North loft

Sailmaker's workshop plan
Small dinghy mainsail, study A

Cut for
the wind.

Five panels. One continuous curve. A sail begins as flat cloth, but its work happens in three dimensions.

Head panelUpper bodyMid-bodyLower bodyFoot panelLuff 4,800 mmFoot 2,400 mmLeech ≈ 5,367 mmWind

On the cutting floor

Plan area
5.76 m²
Panel count
5
Seam overlap
25 mm
Cloth study
Woven polyester

Flat on the loft floor. Add wind to see the broad seams bow.

The luff holds.

The forward edge follows the mast. Its length sets the height of this simple triangular study.

The seams shape.

Real sailmakers use curved seams and edge shaping to build depth into cloth. The animation exaggerates that fullness.

The corners carry.

Reinforcement spreads the load at head, tack and clew. Pink patches mark two of those concentrated forces.