Sails 

---

Update Dec 2001

The top batten on the mainsail is full lenght and the foot of the main is fixed in a slot, not loose footed. We feel this give us the maximum life. A recent controvery in our fleet is cloth weight for spinnakers.

Background:
Since the class rules were written the way sailcloth weight is measured by the sailcloth industry has changed. It is now specified in grams per square meter throughout the industry . The term “3/4 oz.” encompasses a wide weight range of material. Steve Beck of Ullman Sails gave a presentation including an informative paper that points out how much latitude is given to the sail maker when "3/4oz." is specified. Two very different spinnakers could be built and both still qualify as “3/4 oz.” In order to bring the wording up to date and ensure that the Cal 25 class association is sailing in the spirit of one design racing the proposal was made.

"Minimum weight for a Cal 25 Class spinnaker will be at least 40 grams per square meter.
Spinnakers ordered prior to Nov 30th, 2001 will be permitted to be as light as 32 grams per square meter"

Currently both the J/24 and Melges 24 classes require minimum spinnaker weight of 40 gram per square meter.
The Etchells class specifies 32 grams per square meter. (FYI 3/4 oz. is exactly 32grams per square meter)

By choosing the minimum weight at 40 gram per square meter the fleet will have a more durable sail that is still very usable in light air. The racing life of a 40 grams/ square meter sail is longer than that of a 32 grams/square meter spinnaker. A longer lasting spinnaker will ensure that the cost of ownership will remain relatively low and that the fleet is competing in the spirit of one design racing with roughly the same spinnaker.

The effect of a no vote on this proposal could effectively require all boats to carry two “3/4 oz”. spinnakers, one for light air, one for heavy in order to be competitive. This will increase the cost of ownership for everyone. The idea of this proposal was to keep costs down and keep the fleet sailing in the true spirit of one design racing. It effectively excludes Airex 600 spinnakers.

THIS MEASURE WAS VOTED ON AND PASSED by the Long Beach Fleet

Main is Dacron with extended battens- Longer battens extend life of the sail. Leach and other dimensions have roughly followed PHRF changes.

Mylar Headsails, 140% max (I hear Longbeach, CA allows Kevlar)

One Spinnaker- spares are allowed if the first is damaged during a race.

In the late '80s and '90s, the Annapolis fleet tried a few other sail makers, but Haarstick Sails (Jim Cullen's Loft in Annapolis) proved to be the safest bet and best value.  Last year, Jim parted ways with Haarstick and changed his affiliation to Banks sails.  Meanwhile, Haarstick set up Steve VoorhisVorhes with the Haarstick franchise rights.  This created a real battle that is just starting to play out.

Haarstick Strengths:

• Sail design is proven Jim Cullen/Haarstick design- may not be true.  This is not exactly the same design.

• Seems to be some confusion as to what is the latest design (ie. batten design on main)
• No repair/service facilities in Annapolis.- Correction see message from Steve on Other's Comments

• Jim Cullen's. long Cal25 experience and commitment to the fleet.
• Full service loft in Annapolis
• Banks sails were used on the winning boat in Longbeach Cal25 Nationals

• What sails will be made?  Longbeach CA sails Annapolis Legal?- Update see Jack and my Comments
• Banks Panel/Material quality is an unknown

Update Sept 1997:

Both Banks and Haarstick make draft forward, flat exit Geneoas.  Both proved fast, but temperamental.

The full top batten, full roach main (Banks) is highly recommended.  Haarstick indicated that they will be reviewing their main design to take advantage of the new rule changes.

#2 (smaller 120%) Geneoas have been more difficult to make work.  The old Jim Cullen/Haarstick #2 need recutting before it could point at all.  Steve Bandy has always make short hoist #2 sails, sometimes they work, but they are ugly.  A few in the Annapolis fleet purchased North #2s- but they were nearly twice the price of the others, and seem to work only in certain conditions.  Who knows what Banks and Haarstick are offering now?  Someone will need to be first.

Spinnakers are also an unknown.  Alice May (1260) is talking with Banks and Haarstick about spinnakers.  JJ Flash (Niemczuch) purchased an early Bank's Spinnaker- no report so far.

Update 8 Sept 1997:

It' s official- the arms race is on.  Chicken Little (Charlie Husar) and Alice May (O'tooles) have both placed orders with Banks.  The fleet is definately getting tougher.

Update 6 October 1998

Chicken Little and Alice May (see above) sailed their first race with new Main's.  Charlie as usual was in the front of the fleet (#2), Alice May found (like I did earlier this season) that new sails do not help the captin make better decisions and fell further back.   I suspect next race he will be right back in the hunt.

Alice May also tried out a new (100% lime green) spinnaker to replace their ageing 'magic chut' with good results.

Update 14 December 1999

After a year or more of sailing, here are some general conclusions.  Many people find the extra roach on the Bank's main hard to sail with.  Some even had it trimmed back.  I (Matt) always liked the main.  Next, I found the new Bank's AP#1 jib a good sail but difficult to sail.  I have no information on the new Haarstick jibs, but I would definately try one out before I automaticly went to Bank's for the jib again.

These are comments from others:

Hi Matt. Great page! I wanted to thank you for mentioning the Haarstick effort on your page. This should be a big help. I do want to point out, however, that I do in fact have a local repair and service facility, and am happy to announce 24-48 hour normal turnaround time on most repairs, and even better in the case of an emergency. The fees are very reasonable, and I can offer free pick-up and delivery. As to how mains should be designed, I think it would be a great if the fleet would get together and decide in writing what the parameters of design should be. I know of two boats that use a full length top batten, which will help longevity, but is pretty clearly illegal. You can build a sail with full battens without extra leech area, for the sake of making the sail last longer, or you can try to gain extra area without penalty, for a performance boost. Which are we trying to accomplish? I feel that longevity is in keeping with the one-design concept of controlling costs, whereas extra unmeasured area accelerates the arms race. According to the rules, the batten lengths are clearly spelled out, and are a through back to the CCA rule. i.e., so short that they seem ridiculous in this age. What we need is a rules update. Anyway, that's my opinion, for what it's worth. The point is, I'd feel a lot better selling a main if I knew that 1) it was going to be as fast as any on the race course, and 2) it was going to be legal. If the local class rules get brought into this decade, everyone will be able to buy what's fast without worrying about cheating. Good luck and great racing, -Steve Voorhis, Haarstick Chesapeake 410.2688-3527 svoorhis@ix.netcom.com 

Matt, I take it from your having a main for sale that you ordered a main from Banks. I have done so as well. I do not believe that I have a copy of the national rules but I know that they have a limit of batten lengths of ~21 or 23" on the top and bottom and ~26 " on the middle. A few years ago the Cal 25 fleet here in Annapolis voted to allow full length battens with the idea that they may provide sail longevity but don't provide enhanced performance. This decision was motivated by other fleets allowing longer battens. I also remember that Charlie sailed a number of seasons with a Sobstad main that hit the backstay due to increased roach. Anyway I don't believe that the longer battens will be an issue for the Banks main but the extra roach may. I would certainly expect there to be a potential for increased upwind pointing ability with this sail. I think this matter might require some discussion among the fleet to prevent protests being lodged during every race. What is your take on the subject and do have a copy of the national and local rules? Matt, I take it from your having a main for sale that you ordered a main from Banks. I have done so as well. I do not believe that I have a copy of the national rules but I know that they have a limit of batten lengths of ~21 or 23" on the top and bottom and ~26 " on the middle. A few years ago the Cal 25 fleet here in Annapolis voted to allow full length battens with the idea that they may provide sail longevity but don't provide enhanced performance. This decision was motivated by other fleets allowing longer battens. I also remember that Charlie sailed a number of seasons with a Sobstad main that hit the backstay due to increased roach. Anyway I don't believe that the longer battens will be an issue for the Banks main but the extra roach may. I would certainly expect there to be a potential for increased upwind pointing ability with this sail. I think this matter might require some discussion among the fleet to prevent protests being lodged during every race. What is your take on the subject and do have a copy of the national and local rules?

I talked with the owner  (Jeff Weiss) of the Cal who won the nationals in California last year with Banks sails. He said the main was dacron without excessive leach or a full top batten. The Genoas were mylar 150%s- not special tricks. He did indicate that he has a 'special' main for PHRF with an extended roach for downwind. According to Jim Cullen (Banks), he has always been building mains based on the IMS rules. The new rules no longer have batten restrictions- although he indicated that a top full batten was all that he recommended. He said that the roach would not be excessive but would be slightly fuller near the top of the sail and that he would add the extended battens and full top batten. Full top batten and extended battens were added to extend the life of the sail. The first ones were delivered for the nationals in Annapolis. So for 3 boats have this configuration. My recollections that we just informally agreed to the change. Dave and Carol are retyping the original rules. Maybe we can get comments from the rest of the Annapolis fleet or maybe from some of the other fleets.

Hi! I'm the Fleet Captain of the newly organized Cal 25 Fleet in Newport Beach,CA. edited message from other's comments In the Nationals last summer there were mylar & kevlar genoas, whose maximum size was 150%. I just got a new dacron main from North Sails (under $800) & have tried it just a couple of times. The top batten is not full, but the battens' lengths (top to bottom) are 34", 49", 49", & 40". They are slim & tapered. North assured me that the sail is class legal. Comments? "Gorilla Dust" does have Bank Sails.They know Jordan Murphy of Bank Sails in Oyster Bay, NY, from whom they got a good deal. Jordan grew up out here & learned sail making at Skip Elliott's loft in Costa Mesa, CA.