Received: from hplms26.hpl.hp.com by opus.hpl.hp.com with ESMTP (1.37.109.18/15.5+ECS 3.3+HPL1.1) id AA010713434; Thu, 28 Aug 1997 08:50:34 -0700 Return-Path: <schuh@apm-iris1.arc.nasa.gov-DeleteThis> Received: from apm-iris1.arc.nasa.gov by hplms26.hpl.hp.com with ESMTP (1.37.109.16/15.5+ECS 3.3+HPL1.1S) id AA081923432; Thu, 28 Aug 1997 08:50:32 -0700 Received: by apm-iris1.arc.nasa.gov (8.8.5/1.35) id IAA23634; Thu, 28 Aug 1997 08:46:37 -0700 (PDT) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 08:46:37 -0700 (PDT) From: schuh@apm-iris1.arc.nasa.gov-DeleteThis (Michael Schuh) Message-Id: <199708281546.IAA23634@apm-iris1.arc.nasa.gov-DeleteThis> To: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis Subject: More information on Windwing head caps Bc: hansen@xws.com-DeleteThis
I have been sailing Windwing sails since 1983. I like many others find
them to have great performance and high durability. I have used many
of their sails for years with great performance and no problems. But
then they are not perfect and that is where Windwing's commitment to
customer satisfaction comes in. My head cap failed and so I sent a
quick message off to Bill Hansen and he gave me the full scoop on the
head cap failures for the Interface sails. He also offers to fix any
Windwing sails with this problem.
I am passing along his message so as to help others that might have this
problem. You can find out more about Windwing sails at www.windwing.com.
Michael
> From hansen@xws.com-DeleteThis Tue Aug 26 15:53:09 1997
> Subject: Re: Interface head cap
> From: Bill Hansen <hansen@xws.com-DeleteThis>
> To: "Michael Schuh" <schuh@faf6.arc.nasa.gov-DeleteThis>
>
> >It sounds like the interface sails have problems with their head caps
> >failing. My head cap failed on my 4.9. I called and talked with one
> >of your representatives and he said he would ask you send me a new web
> >strap based head when you get back. I think it would be nice if you
> >would send me two. One for my 4.9 and one for my 3.9.
>
> Michael:
> Sorry to hear about your head cap problem. I thought your sails had the
> newer system. Following is a brief update on this item.
>
> All '97 sails with WINDWING printing on the sleeve have the newer version
> of the head cap system in which the cinch buckle is attached to the sail
> with a single piece of webbing folded over the top of the sail and
> through stitched. This version allows a separate head cap adjustment
> strap to be used which is NOT sewn to the sail and user-replaceable in
> the field should abrasion or extended use require it. If you have this
> system, we will supply the newer sewn head cap system as you have
> requested or heavy duty webbing for use with the head cap supplied.
>
> The previous '96 system (which is commonly used by most other sail
> brands) uses a strap sewn to the front of the sleeve which was inserted
> through the head cap and secured/terminated by the cinch buckle. Should
> abrasion cause failure of this strap or the stitching, a sail repair was
> required to replace the strap into sleeve's front. The change was made to
> avoid this added expense and inconvenience.
>
> A small number of '97 sails were produced with the cinch buckle secured
> by two webbing attachment straps as in the '96 system such that the
> buckle was oriented 90 degrees to the sail's plane. These sails had NO
> printing on the sleeve. Failure due to insufficient stitching or eventual
> failure of the attachment straps has occurred with this system. Most (but
> not all) of these sails were retrofitted with the newer system before
> leaving our facility. If you have this system and it has not been
> retrofitted, you should return the sails and we will replace the
> attachment webbing with the new system and adjustment webbing.
>
> The actual percentage of adjustment straps being cut by the head cap or
> otherwise failing due to abrasion has been quite low but due to the
> number of sails in use, there have been a number of these occurrences.
> This problem is likely if the head cap is worn during use in highly
> abrasive rigging environments or if sharp, granulated sand is allowed to
> reside in the head cap's strap recess area. In addition, a number of
> sails were produced with low stretch polypropylene webbing sensitive to
> this abrasion. A newer, stronger webbing has been available and in use
> most of this season as standard issue equipment.
>
> All '98 wave type sails are supplied with an independent, fabricated and
> sewn heavy duty webbing cap which has an integral adjustment strap. All
> '98 Slalom or Race sails with adjustable caps utilize either a plastic
> head cap and heavy duty webbing or the optional mast-tip plug type system
> in which the webbing fits into the mast's tip plug.
>
> In order to inform all sailors regarding these details, please forward
> this email to your newsgroup.
>
> Best regards, Bill Hansen, Windwing
>
> William D. Hansen
> Windwing Designs, Inc
> email USA: hansen@windwing.com-DeleteThis
>
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