HELP!!!Heathcoat fabrics/Hayward's CLIPPER CANVAS

[Bernadette]

Im in the process of engaging a sailmaker in Brisbane to build my new set of sails for my "Katy" build. I have chosen to go with Hayward's Clipper Canvas, the same cloth I used for DECATUR's sails. I found this cloth to be very well suited to my needs etc.
Ive contacted Heathcoat Fabrics for the supply of the sailcloth and they have responded in the first instance by email. I have since sent 3 emails requesting further information etc, which have gone unanswered.

Heathcoat are located in Devon, England. Im wondering if there is a wbf member living in the Devon area who would be so kind as to give them a phone call for me and find out if they are still in business! I had an email from a Mrs Jo Long (sales coordinator) and as yet, she or anyone else in the company has not responded to my further emails.
The phone number is +44 (0) 1884 254949.

I would place a call myself but unfortunately I only have my mobile phone and the cost would be prohibitive (I think). I would be very grateful if someone could help me on this matter.

Thanks in anticipation
Bernadette

[Dr.Spoke]

I've got cheap calls to UK, if no one else chips in I'll give them a bell on monday.

[Bernadette]

that would be fantastic, and thanks for the offer. much appreciated.
bernadette

[Dr.Spoke]

Bernadette,
It would appear that they are on holiday until June 7th.... So, patience is the order of the day.
Feel free to contact me if yoy haven't got any response after that
Phil

[paladin]

Bernadette.....Contact Mike Tasker at Rolly Tasker sails in Phuket Thailand. They do damned good work and may be able to make your sails for a lot less money....I've been dealing with them for 40 plus years.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Bernadette.....Contact Mike Tasker at Rolly Tasker sails in Phuket Thailand. They do damned good work and may be able to make your sails for a lot less money....I've been dealing with them for 40 plus years.

Me too.

[Bernadette]

paul and chuck, are you REALLY sure they (rolly tasker) do good sails? many many years ago they did not have a good reputation and lots of people steered clear of them. a lot of it was to do with the fact that the cloth was full of too much resin i think. i would still want my sails done in clipper canvas anyhow. and yes, i will contact them in any case. so thanks for the reminder

phil thank you very much for the information and finding out for me. i will be patient!

[Dick Wynne]

I hope you get your Clipper OK Bernadette, I have it on Constance and it's very pleasant, soft, quiet, easy to handle, and very slightly fluffy. But I would just mention that a friend also had sails made in Clipper, about the same time ('06) as mine and his material turned out to be not at all as nice, more like an ordinary terylene cloth in feel etc. My sails are tan, his are cream, if that makes any difference. Anyway, it's worth mentioning to the supplier to ensure you don't get any surprises on delivery.

[Todd Bradshaw]

If your friend's sails look like Terylene (Dacron) then they probably aren't Clipper Canvas. CLipper hasn't changed in several years and has never looked or felt like normal polyester sailcloth. It is still made in three weights in the heavy style (25" wide, woven blue tracer down the edges, 9 oz., 13 oz., 17 oz. in cream or tanbark colors) and in the 7.2 oz. Clipper Light (63" wide, slightly off-white color, woven tracer and fuzzy selvedge edges). None of these fabrics could be easily confused with regular polyester sailcloth as they have a very different feel and look. If his sails are cream-colored and resemble normal polyester, they are most likely one of the other Hayward fabrics (Sunwing Egyptian Cream - 4.3 oz.-9.3 oz. weights available, 36" wide, blue ink tracer along normal woven edges) which are also excellent fabrics, but which don't have that softer, fuzzier hand and texture of the Clipper line.

[Bernadette]

dick, the clipper canvas sails i had made for 'decatur' were excellent...soft, easy to handle, quiet etc. they were the cream colour. perhaps your friend's sails were made from 'oceanus' an american cream coloured cloth. i have no personal experience with oceanus but i do know that it looks like 'normal' or 'regular' sailcloth.
the only problem i had with my sails for decatur were that the cloth dye lots were a little different but it was not apparent when all the sails were made and hoisted.
however, im so sold on clipper canvas, i absolutely won't use any other material!
bernadette