This project features a classic sail I designed and made using green 5 oz. Dacron for sailing on Lake Pend Oreille near Bayview, Idaho. The sail was built as a balanced lug rig, a traditional and practical sail design known for its simplicity, control, and strong performance in a wide range of conditions.

A balanced lug sail is a great choice for sailors who appreciate straightforward handling without giving up character or capability. With part of the sail area extending forward of the mast, the rig helps reduce helm pressure and creates a more balanced feel while sailing. That makes it especially enjoyable for small craft and classic-style boats where ease of use and dependable performance matter.

For this sail, green 5 oz. Dacron was selected for its durability, classic appearance, and ability to hold shape well under load. The owner enjoys sailing in strong wind, so the sail needed to be more than attractive. It had to be built with dependable cloth, careful shaping, and reinforced construction suited for real use on the water.

Lake Pend Oreille can offer a wide variety of sailing conditions, from calm scenic cruising to stronger winds moving across the lake. This sail was made with that environment in mind. The balanced lug rig provides a traditional look while still giving the owner a capable and responsive sail for spirited sailing.

The finished sail has a timeless feel, with the green Dacron giving it a distinctive look against the water and surrounding Idaho landscape. It is a classic sail made for someone who truly enjoys being out in the wind, built with the strength and handling needed for confident sailing near Bayview.

Built for Cruising North Puget Sound

The Cape George 31 is a classic cruising sailboat-stout, seaworthy, and well-suited for the varied conditions of North Puget Sound. For this vessel, I designed and built a set of custom tanbark sails specifically with cruising in mind, balancing traditional aesthetics with modern performance and durability.

These sails were not off-the-shelf replacements. They were thoughtfully designed around how the boat is actually used: extended coastal cruising, variable winds, and long days under sail. North Puget Sound demands versatility. Conditions vary from light morning breezes to afternoon thermals and the occasional stronger weather window, and these sails were built to perform comfortably across that range.

Designed for Comfortable, Confident Cruising

Cruising sails have different priorities than racing sails. For this Cape George 31, the focus was on:

• Durability over ultimate light-air performance
• Easy handling and predictable shape
• Balanced power that doesn’t overpower the boat
• Long service life with minimal fuss

The sail shape was optimized to keep the boat moving efficiently without excessive heel, reducing fatigue for the crew and making long passages more enjoyable. Reefing points and construction details were planned to ensure the sails remain well behaved as conditions change.

Why Tanbark?

Tanbark sails are more than a visual nod to traditional sailing, they also serve practical purposes for cruisers. The tanbark finish helps reduce glare, protects the cloth from UV exposure, and complements the classic lines of a Cape George 31 beautifully. The result is a sail plan that looks timeless while performing reliably day after day.

Built Specifically for This Boat

Every sail was cut, reinforced, and finished with this specific boat and cruising area in mind. Rig dimensions, balance, and the owner’s cruising goals all influenced the final design. The end result is a sail inventory that feels natural to the boat: responsive, forgiving, and well-suited to exploring the waters of North Puget Sound with confidence.

These are special sails made for cruising designed to support the journey, not just the destination.

Lug rig sail for a Nutshell Pram in Red Dacron.

 

This is a custom boat made in Port Townsend Washington. The main has a special rig called a Gunter Rig, very traditional. The are both lashed on the spars in a traditional manner.

First picture shows the eye and how the brass ring is stitched around the eye, next showing the finished covered brass eye ready for the thimble that is pressed inside the brass ring. This is a technique that goes back many years before the use of stainless pressed eyes for sails. It is an old traditional technique that is still requested by some for traditional and classic sails.