Sharpie Sails

Design Notes

This classic, one time Olympic boat, has a very specialised gaff rig, requiring a detailed understanding of boat set up and how the controls are used to get the best performance.

We have been involved with the Sharpie Class for many years and have worked closely with the Norfolk fleets especially at Brancaster and Wells.

The class rules allow considerable freedom in sail design. In recent years we have developed flatter jibs with fine entry angles, which give good pointing in all conditions, whilst keeping the slot as open as possible. This helps the performance of the boat as the wind increases and the gaff area of the mainsail twists open.

The maximum area of the jib is controlled by the sheeting position defined in the rules. We tailor the jib dimensions to the customer's requirements. We find that though some sailors like to use sails fairly close to maximum size, the majority use sails that easily fit within the boat's parameters, because this makes the sheeting of the jib easier.

The jib luff length can be critical in giving enough latitude in mast rake and, because of the variations between boats we always consult with our customers to verify the correct length.

The diagonal Cunningham, in conjunction with the gaff angle control, enables the mainsail fullness to be modified for different conditions. As there are no rules controlling the mainsail size the roach area can be varied to suit different crew weights and wind conditions. The maximum area of the roach is only controlled by the batten lengths and the amount of sail they will support. The angle of the gaff can be varied to increase the aspect ratio of the mainsail, though this does affect the total area of the sail (increasing the peak height decreases the total area available).

Jib

• 5.46 Polykote(or Bainbridge equivalent)
• 4.46 or 3.9 Polykote available as lighter weight sails
• Two window fitted as standard

Mainsail

• 4.46 Polykote (or Bainbridge equivalent)
• Fixed lens or loose foot options available
• Two windows fitted as standard
• Third window (near throat) as an extra