| Alex Bennett and One Sails United Kingdom |
| Friday, 04 April 2008 |
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Choosing new sails? , what you should expect…………………
Sometimes I think purchasing new sails is rather like buying a new hand made suit. You know what you want from the end result, success. But actually if we were honest most of us perhaps need advice on how to achieve that.
So how can you be sure you are getting the right advice and service from either your existing sailmaker or perhaps a new Loft you have never used before. I had to tackle this thought when we were building the new Fujifilm Class 40. I had a lot of ocean racing experience to draw on in practical terms as to what I wanted from the end result. But who I should entrust to build them was a difficult decision.
Over the years I’m sure we have all commissioned sails from lots of the major sail lofts. I know I have. However all too often, once the all important deal is done and money exchanged hands, how many of them still retain an interest in your particular sailing campaign once the sails have been delivered?
Just like a bespoke set of clothing, sails don’t always fit perfectly first time. More often than not, a new sail will require a tweak here and there for it to match the rig plan perfectly and its here where we need the sailmaker to come down to the boat and check that they have it right.
From the outset it was clear that One Sails were interested in making the best suit of sails they could for my project. They made it clear that their logo would be on the sails I would be using and they wanted it right. This for me was a refreshing change.
We had an early initial meeting at their loft in Swanwick Southampton and drew up a plan as to what I required from an end result for each sail and the time frame the sails would have to last for.
Obviously any sail loft is also a business and has to make a profit, however you get the feeling its more than just about figures with these guys. They want to be the best in their field just like we all want to be the best on the race track. By the end of the meeting everyone had a clear understanding of budget, sail selections, best materials to make the sails out of and also the all important time frame for delivery.
Since the sails have been delivered we have enjoyed a constant dialogue with the team at One Sails, not just over the phone but on the water too, having joined us for several training sessions. These are the times when you learn more about sails in 2 hours than you would in two years on your own.
All in all, choosing who will build your next suit of sails is always a personal choice. Everyone has their own thoughts on what they want and that’s what makes sailmaking a bit of a bespoke industry.
But , a word of warning here, its an investment that is all too often not exploited to its true potential by sailors. Make sure you get to sit down and outline exactly what you want. If you don’t know what you really want, make sure you explain your and your crews experience levels and the type of racing your doing. This will give the sailmakers a better understanding of what they need to do to make everything work for you out on the water. -
My advice, I think you need to be comfortable in the knowledge that they understand your requirements and expectations. For me, it’s a no brainer. One Sails tick all the boxes and after over five thousand miles of offshore sailing onboard Fujifilm this year we have no significant issues with the sails we were given. It’s that simple……………………
Alex Bennett
Skipper Fujifilm class 40
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" Force 9 in the English Channel and Rough seas breaking over the boat. We had everyhting from gales to sleet and hail with bitterly cold winds. That was a tast of whats to come in the upcoming Transat race for sure! "
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