Dear Mirror sailors

The International Mirror Class Association Committee have now met in order to discuss the present red sail cloth availability issue which has arisen following Contender advising that they do not propose to continue to manufacture and supply the red Polykote sail cloth which the class has been using almost exclusively over the past few decades.

Some of you will be aware of this issue from updates from Nick Charles which have been circulated on a different email link. Nick Charles has been discussing the matter with Contender on behalf of the UK Mirror Class Association.

Contender has apparently decided to cease production of all coloured Polykote cloth, not just red cloth.

The IMCA Committee is presently of the view that:

1. It is premature to presently contemplate a change to the Class rules to allow either white or Mylar sail cloth – and that any such change (if it occurred) could have very significant adverse consequences for the Class.
2. Investigations should be made to ascertain whether there are alternative suppliers of red Dacron sail cloth which has a coating on it which is similar to Contender’s Polykote coating. The Committee is following a lead about a potential supplier who manufactures such cloth in Asia.
3. If there is a demand for coloured cloth with a Polykote or similar coating, there must be a reasonable likelihood that another manufacturer will start producing it. But there may well be a delay in availability for a while.
4. It may be possible that through the discussions with Contender which Nick Charles is having, that Contender may agree to make a large 2000m roll of its red Polykote cloth on the basis that it is paid for in advance. The detail of any such proposal will be important but the execution of this proposal is likely to be challenging.
5. Whilst red Dacron sail cloth without a Polykote or similar coating continues to be available as a “soft” red cloth (of the kind that Mirrors used up until approximately the late 1980’s), this cloth does not perform as well as a coated cloth in medium to high breezes.
6. If anyone from the Mirror community has any information about a potential alternative supplier of Dacron sail cloth with a stiffener coating on it, which might be prepared to manufacture red cloth, the Committee would be grateful if details of same could be shared.

Regards

Douglas Raftesath – President International Mirror Class Association