It is now 2006, and most of the C22 fleet here at the Austin Yacht Club, and Pete Harper, the 2005 National champ, and certainly one of the best C22 sailors on the planet, have all swithed to Barlett Sails. Many of us have become believers, that John Barlett has figured out the optimum shape for the C22 Genoa.
I am kicking off a new discussion in 2006. I guess in 2006 we call it a blog.
Most of the fleet is running with Barlett sails.
I got some Quantum sails with the Sport. Still evaluating them.
Gus Sails is still around, I think that is what David Hayslip used to win the
Nationals this year, although it can be argued he was faster than Pete.
Send me sails discussions and I will post them here.
This is an
online discussion that fleet 69 had during December 2000 on Sails For the
Catalina 22. We have sails from North (Houston, TX), Gus (Dallas, Tx), and Bartlett
(Austin, Tx). Pete Harper, Catalina 22 National champion, shares his
thoughts and gives a rundown on winning
sails at the nationals the last few years.
Joann:
Paul and I have been telling ourselves we
need a new main since we first saw the boat, or shortly after the development
of written language or thereabouts... But we hadn't gotten past a short
conversation with the local North Sails guru. Anyone have any thoughts about
choice of sailmakers?
Ted
I really like North sails. I have all North sails and love them.
They are good all around sails that are easy to trim. Unfortunately they are
also the most expensive. I am talking about the one design racing sails not the
standard cruising sails.
Many top racers use Gus sails and they are good,
but I think they tend to be too light. At Nationals, I have
observed that the boats with Gus sails do great in < 10 mph of wind, but at
> 15 mph they were at the back of the fleet.
North Sails are a little heavier which helps them keep their shape
as the wind picks up. It also makes them more durable.
However, they are a little slower in light air conditions. I think
that the variety of wind conditions we sail in calls for a all purpose sail
like North makes.
Bill Drehym developed his C-22 designs while at
Drehym sails. Then he went to work for North and gave them his
design which they have tweaked. He then quit and started Gus sails (his dog's
name) where his designs have been getting lighter still.
Whatever you choose, new sails make a huge difference in your boat
speed and you will be glad you made the investment.
Let me know if you have a new sail so it can be measured while
it is still under warranty and can be returned if it is out of
specification.
George:
No question, I have been pleased with my North genoa.
I had been used to sailing
a Thistle, which had a large main and an almost negligible jib. My experience
is that that if the C22 genoa is driving the main can flog... But of course our
main is from the 1980's.
Jim :
I have Bartlett sails and I am very pleased with them. They work
very well in heavy air.
George:
Thanks Jim. Our genoa is one of (Austin sailmaker)John Bartlett's, now about 3
yrs old, dacron, and one of it's most
useful features was the hour or two he spent with us demonstrating it, trying
it out and showing me how to make it fast.
Not that I understood all he was saying...
Walter:
I can't speak for Gus Sails because I don't have enough
information. I can speak for the local sail maker Guru, because I talked with
him about the difference in prices
between his sails and the competition’s sails.
There is a difference in material strength. Just because its
dacron, doesn't make it the best sail material. There are differences in the
dacron material just as there is a difference in cotton T-shirts. Hanes makes
the Beefy T and Lee makes a heavy
cotton just as does Fruit of the Loom. They are all different in longevity and how well they stand up to the
washing and drying
process. Then there are
the T-shirts from Bangladesh. Yes they are cotton but won't stand up against
any of the local brands.
So compare longevity vs price. Then make your decision.
Pete:
Hello All, Here is my two cents worth on sails.
In the C22 class there are many sailmakers out there who are
cutting competitive sails. No single sailmaker has the silver bullet
for success. The choice often comes down
to personal preference or who cuts a sail that best matches your predominate
sailing conditions. No sail is perfect
for every condition, any sail design will be a compromise between a multitude
of variables; cloth weight, sail shape and etc..
Any selection you make should take into account what conditions
you plan to use the sail in and what your boats particular strengths and
weaknesses are.
Here's how I made my selection.
1)
Find out
what the top boats in your area are using and buy the same. The top guys are doing something
right.This is how I originally got started with Bill. I figure if I buy the
same sails as everyone else I won't have an excuse when I did
poorly.
2)
After I
learned more about the C22 and sailing I began to
appreciate the differences between
designs. Overall I've had more of a
struggle sailing in light air as compared to heavy air. To improve my light air performance I've
looked for light weight sails that are cut full providing a lot of power. If I was to do the majority of my sailing in
San Francisco I'd be making a different choice.
3)
It must be
my Dutch heritage but I'm always looking for the best deal. ;-)
Ted's right about the Genoas Bill was cutting for the '99
Nationals in Tulsa. They were a little
on the light weight side.
Hayslip and some of the guys were gambling that the winds in Tulsa
would be very light so they showed up with a light weight sail. In the breeze they suffered for the
gamble. We however did exceptionally
well in the breeze.
Hummingbird was racing with a '98 Gus genoa and a '95 North (ala
Bill Drehym) Main.
You can look at the final
standings from the last couple of Nationals and draw you own conclusions. Bottom line is you can't really go wrong if
you stick with any of the
top lofts; Gus, Waters, Kerr or North.
‘95 Genoa Nationals
Gene
Ferguson: Main and Genoa Gus Sails
2) David Hayslip: Main and Genoa Gus Sails
3) Don Carsten: Main and Genoa Waters
Sails
4) Pete Harper: Main and Genoa Gus Sails
'95 Spinnaker Nationals
1) Gene Ferguson: Main and Genoa Gus Sails
2) Pete Harper: Main and Genoa Gus Sails
'96 Genoa Nationals
1) Micky Richards: Main and Genoa North
Sails
2) Harvey Baker: Main and Genoa Rodger
Kerr Sails
'96 Spinnaker Nationals
1) Rosser Bodycomb: Main and Genoa North
Sails
'99 Genoa Nationals
1) Harvey Baker: Main and Genoa Rodger
Kerr Sails
2) Pete Harper: '95 Gus Main and '98 Gus
Genoa
3) Don Carsten: Main and Genoa Waters
Sails
'99 Spinnaker Nationals
1) Pete Harper: '95 Gus Main and '98 Gus
Genoa
2) Don Carsten: Main and Genoa Waters
Sails
'00 Genoa Nationals
1) Pete Harper: '00 Gus Main and '98 Gus
Genoa
2) David Hayslip: '00 Gus main and '98 Gus
Genoa
'00 Spinnaker Nationals
1) Don Carsten: Main and Genoa Waters
Sails
2) Pete Harper: '00 Gus Main and '98 Gus
Genoa
Good Sailing, Pete