Better sail technology drives better performance
With more than 75 years of sailmaking experience, UK Sailmakers Northeast offers unparalleled sailing and design knowledge bolstered with top service after the sale. See what genuine craftsmanship can do at every level.
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UK Sail Design
Modern computer design programs create a 3D model of your boat that is used to make sure a designed sail is perfectly matched to your boat and rig. Designers can see how the sail fits around the spreaders and shrouds as well as make sure the clew height and sheeting angle are right. We can also analyze how a main and genoa work together to make sure your boat stays balanced. What we are looking for is a sail plan and sail shapes that put the maximum driving force in precisely the right place to produce a perfectly balanced boat – and with the least amount of drag.
Left is the 3D rendering on a Light No. 1 genoa for a Santa Cruz 50. Right is the same sail flying on the boat. The draft stripes are virtually identical.
Unlocking Performance with ISL Technology
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At UK NE Sailmakers, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of sail technology to give sailors every possible advantage on the racecourse. Our latest innovation, ISL (Integrated Structural Luff), has been a game-changer for furling cabled sails, and now headsails are seeing the benefits. ISL construction is now available as an upgrade on new X-Drive and Titanium headsails. ISL sails are designed to improve upwind performance and adaptability across a range of conditions.
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What is Integrated Structural Luff?
ISL is an advancement to UK Sailmakers’ Titanium and X-Drive sail technology that shares some of the headstay load onto the sail’s reinforced luff which overall, reduces headstay load. This results in a straighter headstay and better pointing ability. Reduced sag translates to increased speed and control even in challenging conditions. The blue and gold ISL logo is your mark of cutting-edge performance.​​
​ISL can only be incorporated into new headsails, as it requires refining the initial sail design to perform with or without headstay load transfer. This is done by adjusting the fiber layout, increasing fiber passes along the luff to handle the added load. Carbon fiber – known for its exceptional strength and minimal stretch – is the gold standard for sails with ISL. It’s the default tape included with the ISL option, and we recommend it for optimal performance.
All X-Drive and Titanium sails are reinforced with narrow, high-strength, low-stretch fibers laminated to the sail along its primary load paths. By applying these continuous, load-bearing yarns from corner to corner, the yarns absorb the sail’s aerodynamic loads, not the seams or the base material. This means the sail holds its original designed shape longer than a traditional cross-cut Dacron or laminate sail and there is no seam creep, preventing catastrophic seam failure.
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Why Luff Load Sharing Matters
Headstay sag is a limiting factor in sail performance, particularly when sailing upwind. However, with advancements in structured luff technology, sailors can now transfer some of the headstay load onto the luff of the headsail itself, significantly reducing luff sag and enhancing pointing ability.​
Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) study conducted by Pat Considine, showing an ISL-optimized headsail design for a Cape 31 in 16 knots of true wind speed.