Westaway Sails perfect a method of fitting a webbing finger
Downwind sails tacked to bow sprits are becoming more fashionable on
cruising boats as well as racing boats. This is to improve the projection,efficiency and balance of a Cruising Chute or Asymmetric spinnaker whilst sailing broad and tight reaching angles.
Most crews opt to lead the 'lazy sheet' out around the outside of the luff of the sail as well as the forestay to allow the sail to gybe out side or'flag' out in front of the boat; but this can result in the 'lazy sheet' falling below the bowsprit and being trapped below the pole.
Westaway Sails have adopted a method of fitting a webbing finger stiff
enough to catch the sheet but soft enough to bend into a spinnaker bag. This
'finger' sometimes referred to by racing crews as a 'dogs dick' catches the
'lazy sheet' that runs from the windward side out around the front of the
sail and back to the clew on the leeward side; thus eliminating the problem
of the sheet falling below the bow sprit.
The 'Spinnaker tack finger' can be fitted to any new Cruising Chute or
Asymmetric spinnaker free of charge and can be retro-fitted to any existing
sail for a small charge. Please contact Westaway Sails for further details,
to order a new sail or have this fitted to your existing sail.
New collection point at Birchall marine Torquay
Please note the new delivery and collection point at Birchall marine Torquay harbour side extending our service for rapid repairs to sails for those based in or visiting the Devon coast. As ever, we offer a quick turn around with realistic pricing. Please call the number on the box ! For more drop off points please click here.
Westaway Sails carry out extensive sail testing in Russia
We have been sail training with the Russians !! and have been experimenting with sail shapes on the boat at sea with off the water observation primarily with smoke to enable evaluation of air flow over the sails.
Many sail lofts use wind tunnels for the testing of sail performance in a variety of conditions but we have taken this one stage further by the evaluation of our sail aerodynamics at sea. The prime benefit if this is to remove as many flaws as possible that affect an emulated environment.
Our testing at sea has resulted in many findings, primarily with control of the airflow over the sails and yacht where it has been detected that significant laminar flow can be lost if the genoa is incorrectly set or does not have deck seal.
All these tests results are taken in to consideration and reflected in changes in design and production of our sails. The net effect is a more efficient sail for both cruising and racing clients.
Westaway's Team Xcellent – Laser SB3 Class Champion
An international fleet gathered at Medemblik, Holland 8-10 October for the Laser SB3 2010 Championship. John Pollard and his crew achieved nine straight first places as the following result sheet shows.
Westaway Sails has become one of very few companies approved by ISAF for in-house measurement and certification of sails for all one design classes plus IRC.
September 2010 Team Xcellent Wins Triple Crown
Sailing team Xcellent take Triple Crown winning 3 major South West regattas in the South West. Starting with the highly competitive South West IRC championships in Falmouth after which the same team of 100% Devon sailors competed and won Torbay week and Dartmouth regattas competing against full professional teams from the Solent and Ireland.
All three championships were sailed in high wind conditions providing challenging conditions for all teams. Xcellents helmsman John Pollard commented at a press interview in Dartmouth that he was really proud of his crew who have been sailing together for over 12 years which showed today performing several complex crew manoeuvres in very strong winds with ease which makes my job as helmsman much easier and enables us to capitalise on wind shifts and other teams errors.
Falmouth was the largest regatta with over 200 competitors in several divisions we were competing in the IRC racing division against several new design yachts . Westaway sails provided the sails for Xcellent and many other teams in the events with class wins in IRC racing division and corinthian fleets and provided a overnight repair service to all competitors which often involved working late to ensure all sails were repaired ready for the next days racing.
SB3 One Design RegattaJohn Pollard wins the highly contested SB3 One Design Regatta against top national competitors in a fleet of 43 boats. The picture shows John and crew members Rob Smith and Charlie Hook with their prize. |
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Torbay Week
Westaway Sails took 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 overall in IRC at 2009 Torbay Week with 62 entries. Congratulations to our fantastic customers for their outstanding results all carrying full inventory and latest VMG downwind sails.
Big congratulations to Matt & Michelle Dodd for winning the Addison Gold Cup with a full suit of Westaway sails.
Chosen by North Sails
North Sails chose Westaway Sails as their preferred local sail maker to take care of Regatta support for the J Cup. We repaired 42 sails after windy Thursday all completed and ready for racing the next day including 2 spinnakers sent out by rib in time for the race – NOW THAT’S SERVICE, was the comment from the J109 fleet.
John Pollard takes third successive Melges 24 UK Nationals
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The 2008 Melges 24 UK National Championships were held in Guernsey over a very windy long weekend. John Pollard's team consisting of himself, Rob Smith, Mickey Shwartz and Fred Kemp succeeded in winning the championship for the third time, with five first places. |
Westaway Max finishes second at Cork 1720 Nationals
Helmed by Jamie Watts and crewed by a local Plymouth team – a great result for all concerned.
Melges 24 A-team Westaway finishes third at Melges 24 Pre-Worlds
Raced at Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Helmed by John Pollard.
Melges 24 A-team Westaway finishes 13th at Melges 24 Worlds!!
Winning a race and finishing top British boat!!!
John Pollard wins Leeds Trophy at Royal Torbay Yacht Club
Westaway Sails Managing Director John Pollard has been awarded the prestigious Leeds Trophy. This trophy was given to the Torbay Yachting Association (TYA) by Sir Reginald Leeds in the early 1950s for outstanding achievement in connection with the sea and sailing. Since its inception the award has only been made twenty times. For full details click Yachts and Yachting article.
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