Tradecraft topics: Sails inventory

Next in a series of postings concerning sailing tradecraft, offering various tips on technique, is the topic of sails inventory.  Rather than general knowledge, this posting is more specific to Volant.  It ought to be useful to know, among the collection of sails on board, which is the one that you are hauling on deck or unfurling from the forestay, and how it is going to be used! 

The first 13 sails comprise the racing inventory, though all are not necessarily on board for a given race.  The final 3 sails are most valuable for practice, day-sailing, deliveries, and cruising, to save wear and tear on the racing sails.  The most recent addition to the inventory is the A4 spinnaker.

Here is Volant's current sail inventory...

Mainsail (black)     Race regulations usually permit only one mainsail to be aboard.  This racing mainsail is a Quantum Fusion M M5, constructed of 14,000 dpi carbon/dyneema composite, with a surface area of 393 sq.ft.  It has a bolt rope for the luff, not slides, so it cannot be stored on the mast when dropped.  It has 5 horizontal battens.  This sail is tacked with a gooseneck fitting on front edge of the boom and hoists on the black mainsail halyard.  An outhaul line is rigged through the boom to the clew.  There is 1 reef point for reducing sail area in strong winds, generally above 18 knots.  This sail has veteran status as the most-used in the inventory but is still in excellent competitive condition.  This sail is labeled USA 61643 and is black.

G1     "G" stands for genoa and typically describes a headsail that overlaps the mast.  This is the biggest upwind headsail, sometimes called an "AP #1" (all-purpose #1).  The G1 is a Quantum Fusion M M5, constructed of 12,000 dpi carbon/dyneema composite, sized at 150% luff perpendicular (LP), with a surface area of 412 sq.ft.  PHRF rules permit headsails as large as 155% now, but this sail is the largest that will fit on the Beneteau First 10R without changing the stock fairlead tracks.  (The First 10R designer, Bruce Farr, did not envision headsails or spinnakers as large as they are now permitted.)  It has no battens, so it can furl.  The G1 is hoisted on the blue genoa halyard and sheets through the aft set of fairlead cars (the car position will be near the back of the track).  It is intended for winds of about 2-12 knots.  We have sailed it carefully but way out of it's wind range at 20 knots TWS.  This sail is labeled USA 61643 and is black.  It is stowed in a round, draw-string, gray (Quantum's signature color) bag.

G2     The G2 is smaller in size and slightly heavier than the G1.  It is a North Sails 3Di RAW, constructed of 12,600 dpi carbon/dyneema composite, sized at 135% LP, with a surface area of 347 sq.ft.  It has no battens, so it can furl.  The G2 is hoisted on the blue genoa halyard and sheets through the aft set of fairlead cars on deck (the car position will be near the front of the track).  It is intended for winds of about 12-16 knots, a fairly narrow wind range.  In my opinion, the cut of this sail is too full in the luff to be an excellent upwind performer.  This sail is labeled 61643 and is black. It is stowed in a round, draw-string, blue (North Sails' signature color) bag.

J2.5     "J" stands for jib, and is typically used to identify a headsail that does not extend at all or very far aft of the mast.  The J2.5 is a Quantum Fusion M M5, constructed of 14,000 dpi carbon/dyneema composite, sized at 103% LP, with a surface area of 278 sq.ft.  It has vertical battens, permitting the sail to be furled.  The J2.5 is hoisted on the blue genoa halyard and sheets through the forward set of jib fairlead cars on deck, positioned near the back of the track.  It is intended for winds of about 15-22 knots.  This is an excellent upwind racing sail in it's wind range conditions.  This sail is labeled USA 61643 and is black.  It is stowed in a round, draw-string, gray bag.

J3     The J3 is a Quantum tri-radial offshore heavy weather jib.  It is constructed of Dimension GPL LiteSkin 14 LS and 10 LS, sized at 95% LP, with a surface area of 242 sq.ft.  It has vertical battens, permitting the sail to be furled.  The J3 is hoisted on the blue genoa halyard and sheets through the forward set of jib fairlead cars on deck, positioned near the front of the track.  It also has webbing strops for emergency alternate luff attachment.  It is intended for winds of about 21-30 knots.  Heinous conditions characterizes the design and construction of this sail perfectly!  This sail has no labeled sail numbers and is dark gray.  It is stowed in a round, draw-string, gray bag.

Code 0     This sail is designed for a reaching course in light to medium winds.  The Code 0 is a Quantum composite tri-radial, constructed of GP CZ 15 GP fabric, designed with a shape classified as AWA 40-70, with a surface area of 892 sq.ft.  The Code 0 is tacked at the end of the bowsprit, hoisted on the green masthead spinnaker halyard, or can use the red fractional spinnaker halyard if peeled with a masthead spinnaker for a short-term solution.  It sheets through the aft corner Spinlock spinnaker blocks, and uses tweakers to redirect the sheeting angle.  The Code 0 does not furl and is handled similarly as an asymmetric spinnaker.  In our experience, the benefit of this sail is in such a narrow wind speed and angle range, and is difficult to handle without a furler, that we cannot justify the rating penalty of declaring and carrying it aboard.  This sail is off-white/very light gray.  It is stowed in a very long, zippered, gray bag.   

 A1     "A" stands for asymmetric.  This is an Ullman Sails asymmetric fractional spinnaker, constructed of 0.5 oz. nylon, with a surface area of about 1075 sq.ft.  It is a light air VMG reaching sail, built in 2011 but very lightly used.  The A1 is tacked at the end of the bowsprit, hoisted on the red fractional spinnaker halyard, sheets through the aft corner Spinlock spinnaker blocks, and the tweakers should be rigged.  It is designed as a reacher, with a flat luff entry, and can sail fairly close true wind angles.  It is intended for winds of about 2-14 knots.  We have been pleasantly surprised by the versatility of this older sail.  Presently, this sail is labeled 52659 and is white with red and blue edges on luff and foot.  It is packed in a red, white, and blue turtle bag.

A2     The A2 is a Quantum asymmetric masthead spinnaker, constructed of Bainbridge AirX 600/650 polyester, with a surface area of 1152 sq.ft.  It is the largest downwind sail permitted by PHRF rules for this spec boat without a rating penalty.  Luminescent chevrons are installed on the luff to make trimming at night easier.  The A2 is tacked at the end of the bowsprit, hoisted on the green masthead spinnaker halyard, and sheets through the aft corner Spinlock spinnaker blocks.  It is designed as a runner and will hold it's shape sailing very low angles.  It is intended for winds of about 3-15 knots.  This sail is a proven winner and our first choice in that wind range on a deep course.  This sail is labeled USA 61643 and is white/blue/black.  It is packed in a rectangular, gray turtle bag.

A3     The A3 is a Quantum asymmetric masthead spinnaker, constructed of Bainbridge AirX 700 polyester, with a surface area of 1091 sq.ft.  Luminescent chevrons are installed on the luff to make trimming at night easier.  The A3 is tacked at the end of the bowsprit, hoisted on the green masthead spinnaker halyard, and sheets through the aft corner Spinlock spinnaker blocks.  It is designed as a reacher and will excel in higher angles than a runner.  It is intended for winds of about 10-18 knots.  This is a tough sail, surviving some knockdowns during a Chicago-Mac race.  This sail is labeled USA 61643 and is white/red/black.  It is packed in a rectangular, gray turtle bag.

A4     The A4 is a Quantum asymmetric masthead spinnaker, constructed of Bainbridge AirX 900 polyester, with a surface area of about 1150 sq.ft.  Luminescent chevrons are installed on the luff to make trimming at night easier.  The A4 is tacked at the end of the bowsprit, hoisted on the green masthead spinnaker halyard, and sheets through the aft corner Spinlock spinnaker blocks.  It is designed as a runner and will hold it's shape sailing very low angles.  It is intended for winds of about 15-28 knots.  The sailmaker described this sail as very, very strong in construction and will excel in heavy winds, even though it is full size.  This sail is labeled USA 61643 and is white/green/black.  It is packed in a rectangular, gray turtle bag.

A5     The A5 is a Quantum asymmetric fractional spinnaker, constructed of Bainbridge AirX 900 polyester, with a surface area of about 915 sq.ft.  Luminescent chevrons are installed on the luff to make trimming at night easier.  The A5 is tacked at the end of the bowsprit, hoisted on the red fractional spinnaker halyard, sheets through the aft corner Spinlock spinnaker blocks, and the tweakers should be rigged.  The red halyard turns through a spectacle about 2.5 ft. down from the masthead, so the A5 earns the name fractional spinnaker.  It is designed as a reacher but can hold its shape in low angles in a breeze.  It is intended for winds of about 20-28 knots.  This is the smallest spinnaker aboard, but not so small as to thought of as a chicken chute.  This sail is labeled USA 61643 and is white/yellow/black.  It is packed in a rectangular, gray turtle bag.

Staysail     The staysail is a small, special-purpose headsail designed to supplement a spinnaker when sailing downwind.  It is built by Quantum and constructed of Contender ZL-P 06 composite in a warp-oriented tri-radial configuration.  Surface area is 240 sq.ft.  This sail is tacked to a fitting just aft of the anchor locker, hoisted on either spinnaker halyard, preferably the red fractional spinnaker halyard, and sheeted amidships with a set of light sheets.  The staysail can be effective in certain points of sail and wind speeds, partially filling the gap below the spinnaker.  It is most suitable for long legs because it is not easily gybed along with a spinnaker, especially if the head is on the green masthead spinnaker halyard.  There is continual debate, but this sail often does improve boatspeed on a run.  It has no labeled sail numbers.  It is stowed in a round, draw-string, gray bag.

Gale Sail     The gale sail is a storm headsail.  It is an ATN product, constructed of heavy weight dacron, with a surface area of just 60 sq.ft.  It has straps on the luff that slide over a furled headsail, or it can be hoisted along the forestay with no other sail present.  The gale sail is tacked on the bow stem fitting with a short leader, hoisted on either the blue genoa halyard or the red fractional spinnaker halyard, and sheeted either through snatch blocks on the side rail or the forward set of jib fairlead cars.  It is designed for storm conditions and can help with steerage and control.  We have not used this sail yet.  This sail is safety orange, useful as a locator for rescuers.  It is stowed in a rectangular blue bag in the forepeak forward of the head.

Mainsail (white)     This sail is a Neil Pryde mainsail, constructed of dacron, designed with horizontal panels, built in 2007.  It has 5 battens, not compatible with the racing mainsail battens.  It has slides for the luff, not a bolt rope, so it could be stored on the mast when dropped, when a retaining plate is fitted.  There are 2 reef points for reducing sail area.  This mainsail is valuable for practice, day-sailing, deliveries, and cruising.  This sail is labeled CAN 28 and is white.  It is stowed in a round, draw-string, dark-gray (Neil Pryde's signature color) bag.

G2 (white)     This G2 is a Neil Pryde genoa, constructed of dacron, designed with horizontal panels, sized at about 135% LP, built in 2007.  It has no battens and is designed to furl, with luff padding installed.  This G2 is hoisted on the blue genoa halyard and sheets through the aft set of fairlead cars on deck, positioned near the center of the track.  It is strong enough for winds of about 6-20 knots.  Though it is rather heavy, this G2 is valuable for practice, day-sailing, deliveries, and cruising.  This sail is white.  It is stowed in a round, draw-string, dark-gray bag.

A2 (white)     This is a North Sails asymmetric fractional-hoist spinnaker, constructed of Bainbridge AirX 650 polyester, with a surface area of approximately 979 sq.ft.  It was built in 2007 and supplied as original equipment with the boat.  This A2 is also tacked at the end of the bowsprit, hoisted on the red fractional spinnaker halyard, and sheets through the aft corner Spinlock spinnaker blocks.  It is designed as a standard runner and intended for winds of about 2-16 knots.  This A2 is in good condition, valuable as a backup, and useful for practice, day-sailing, deliveries, and cruising.  This sail is labeled CAN 28 and is white.  It is packed in a rectangular, "North Sails" blue turtle bag.

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Here is the third version of a sails cross-over chart that shows the windspeed and true wind angle application of the racing sails.  Still a work-in-progress, more practical data on the water will be needed to improve the accuracy of this diagram.    

[Updated June 1, 2026]