The HR comes with a main and working jib manufactured by Elvstrom Sails.
They are manufactured using Dyneema, a material that is similar to Spectra. The roller furling main contains Max-Furl battens — sewn in opposing "tape measure" battens that roll up into the mast with the sail. They are not vertical or horizontal battens, but "slightly diagonal" battens that must be rolled in and out carefully to avoid bending or jamming.
We had good luck with these battens in our 25-35 knot San Francisco Bay reefing exercises and so far feel comfortable with them. By the time we arrived in New Zealand, a couple of battens needed replacement. Rather than replace the battens, we removed all of the battens and had the batten pockets sewn shut.
Port Townsend Sails Loft, Port Townsend, WA.
To fill out the rest of the sail inventory and to upgrade our factory sails for hard cruising, we turned to Carol Hasse of Port Townsend Sails. We can't say enough great things about Carol and her team. Attend her seminars, classes, or just stop by at the next boat show and chat -- you'll see what we mean.
Carol's first task was to apply her expertise to installing anti-chafing and reinforcing our factory sails. She also trimmed back the 100% roller furling jib to approximately 92%.
Carol's second (big!) task was to design and build additional sails. We added a new 125% roller furling genoa, a spindrifter (or gennaker, or asymmetrical spinnaker), a staysail for the detachable inner forestay, and a storm try'sl. For the spindrifter, she also provided an ATN Spinnaker Sock (snuffer), and an ATN Tacker.
Carol Hasse & Company's Port Townsend Sails.
In February 2002, Easom Rigging & Racing added the Gennaker halyard, sheets, and blocks, a Try'sl halyard, and reconfigured the running backstays.
In 2007, North Sails in Auckland performed some minor improvements to leech lines and we also decided to remove the Max-Furl battens from our main sail. We lost about 3 square yards of sail by doing this, but after a month out cruising in 2008, we have not regretted it at all. Whisper seems a bit happier and more balanced in wind over 15 knots.