Sails

[Dale Tanski]

It seems like there are a number of threads on this site lately that touch on the purchase of new sails.  Maruska is a ketch with the factory clubfoot staysail option.  I took ownership of the boat with a very mixed assortment of manufactures sails aboard.  Our inventory covers the major lofts with the exception of North & UK.  The oldest being the mizzen staysail, its manufacture's tag obscured with age, and the newest being a Doyle full battened mizzen.  

Although at first apprehensive about owning a fully battened cruising sail, having had mixed experience with high performance full battens in beach cats, it is an excellent sail and I recommend it in a mizzen application where a flatter cut is desirable.  The full battens allow me to adjust the draft as desired to minimize luffing uphill in the spoils of the main.
Our headsail is a well worn 2nd or third replacement 150 furling sail that I have not warmed up to.  As it turns out, we sail almost exclusively utilizing the staysail.  Because of the staysails self tending configuration, it proves itself in additional area on lighter days, improving the boats ability to claw to windward (as much as a 365 ketch could ever hope) and when the wind pipes up, is the headsail of choice.  Combining the staysail with the 150 just doesn't make sense if you read any of the cutter/staysail info that has been brought this forum as of late.  Quite frankly, the only reason I can see having a 150 aboard a cruising boat with a cutter rig, is if you sail often under headsail alone because of its ability to roller furl, and you leave the main and hank on staysail under the horse blanket.  Honestly, I do not want to crank in a 150, and it doesn't like to tack through the slot left between the head stay and the inner stay.  Earlier on, I contemplated upsizing my primary winches because of the beastly 150 as my family just can't swing the handle.  Even I have trouble with the 43's if the wind is in the teens.  

We race the family J-22 with a complete Doyle inventory exclusively, as do the majority of J-22's in Buffalo.  Doyle out of Cleveland, Ohio has been good to us not only in pricing and delivery, but has been outstanding in support both on water and off as well as the numerous repairs that follow a well or even more so, a poorly campaigned race boat.  I have developed an excellent relationship with the staff at Doyle Cleveland, and after little satisfaction at the Annapolis Show inquiring about other ideas and opinions for a replacement headsail for the 365, am once again about to place a new sail order with Doyle.  

They have quoted me a Yankee, high clew, 115% headsail, with foam luff, luff tape for my furler, white UV protection, 7.4 oz. Dacron for $2100.  The sail will yield 320 sqft and because of its high cut clew, improve forward visibility and minimize the obstruction as it passes around the inner stay.  I suspect due to the interaction with the staysail and proper headsail, our performance will actually improve even though we opted to reduce the headsails area by approximately 30%.  On top of all this, my existing winches will now be more than adequate, and if I do desire to carry a rolled headsail to balance the helm, it will retain a reasonable shape rolled 25% as opposed to rolling a 150 75% to achieve the same desired results.  

I have been up and down on what to do regarding my head sail situation, now thank goodness it is on to new ports!  Doyle has once again filled in the answers for me when it comes to sail questions and choices and I didn't have to be a cup campaign, or gold platter to attract their attention.  They took the time to study and understand the humble 30+ year young Pearson 365 cruiser and the sailing desires of its 50+ owner. I highly recommend contacting Brad Hollingsworth @ Doyle Cleveland, 716-447-9766 in your quest for answers and solutions on which sail to purchase.
Good Sailing...   Dale Tanski