Illusion

- BEN MCGRANE
  
  One Design Manager
  
  benmcgrane@hydesails.co.uk
  +44 (0)7421 065527

Hyde Sails have owned a pair of illusions for nearly 18 years now, however they have spent their time being used as exhibits at the London and Southampton boat shows. Finally, this in 2016 we decided that Nigel and Jack Grogan would fix them up and participate in the Nationals at Bembridge. Richard Lovering, our sail designer, set to work on some designs that would compensate for our lack of time in the boats and concentrated on making some sails that were easy to use and trim. With a boat finishing in the top 5 and and spending some time at the sharp end of the fleet, we feel we successfully achieved our goals for the limited practice time we had available.

However, in 2017 we upped our game and now with a bit more experience in the class we knew what we needed to do. We reduced the cloth weight and moved the draft aft a little in the genoa. The changes obviously helped with Jack coming 3rd at the nationals and Nigel 6th, showing the improved performance.

2018 showed the speed of the sails with race wins from Jack. An OCS costing him a podium.

2019 was windy! Jack finding himself in the hunt for the overall win if it not for a sinking in Race 4. 2020 must be the year for a Hyde sails victory!

We offer a light weight cloth and heavy weight cloth and now a Mylar clear version.