ONESAILS
USER MANUAL
WARRANTY*
SAILS DELIVERY LABELS
LOFT
SAIL 1
SAIL 4
SAIL 2
SAIL 3
SAIL 5
SAIL 6
* Warranty terms and conditions are on the www.onesails.com website.
ONESAILS
THE NEXT GENERATION OF SAILS™
Your new OneSails are unique products, custom built based on the research and
innovation which has always distinguished the manufacturing philosophy of our
Group. We rigorously select our materials, which we assemble with the most
technologically advanced processes combined with the passion, knowledge,
and attention to detail of our experienced sailmakers.
In this manual you will find our advice and suggestions to make the most
of your new sails, and keep them efficient for many years.
Wherever you are sailing, and whatever your needs, you can always
count on the professional efficiency of our distributed service
network. OneSails has a truly international presence with lofts and
service points all over the World, ready to help you solve any kind
of problem and keep you enjoying your sailing.
OneSails reserves the right to modify the content of this manual without
prior advice. OneSails is a registered trademark of OneSails International Srl.
Any other trademarks which may be mentioned are the property of their
respective owners.
© OneSails International Srl. All rights reserved.
FIRST CHECKS
Before going sailing, it is advisable to hoist new sails on the dock
in light airs in order to check that the measurements are correct,
and all fittings match the boat’s hardware (luff slides, hanks, corner
rings, reefs, etc.)
AVOIDING ABRASION AND CHAFE
Abrasion on rough surfaces and contact with sharp objects can
cause premature wear and tear.
Never drag your sails on the ground or on deck, even in their bags,
and avoid other kinds of contact as much as possible. Take great
care in protecting all rigging items which may get to touch your
sails like spreader tips, stanchions, cotter pins, etc. with padding or
taping as appropriate.
1. USE ADVICE
FOR ALL SAILS
. 7
DON’T LET SAILS FLOG
Letting sails flog in a breeze can seriously damage the sailcloth
fibres and cause tears, or stitching to come undone.
Prevent this from happening as much as possible to extend the
useful lifespan of your sails.
WIND SPEED
KNOTS
DO NOT EXCEED
MAXIMUM WIND SPEED RANGE
Using sails beyond the maximum wind speed for which they have
been designed can cause their premature deformation and, in
extreme cases, their breakage.
If you are unsure about the wind range of your sail, contact your
local One Sails loft or service point.
STORE YOUR SAILS DRY AND
PROPERLY FOLDED
Whenever possible, we recommend that
you store your sails properly folded or
rolled in their bags, after rinsing them with
fresh water and drying them thoroughly.
The best way to let a sail dry is hoisting it
for a short sail: avoid having it flog from
the mast at the dock or mooring! Storing
sails this way will prevent oxidation
of metal fittings and the formation of
mildew. Also follow other indications given
in this manual for each type of sail.
DON’T LEAVE SAILS UNDULY
EXPOSED TO THE UV
All sails are made of synthetic materials
which are to some degree sensitive to UV
radiation. Unnecessary exposure to direct
sunlight can accelerate the deterioration
process caused by UV radiation, and
drastically shorten a sail’s life.
When sails are not used, they should be
stowed below deck in their bags, or under
a boom cover or furling sail UV sock
if they stay rigged, to avoid prolonged
exposure to the sun’s radiation.
MOTORING
Avoid motoring upwind with the sails
hoisted and flogging: always lower or furl
headsails, a mainsail can remain hoisted
as long as wind angle and sheet / traveler
trim allow at least its back part to fill.
If this is impossible, do lower the mainsail
as well.
. 9
•M
EA
S UR
E
M
EN
T
OK
MEASURING
If required, One Sails lofts can deliver sails measured and stamped
by official measurers to certify their compliance with class rules.
It is a good idea having sails measured in advance prior to
attending an event or regatta, so that a new rating certificate can
be issued if needed.
LAMINATE SAILS
Laminates are usually more delicate than woven sailcloth,
therefore, in order to prolong as much as possible their useful life,
it is necessary to handle laminate sails with care, avoid crushing,
pressing, or walking on them. When possible, fold and store below
decks in between races, also to avoid unnecessary exposure to UV
radiation.
Before the first use, it’s important to apply the supplied adhesive
patches in areas subject to contact with the rigging (spreaders,
pulpits, stanchions, hounds, etc.) to prevent chafing and damage
If damage occurs on a trip, a prompt temporary repair with the
right adhesive Dacron cloth is highly advisable, to prevent further
damage until the sail can be properly serviced. When stowing sails
at the end of the racing day they should be rinsed with fresh water,
dried, and the battens should be removed or at least their tension
should be released.
SPINNAKERS AND ASYMMETRICS
If possible let your spinnakers dry in between races on a short
downwind leg. If your spinnaker is stored wet in its bag, darker
colors can fade and stain lighter ones. When nylon is wet, it
becomes three times more stretchy, and about twice as heavy, than
when it’s dry. This characteristic however influences the sail’s shape
and performance more than its life.
If you notice a hole or small tear, do repair it immediately by
means of stickyback dacron or nylon repair tape. PVC (electrician’s)
adhesive tape should be used only if strictly necessary and in small
quantities, and removed as soon as practical to proceed with a
proper repair in a OneSails loft or service point.
REMEASURE THE SAILS
Racing sails often shrink with age, so a rating benefit may be had
by remeasuring the sails after some use.
2. RACING SAILS
USER MANUAL
. 11
RELEASE BATTEN TENSION
Racing sails are built with materials which
are strong but light, and can be damaged
by excessive strain induced by prolonged
batten tension.
Make sure you release tension from your
battens when the racing day is over and
sails are stored until the next use.
PROTECT SAILS FROM
RIG CONTACT
Racing sails are usually less chafe resistant
than cruising ones, so it’s essential to
protect areas of contact with the rig with
local reinforcing.
Ask your OneSails dealer for specific
adhesive patching material, and proceed
to apply it to critical spots right from the
first use.
CHECK SAILS FREQUENTLY
While racing, sails usually get a fair
amount of abuse.
Make sure you check their condition
frequently and carefully, and repair minor
damage immediately, before it gets worse.
HALYARD TENSION
Do not tighten halyards excessively, particularly with electric
winches. Proper halyard tension depends on sailing angle and wind
force.
Once back at dock it’s very important to release the halyard tension
of sails which remain furled, as well as the mainsail’s outhaul.
RUNNING RIGGING TRIM
Adjust the battens’ tension so that the sail is free of creases, but
avoid putting on excessive compression.
When sailing, if the leech or foot begin to vibrate apply leechline
tension to stop them.
3
. CRUISING SAILS
USER MANUAL
. 13
PROLONGED STORAGE
When sails will not be used for a longer
period of time, they should be rinsed with
fresh water, dried thoroughly, unbent,
folded in their bags and stowed in a dry
and ventilated place.
In case of doubt on the condition of any
of your sails seek advice from your local
OneSails loft or service point.
BEFORE CRUISING
Before leaving on a cruise, or at least once
a year, a detailed checkup of the sails’
condition is advisable.
Critical points are the corners, seams,
reinforcements, luff tapes, UV covers, and
more generally all the areas subject to
contact with the rigging. In case of doubt
on the condition of your sail seek advice
from your local OneSails loft or service
point.
AT THE DOCK OR MOORING
Check that furling sails aren’t furled too
tightly, and if it is the case, provided
the wind is light, unfurl and refurl them
properly.
Make sure halyards and outhaul are
released, and that boom covers and UV
covers effectively protect the sails from UV
radiation.
NEW SAILS
Before taking your new sails racing it’s advisable to use them
a couple of times training in moderate wind, to let the various
elements settle in, and the sail take its design shape.
PROPER USE
After a day of sailing or racing rinse the sails with fresh water
(imperative if you capsized), and let them dry hoisted if there is no
wind, or on the deck.
Release tension from all battens to avoid over stretching the
sailcloth.
4. ONE-DESIGN
AND DINGHY SAILS
. 15
ROLLING SAILS
Most of the dinghy or one design sails are made of yarn tempered
sailcloth which has a stiff finish increasing stability.
These sails are best stowed rolled rather than folded to preserve
the cloth finish and avoid the formation of wrinkles. In case of
prolonged stowage battens should be removed from their pockets.
5. CARE AND MAINTENANCE
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
WASHING
Washing sails with a low pressure water hose to remove grit and
salt is the best measure to prevent the formation of stains and
mildew. If a sail is dirtier than normal, a neutral soap and a sponge
can be used to gently rub its surface.
When finished, remove the soap by hosing with fresh water, and
always let the sail dry thoroughly before stowing it.
PREVENTING AND REMOVING MILDEW
Mildew forms on sails mainly due to moisture. The best preventive
measure is avoiding leaving sails damp in a closed space for a long
period of time. Make sure they are completely dry when stowing
them in their bags, and avoid storing them in tight spaces where air
can’t circulate. In case sails are left furled or folded on the boom,
they should periodically be hoisted or unfurled to dry out, particularly
after a rainy period. Mildew are pluricellular fungi which can form
and proliferate on the surface of sailcloth, and penetrate woven
materials. It’s important to remove mildew as soon as you notice
its formation, otherwise it can penetrate deeper and be even more
difficult to get rid of. A sail with mildew will quickly contaminate
others, so it should be isolated and treated as soon as possible.
. 17
3%
WATER
BLEAC
H
MILDEW REMOVAL PRODUCTS
Mildew can be effectively removed using a 3% solution of sodium
hypochlorite (also known as bleach) diluted with water, which can
be sprayed or rubbed onto the sail using a soft sponge.
Always wear protective goggles and gloves for this operation.
Leave to act for five minutes, then rinse with plenty of fresh water
and let dry. If necessary, repeat the treatment with the same
procedure, avoiding rubbing the sail surface too harshly.
WARNING!
DO NOT USE BLEACH ON NYLON OR KEVLAR SAIL
MATERIALS!
ALWAYS FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE
MANUFACTURER OF THE PRODUCT YOU ARE USING.
!
UPGRADE
Our exclusive upgrade services can breathe new life into your sails!
Upgrades can include UV protection, foam luff on furling headsails
to improve their efficiency, replacing hanks with a headfoil tape,
converting mainsails to fully battened, and much more.
Consult with your local OneSails loft for the full list.
SERVICE NETWORK
Wherever you are sailing, and whatever your needs may be, you
can always count on the professional efficiency of our distributed
service network.
OneSails has a truly international presence with lofts and service
points all over the World, ready to help you solve any kind of
problem and keep you enjoying your sailing. Locate your nearest
dealer at www.onesails.com
6. ONESAILS SERVICE
FIRST CLASS SERVICE, SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE
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CHECK-UP, CLEANING AND
SHAPE REVISION
Sails operate in an unfriendly environment, where salt and
polluting substances present in the air constantly attack the
material they are made of, and with time can deteriorate it to the
point of causing severe damage.
Sails are also subject to wear, until they require professional
servicing. A check-up at the end of each season is highly advisable
to address the small problems before they develop into more
serious ones. Our services include:
• Cleaning and washing to remove dirt and salt
• Thorough drying and preparation for winter storage
• Check-up of the parts more subject to wear
• Evaluation and update of the shape (upon request)
REPAIR
It is very important that any repair, however small it may be, is
carried out immediately to prevent any damage from spreading,
possibly catastrophically.
Most urgent repairs can usually be carried out within 24 hours by a
One Sails service point.
STORAGE
Many One Sails lofts are equipped to offer winter storage service,
stowing your sails dry and properly folded in a climate controlled
environment until you will need them again.
Contact your local service point for details.
Rev
. 03.2020
www.onesails.com