Elliott / Pattison Sailmakers

September 2017
Sail Sense
Because your sails matter!
 
In This Issue
Fall Discount
Customer Thanks
Construction Update
Recent Results
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Take Advantage of our Fall Discount Until November 30th:

Now is the time to get ready for next season's sailing at the best prices of the year!

15% Discount on Yacht Sails until November 30t h,
and 10% discount on Multihull and Dinghy Sails.
while sails are still at 2016 prices


Thank you for another successful Year! 
 
     
Rose of Sherron 
As we start the final months of 2017 Skip and I want to thank all our customers and friends for another successful year. We couldn't have done it without your support!
   
Please get in touch with us as you start thinking about sails and sailing for next season.

        

Fair Winds and Pleasant Sailing
in 2017!

 Sail Construction Update

Technology continues to move forward in both fabrics and construction; sails that seemed exotic just a few years ago our now becoming the norm out on the water. Over the last decade there has been a major move away from paneled sails towards the "Load Path Membrane" sails in the racing market, proven performance and durability with woven Dyneema fabrics for larger cruising boats, and low stretch "crimpless" Dacron for improved performance in tri-radial cruising and racing sails.
The majority of racing sails we build today are our PowerPath membrane sails where the fibers themselves are laid out in the orientation to follow the loads in a sail rather than using individual panels to align the fibers as in a tri-radial sail. The advantages are a sail that holds its shape better, is lighter, and in most cases is less expensive than a tri-radial sail because of savings in material and labor costs.

In a membrane sail the fibers are laid throughout the sail to support the dynamic loading imposed while sailing. This matrix insures that as loads vary while sailing the designed flying shape will be maintained across the intended design range of the sail. We design each sail the same as we would any other type of paneled sail to produce an end product that is custom shaped to fit each boat and the intended range of conditions. In a paneled sail this design is then transferred to our computerized cutting system where the individual panels are cut out and then assembled. In a membrane sail the final design along with the fiber type and content we want for each sail is sent to PowerPlast in Italy for custom lamination. They return a laminated "membrane" that is three dimensionally shaped exactly to our design. The sail is then built from that membrane rather than panels cut from a roll of cloth; doing the final layout and measurement to insure it matches any necessary rules, apply all the corner reinforcements, batten pockets, leech, luff, and foot tapes, and all necessary hardware.

Recent advances in membrane technology include new membranes that are softer and take flex better, improved lamination techniques that have pretty much eliminated de-lamination, more fiber options, and a new "Filmless taffeta" construction. The Filmless membranes are made by laminating a series of fibers in different orientations with two high strength taffetas and a UV/ Mold shield on both sides. These sails are proving to be extremely durable for Offshore racing and high performance cruising sails.

On the cruising front we now are building more and more sails using the Dimension-Polyant Hydra-Net Radial fabric. This is a woven cloth utilizing a combination of Dyneema and Dacron. With nothing to crack, peel, or delaminate it is proving to be an incredibly durable fabric. With stretch numbers close to a racing laminate it has excellent shape holding and still has the durability for extended offshore cruising. Without the mylar laminate to trap moisture it is also much less likely to mildew. For large, highly load sails where both shape and durability are required this has become the fabric of choice. We have used it on both mainsails and headsails on boats between 40 feet and 80 feet, including several large multihulls that are reporting longevity of at least twice as long as sails made of cruising laminates.

 
  
   Antrim 50 Carbon #1 Jib                                 Olson 911S Carbon/Aramid Mainsail
 
Recent Happenings
 
America's Schooner Cup: 1st Overall - Rose of Sherron
LAYC George Griffith Series: 1st Overall - Limitless
Cabrillo Beach YC Opening Day Regatta: Cal 20 - 1st and 2nd
High Sierra Regatta:  Banshee - 1st
Camellia Cup:  Banshee - 1st
Wayzata Yacht Club: Series A, B, and C: Capri 25 - 1st
Southern California PHRF Championship: 2nd Random Leg - Stray Dog



Elliott / Pattison Sailmakers  949 645-6697  
Skip:     [email protected]  
Harry: [email protected]          
 
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