As sailing Swede 55 is mostly about upwind pleasure, a post about a single sail, this time a new jib, seems reasonable. For a long time, I sailed Gamle Swede with a worn-out and smaller-than-specified jib. It was made by Canon/Västervik in 1979. For that long, you can use polyester cloth, also known by the brand name Dacron.
You just have to treat it well: never furl it, cover it every evening, keep it dry, and give it to the sailmaker now and then. When I measured the old rag, I discovered that it had just 24 m2 of the intended 30 m2. With that 80 percent jib, regattas were a fight with one’s own handicap. In strong wind, the boat heeled unnecessarily. When the wind dropped, I had to switch quickly to the Genoa to keep Gamle Swede going.
Cloth: Dimension-Polyant Vectron
When I hoisted the new jib in July 2018, I couldn’t believe my eyes. As discussed, it filled the area between the forestay and spreaders to the centimetre. Further, the sail was cut so that the clew point does not touch the stop of the hauling point but in such a manner that the car can be moved to adjust the sheet angle. The new jib is made of heavy cloth and was sewn by someone who works carefully. I mention this because, in my experience with several sailmakers, it is not common.
Built like a mainsail with 3 long battens, the one at the top reaching to the headfoil – photo: Swedesail
Its leech is stabilized like a mainsail with three battens and one continuous batten at the top. This is why the new jib can neither be furled as is common today nor stowed in a bag like the former jib. It is put into a long sleeve in the evening. This is not as comfortable as furling the headsail around the forestay when approaching the harbour. Because the focus here is to enjoy sailing and I don’t see the point of buying a new headsail every couple of years due to excessive wear and tear, I don’t have a furling system. With a little practice, the sail can be furled along the lower luff and packed in the UV protection within minutes in the evening on deck. It is quicker than laying the old sail in 1/2 m (20 inch) wide sheets and then rolling it up to fit the sail bag. The zip of the 4.30 m (14 feet) long tube is closed and stored on the cabin roof.
10.5 ounce (ca. 397 gram) cloth
When the Lübeck sailmaker Arnd Deutsch measured out the new jib aboard in autumn 17, I asked for an oversized, heavy cloth with plenty of reserve strength. I wanted a sail withstanding a lot of wind without being ruined. I accept the price for this, the stiff and unwieldy cloth, the weight, and the effort of packing it away every evening.
Heading to Troense in danish waters at 5 beaufort – Photo Stephan Roepke/Swedesail
Towards the evening of the first day with the new jib, the wind in Denmark picks up to a good five Beaufort (20 knots, 9 m/sec), nearly pushing the deck into the water. Sheltered by Aerø Island, we are sailing at 8 ½ to nine knots through mostly flat water. That is hull speed. There is so much pressure that the Andersen 46 ST hardly pulls the sheet in. I will soon replace it with an Andersen 52 ST. Two days later, we are sailing through the Danish South Sea around Tåsinge. Tacking against the current in the inland waters of the narrow Svendborgsund, we are as fast as the Danish motor cruisers.
Significantly more power
In my experience only two things are certain when buying and repairing sails: the order confirmation and the bill. Whether the sail has the ordered size, whether it performs as intended, and the repair was done as agreed are open questions. It is perhaps interesting here that I advise boat buyers and owners. A sail is a made-to-measure product, where not only the basic data such as the luff lengths should be right. The quality of the cloth, the weight of the cloth, the cut of the sail, and the workmanship must also be right.
Gamle Swede with steam on the jib-sheet and a single reefed mainsail – photo Stephan Roepke/Swedesail
So I am happy with the new jib, due to the years of privation when sailing Gamle Swede below par in private encounters or official races. The boat already starts going in light air. From three Beaufort (≈ 8 knots, 4 m/sec) onwards, I have the impression of having a new boat. The jib’s regatta premiere at the Max Oertz Regatta 2019 is delightful.
Swede 55 jib details
Dacron Dimension-Polyant, type Vectron, VEC 100 with yellow Vectran fibers in the direction of weft yarn
Cloth weight 10.5 ounces = 450 gr/m2, instead of 350 gr as suggested for Swede 55
Horizontal cut
Leech with double cloth, long battens, clew with thick thimble instead of a ring as common today
Camber stripes, telltales, a special tape fitting to Hood Gemini headfoil, equivalent to the Reckmann Zwilling type
Made by Arnd Deutsch, Teerhofinsel, Bad Schwartau/Lübeck
Jib and Yankee stored in covers on the cabin roof – Photo Swedesail
In autumn 2019, I asked Arnd Deutsch to reinforce the clew with thicker cloth. He does not discuss it as any sailmaker would try. In spring 20, I pick up the strengthened sail without a second bill.
Photo on top of the versatile jib by Wolf Hansen/Swedesail. Published July 21, 2018, updated October 27, 25.→ Subscribe to the free newsletter, and you won’t miss future articles.
