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The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:59 pmby 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
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:12 pmby 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
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Wed Jan 29, 2014 5:34 pmby 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
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:52 pmby Troppo
You had the original cane battens until two years ago.
Wow, you really do look after your stuff.
Troppo
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:05 pmby 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!
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Sun Feb 02, 2014 5:55 pmby 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
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:32 pmby Phillip
OK Bear,
Will see about getting them to you.
They are numbered 1, 3 & 4. Seems that 2 is gone.
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Mon Feb 03, 2014 5:50 amby 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)
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:34 amby 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
Re: The oldest Top Hat Sails
Posted:
Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:36 amby 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??