Choosing a Sail Fabric for Cruising

Choosing the right sail fabric for cruising is essential for any cruising sailor. Different fabrics vary in performance, durability, cost, UV resistance, and how they handle over time. Here’s a detailed guide to help you understand your options from a cruising perspective, focusing on reliability, ease of handling, and longevity, to make choosing a sail fabric for cruising simple.

OVERVIEW: WHAT A CRUISING SAILOR NEEDS FROM FABRIC

PRIMARY TYPES OF SAIL FABRICS (CRUISING-FOCUSED)
1. WOVEN POLYESTER (DACRON) – The most common cruising sailcloth in the world.

Advantages:

• Excellent durability – lasts many years if cared for
• UV and chafe resistant
• Low stretch (in good-quality cloth)
• Easy to repair and forgiving of abuse
• Cost-effective

Limitations:

• Heavier than laminate options
• Loses shape over time (gradual “bagging”)
• Not ideal for performance/racing

Best For:

• Mainsails and genoas on cruising yachts up to ~50 feet
• Offshore passage-makers, charter boats, liveaboards

Brands/Types:

• Challenge “Marblehead” or “High Aspect”
• Contender “Fibercon Pro”
• Dimension-Polyant “AP” or “Classic”

2. LAMINATE SAILS (FILM/TAFFETA OR MEMBRANE – Laminates are layers of film, scrim (fibres), and optional taffeta cloth.

Advantages:

• Superior shape retention
• Lighter for their strength than Dacron
• Better performance, especially upwind
• Can be customized with fibre layouts

Limitations:

• Shorter lifespan if unprotected (UV, moisture, delamination)
• More expensive
• Can be hard to repair at sea
• Stiffer and noisier to handle

Best For:

• Performance cruisers
• Racing-cruising hybrids (e.g. J/Boats, Pogo, Hanse)
• Lightweight furling sails

Options for cruisers:

• Taffeta-faced laminates: Protective fabric layers improve lifespan
• Cruising laminates: Cloths like Contender CDX or Dimension-Polyant X-Drive are built for cruising use

3. MEMBRANE/STRING SAILS – Custom-built sails with fibre paths laminated directly into a skin.

Advantages:

• Custom-engineered for loads
• Light and high-performance
• Excellent shape retention
• Can be made with Dyneema, Carbon, Technora, etc.

Limitations:

• Expensive
• Not rugged – abrasion, UV, and moisture can shorten lifespan
• Not ideal for casual cruisers
• Complex to repair

Best For:

• Performance bluewater cruisers (who accept the cost)
• Long-distance race-cruisers (ARC, Transpac)

4. DYNEEMA / SPECTRA FABRICS – High-strength fibres with extremely low stretch.

Advantages:

• Super strong and light
• Extremely UV and chafe resistant
• Used in specialty sails, storm sails, furling sails

Limitations:

• Costly
• Can creep over time under load
• Often used in blends, not alone

Best For:

• Offshore cruising jibs or mains (if blended with polyester)
• Roller furling sails where durability is key
• Storm trysails or high-load sails

5. HYBRID FABRICS (E.G. DYNEEMA-REINFORCED DACRON – Combine woven polyester with fibres like Dyneema or Carbon.

Advantages:

• Improved stretch control
• More durable than laminates
• Friendly handling (less stiff than film sails)
• Middle ground for serious cruisers

Limitations:

• More expensive than Dacron
• Heavier than pure laminates

Best For:

• High-end offshore mainsails
• Long-distance furling genoas or jibs
• Sails that take a lot of wear but still need shape

SPECIALTY SAIL CLOTH

CRUISING SAIL SELECTION: WHAT TO ASK YOUR SAILMAKER

1. What’s the expected lifespan of this cloth for my boat and usage?
2. Is it repairable at sea if something tears?
3. What’s the UV resistance like in tropical conditions?
4. How will the sail hold its shape over time?
5. How heavy is it for hoisting and furling?

SUMMARY: BEST SAIL FABRICS FOR CRUISING