The headsail is usually the most important item in a yacht’s sail wardrobe. Not only does it typically provide the lion’s share of the power, it’s generally the first sail that the moving air comes in contact with. It has a cleaner airflow than the mainsail (no mast to cause turbulence at the leading edge) which enables the sailboat to point a bit higher, and it increases the speed of the air passing over the main. The ease of tacking and reefing are key considerations when choosing and sizing a headsail, and so is durability, especially on a cruising yacht where it’s usually left exposed for the whole sailing season. Headsails don’t have an easy life!
Design
How strong are hull windows?
We are often asked online and at boat shows about the strength of our hull windows. While we cannot answer for other manufacturers, we can say with complete confidence that the hull windows on Sirius Yachts are stronger than the hull surrounding them!
What are the pros and cons of different keels?
We all sail for different reasons, in different cruising grounds and use our yachts differently, so it makes sense that there is no one-size-fits-all keel design. At Sirius, however, we like to make the perfect yacht for each individual owner. One of the ways we serve our customers is our choice of keels – at least six different options for each model. It’s one of the ways we stand out – or should that be stand up?
What’s the best rudder design and why are Sirius Yachts so easy to manoeuvre?
If you’ve seen the videos of our deck saloon sailboats manoeuvring effortlessly in the tight space of a marina, you may wonder how we can make it look so easy. The simple answer is that it looks easy because it is easy. Years of practice are absolutely not required as we prove on every test sail; after 10 minutes of simple instruction anyone on board who is more than eight years old can manoeuvre a Sirius with the same confidence. Part of the reason our yachts are so easy to manoeuvre is rudder design, combined with the position of the propeller.
What is a deck saloon yacht, and why is it better for cruising?
A deck saloon yacht is just a sailboat with big windows, right? Wrong. While many sailing yacht builders may have you believe that adding a higher coachroof with bigger windows and putting ‘DS’ at the end of a model name is enough for a boat to qualify as a ‘deck saloon’, there’s actually a lot more to it than that.
Aluminium vs fibreglass, which is the best hull material for your yacht?
What’s the best hull material for an ocean cruising sailboat, fibreglass (GRP) or aluminium? It’s an important decision for any boat buyer to make and both materials have their pros and cons. In essence, the right choice depends on two fundamental factors: the yacht’s size and where you plan to cruise. But there are other practical considerations too, some of which might surprise you.
