In the for what it's worth department...two other H17 sailors in our fleet had identical sail color vintages and each completely came apart some years ago while in a blow.

I'm finally at a point where I look at competitive sails similar to high performance tires. Eventually, they wear out and the newer technology replacements make me wonder how I could have driven on the old ones for so long.

Last season was my first with a Sabre square top. Even though my vintage '89 Hobie sail was not delamintated it was sagging. The differences with a square topped H17 are great. Upwind much more balanced with far more power up high. Off the wind, as long as you keep the leeward telltales flowing, no more being passed by every jib cat in the fleet.

I race portsmouth within the fleet and we use a H17X modifier amongst the 17s (square top, sport, classic uni)to sort out the class. Seems to work well.

My old sail...using it for those recreational days on the water so I can extend the useful life of the Sabre.

Would I ever go back to a stock Hobie sail only to race class legal? Not a chance! The 17 is a really great boat for the money with a lot of room for pushing it's performance envelope. So enjoy it!!

Sail fast, Tom G
H17 USA-190