The oldest Top Hat Sails

[bearmcnally]

Egret II turned 40 last year . Still has her original sails on and rattle like true Mitchell Sails ! I guess they don't make like that anymore ?

Bear

[Troppo]

I have a Rolly Tasker spinnaker with address of Claremont WA, sail number 23500. Mike Tasker of Rolly Tasker Sails tells me that the Claremont loft has been closed for a considerable time and they have been in Thailand for over 20 years. So, I know the sail is old [older than the main and jib] but I can't say it was original.

That is certainly amazing Bear, that you have an original sail. Wow.

Louis
troppo

[bearmcnally]

Hi Troppo ALL Egret II sails are 40 years old ? MH42 is even sewn on ! Oh the patch on the main is only 10 years old. Headsails are mitre cut even have the hand leather sewn on the leechs etc . I had the original cane battens up to 2 years ago until the top one snapped . The problem with modern cloth is it is more resin than cloth and breaks down much quicker . And the previous owner, like myself we change down sails to suit the conditions and don't let the sails flog themselves to death !

Bear

PS It is a credit to the sailmaker

[Troppo]

You had the original cane battens until two years ago.

Wow, you really do look after your stuff.

Troppo

[Phillip]

Hey Bear,

I've got a set of them!

Just took them off as, of course, they don't fit my present main.
I had wondered how they fitted in, but they are there if you want them!

[bearmcnally]

Hi Phil

Yes Phil , would love your MK 1 cane battens !( As rare as rocking horse shit !!! ) Brian Shilland my mate (This sounds like John Laws ) had some 10 years ago ,but white ants ate them !! .

Cheers Bear

[Phillip]

OK Bear,

Will see about getting them to you.
They are numbered 1, 3 & 4. Seems that 2 is gone.

[Brainless]

Awesome to see a set of old sails still in use, You have the oldest and I have the newest (seeing as they are being made this week haha)

[Troppo]

Ryan, if your sails last as long as Bear's have then you've got a lot of sailing ahead of you before you need to go into a sail loft again. : )

troppo

[Dolphin]

Just an aside, I was watching the Collectors on the ABC and they had a hang glider pilot who had collected 10 Hang gliders, some too old to reliably fly (his own words). They showed some of the sail bags and I'm sure one of them had L R Mitchell on the wings. Could Mitchell have made the sails for the hang glider??