11-17-2008
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 103
Rep Power: 6
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Reducing headsail size
Blake,
It would be helpful if you let us know what type of boat this is for and where your sailing area is. Sorry if I missed that but what follows is general. When you build a cross cut dacron sail you select a cloth weight. For a 150% you would use a lighter cloth weight than a 125%. Depending on the size of the boat, I could approximate on the weight differences. The smaller sail may be more reinforced in the corners too. Although it is smaller it is meant to be flown in more wind and will therefore create more loading on the sail. So in the conditions you would be taking down the 150% to fly a smaller, heavier, stronger sail, you may be asking that cut down sail to do a job the fabric wasn't meant to do. Next is the draft position. Based on how old that sail is it has probably moved aft some. Remember also that it started out life somewhat fuller than a 125% would be. The quick and easy way to make this sail smaller is to mark the new clew, fair the leech and foot with long battens pinned into the sail to make the right curves, mark the cut line, cut the sail, resew in the leech tape, rerun the leech line, and redo the reinforcment in the clew and reattach the clew ring. All of that work does nothing to fix the draft position or shape of the sail, it just makes it smaller. To alter the draft position in a cross cut sail, the seams need to be opened up and tapered and resewn. If you have this done, first make sure you are starting with the right weight sail, next determine how the sailmaker will be spending your money. Once you know that, you may decide to sell the sail you have and start from scratch with a purpose built sail.
Good luck,
121Guy
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