CRUISING SAILS
Cruising genoas & jibs
On modern designs, cruising headsails are non-overlapping jibs; on older boats, overlapping genoas. Both come with roller reefing and furling features — UV covers, foam luffs, and reefing reinforcements — in a full range of materials.
Photo © UK Sailmakers
Five ways to build a cruising headsail.
Performance cruising sails hold their shape — which makes them good for club racing and comfortable, fast cruising. A stretched-out furling headsail makes sailing less comfortable; a well-built one furls smoothly for years.
Titanium Double Taffeta
Lightest weight performance cruising sail.
Construction: Molded membrane containing carbon load-path fibers running continuously from corner to corner over a Technora scrim. Lite Skin, white or grey taffeta on both sides.
Appearance Black, grey, white
Shape stability ★★★★★
Durability ★★★★☆
Price band $$$$$
X-Drive® Taffeta
Load-path reinforced performance cruising laminate.
Construction: Extra lightweight cross-cut laminate panels reinforced with corner-to-corner carbon or S-Glass yarns bonded to the sail. Taffeta or Lite Skin on one or both sides.
Appearance Black, grey, white
Shape stability ★★★★–★★★★★
Durability ★★★★★
Price band $$$
Radial Taffeta
Tri-radial panel layout for increased shape holding.
Construction: Long narrow panels radiating from the three corners, following the load paths. The narrower the panels, the better the shape-holding. Taffeta on both sides.
Appearance Grey, white
Shape stability ★★★☆☆
Durability ★★★☆☆
Price band $$$–$$$$
Hybrid Woven
Premium wovens: high-tenacity polyester reinforced with UHMWPE fibers.
Construction: Built cross-cut (Voyager) or tri-radial (Hydranet, Fibercon Pro Hybrid) to orient high-strength fibers along the primary load paths for maximum shape retention.
Appearance White
Shape stability ★★★★☆
Durability ★★★★★
Price band $$$–$$$$
Dacron
Most economical sails for cruising and daysailing.
Construction: Cross-cut panels make the most efficient use of woven polyester sailcloth, which helps control costs — built with proper patches, premium hardware, and UV covers.
Appearance White, tanbark, cream
Shape stability ★★☆☆☆
Durability ★★★★☆
Price band $
Talk to your local UK Sailmakers representative to customize the right headsail for your boat, sailing area, and predominant cruising grounds.
Furling features, done properly.
UV covers applied last — over corner webbings and stitching — plus foam luffs and reefing reinforcements sized for your furler.