The Staysail Manual Book

James Lowell Grant, 62 pp, detailed illus., softcover

A manual for those who want to know how to build sails. The "staysails" of concern here are the special purpose sails used on modern sloops to increase performance in light and medium air while reaching or running. They are set flying on the foredeck between the main and a headsail (a jib or spinnaker). Examples of such sails include genoa staysails, 150% staysails, tallboys, spinnaker staysails and cheaters. But there are many more names in use. This book is all about designing just the sail you need for that one point of sail where your boat is most sluggish.

Contents Include:
INTRODUCTION
SECTION I: SAIL DESIGN

Part 1: Selection of Head Sails

150% Staysail

Tallboys

Spinnaker Staysails

Cheater Staysails

Mizzen Staysails

Part 2: Choosing Materials and Using Them

Part 3: Sewing Tips

Part 4: Draft Placement

SECTION II: SAIL CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES

Step I: Producing the Full-Sized Outline

Step II: Laying Down Cloth Panels

Step III: Gluing Panels Together

Step IV: Sewing Panels Together

Step V: Fashioning Foot Portion of Sail

Step VI: Trimming Excess Cloth from Sail

Step VII. Cutting and Sewing Patches

Step VIII: Installing Leech Line

Step IX: Attaching Luff Reinforcement

Step X: Finishing the Sail

SECTION III: USING THE SAIL / FAULT DETECTION AND CORRECTION
GLOSSARY