J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Benz Faget Mainsail

I have learned that some people have been sold North Sails with a "designed by Benz Faget". When asking Benz if he designed the sails, the answer was no. Be careful what you purchase. Benz's e-mail address is benz@sales.northsails.com if you would like to confirm authenticity.

who is Benz and if he is that good why don't all North lofts automatically use his templates/patterns?

See this long thread with lots of history https://j30.us/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/4145/1.html

Go grab a Dark & Stormy to help you with the long read as it will take a while to make it through the thread. Once done, look through the past J/30 NA results for Zephyr, unfortunately a victim of Katrina....

But Z has been reincarnated as Rampage... Perhaps we'll see her up at Bristol next year. The New Orleans fleet seems to be rebuilding.

As I understand, Teresa is the only J/30 sailor with a full set of Benz sails. She purchased Zephyr's sails after the 2006 regatta in CT.

Someone purchased Cuba, so it looks like we have 14 J/30s in the fleet now and growing. If we get 30 can we be considered for the 2010 NAs?

Of course...software interoperability issues!!! The scurge of the information age! (I'm on my second Dark & Stormy). Thanks for the thread reference, I see now...although not for long :-)

I was not told I got a Benz sail from North. We started out trying to get Benz to share his secrets but that seemed to be too much trouble and he resisted - fine. I have an amazing sailmaker here in M'head and have full trust in his ability. I think design is important,but what good sailmakers like Benz and Jack Slatery (my sailmaker) really add is the tweaking and tuning of the sail to get it right. It took a number of trips to the water, back to the loft etc to get the main perfect. We did and the difference was dramatic and we cleaned up this year.

I agree with Benz that unless he can get on the boat himself,your milage may vary with his sails so why sell them. Guys like Jack an Benz's secrets are in their heads when they look up the mast at a sail under load etc not really while a sail is sitting on the floor in the loft.

Most good sailmakers will get a J/30 sail right if they put in the time and the effort, Benz does, Jack did for me.

David
#397

I'd agree with Dave... buy sails from a sailmaker who will come sail with you. Although I do like the Benz sails I have sailed under. And as Teresa did, go sail with your sailmaker and take notes...if he can't come to you.

Benz makes the best J/30 North mainsail from my experience. Why not request a J/30 sail made in New Orleans, support an economy in need and ask your sail maker to come with you?

Does it really matter where the sail is made? Go with someone who has a really good design.

Dave -

My North sailmaker did try to get the design from Benz. Not in person but via the company he works for. You are right, the design is the most important that is why as a North Sail customer and Benz being a North sailmaker, I wanted it and expected to get it.

David
#397