The Decorators Team Fliers

Felix Mottram

Design development & Sail Making by Felix Mottram, 2008/9 Vented sails.

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September 7th 2022.
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In 2008/2009 Jørgen prepared two initial designs for vented sails. We asked him to do a design with two vents which was then fabricated as a set of eight. In 2018 a variation with a single vent was fabricated, again in a set of eight.

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In 2022 needing a project involving the preparation of replacement leading edges I decided to re-address the original designs from 2008/2009 and 'invented' a transitional version. The project is being developed using a polyester mesh with a wider grain than the original Revolution leading edge mesh.
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A traced outline of the Revolution 1.5 sail was started 7th September 2022 with elements of all three configurations gradually added with particular reference to the actual curved leading edge. This was used to plot the digital version which was partly filled with textural elements as at 3rd October 2022.
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The mesh element was seen as disposable element that would be replaced by a grey sail component in the event that the sail does not work. The elements were cut carefully and hemmed with dacron producing a complete component.
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Sail elements were cut using card templates drawn from the initial tracing.
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The elements have been tacked and sewn and then checked against the original traced drawing, 16th October 2022.
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Sewing onto the mesh panels was complicated as the dacron element had to be secured and aligned. Main edges tacked ready for sewing, 18th October 2022.
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Main edges sewn and white edges taped, 19th October 2022.
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Leading edge prepared 20th October 2022.
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Leading edge assembled 21st October 2022.
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Leading edge set 21st October 2022.
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Detail, missing edge strip!
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Sewing completed 22nd October... until missing borders were noticed.
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Offcuts...
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Almost all done, 22nd October 2022.
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Finished 23rd October 2023 with a previously unused bridle and some fun details.
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Second sail preparation sanity check against plan tracing.
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Seams sewn 25th October 2022.
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Outer mesh panels attached 26th October 2022.
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Mesh edges bar 2 set 27th October 2022.
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Just the leading edge and fittings to do, 28th October 2022.
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Fittings and vertical spar sail mesh taping still to be done, 31st October 2022.
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Finished except for glueing fluffy ends on the bungy cords 1st November 2022.
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Template check for the right hand sail of the intermediate design 8th November 2022.
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Template check, left hand sail, 9th November 2022.
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Blue Icarex arrived from Germany, 15th November 2022. All the components are now prepared for fabrication and the initial sewing of the Icarex is done, 16th November 2022.
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An intensive session today on the dacron edged seams, 17th November 2022.
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Detail, 17th November 2022.
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Outside edges finished 19th November 2022.
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Dacron edges and leading edge still to do...
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Dacron edges and leading edge components prepared 22nd November 2022.
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Detail leading edge dacron edge and Icarex strip, 23rd November 2022.
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Leading edge components secured prior to tacking one edge with adhesive film.
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Sewing the leading edge.
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Leading edge and sail ready to connect, 23rd November 2022.
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Sail all sewn, fixtures and finishing remaining, 23rd November 2022.

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Finished bar vertical spar line strip. 24th November 2022.
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Spar strips added... Kevlar diagonal mesh lines prepared, 26th November 2022.
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Kevlar diagonal mesh lines attached, 28th November 2022.
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The condition of the leading edge mesh on the 2009 sails is what inspired the making of the three new sails. A further examination of the oversewn mesh suggests that there is no immediate pressure to replace the leading edges. 18/03/2023

Kitepage
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Site Updated June 2025 Felix Mottram