I am after a reliable sailmaker for my 1985 F32. I blew my (very old) main to pieces coming into Corfu and I jave been running on my older spare which is in reasonable shape but I would like to treat myself and replace both the main and jib. I have had issues finding anyone who will make the camberspar jib and also consistently being shown sail designs that are 25% smaller than the 400sq ft that they should be. Has anyone had an F32 sail made in Europe? Or should I be looking across the pond?
I have had my camber spar jib made by Kemps in Hampshire here in the UK. Rob Kemp has made me an excellent sail. There is also a sail maker in Lymington called Sanders who also make sails for the camber spar. I originally had Sanders but now have Kemp.
Kemps made the sail as big as would fit the space, the Sanders jib was pretty small.
You will need to ask for camber spar sails for the Freedom 33 Sloop as that is what the F32 is called here.
Re Freedom 32 sails. I am based in the UK and have owned a â92 F32 (Mull) - a fabulous boat - for some 20 years.
A few years ago I commissioned Owen Sails of Benderloch (https://owensails.com) to make a new main sail and a camberspar jib. Their workmanship is outstanding and I can thoroughly recommend them. Owenâs incidentally made the sails for the double Olympic champion (Dame) Shirley Robertson.
Before selecting Owenâs, I sought quotations from a variety of lofts including North; Hyde; Jekellâs and Sanders. Each of them claimed to âknow the boatâ - the speed with which they made that statement made me question their actual knowledge - yet not one of them was interested in discussing my requirements. At the time I was seriously considering converting the mainsail to a âfat headâ and wished to discuss the proâs and conâs. In case anyone is thinking of going that route, bear in mind the windage that a âfat headâ will create when lowered and placed inside a sail cover - it is not practical to remove/install the âfat headâ batten on a regular basis.
The only loft who was prepared to discuss this was Owenâs and I am glad that I decided - having stimulated considerable debate on the Freedom forum along the way on the subject of âfat headâ mainsails - to follow Owens advice and stick with the original sail plan with one minor modification - a loose foot for the main.
Throughout, from my first interaction to the physical sail installation (and after), Owenâs customer service has been exemplary. I remain in contact with them, such is the relationship they build.
I appreciate that Corfu is some distance from Benderloch on the west coast of Scotland - and with winter fast approaching it is not the warmest of destinations - but if your older spare main sail holds out, and you decide to venture into these northern waters in 2026 you will not be disappointed - either with Owens, the scenery or the hospitality.
I should also have said in my reply that my Main is also made by Kemps and was significantly larger than my previous main. The two sails are being used in my icon but can also be found on instagram if you search for SV_Feronia
âEach of them claimed to âknow the boatâ - the speed with which they made that statement made me question their actual knowledge - yet not one of them was interested in discussing my requirementsâ
My EXACT experience!! It does not fill one with confidence.
The UK is a little out of the way but itâs good to know where to find someone reliable. Iâm debating between this option, versus leaving as is for one more season or asking around in Cape Town where I will be spending my December-January.
Do you remember how much they charged for the sails by any chance? If you are comfortable sharing this. The bloke in Montenegro quoted me ~âŹ2700 for the main
A price comparison against for example what I paid and the quotation you hold ex-the gent in Montenegro will not help your decision making. Different country specific costs apply - labour rates; material costs; utility costs; taxation; profit margins etc etc.
My advice would be to obtain a minimum of 3 quotations from reputable sailmakers who are known to have a genuine knowledge of Freedom sails, specifically your class - many UK based sailmakers âthinkâ in terms of the wishbone models as there are more of these around. Each quotation, specific to your needs - cruising; racing; inland waters; coastal/trans ocean etc plus âextrasâ eg number of reefing points; loose foot etc. - should include a variety of sail cloths - most manufacturers offer a range of cloth aimed at the users needs. As with anything in life, you get what you pay for.
Ditto - or even more so - for the camberspar jib due to its uniqueness in the sailing/sailmaking world - I am not aware of any other class that uses such an arrangement. When I replaced my jib, I got the loft to incorporate a âwindowâ and would strongly advocate that as it removes a blind spot. My spinnaker also has a window for the same reasons - visibility and safety. Hoytâs Gun Mount is designed to have both clews set close (12 to 18 inches) from the pole ends, in the process creating a âblind spotâ along the foot, unlike âconventionalâ spinnakers where the pole and hence clews are much higher, one clew always being âfreeâ. Having said that when I spoke to the sailmaker about installing a window he was aghast responding by saying âwe (ie the sailmaking industry) NEVER fit windows in spinnakersâ. That was until he saw the âFreedom issueâ from the helmsmanâs position/perspective. The spinnaker was dropped; taken to his loft. Modifications made, the spinnaker was reinstalled and âflownâ, all within 1 hour of our conversation! Visibility issue dramatically improved.
An additional cost, often overlooked when replacing sails, especially the main, are the sail covers. Any new sail will be extremely stiff; inflexible and difficult (impossible?) to pack away. The âproblemâ is greatest with the main due to its size - a completely new sail cover system (integrated with the lazy jacks) will be required if the old system is beyond its economic life. Alternatively extension panels can be retrofitted to the old sail cover, sufficient to accommodate the âbulkâ of the new sail.
Thanks everyone for the input - as an update for anyone who is interested, I got an offer from North Sails in Cape Town who have previous experience with both camberspars and Freedom 32s and I have a good feeling with these guys so far - the design they sent me is for a slightly larger jib (130sq Ft) and a similar sized main - what experiences have people had with slightly different jib sizes?
That is certainly fantastic that you have an offer from a sail loft, but before you commit to a slightly different jib size, I strongly urge you to consider the disadvantages of deviating from the factory-standard dimensions on a boat as unique as the Freedom 32.
Disadvantages of a 130 sq ft Jib (Slightly Larger)
While a larger sail might seem like a performance boost, hereâs where it can introduce unwanted complications:
Compromised Balance and Weather Helm: The Freedom 32 rig is a meticulously balanced Cat-Sloop design. The standard jib size is precisely calculated to work with the main to keep the helm light and neutral. A larger jib (130 sq ft) moves the Center of Effort (CE) forward, which can introduce unnecessary weather helm (the boat constantly wants to turn into the wind). This means the rudder has to work harder, increasing drag and making steering more fatiguing on long passages.
Increased Load on the Camberspar: The Camberspar itself, which controls the jibâs shape, is designed for the maximum loads generated by the original sail area. A larger sail increases the sheer fabric tension and could potentially stress the spar and its associated hardware (sheets, deck track, and cars) beyond their engineered comfort zone, leading to premature wear or failure.
Potential for Fouling: The slightly different dimensions can change how the jib tacks and self-tends. A slightly longer leech or foot might increase the risk of the sail fouling on the foredeck fittings, anchor, or mast base during a quick tack, especially in a messy seaway.
The Case for the Main Jib Sizes (The Original Standard)
I happen to have a brand new, factory-spec main jib available (the standard, classic dimension generally in the 125-127 sq ft range for the Freedom 32). Sticking to this original size offers compelling advantages:
Perfect Balance and Steering: The original size guarantees the designed-in, neutral helm, providing you with the smoothest, easiest steering experience possible, reducing fatigue and maximizing speed by minimizing rudder drag.
Engineered Longevity: You ensure that the load on your Camberspar and deck hardware is within its intended safety margin, protecting your rigging investment and reducing the risk of gear failure.
Known Performance Envelope: You will immediately know how your boat will behave in all conditionsâfrom a gentle breeze to a strong blowâbecause you are using the sail size the boat was designed and proven with. This predictability is invaluable for safety and enjoyment.
Immediate Availability: You can avoid the lead time and potential design iterations associated with custom sails. My main jib size is ready to ship now, getting you back on the water quickly with the proven performance of your Freedom 32.
The best performance often comes from maintaining the delicate and proven balance of the original design. I can offer you the security and guaranteed performance of the original-spec jib.
Disadvantages of a 130 sq ft Jib (Slightly Larger)
The Case for the Main Jib Sizes (The Original Standard)