[Public-List] Any experience with sails from Lee Sails?

[Gordon Laco]

I agree with John.

The Lee sails will be fine with regard to fitting.... But what makes sails
worth whatever it is you're paying for them is shape.  And I am one of those
who advocate that cruising sailors should care about shape more than racing
sailors say they do.

Efficient sails in a cruising yacht mean that for any given wind condition
or direction, she'll heel less.  She'll be easier to steer and handle in all
situations.  She'll point higher, and as for that, I'd say that while
pointing high in a race could help win a pennant, in a cruising boat it
could save your life.

I also agree with John about Ron at Triton.  Ron's got real talent as a sail
maker and unlike most these days, he actually cuts his sails at this loft
and his people build them there.   He understands our boats, his Dad built
the factory supplied sails for our boats all the years they were built.  Joe
was a very good man before his too-early death.... Ron has indeed carried on
very well in his family's tradition of excellence.

Gord #426 Surprise


On 12/11/13 11:53 AM, "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca> wrote:

> Hi Bill, Triton Sails in Mississauga is where you should consider ordering
> your new sails.
> 
> Sails are expensive, but it is mostly labour and the cost of premium Dacron
> over regular Dacron materials that spells longevity to the sail and
> maintains its designed shape longer.
> 
> Triton sails are not cheaper than say North, but the additionals added to
> the sail are better.
> 
> Sunstone carries Triton sails, my most recent purchase was a 135% tri radial
> Dacron high cut, which was an excellent purchase. That sail was built under
> the supervision on Ron, as sadly Joe Fernandez passed away.
> 
> Ron learned well from his father, the student surpassing the teacher as
> witnessed by the amazing sail shape of the new 135.
> 
> Our main, built in 1997 still holds its draft at 40% forward, being all full
> batten with Schaeffer Batten cars and offshore stitched. While it was
> slightly more than North was charging, the additional features were
> substantially better than what North was offering for its offshore sail. It
> was built with premium cloth with a 2 ply leach (which is where sails always
> fail when they get older. The leach is equivalent to 16% oz cloth.
> 
> The sails built by Triton are highly competitive on the local race course,
> though we no longer race - we took line honours the first year of the new
> inventory in 97 at the BSBC Open and cleaned up in the fall series. We
> finished first in division in the ensuing Open the following year and fall
> series and retired from racing the next year as we love our boat too much.
> 
> Suggest you give Ron a call. Buy local with one of the best and don't scrimp
> on the materials. You will see dividends going forward with that approach.
> 
> My thoughts anyway
> 
> Best
> 
> John  ( Sunstone's Triton sails, Offshore main; 105% high cut; 160% deck
> sweeper; 135% high cut. )
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Wallace" <wayfarer3134 at yahoo.com>
> To: "alberg 30" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 10:45 AM
> Subject: [Public-List] Any experience with sails from Lee Sails?
> 
> 
> Has anyone bought sails for their Alberg 30s from Lee Sails? I'm trying to
> decide between them and Sailrite - I've sewn my own sails before, so that
> isn't a problem, but the Lee sails are only $300 more than it would cost me
> to sew my own, and if they are of equivalent quality, I think I would just
> go with them. I had talked with some other sailmakers, but mostly local
> sailmakers are significantly more and my budget won't allow a new sail then
> this winter. I race periodically, but am not really a die hard racer so they
> do not need to be optimal for racing - but they should be an improvement on
> my current sails which are really old.
> 
> I've heard good/bad second hand stories, but I'd really like some first hand
> information. Comments on quality, fit, any issues you had etc would be
> appreciated.
> 
> Just for comparison's sake, the cost on the main is about $1700 with partial
> length battens, including shipping, but without tax. (CAD).
> The sailrite quote is $1243 USD without shipping - about $1400 CAD by the
> time it arrives.
> Fareast sails is more expensive unless I buy two sails, but they aren't that
> much more than Lee sails.
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> Bill.
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