Reiser and Raymond sail is a replacement for the original sail. In those days most quality sailmakers typically would have included the Dufour insignia and hull number on a replacement sail.

If you are a new sailor the last thing that you will want to do is to end up with a boat with leehelm. On a gusty day, weather helm is your friend, telling you which way to go to get out of trouble.

Jeff