CLASSIC BOAT AUGUST 2016 45W
ho in their right mind would consider
using cotton for sails on a
contemporary yacht today? Yet look at
any number of late 19th and 20th
century photographs of vessels sailing and a vision of
perfectly set cotton sails greets the eye in nearly every
example. The subtle and substantial appearance of these
early sails is more appealing than the harsher and
brighter look of synthetics, yet few traditional boats use
cotton, and the skills required for working with natural
materials have almost disappeared. There are many
synthetic cloths resembling natural canvas, but nothing
beats the feel and creamy beauty of the real thing.
A boat’s sails represent, say, 75 per cent of the
visible vessel when sailing, so it’s a shame that there islittle authenticity in the choice of sail cloth when it
comes to restoring older sailing vessels.
However, procuring first class cotton duck or
Egyptian cotton, the premium sail cloths for yachts in
the now distant past, is virtually impossible.
Furthermore the untreated material is prone to mildew
if stowed wet and ordinary cotton canvas will stretch
beyond the end of the boom in no time!
The restorations of Collinette (1885) and Marigold
(1892) included fitting out with the best available
cotton 20 odd years ago. Although Marigold’s sails
have been re-cut several times due to stretch during
that time, she is still winning races and the sails set
well. More recently, for the restoration of Patna
(1920) – CB issues 285 to 289 – a more stable cottonA rot resistant and non-stretch cotton? Greg Powesland,
looking to fit out Patna, couldn’t believe it either
STORY GREG POWLESLAND
COTTON ON
Facing page:
Patna flies her
cotton suit of
sails at Monaco
Classic Week
last yearFLYPICTURES.COM
STEFFAN MEYRIC HUGHES