Hi Joel,
I have had a few sails made and even remade for previous boats, with various experience.
When I decided to chage the genoa on my Mango, there were many opportunities , from cheap Hong Kong sails to great name sailmakers. Not sure about who had made the sails for my Mango, as my boat was laying in the Old Port of Marseille for a few months, I decided to call on the original sailmaker for my boat and invited him aboard. I beleive he was living close to Hyere!
He came aboard and was astonished how much he knew the boat , its caracteristics and idiosyncrasy... In one word, it felt, as seemingly he developped a knowledge of the boat, sailing with The Capt'ain, he knew the boat and its sailing caracteristics.
I was truly impressed and he made observations that I had never heard from any sailmaker. He knew details of why the furling tube on the headstay, had been welded, what was to be expected from the boat in various winds, confirming my layman experience. He also tought me that a very popular technique to reduce sails aboard a ketch ( I had often used it on the ketch and a yawl previously owned) which consists in furling the main and relying on the genoa and the mizzeen, was not as efficient as maintaining the 3 sails up, and reducing same and all of them, as needed, thus keeping the same ketch profile for which the boat was configured.
He gave me a lot of information on my boat and more on the Amel Yard.
His sail was not inexpensive, but not only is it still in perfect shape after my stay in the Caribbeans, for the last 6 years,( where I have been sailing after using the sails for another 3 years in the Med) resisting well to the sun, the rain, the streching and the mildew.
Meanwhile I have had fellow Amel owners buy new sails or recut their sails from all the possible sailmakers (including those who have a sail loft in many islands) offering their services in Martinique and in the Caribbean, from St-Martin to Trinidad and Venezuela.
Many complained, I never had to.
I own no interest in the Gateff sailoft, but can testify, it was the best ... for me!!!
This is as much as I can explain...
regards,
Serge V/Opera
Mango #51
--- En date de : Dim, 13.1.13, Joel Potter <jfpottercys@...> a écrit :
De : Joel Potter <jfpottercys@...>
Objet : Re: Rép. : [Amel] Re: New sails for supermaramu 2k
À : "amelyachtowners@..." <amelyachtowners@...>
Date: dimanche 13 janvier 2013 18 h 45
Serge, after reading your post about Gateff, I am not so sure about what you meant with your long last sentence. Could you please help me understand?
Joel F. Potter
954 812 2485
iPhone
On Jan 13, 2013, at 5:16 PM, Serge Tremblay laetitiaii@...> wrote:
Hi
I bought a hydranet genoa from Mr Gateff, wonderfull and dedicated sailmaker whose enterprise was then a subsidiary of Bic (recall the America's cup chalenge).
I have sailed many thousand of miles, the sail has not deformed, looks like new, would recommenf Gateff sails to anyone and if the enterprise is now under Doyle and they have retained the knowledge base... this is the best choice over any fast talking, cheap drawing, even if sincere and honest, sailmaker not knowing that a Amel may be a stubburn mule if not properly dressed...
Serge, V/ Opera
Mango #51
--- En date de : Dim, 13.1.13, Miles Bidwell mbidwell@...> a écrit :
De : Miles Bidwell mbidwell@...>
Objet : [Amel] Re: New sails for supermaramu 2k
À : amelyachtowners@...
Date: dimanche 13 janvier 2013 16 h 12
Six years ago I bought a set of sail from Gateff Sails in Toulon, France
(Sails Gateff is now part of Doyle Sails). Gateff makes the sails as large
as is physically possible-significantly larger than the factory
specifications. He used Hydra Net sail material which he said was the best.
(You can find out about this material on the internet.)
After a transatlantic and more, the sails look like new with absolutely no
sign of any stretching, the light air performance of the boat is
much improved, and it tacks through a smaller angle. If anyone is
interested, when Doyle bought Sails Gateff, Doyle acquired the computer
programs that run the sail cutting machine so they should be able to
duplicate the size and shape of these sails. The sails are all radial cut
and the shape of the jib can only be described as being beautiful.
Regards,
Miles (SM 216 Ladybug), now on the hard in Newport, RI
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