And there you have! Perfect. Thank you Doug. I'm sure the Class will get it right.

As I stated in my initial comments, we use the blade primarily for instruction. Just want these kids to see what a properly trimmed sail should look like!

On another note: Sailed last night here on the Great South Bay and it blew stink! 20-25 with higher gusts out of the west. Very shifty & a pretty good chop too. Had the #2 on - no reef in the main and the boat sailed awesome! The mainsail trimmer was great all night. This was the biggest breeze I ever sailed the boat in and was VERY impressed with the performance. We sailed PHRF (rating @ 235) and kicked ass! 😁

Bob Panico

No Regrets #1669

Guess I should chime in. Thanks for mostly clearing that up Guy, you're the best. BUT just to clarify, we were not bought buy Quantum Sails. Kris Werner purchased the loft from Steve Haarstick and we are an independent business, Quantum Sails Rochester, and we are a dealer for Quantum Sails.

I am also on the rules committee for the ECA and myself and Benz Faget from North Sails, have both been consulted by the class and, I believe, will be kept in the loop before any final changes are made to the track location and/or sail.

The Blade Jib was not part of the original sail plan and was added in the 80's. Maybe not thought through all the way, I'm not sure. Personally I've actually never sailed on an Ensign with a blade jib. I mostly just race Ensigns and we have never used anything smaller than a #2 at regattas. A quick change to the sizes of the blade jib in the class rules would get it to sheet properly, but there is also the consideration of have the proper athwartship location for best upwind performance, so maybe a change to both is needed.

All the best fellow Ensign sailors and owners,

Doug Burtner

Ensign #740

Quantum Sails Rochester

585-342-5200

dburtner@quantumsails.com

Great info! Thanks Guy.

Sounds like he would make a great consultant for these proposed changes.

Bob Panico

No Regrets #1669

No Excuses # 762

Great South Bay Long Island

I have 3 Blade Jibs. The one that the sailing school is using is a Shore sail - so it's probably fairly old. The other 2 are Haarstick (who I have never of) and Quantum. I will put the other ones on and see if the cut is the same. I would expect in a one design class that they should be. *** But if the sail was designed for that position track, by moving the track wouldn't it make sense that the shape /cut of the sail should also changer? If we are going to - as a Class - make a change like this - I would think that we want it to be right. Let's consult with a sailmaker.

Zeke - I know they are working on a solution. My concern is that the sail is not cut properly even with another track location. I've played around with moving the lead outboard and the top of the sail still did not trim properly. I would like to see the Class consult with a sailmaker before making a decision on this. Perhaps their input could improve the final outcome resulting in a more efficient sail. But the track is certainly not in the proper spot.

Bob Panico

No Regrets #1669

No Excuses #762

Great South Bay Long Island

I hope everyone has had a great summer. As some of you may know, I have been trying to get Ensign sailing going on the Great South Bay of Long Island. Our bay is pretty shallow but the 3' draft seems to be ok. We really have no mooring setups so you either have to have a slip or dry sail the boat. I have 2 Ensigns. One is dry sailed and the other one is in a slip at my Club. The boat in the water is being used for sailing lesson in our Junior Sailing Program. No motor - we sail it in and out of the slip. We use the blade Jib for lessons. It's a great concept but the sail does not trim properly. This has become an issue with the instructors. Upwind the foot is closed and shut off and the top of the sail is never full. Quite frankly it's a little embarrassing. We've tried several different lead positions, out board sheeting, a barber haul......but the sail still looks like shit! I also find it pretty hard to understand that a 60 YO design has this issue. I could see it a new boat, but you would think that after all these years a better solution would have been developed. I have no issues with my #1 or #2 genoas, which I use all the time on my other boat which I PHRF race. But these sails are bit much for young students learning how to sail. I think it's a combination of the jib leads being too far inboard and the cut of the sail. I have tried positioning the clew a little further outboard but the top of the sail still does not trim properly. The leach seems to be cut wrong. I know there is currently an effort to work on this and I am wondering where we are at with trying to correct t this problem. Does anyone have any other temporary solutions they have tried? Might I also suggest the Class utilize the services of a qualified sail maker to rectify this issue. Like it said, the sail is a great concept but it's JUST NOT RIGHT!