nylet

NYLET. Racing yacht sails, Classic sails, Replacement kit sails, sail rigs, materials.
1932-2012 ~ 80 years of sailmaking experience.

THE sailmakers ~ 80 years.
The longest established professional model sailmakers in the world ~ fine quality model yacht sails, perfect cut and finish. Comprehensive sailmaking service world-wide.

A yacht's sails are its only 'engine' - so fit the best, don't settle for less.
1842 - Founding of the family firm of J.Parsons
1932 - Commencement of full size sailmaking
1945 - Model sails in Egyptian cotton
1950 - Varnished Terylene sails
1966 - Coloured Terylene sails
and today - Nylet racing sails in scrim, Dacron, and Mylar film; replacement kit sails; vintage sails & pond yacht sails in natural or dyed cotton, also varnished Terylene, classic 1960's style sails in white Dacron.
Any size sails, of any type, made to your drawings or templates.

See this page for racing model yacht sails, replacement kit sails, also Classic Cut Dacron sails (where everything is sewn in 1960's style), Varnished Terylene sails. Synthetic sails priced from under 30 pounds. See sections 4 & 5 of our product & price list. Sail rigs, see section 7. Sailmaking materials & racing numbers see section 5, all sailcloths sold by the metre, see section 6 (and text below). We also manufacture cotton sails & vintage sails.

For prices click here

Some customer comments -
Got the sails this morning. Brilliant. Thanks very much for a great personal service. I will be recommending you to others. Yorkshire.
Just to advise safe receipt of my Voyager sails so recently ordered. They look superb. Impatient to set them to work now. Many thanks for great customer service. Reg. Newmarket.
Glad to report all received. I love the (IOM) sails, the material and craftsmanship are fabulous. Rodney. Bury St Edmunds.
The Star Baby sails arrived a week ago - they look excellent. Thanks so much for the prompt and friendly service. New Zealand.
Once again an excellent delivery, the Victoria sails look very good, you are a pleasure to deal with. Brian. Ely, Cambs (2011).
Many thanks for the fast turnaround, the sails have been safely received and I must say I'm very impressed with the quality (first class). James. Surrey (2011)
A rival sailmaker said wistfully on seeing our work "really beautiful looking sails". (2011)
Replacement sails arrived safely. As ever, the workmanship is first class with your meticulous attention to detail much in evidence. Gordon. Kent. (2011)
Sails arrived today and they look really great. Have fitted them to my Starlet and am over the moon. Michael. Hants (2012)
Click on this link to see what Tony Oliver had to say about Nylet sails.

Nylet racing sails, and replacement kit sails.
The advantages of buying Nylet sails:
Beautifully finished and carefully sewn sails, specially handmade to your order and with the trim colour you specify.
They are not ex stock and so have not been stored for months rolled up.
There is no 'cheaper' quality, sail prices start at under 30 pounds, they are the same high quality as more expensive suits but they just happen to be smaller! We take a pride in our work and every sail we make gives us pleasure and we hope, importantly, that they also give our customers pleasure too.
I ought to repeat here that we do not stock sails, everything is made specifically to customers order. This makes sense as there are hundreds of 'popular' yacht designs which renders it totally impossible to set aside valuable time to make for stock (and guessing what might perhaps be ordered) and in all the different materials and in all the trim colours and luff finishes available. Having said that, if we are making several identical standard suits (such as the Star Baby) we sometimes make an extra suit of Dacron sails.
Photos top of page: right pic, twins! Two Star Baby yachts with Nylet sails (manufactured in scrim material); photo courtesy of Trevor Coveney, Droitwich Spa Model Boat Club. Left pic, the cheerful chap is Tony, and his Star Baby, again with Nylet sails; Tony says, "your service is first class, we all love our sails." Thanks Tony, glad you guys are pleased and having fun.
Photos emailed to us of our sails rigged on your yacht are always welcomed, and we have created a new sail picture gallery page for this purpose!

Sailcloths & materials. We use the following materials -
White Dacron, 2.99 oz. Dacron is a more traditional woven cloth and is often used now for 'cruising' sails where a more traditional look is required. We have used this material since 1966 when it was woven in the UK under its trade name "Terylene".
50 micron Mylar film (other thicknesses are sometimes available); this material is usually coloured 'clear' and is lightweight and resiliant (but prone to taking a crease). It should be handled with care and used for lighter sailing conditions.
Laminate scrim is a very popular and durable nil colour medium weight material and which is available in several weights, we automatically apply the correct weight of scrim for the sails ordered. Lightweight scrim and film suits may be edged with a fine leach tape to maintain stability.
Our sails are usually complete with battens, eyelets etc. (unless your specification shows otherwise). Corner patches can be applied in either red, flo orange, orange, flo yellow, white, blue, grey, green or black. There is no extra charge for coloured corners unless you select fine finger corner patches (see picture right). Generally for storm suits (in the A-class size) we make corners as per the photo of the suit (see photo very bottom right, blue trim) and which was made in the heaviest scrim material. Find more information on our newsletter page.
Pictured right: IOM suit in scrim with red trim and fine fingers. Pictured below right is a IOM jib in scrim (numbered "20").
We manufacture model sails for small and large yachts, class yachts, and make any size sails to your drawing or pattern.

Older designs. My late father's handwritten sail book includes older designs from the 1940's, 50's and 60's, and which includes names such as March Hare, Pocahontas, Genie, China Boy, Trapper, Bewitched, Bloodaxe, Skippy, 247, Cracker, Clockwork Orange, Highlander, Gem, Mosquito, Starlet, Gosling, and Mad Hatter, etc. See sail list for more information. More recent names are Micro Magic, Wee Nip, Star Baby.

Replacement kit sails. We also make sails for kit yachts such as the Victoria, Voyager, Fairwind, Seawind, Northwind, and Thunder Tiger ETNZ, etc. Find more info in section 4 of our price list. Some ETNZ sails have been recently made with a more conventional curved/radiused/faired head to the mains'l, which is to customers specific request; so if ordering a suit please stipulate which style you require (head as per kit, or to amended style).

Some customer comments.
Thank you for the suit of ETNZ sails; I must say that they look real stunners when bent onto the rig and the panels give them shape that the flat ones in the kit sadly lacked. Having sailed the yacht in conditions ranging from dead calm to 8mph with gusts in between I am extremely impressed with the performance of the sails in all the conditions encountered. The information on your web site about jib set up was very helpful in respect of fitting a leech line (which I have installed) and one can now set the sail to a perfect shape to suit the wind conditions. The stiffeners in the top of the mainsail have also improved the performance dramatically. Excellent sails deserve better rigging than the kit provides to which end I shall look through your catalogue to see what I need to improve the rig. I think it will be prudent to get one of your BB3 booklets. Once again thank you for the sails and the prompt delivery service. Ian, High Wycombe (Aug. 2011)
I have just received the ETNZ sails and they are beautiful, very well made. Never seen so good a job on radio control boat sails. Also very good packing. George. Greece (Nov 2011).
Here is a photo of your excellent workmanship (pic. right, ETNZ sails numbered 92), I think the sails look really great. This is the best thing I have done, so once again thank you very much. Eddie. Nottingham (Nov 2011).

Click here to find out more about Nylet sails (NY3 with pictures). To see more pictures of sails click on Gallery. Any photos emailed to us of our sails rigged on your yacht would be welcomed.

General information: RIG kits.
Sail rig kits for the One Metre (IOM) consist of a suit of racing sails, alloy mast & booms plus fittings pack, with assembly drawings.
Rig kits for Marblehead, Ten Rater and A-class are all available to order, either with alloy or carbon-fibre spars. One off "custom" rigs also made to order.
Upon receipt of your instructions we shall be most pleased to quote for your requirements.
A note about sizes of sails in our price list, often these are described as, for instance - Marblehead no.1 suit sails (1900mm) in panelled scrim. Where there are a multiplicity of different suits we pin down the size by the dimension of the mainsail luff (leading edge). Where there are fixed 'standard' sizes, such as the IOM class (International One Metre), suits are simply described as either number 1, 2 or 3 (only 3 suits are allowed under that particular rule).

Scroll down for sailcloth, also materials and numerals.
Scroll down for Nylet Classic Dacron sails.

Sail information in summary and including more photos may be found in about sails (NY3)

Any questions, or simply want advice, then email us clicking on the contact details below.

Making your own sails? See our sailmaking 'how to' handbook (B20), section 1 in the price list, or click books

Some customer comments -
. . . to let you know that the (IOM) sails you provided me with a few years ago proved to be so good that I have had to make virtually no adjustments since, regardless of wind strength or direction. Taunton.
The sails have arrived, beautiful as always, and very pleased with the white 'squared' Dacron. Chorley, Lancs.
Thank you Frank, all your items have been excellent and I shall be ordering a storm rig later this month, many thanks again. Blyth, Northumberland.
(Picture left) Just a quick note to say that the (IOM) sails are fantastic and getting used every day after work. Valencia, Spain.
Just to let you know that I am very pleased with my Victoria sails (in scrim) and fitted them straight away. The yacht performs much better and is far more responsive to controls, she's almost as fast as a Marblehead now. Members of our club were very impressed also. I am happy to recommend your company to anyone interested. Alan. Worcestershire.
Frank. I think the sails are beautiful. I can readily understand now why you were so pleased with them yourself. They will act as a spur to get on with the rest of the boat. John. Somerset.
I tested the new suit of sails yesterday and was very impressed by the difference it made to both the appearance and the handling of the yacht. Thank you also for the very quick turnaround time on my order and the high standard of workmanship. I think that was excellent service. Colin. Christchurch.
Sails arrived in Australia 28 Nov. They look superb and I must now complete the yacht, thanks. Geoff. Australia (11/2011)
Dear Frank & Co. Many thanks for the Northwind 36 sails, they look fantastic, and for the advice you gave during the ordering process. Alan. Southend-on-Sea.

If you wish to make an order, or simply look through our extensive range of products available we suggest you download and print off the price list and also the postage rates & terms page; both are pdf files.

Sailcloth by the metre, or piece (see section 6 of our price list). Dacron sailcloth is sold in white 2.99oz weight. Scrim material is widely used for racing sails of any size and starts at 1.5oz weight, the heaviest being 2.4oz. It is extremely stable and gives excellent air flow. Cotton is sold by the metre run, then over that minimum cut is available per half metre increment.

Sailmaking materials & numerals, see section 5 of our Product & Price List. This includes various sail 'extras', also numerals (black 105mm) & sail insignias, double sided self-adhesive sailmaking tape, adhesive backed luff tape and sewing threads. The Polyester patching (for decking and patches, sail corner patches, etc) is sold in standard size rolls, in various colours.
For special numerals, markings etc. contact Keith Tyson on keith.tyson@btinternet.com

The more technical stuff on sails for older yachts.
Nylet Classic Dacron sails fully sewn in 1960's style. Also model sails made using varnished Terylene cloth.

Information on “Classic” Nylet Dacron sails (also varnished Terylene classic sails). Classic sails are made exclusively by Nylet.
M-class Genie with classic Nylet sails

Our Classic sails are generally suited to yachts built before the early 1970's (as an arbitrary point). Sails thus manufactured in synthetic Dacron sailcloth are made with sewn luff tablings (tapes) and with sewn corner patches, sewn battens (where necessary) and corner eyelets with mains'l luff as specified by the customer. In the case of larger “class” yacht sails (A-class etc) an aluminium headboard is usually fitted to the mainsail head. Our classic sails are fully sewn thus replicating how Nylet sails were made in my father’s time 45 years ago. Classic cut sails can be made in one piece, that is to say, not panelled. Sails were generally made in this manner out of a single piece of material. Only towards the late 60’s, as Terylene became more widely used, did the advantages of panelling become recognised. Naturally, all “shape” for air flow is worked into the luff of the sail so that you will enjoy the advantages of classic style and have sails that “fill” correctly and perform nicely. Having said that however, if you wish, we will make classic Dacron sails with panels to give them that extra 'shape'. Classic sails are made individually to your order and therefore are very much "one offs". We will be pleased to quote on receipt of your requirements. Pictured to the right is a Genie M-class yacht built by a customer in Belgium and rigged with classic Nylet Dacron sails (2010).
Varnished Terylene classic sails are made in authentic Terylene cloth and in the style of Nylet sails in the 1950's. Varnished Terylene is becoming increasingly "rare" as it has to be loomed in several thousand metre batches and is only made now to special order. We are lucky enough to secure stock as it comes available but the day may soon dawn when production will cease. At the moment however it is available, subject to our stocks. Pictured left is Munin 784 with Nylet varnished Terylene classic sails, and seen here racing in the A-class Nationals in 2006.

A customer comment - Sails received with thanks. You are a true craftsman. Glasgow

Standard and custom sails, making up time. On standard suits please allow 4 weeks, but times may be extended in the high season. Special suits made to order will take longer to make, we will confirm time scale when you place your order.

Click here to open a printable page of a bermudan suit that you can fill in with the dimensions you require your sails making to. You can also use it if you only require a price. You can if you wish scan your completed 'form' and email it to us instead of using the post. If you have a cutter or barge with several sails including gaff mains'l then please click here

J.Parsons & Son ~ F.Parsons ~ Nylet. 1842-2012 ~ 5 generations ~ 170 years of manufacturing.
Learn more about our family business and history.

Nylet
PO Box 5416
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH6 5XT
UK
tel: 01202 420370 - International +44 1202 420370