Sophisticated Sail Design, Development and Manufacturing

• We offer an easy-to-use online shopping experience that allows you to quickly find solutions for all your sail requirements, from simple, durable cruising sails to high-performance custom-made racing laminates.
• We have access to sophisticated sail design, materials and manufacturing technology to ensure the perfect fit, performance and quality of your new sails.
• A sail design and development team led by some of Australia’s most knowledgeable sailmakers, who have almost five decades of sail-making experience.
• Thousands of satisfied customers who have put our sails to the ultimate test in in-shore and ocean racing and cruising around the world.
• Our team have an unmatched sailing and racing pedigree, with 37 Sydney-to-Hobart yacht races to our name, as well as many other international blue-water ocean races.
• We offer a no-fuss, no-quibble warranty and a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee.

How does it work?

Having completed and submitted our Sail Finder Boat Measuring Guide (our step-by-step videos make this a simple process to follow), our experienced design and development team will carefully review your requirements and present you with:

• standard-sized sails that will fit your boat, with some customisation available (sail numbers, UV colour, etc.).
• custom-sized sails based on measurements from a specific vessel with all details customisable.

Will standard-sized sails really fit my vessel?

Our database includes detailed specifications for thousands of vessels, to which we apply sophisticated data-analysis tools to develop an extensive range of incremental standard sail dimensions that deliver the best fit to the largest number of vessels. This enables us to ensure that your new sails are the best fit for your boat.

But that's only the beginning

• For upwind sails: Each standard sail design is based on the standard dimensions created and the application of ‘virtual’ sail moulds (the 3D design shape) to achieve targeted flying shapes when set on the vessel. The ‘virtual’ moulds are the result of extensive Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) studies that include sailcloth properties and forestay tensions typical for cruising rather than racing applications as inputs.
• For offwind/downwind sails: For each sail type – Asymmetrical Spinnaker Furling (ASF), Asymmetrical Spinnaker (ASP) and Symmetrical Spinnaker (SSP) – standard ‘virtual’ moulds have been developed that result in targeted flying shapes appropriate to each sail’s application.
• Using best-fit tools, Sail Exchange determines the best fit of one or more standard sails to your vessel. For offwind/downwind sails (CCZ, ASF, ASP), this includes verification of the correct sheeting at a reaching angle as a limit of use.

Why might I need custom-sized sails?

When you have specific sail requirements – perhaps to meet class rules or rating certificate requirements, for other racing, specialised performance or durability needs, or to accommodate mast-bend for mainsails – you should measure your vessel as per the Sail Finder Measuring Guide and provide additional documentation, including mast bend images and rating certificates.

• For a mainsail, one or two images are used to measure mast bend for an optimised sail design. This measurement is performed in a CAD application with allowances for image perspectives.
• There may be class rules or a rating certificate (ORC, IRC, ORR, PHRF) that need to be complied with.
• For upwind sails: Each custom design is based on the custom dimensions provided and the application of ‘virtual’ sail moulds (the 3D design shape) to achieve targeted flying shapes when set on the vessel. The ‘virtual’ moulds are the result of extensive FSI (Fluid Structure Interaction coupled with CFD and FEA) studies that include material properties (standard sailcloth or membrane sail materials) for racing or cruising sails, depending on the application.
• For offwind/downwind sails: For each sail type (standard cruising designations such as CCZ, ASF, ASP or racing designations such as CZ, 1A, 2A, 3A,1S, 2S, 3S, and so on), standard ‘virtual’ moulds have been developed that result in targeted flying shapes appropriate to each sail’s application.

How are the designs I select manufactured?

Sail Exchange’s manufacturing sail loft partners have been carefully selected for the sophistication of their manufacturing and quality control processes.

• For a standard-sized sail with no level of customisation, we provide our partners with production files that include cutting files and finishing details.
• For a standard-sized sail with some level of customisation, the finishing details are modified to reflect the specific requirements.
• For a custom-sized sail, we provide our partners with production files that include cutting files or yarn-laying files for membrane sails, plus the custom design and finishing details.
• Our manufacturing sail loft partners undertake rigorous quality control checks of the completed sails prior to despatching them to Sail Exchange.

Where are the sales manufactured?

We use as many as nine sail lofts around the world to provide the best material and labour pricing and quality, utilising their capacity and seasonal pricing to provide our customers with the best value. The sail lofts are located in the Philippines, Thailand, China, Hong Kong New Territories, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Every day of the year we have brand new sails that are excess inventory from these sail lofts in transit though our facility in Sydney to be resold online globally.

How can I be sure the sail will be delivered as specified?

• Photos of every sail we order are supplied to us for inspection prior to despatch by the sail loft to enable us to verify the finishing details of each sail.
• Sail Exchange then undertakes its own comprehensive quality assurance checks of the completed sails before we despatch them to our customers around the world.
• Our commitment doesn’t end there – we believe you should have complete peace of mind. Our new sails are covered by a 12-month manufacturer's warranty. And we offer a 30-day return policy with a 100% money-back guarantee (as long as the sails aren’t damaged).