squaretop aftermarket sails

I just bought a 5 oz. dacron, 2 color square top from Whirlwind. It cost, with new battens and shipping, $1100. That is not much more than a Hobie sail. Much better low and high wind power. In medium wind, not much difference. Love mine!

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H18 #4549 Catasaurus

Sounds nice and Chip does an awesome job. I bought a 14 main from him that I love. But, the question is: Are you racing open class or just fun sailing? If there was a 18 North Americans in JAX, would you feel left out having a unique sail and not being able to compete? I think he's making the right decision with the stock main as his options are greater. Of course, thats just my opionion.

I totally agree with Xanderwess. Whirlwind makes awesome sails, I use them a lot...But, with a strict one design class, a non class legal sail will limit your ability to race. If that doesn't matter, then the resale value of your boat could suffer due t the fact that you limited the pool of buyers when the time comes to sell. A stock, class legal boat will always fetch more than a one-off. Unless you have both stock and after market sails, I'd weigh all the pros and cons carefully.

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Sail Revolution
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Hey catasaurus,

Can you explain "close racing" when yur boat was not class legal. And you all finished within 5-10 minutes of each other. If the swuaretop was so good why didnt you horizon the fleet instead there was close racing. Why did you not go with the class main and race honestly with all of those other 18s in a one-design fleet. wouldnt that be funner? Seems kindof lame.





Still doesnt make sense to me to break up a onedesign fleet like that. and the call to bring out the 18sdoesnt make sense since you cant race with them. you cant even tumeup on the water with them. Yep guys I still dont get it and every post just strengthens my thoughts.

Then Hobie 18 the SE, Hobie 18 Magnum, the Hobie 18 SX.

Hobie themselves did it to the fleet ... and as far as I am concerned it was a crime that destroyed a strong fleet and a great boat.

The Hobie 18 platform is one of the most versatile and indestructible platforms out there, further, in MY not so humble opinion, it is one of the finest catamaran designs ever conceived, engineered, and built.

It is a shame that Hobie has discontinued the model as It would probably be seeing a resurgence just as they are seeing in the H-16 class.

Getting off of my soapbox, and back to the subject at hand. If you want a set of aftermarket square top sails, by all means, get them, just do not let go of your class legal Hobie Sails.

Someday you may want to race the boat "heads up" rather than "portsmouth" and as someone else noted, you risk reducing the resale value of the boat if you do not have the "original" and "class legal" sails. If you have BOTH sets, (Legal & Square top) you may be able to command a premium price. ( tho it is not likely)

Take some of my thoughts with a grain of salt, as I am purely a one design, class legal racer.

I used to race cars, and that was purely an arms race. I got tired of the "speed costs money, how fast do you want to go". he with the most money wins. mentality.

I did my fair share of portsmouth racing in my youth, and for me, heads up class racing is where it's at.

I LIKE knowing if I cross the line ahead of you, I beat you, and if you crossed first, you beat me.

Waiting hours to find out how the numbers worked out, and then wondering if the people crunching the numbers did it right is not the way I want to spend my weekends.

Damn, ended up on a different Soapbox.... sorry about that.

Stephen

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

Lately I have been spending my sailing weekends sitting in a really nice RV drinking nuclear Gin and Tonics during a really cold rainstorm. Not too bad......

there is somethig to be said for "Class Racing"

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

Yea, but in Catasaurus' defense, I could have just as easily drank Gin and Tonics with a Sq. Top sail and a low PN........

The biggest boost in performance from any new set of sails is between the ears.
Remember how fast and how high you could jump with a new pair of Converse All Stars

It will always be about "The Nut on the Tiller"
It's just how long it takes you to get that.

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Pat Bisesi
Fleet 204 Syracuse, NY

Pat's right. I got a brand new 20 main and got dead ass last. Again.

Yes, Chip is awesome. I got my superR squaretop from Whirlwind (my boat is the first one on the pictures page).

soulcat01 - if you are into class racing there is no other course than to go stock, so buy it. If you are into going as fast as your boat can, then other sails may be in the plan. FYI: Dacron sails blow out in a couple of years and physically way outlast their performance life. Pentex sails may not physically out last dacron, but performance wise do. So get the stock sail. Hope to see you on the water, where I'll sail circles around you.

Oh, thats why youre pushing whirlwinds sails. Makes sense now.

maybe not corrected out. well have to wait and see after the committee runs your rating:)

(in my Jr. High voice): FIIIIIIIGHT!!!

soulcat01. I'm not a 'class or even open' racer, but do like to sail AFAP (as fast as possible) and try and be the fastest sailboat on the water, leaving others in my wake. Correction factors are for SLOWWWWW boats to even out the play field (quite right, good show, chin chin). I'm more like the street racer, bring what you got - let's see who's the fastest - toe to toe. When you are outrunning a pirate ship, you don't ask - but what about correction factors.

P.S. I'm sure Chip used my picture because I'm sooooo damn good looking and photogentic.

Hey Soulcat, I can appreciate your passion for 1 design racing but just chill out! First of all the Mug Race is a reverse or pursuit start so I gave the other 18's time at the start then caught them. The main advantages of the sq. are in light or heavy wind. I made time in the light stuff but not in the medium. Also, practically the entire race was dead down wind, making it more tactical gybing with the shifts than just screeching on a reach. As you know, down wind is tough in the lead when the wind fills in behind you.
Second, how often in Florida do you have enough 18's to make up a class? Not often in my area. I will have to enter open class in most races against Nacras, Prindles, H20's, etc. Why not go for the performance rather than be a class purist?

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H18 #4549 Catasaurus