Anyone have insight into which cat class has had the most square top sail evolution? Tornado's maybe?

What has refinement brought?

Sail fast, Tom G.

Tornado or A-Cat is my guess. Check out the last Seahorse for comments by our very own Tony Arends (Racer X) on square tops and A-Cats.

The Racer X square top 6.0 sail has more of a square top to it than than the Smyth versions. Both of these sails supposedly measure the same sail area as the stock 6.0 sail, you'll notice that the little bottom triangle is gone...

Keith, what is the last Seahorse?

Sail fast, Tom G

I guess the one I'm refering to would be for July. I got the subscription for my Dad as a gift and I get them as hand-me downs. Nice little write up in it on A-Cats and Nationals just held in Galesville, discussion of hull shapes and sail cuts, pics of two of the Galesville fleet boats.

I think new development of of boomless sails is about dead. There are some differences between boom and boomless sails at the bottom. If I remember right, the boomless is cut fuller at the bottom and the fabric is aligned differently. Based on some of my experiments, an F18 sail hung on a 5.5 sloop mast will be a pretty sorry sail.

The best 6.0/5.5 main I have seen is Smyth but that looks dead.

Banks in Houston has an excellent 5.5 uni design but it will have to be modified to fit the shorter stiffer mast of the 5.5 sloop.

Calvert has a good 6.0 design that can be scaled.

Jay Glaser built some real nice boomless sails under the Danger name. He is now building some of the best squaretops in the world.

Landenberger builds some really beautiful A-Class sails. I have never seen a boomless sail by him.

My first choice would be Jay Glaser followed by Calvert

I agree with the quality of the Calvert design but would never buy a sail from Dave again due to the fact of the customer service. I had a sq top made for my 21se which was beautiful but needed some things added that they forgot. I sent it back, they made the changes and sent it to the wring address and it was never found. THEN Dave Calvert (after over a month of calling) wanted ME to pay for a new sail. Aside from that, they make a great sail.
I think Elliot Pattison has the most experience with the boomless square tops. Not my first choice of sailmaker, but the most exp with this style. I have attached a photo of my Calvert sail on the 21se and my buddy's 5.8 boomless/sq top made by E/P. Lee

Lee:

Mine on 17 is from Sabre when Curry was still there. There customer service sucks to, but they did cut a good sail. Smoke Pentex. They made the reacher too.

Doug

Carl, appreciate the insight. I will plan to talk with Jay. Who is Banks in Houston? Intrigued to see what they have done for the Uni.

TeamChums, thanks for the pics. What was your 5.8 friends impression of the EP ST?

Sail fast, Tom G

Completely satisfied. I have sailed the boat with it and thought it was top notch. We (Nacra 20 sailors) have had some bad luck with the Nacra class E/P sails as far as quality goes. I think this is due to trying to keep man hours to a minimum on production/class legal Nacra suff. Custom orders seem to be great. Lee

Banks has been sold since they built that sail. They should still have the design. Contact them and if you need help I will talk to them.

Carl, appreciate the gracious offer however, how do I find them and a way (email or phone number) to contact them?

Sail fast, Tom G

I would agree with trying out sails from Jay and Pease and glasersails.com

Here's a shot of the 5.8 with sq top and boomless. Lee/Team Chums

Another. Lee/ Team Chums. www.teamchums.com

Lee, did your 5.8 friend remove the foot triangle between the 2 photo shots?

Sail fast, Tom G

Yes hea had the triangle removed from the foot so I could get my fat butt to the other side faster. Lee

Call Trent at 281-334-7223. I talked to him and he remembers the sail.

Carl, appreciated, will contact Trent next week to see what they can do. Glaser is on my short list along with EP. Should provide ample sailmakers for consideration.

Waterbug, did you get your original questions answered?

Lee, some great shots of the 5.8. Hope to see similar winds this weekend.

Sail fast, Tom G

I guess so. It appears that a squaretop for a boomless rig is possible, and there may be a few sources of expertise...

I wonder how much extra money a custom cut sail would be over the mfg. spec. pinhead...?

ours was, ummm . . . well . . . less $$$. And only needed to take the square top correction hit instead of the larger main correction.