PC-F All-Purpose Etchells Mainsail
2010 & 2009 Etchells World Champion!
The PC-F Etchells mainsail is slightly flatter than the PC+. Designed
specifically for the stiffer masts that have been available from the
builders in the past years. Contact the
Etchells Experts for advice on your mast deflection and which mainsail will suit it best.
2010 Worlds champion leading the pack powered
by North PC-F mainsail in Ireland.By Ingrid Abery
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Etchells Mainsail standard features:
- Maximum sized vision window
- Light and heavy full length top battens
- Leech telltales
- Spreader window
- Epoxy battens
- Long roll sail bag
- Class insignia
- Sail numbers
PC+ All-Purpose Etchells Mainsail
2011 Etchells World Champion!
Our standard all purpose Etchells main that has powered several World champion teams. The PC+ fits softer older masts perfectly. Contact the
Etchells Experts for advice on your mast deflection and which mainsail will suit it best.
Etchells Mainsail standard features:
- Maximum sized vision window
- Light and heavy full length top battens
- Leech telltales
- Spreader window
- Epoxy battens
- Long roll sail bag
- Class insignia
- Sail numbers
LM-2L Light Medium "Single Snap" Etchells Jib
Wind Range: 0-12 knots
2012, 2011 & 2010 Etchells World Champion!
Winning teams around the globe relies on the LM-2L Etchells jib for ultimate
performance in light to medium conditions. Fast and easy to trim, the
LM-2L is pure power!
Etchells Jib standard features:
- Vision window
- Removable full length top battens
- Luff & Leech telltales
- Epoxy battens
- Long roll sail bag
LM-2H Medium Etchells Jib
Wind Range: 10-16 knots
2011 & 2010 Etchells World Champion!
The same fast shape as the LM-2 jib, the LM-2H is made with a heavier
cloth for increased up-range performance. The LM-2 H comes standard with
long and short luff tabs, to provide race winning performance over a
wide wind range.
Etchells Jib standard features:
- Vision window
- Removable full length top battens
- Luff & Leech telltales
- Epoxy battens
- Long roll sail bag
- Two sets of full tabs
GM-6.5 Medium-Heavy Etchells Jib
Wind Range: 14+ knots
2012 & 2009 Etchells World Champion!
The GM-6.5 was designed with a flat and twisted top section and a
round luff entry, which excels on winds over 14 kts. This sail features
6.5 oz cloth and comes standard with long and short luff tabs.
Etchells Jib standard features:
- Vision window
- Removable full length top battens
- Luff & Leech telltales
- Epoxy battens
- Long roll sail bag
- Two sets of full tabs
Full-Radial All-Purpose Etchells Spinnaker
Wind Range: 7+ knots
2012, 2011 & 2010 World Etchells Champion!
Rick Crow, 2010 New England Champion
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Our all-purpose spinnaker is consistently fast through the wind
range. Because of its radial construction this sail will hold shape
longer and outlast the performance of any cross-cut design.
Made from minimum weight AirX 500 cloth, the Full Radial is our
all purpose spinnaker. If you are only going to buy one sail
this is it.
The Full Radial Spinnaker features an extra full lower section for pole-back
deep running that the Etchells is so good at.
Spinnaker standard features:
- Full radial construction
- Sail bag
- sail Numbers
VM-G Light Wind Etchells Spinnaker
Wind Range: 0-6 knots
2011 & 2010 Etchells World Champion!
This narrow and slightly flatter spinnaker comes into its own in
winds under 6 knots. The smaller upper girth of the VMG makes it fly
more easily as the apparent wind goes forward in light conditions.
Great when the wind in close to the beam the smaller size
of this sail makes it fly more easily in lighter wind speeds.
Spinnaker standard features:
- Full radial construction
- Sail bag
- sail Numbers
The Full-Radial AP and the VMG spinnakers are also available in .75 oz for improved durability.
>> Contact the
Etchells Sail Experts for additional information and questions about our products.
Tuning your Etchells for Speed
>> Download the
North Etchells Tuning Guide
>>
Etchells Mast Deflection Form
Have a Question? Ask the Etchells Experts
Etchells FAQs:
During the SD Worlds when the wind picked up to 10-12 Knots my new LM-2 jib foot stated to quickly flap. Is this a result of having the lead back too far?
You are exactly right about the lead position! You have the alternative of making the foot cord tighter and solve the problem, but the real solution is to move the lead forward.
We are about 80 Kilos below max weight. What
are the changes we should make to the figures on tuning guide for all
wind strengths considering our weight?
The Etchells (or any other boat) require two distinct approaches for best performance.
Light to Medium ( 0 to 11 kts ) - On this conditions max power is
needed for best performance, and the crew weight will have absolutely no
affect on the setup of the sails and mast. Follow the tuning guide
independent of your crew weight.
Medium Heavy ( 11 kts to anything above ) - is this conditions the
heavy crew will be able to handle more power and therefore the optimum
sail trim will reflect on the crew weight. If you have a light crew, you
will have to set up the rig and sails for couple kts more wind speed
than what you have, in other words, depower further and sooner.
To me the most important adjustment when overpowered is the lower
shrouds. Having them tighter will pull the middle of the mast to
windward making the middle of the main flatter decreasing weather helm.
If I have too much helm and the boat is "bound up", make the lower
tighter, this will free the helm, and improve forward speed.
What is the correct position to have your mast step on the Etchells?
As known the mast step position controls the pre-bend. Having the correct amount of pre-bend translates on the correct forestay sag, and therefore superior speed. The pre-bend is mainly generated by the offset position on your mast partner, and the alignment of the mast step and the rounds. Since in most boats the mast partners distance from the transom varies, to get the pre-bend right, you have to first to locate the partner position on your own boat.
This is what we recommend:
1. First, make a mark on the canter line of the aft deck, 12 feet from the aft edge of the mast partner. Add a thin aft partner block ( 1/4 inch ) for my std up wind setting. The measurement should include this block.
2.From this mark on the aft deck, measure 12' 6 3/8" and make new mark on the mast step "I" beam. This is now your new baseline mast step position, for winds between 6 to 9 knots.
Mast Step Chart
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| 0 to 5 knots | aft 1/4" |
| 6 to 9 kts | neutral |
| 10 to 14 kts | forward 1/4" |
| 15 to 20 kts | forward 1/2" |
| 20 kts and above | forward 3/4" |
What do you suggest for long-term storage, should I take the sails out of the box and unfold them and roll them back up, or keep them in the box?
We suggest that you that take the sails out of the box and roll them in “full length”. This would make the sail stay smooth longer.
I have a very old Etchells, hull #3, that I have restored and plan to race. I have heard that with these early hulls that the butt of the mast should be set further forward on the step than would be standard for a newer boat. Any thoughts?
You are 100% right that the older Etchells do tend to develop more helm, but moving the butt forward won't help this problem. I suggest you sail with less mast rake than the more modern boats, so that the sail plan is set forward to alleviate the helm. My suggestion is to use 45 1/2 inches of rake.
I am struggling with the boom vang. How much tension should I have upwind? What should I be seeing in terms of leech tension?
We're not familiar with anyone in the Etchells class using boom vang when upwind. We believe the boom section isn't strong enough and the angle is very small to really have a impact on leech tension. Most of the lower bend control comes from mast blocks and mast step position. As far as vang downwind, in moderate breeze the vang should be pulled only enough to make the last 2 feet of top batten parallel to the boom angle. Some do have the vang pulled less ( more twist ) if they are sailing dead downwind. This will ease the helm, and will help the steering up and down the wave. Too much vang will load up the helm when downwind.
I recently purchased a boat. The keel needs some dings repaired fore and aft and is faired wiith bondo. I will not be dry sailing this boat. Is it crucial to get the bondo replaced?
Yes, Bondo does not work well if you are planning to wet sail your boat. It is best to replace it with an epoxy filler that will not absorb water like Bondo, which is polyester based.
Is there a significant difference in a factory built deep keel and an older boat that had the keel redone? I also have heard that there is a stiffness issue for boats that are older than (when?). Is there a difference in builder? I have heard of Ontario and Bashford. Are there
other builders of good boats?
This is what we know...
Keel depth
Yes they have made the keel deeper after hull number 850 . Definitely the deeper keels are faster in strong winds, but we're not sure if in the light air it makes it any better. We have many boats bellow that number that are great fast boats bellow the 10 knots wind range. It is noticeable that the older boats are faster downwind in all conditions, but it is hard to beat the newer boats in winds above 14 knots.
The Bashfords are the first one to make the keel deeper, and are good heavy air boats in general. North's Vince Brun sails an Ontario hull number 1000 that is a great all around boat. If buying a boat we recommend to look for a boat number near that. Prices are still reasonable and normally the boat is still in good shape.
Masts
There are a few different masts out there: Proctor, Kenyon, Australian, and New Zealand masts.
North's Vince Brun uses a Proctor, a mast that is right in the middle in terms of bending characteristics. Normally, the Kenyons have soft sections (old supplier in most old boats ) and the Australian and NZ are in general on the stiff side.
The rule of thumb is, that a softer mast is better in light winds and the stiff mast is better in heavy winds. If you send us the deflection (download the
Mast Deflection Form and email to Vince Brun), we will let you know how the mast compare with
others. Deflection is done with the mast supported on the mast partner and at the top band, with the shrouds and spreaders on. Measure the deflection fore & aft only, and without any weight.
Normal measurement should be: 1 5/8 spreaders height and 1 1/8 at the hounds.
Stiff boats
We believe the stiffness of the Etchells greatly improved on the lower number boats and we don't see much difference on any of the newer boats. They are plenty stiff for the normal sailing we do here in the US.
Have a Question? Ask the Etchells Experts
Etchells Full Deck Cover
The Ultimate cover for your Etchells!
Easy and quick to put on.
- Made out of top quality 12 oz. 900D fabric throughout for superior durability.
- Designed for use with mast up and boom resting on aft deck. Installs tightly to keep water from puddling.
- Webbing with adjustable buckle closures go underhull to keep this cover tight and neat. Cord around bottom on cover also keeps it tight.
- COOL! Cutout with zipper opening allows you to get into boat without completely removing cover.
Etchells Transom Stern Cover
- Designed for Etchells where the boat is trailered stern forward.
- Keep bugs and debris off your boat on your next road.
- Slips easily over transom with mast down. Ties down tightly to trailer
Etchells Boom Tent Cover
- Simpler, lower cost alternative to the Full Deck Cover for the Etchells.
- This cover installs over the boom to keep dust and debris out of the cockpit with the mast up.
- Quick and easy to install. Attaches to boat/trailer with shockcord and hooks.
Etchells Mast Cover
- Protect the mast while traveling with your boat