Tempest Sails
Design Notes
Sailing in and working closely with the Tempest fleet at
This is a much heavier boat than a dinghy, therefore the jib needs to have sufficient fullness to generate enough drive to maximise boat speed, particularly when sailing slightly free or in a seaway. The entry has to be fine enough to enable the boat to point high when required (the boat has a well designed keel and rudder which means that it will point much higher than might be anticipated).
The mainsail is intended for use with the standard Proctor mast, fitted either with or without lowers. It is designed to deliver power in light/medium conditions and the fullness in the head allows the sail to blade open as the wind increases. Centre travellers are used to keep the boom on the centreline with the leech twisted at lower wind speeds.
Laminate sails (jib and main) are available either in Polyester, Pentex or Kevlar for that extra bit of sail shape stability and power. Our recommendation for durability is a Dacron jib and, either a Dacron or Pentex laminate mainsail.
Laminate sails, whilst having better short/medium sail shape retention properties, do have a shorter physical life. Kevlar laminates are used in order to obtain a lighter than normal sail and, because the film is much thinner weight is saved, however they are much more expensive, more delicate to use and have a shorter life.
The new ‘larger rule’ spinnaker has now been developed and provides a much larger sail which gives greater speed on the broader legs whilst still capable of dealing with the tighter reaches in most wind strengths.
Jib
- 5.46 Polykote Dacron
- Polyester/Pentex laminate
- Hank on or wire luff are available
- One or two window option.
Mainsail
- 5.46 Polykote Dacron
- Polyester, Pentex or Kevlar laminate
- The standard sail has a lens foot with clew slider
- Two windows fitted.
Spinnaker
- Contender Dynalite (or Bainbridge AirX)
- Choice of colours
- Single or double downhaul
Tuning advice
Gallery
