wind angles and speeds, but the sail furls more reliably and is much easier to handle on deck. It’s also that much easier to get in and out of the sail locker and it is used a great deal more as a result. In fact, they use this sail so much now that they have had a UV strip fitted so that they can leave it hoisted for longer periods and it has become their cruising sail of choice.’
It is this increased range that is further driving the interest in Structured Luff sails but it is also a benefit that doesn’t just apply to the bigger boats.
Of the many case studies and clients that Doyle Sails now have using this type of sail, the 24m André Hoek-designed Drumfire provides a good example of the wide range that is now possible. Her code zero has an impressive operating range that extends from a true wind angle of 75° in just 8 kts of breeze, to sailing as deep as 175° in 30kts. Another significant benefit of the new technology that is helping to fuel the popularity of these sails is that they are significantly lighter and as such they are changing the way that crews tend to handle their sails while out sailing. ‘Aboard Elfje the code zero is light enough that they can now leave it in the air as they head upwind,’ explains Hendy. ‘So for cruising boats there are the combined advantages of having a sail that furls reliably and that also requires fewer crew to handle it, along with a sail that is lighter and easier to store. The argument for Structured Luff sails is a compelling one.’ This change of approach and the significant reduction in loads has also had a big knock-on effect in the overall design of yachts. Indeed there is a school of thought that points to a possible change in the regulations that govern design and construction.
‘The fact that we can take weight out of the sail and reduce loads in the rig means that we can now work backwards down the design spiral,’ says Scott Zebny, who coordinates Doyle’s global superyacht loft network. ‘This means weight can be reduced elsewhere in the yacht which in turn takes more load out of the systems. The longer-term implications of this suggest that the codes and regulations that boats are being built to may need to be re-evaluated to take this new technology into account.
‘While we are starting to see the true benefits of these sails, it is clear that a future where full sail wardrobes no longer have cables is not that far away,’ Zebny says. ‘It might take a few years, but it’s
Above: one big advantage of Doyleʼs Structured Luff is that it allows code sails to be built much lighter, which means that yachts can keep them hoisted and furled while sailing
upwind, ready for instant deployment, rather than having to drop and stow them. And when the code zero does come down, itʼs a lot easier to handle on deck and stow than a heavier sail with a luff cable
on its way for sure.’
Based in Palma, Zebny knows the superyacht market well, particularly in the Mediterranean. But he also knows what it takes in practical terms to manage this fleet on or off the water. He is quick to point out how big an issue the physical handling of sails is aboard superyachts, especially those that are set up more for cruising than racing where there are generally fewer crew. Having lighter sails that can be handled more easily when under way is an obvious advantage. But he also stresses that the issues of handling are just as valid when the yacht is at the dock, especially when it comes to service or repair. ‘In the superyacht world it’s not uncommon for skippers to book in months ahead simply to get the right team involved to take the sails on and off the boat,’ he explains. ‘Servicing large sails is a big part of our work here in Palma and something our global superyacht loft network specialises in – it is my job to help coordinate our team of experts around the world. There is always a big rush in September as those that are heading to the Caribbean for the winter get their sail wardrobe prepared. After that, our winter work gets fully under way for
those that are staying in the Med. ‘Most people will want a full service ahead of the next season and that requires a team of experienced people that know what they’re doing. Getting sails up and down in the dock without damaging the boat or the sails can be tricky, especially in a harbour that is full of similarly sized yachts. And when they’re off the boat these large sails require some ingenious ways of dealing with them, such as using fork lift trucks to roll a mainsail around the mandrel. ‘But it’s also about dealing with some of the seemingly smaller issues. Take an in-boom furling mainsail as an example. The loads at the clew can be up to around 18 tonnes in some cases which means that clew lashings are critical. Getting these wrong not only makes furling very difficult, but can cause serious damage to the sail and trigger major knock-on effects.’
Accuracy and experience are clearly two essential ingredients in the superyacht world and when it comes to the next generation of sails, be they for racing or cruising, the combination of Doyle’s latest technology and their considerable experience in this field provides one of those rare win/win moments.
www.doylesails.com
q SEAHORSE 79
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122
