[C320-list] Thoughts on Sails

[Jeff Smith]

To all,

I am contemplating purchasing a new main sail and a new Genoa. I would like to benefit from the collective wisdom of the group, if you would be kind enough to share.

Currently, Sailmates has a 155% Genoa that will be 18 years old next year. The Main will also be 18 years old next year. It seems like this is about the extent of the useable life of a sail, but I could be mistaken. Mainly we daysail or cruise for the weekend, though I hope to expand my reach to the Bahamas and up the coast to New England. [Side note – I have all of Spring 2019 available for a passage to the Bahamas if anyone is interested in a trip. Seriously, let me know because I would love to travel down, but I do not have blue water experience.]

My questions include: 1. Has anyone installed a Strong/Tides Track system? If so, did you find it worth the expense? If you installed it but did not find it worth the expense, what are the negative issues? 2. Quantum Sails has recommended that I could get much of the benefit of the Strong/Tides Track by going to a 2+2 (upper full battens only) system with AllSlip slides for the Main. Does anyone have any experience with either AllSlip slides or a 2 batten main sail system? They also suggested that I could use Bainbridge Railman receptacles with a stainless steel universal joint, which is part of the Strong/Tides track system. Any thoughts here? 3. They recommended that I do not go bigger than a 140% Genoa for boat balance. Any thoughts on this? I will say that when we first bought the boat we would regularly roll out the full 155%, but now I tend to keep the Genoa above the lifelines.

I know there are a lot of questions above, so I appreciate any and all opinions. By the way, the price quote for a CrossCut CW 2000 Main with 2 reefs and 4 battens is $3,056 after a 15% discount. The 140% Genoa with Foam Luff, Spreader Patches, and UV Cover is $2,400 after the discount. So that is $5,500 for the two sails, which seems pricey, but less than the quote from an Ullman sail loft (and only about $800 more than the previous boat owner paid in 2001). I also priced an asymmetrical spinnaker ($2,500 with dousing sleeve), but I am not sure how much we would use this.

Thanks,

Jeff
S/V Sailmates, 94 #121