mitre cut

[windrose]

What is a mitre cut jib? What are the advantages of that particular cut.

Thanks,
Ang

[Peter]

Ang:
Here's an explanatory article on sail cuts.

My favorite is the radial cut, but I'm only going by looks.

[Tim]

I don't know much about mitre cut sails, but my impression was that it was an older technique and style that isn't used much anymore. This might be because the newer materials and sail designs (like tri-radial sails) are superior, but there could be other reasons too.

Assuming your question revolves around an existing, used sail that you might be considering purchasing, I don't believe there are any particular negatives or outstanding positives that should make it any better or worse than other candidates. Under this assumption, what matters most is that the sail is of the correct size and in the best condition possible for its price point.

I happen to like tri-radial sails, both for their looks and their performance. They seem to be a sort of updated and more effective version of the mitre cut sail. The issue of whether this more modern sail design (the tri-radial) belongs on an old boat is one that each person must address individually. Regardless of what one thinks looks appropriate on a boat like a Triton, there's no getting around the superiority of the tri-radial's design in terms of aligning the sail with its anticipated loads from the three corners, and with the design's ability to reduce sail stretch and maintain the designed shape better.

[aside]I'm not opposed to modern sail designs or modern sailing hardware on a so-called "classic" or older sailboat because I feel that the sailors of the day would have chosen the most advanced materials and hardware that they could. So on that vein, I don't think it's anachronistic to choose sails or sailing hardware that work the best that they can according to today's technology. These are sailboats, not museum pieces. (True museum pieces are, of course, another thing entirely, but none of us are sailing museum pieces.)

That said, there's room for individual opinions on this. There's just no particular right or wrong answer.[/aside]

[windrose]

Thanks Guys, from reading the article looks like the mitre cut is age appropriate for my old boat being it was cutting edge technology 40 years ago.

I am thinking of converting one of my existing genoas, that is mitre cut, to a roller furling sail. From what I understand, after reading the article, it would be a good choice --so I need to get it back from the consignment shop.

Thanks again.

[Ceasar Choppy]

Whether you use a mitre cut jib or a tri-radial depends on the cloth. Mitre cut is better for regular dacron. Tri-radial is more appropriate for the newer laminates and tighter woven darcon. At least that is what I've heard.

[jollyboat]

Woven cloths of yesterday were a balanced weave because the looms that the cloth was being made from had not yet kept up with the development of synthetic fibers. Hoods first loom poduced little 20" wide grey goods before the finish process and definitly not intended to be used for sailcloth manufacturing. The clew position of high clew sails made with balanced cloth weave made the Mitre Cut favorable in an attempt to keep the loads of the sail as close to the thread line as possible. You will not find low clewed headsails built with Mitre Cut design. Today woven cloths are very hi-tech and design specific and chosen for a sail according to it's intended, work, cut and aspect ratio. Low aspect ratio sails 3x(J or E) =,> I or P demensions will benifit from a more balance cloth to keep the loads on thread line and a high aspect ratio sail 3x(J or E) < I or P will benifit from a higher aspect cloth with a greater warp count as there is much more load being carried up the leech of the sail. A the end of the day sails are foils that we as sailmakers do our best to match with a boat according to the type of work the boat and sails will be doing most as well as the rig, boat size and displacement. In time the sails shape distorts and the sail becomes a less efficient foil. There as are many ways to design sails as there are boats to design them for - some better than others - and it all comes down to compromise for what is best for the work at hand and the boat. Cross Cut Dacron sails are great and have proven themselves time and time again - they need no defense. Radial sails are fairly new to the sailing community and have also proven to be a break through in developing faster foils for our boats. The radial sails made from Dacron are also great sails and are made from what is called radial Dacron that has been delevoped as a purpose built cloth and works very well and will provide years of great service.