I have just bought a very good condition BLADE sail, can any one tell me the advantages of this sail over the normal wardrobe of hanked on sails ?.
The two that come to mind for me is ease of tacking and being able to get very close to the wind , cheers .
I'm to the understanding a Blade is a full luff, non overlapping jib with a high cut clew similar to a yankee ,,,but non overlapping.
A blade is a flatter type of headsail, usually 90-105% overlap. The low clew can be sheeted in or out depending on wave conditions - in for flat and less wind and out for more chop and more breeze.
Blades are also called Number 3s and a really lovely sail to use in a big seabreeze or similar. You don't get the problem of huge backwinding of the main, that a genoa can give in lots of wind and it the reduction in power balances the main when you depower it.
Etchells jibs make great blade sails on small yachts if your angles are good. Used one on my quarter tonner. Had tabs instead of hanks and was awkward when lowered to the deck, too much windage when returning to my mooring. In 15 to 20 knots of wind was brilliant.
