Cruising Sails
It's a simple, but perhaps overlooked fact that we apply as much design and development time to our cruising sails as we do to our racing sails. Our belief is that cruising sailors want the same level of performance from their sails as racing sailors. We don't do "off the shelf", every design is bespoke to your boat and sailing style. Ultimate cruising sails utilise the same technology and advances in materials as our racing sails. There are many common features with shared technology and designs are constantly updated as a result of customer feedback, what we find when we go testing and of course, as technology advances.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
Mainsails
We offer four styles of cruising mainsails at Ultimate Sails with either; short leech battens, 3/4 length battens, full length battens or in mast furling. Your rig or the type of cruising you are doing will define which one will be the most suitable. Material options include XVS - a clever variation on the cross cut panel layout, tri-radial or the Ultimate Endurance membrane.
The traditional and most popular leech battened sail has one full-length top batten and three or four short leech battens below. They are designed and engineered to have the ultimate shape to match the wind conditions across all ranges.
The 3/4 length battened sail is similar in many ways to a leech battened sail but with a big advantage when it comes to hoisting and lowering as it behaves in a similar way to a fully battened sail. 3/4 battened sails are very easy to flake when short handed and don't flog very much. They are also more cost effective than a fully battened sail and wear less due to the lack of specialist hardware and expensive luff slides.
Fully battened mainsails are designed for more power in medium conditions, and they will drop nicely into a stack pack, therefore making them easy for sailing shorthanded. The cars and extra weight from the battens can mean that it is difficult to get the optimum sail shape in lighter winds.
Standard features include:
- Two reefs
- Boltrope or slides on the luff as required
- Fibreglass battens
- Telltales
- Trim stripes
- Leech and foot lines with cleats at reef points
- Drawstring bag
Optional extras:
- Sail numbers
- Third reefing point
- Class insignia
Click to learn more about the material options available
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Headsails (Genoa, Max Jib, Jib)
The cruising range of headsails from Ultimate Sails includes a genoa, a max jib and a jib, all headsails are all very individual in their purpose.
A genoa is an overlapping headsail, which comes back past the shrouds, giving you maximum headsail area. They are designed to be easily furled away, so you can adapt the sail area according to the wind, your heading or the experience on board.
A jib is a non-overlapping headsail at 100% of the foretriangle on a yacht. A jib increases the visibility for the helm and crew, it makes tacking easier and it's very easy to handle, particularly when sailing short-handed.
In between the genoa and the jib you will find our max jib. This is around 105% sail area. You will get all the benefits of a jib, but with an increased sail area and short vertical leech battens that can furl away giving the sail a straight leech and more power than the jib alone.
Standard features include:
- Sheet trim indicator
- Hanks or tape for headfoil/furling system
- U/V guard on furling headsail
- Draft stripes
- Trim stripes
- Reef footmarks
- Sail bag
Optional extras:
- Sail numbers
- Foam luff
Click to learn more about the material options available.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Downwind performance made easy
All Ultimate Downwind Sails are custom designed to suit your individual sailing style with an accent on performance and ease of handling. They make downwind sailing a lot easier and more enjoyable especially when short handed. The chart here shows the optimum wind angles and wind speed for each type of sail.
True Wind True Wind
Angle Speed
Code 0: 65 - 130 5 - 25
Furling
Asymmetric: 85 - 140 4 - 18
Cruising
Chute: 100 - 160 5 - 20
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - -
The Cruising Code 0
A Code 0 is a relatively flat sail designed for reaching in a wide range of windspeeds. They are especially useful on boats with non overlapping or self tacking headsails that struggle with a lack of power and speed in light winds. If you want a "turbo boost" to your performance across the widest range of conditions an Ultimate Sails Cruising Code 0 fits the bill.
The Cruising Code 0 is at its most useful when used with a furling system to make short-handed sailing easier and take the stress out of downwind sailing. Once hoisted it can be furled and unfurled according to wind conditions, directions or speed and it is sheeted in the same way as a spinnaker.
Designed specifically for each individual boat, our unique full radial multi-panel construction is combined with the best Cruising Code 0 laminates to give a sail with a smooth flying shape.
Corner loads are addressed by specifically engineered layered radial patches which help to spread the loads through the sail more evenly and absorb the shock loads inherent with downwind sails.
Standard features include:
- Radial patches
- Coded tapes
- Launch bag
- Torsion rope with thimbles to suit furler
Optional extras:
- Sail numbers
- Furling System
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cruising Chute
If you are looking to add more horsepower to your boat when sailing downwind then the Ultimate Sails cruising chute is a perfect choice. Once hoisted, it is sheeted like a genoa although it adds a lot more performance over a wider range of wind speeds and angles. The versatile design has been refined over many seasons so that it is easy to trim in light conditions and allows you to run deep in stronger winds.
A snuffer is recommended for easy and safe handling particularly when sailing short-handed.
This is not an off the shelf option, our cruising chutes are designed especially for your yacht, providing a full hoist and maximum performance when sailing downwind.
Understand more about why our your next cruising chute should be an Ultimate Sails cruising chute.
Standard features include:
- Radial patches
- Coded tapes
- Launch bag
- Spectra luff line
Optional extras:
- Sail numbers
- Snuffer
- Sail branding
- Tack prodder
Accessories.
- Snuffer - click for more details
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Furling Asymmetric
Once hoisted and unfurled the furling asymmetric from Ultimate Sails is sheeted like a genoa, although it adds a lot more performance over a wide range of wind speeds and angles. The versatile design has been refined over many seasons so that it is stable and easy to trim in all conditions.
The sail includes a single line furler and anti-twist rope in the luff to make handling easier. Our unique full radial panel construction is combined with the best nylons to give a sail with a smooth flying shape.
Corner loads are addressed by specially engineered layered radial patches which help to spread the loads through the sail more evenly and absorb the shock loads inherent with downwind sails.
Standard features include:
- Radial patches
- Coded tapes
- Launch bag
- Torsion cable
Optional extras:
- Furling system
- Sail branding
Accessories.
A range of furler options are available with all asymmetric and Code 0 options. For a price specific for your boat please email us - sales@ultimatesails.co.uk
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Get an Instant Online Quote Here
