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01Sailcloth & Materials02Sails & Design03Rigging & Trim04Care & Repair05Boat Gear & Systems06Wind & SeamanshipOpen the matrix

RUBRIC

Sails & Design | Sailmaker's Fieldbook

Mainsails, headsails, spinnakers and panel layouts, with the load path kept in view. Read practical notes for sailors, boat owners and marine technicians.

25 August 2026A focused reading listFieldbook Desk
A mainsail and headsail spread across a loft floor beside a sail plan

THE QUESTION BEHIND THE RUBRIC

sail design

Mainsails, headsails, spinnakers and panel layouts, with the load path kept in view.

Every note names its source, date and next check. Specialized topics stay here because they help a sailor make a better material, trim, repair or equipment decision.

LATEST NOTES

Read the evidence, then check the boat

A cruising yacht carrying a mainsail and genoa on a close reach

23 August 2026 · Sails & Design

mainsail vs. genoa

The mainsail and genoa work as a pair, yet each changes balance, handling and reefing in a different way.

Radial and crosscut sail panels marked with seam lines on a loft floor

22 August 2026 · Sails & Design

crosscut vs. radial sails

Panel direction is a load-path decision. Crosscut and radial layouts distribute cloth, seams and reinforcement differently.