Thursday 8 December Head sail ordered

view up river

Last week we initiated a search to find a sail maker to replace the headsail we damaged in Tonga a year ago. It was repaired in Tonga by Opuan sailmaker Ross Harold who was working for the Moorings charter company in Va'vau and then a stronger repair in Whangarei earlier this year. When we were in New Caledonia we noticed a small tear close to the repair indicating it was time to bite the bullet and get a new one.

We asked for quotes from five companies ranging from the big boys with internationally known names to independent lofts within an hour of Opua including Ross. The big boys sent their salesmen with computer programmes and swatches to close the deal. Ross talked knowledgeably about fabric and construction and we felt we knew him, trusted him and his price was the most competitive so we asked him to make our sail. Delivery should be next Friday.
His brothers' sail making company in Auckland used their computers to draft and and plot the panels on the fabric this afternoon and his girlfriend is driving up with the roll of fabric tomorrow.