Training Sails vs Class-Legal Sails: A Smarter Choice for Club Sailing?

For many sailors, new sails automatically means class-legal racing sails. But if most of your time is spent training, club racing, or improving your boat handling, there’s a strong case for choosing **training sails instead.

At GP Sails, we help sailors get the right sails for how they actually sail — and for many owners, non class-legal training sails offer better value, longer life, and excellent performance.

What are training sails?

Training sails (sometimes called practice sails) are built using the same design knowledge and sailmaking expertise as racing sails, but with a focus on:

• Durability and longevity
• Cost efficiency
• Consistent, forgiving performance
• Everyday use rather than championship measurement tolerances

They’re ideal for:

• Regular club racing
• Training days and coaching
• Youth and university teams
• Owners who sail frequently but only compete occasionally at major events
• Do you really need class-legal sails?

Class-legal sails are essential if you’re competing at:

• National Championships
• International events
• Open meetings where measurement is enforced

But many sailors find that 90% of their sailing doesn’t require strict class certification.

If you’re mainly sailing:

• Wednesday night racing
• Local club series
• Training weekends
• Family or performance cruising

…then training sails often make more sense.

The advantages of non class-legal sails

Lower cost

Training sails typically cost less than fully class-certified sails, making them ideal for regular replacement without stretching the budget.

Longer working life

Built for everyday use, training sails often use slightly more durable construction, meaning they stay competitive for longer.

Confidence to sail more

When you’re not worried about protecting an expensive championship sail, you’re more likely to:

• Go out in stronger winds
• Train more often
• Push harder during practice

And more time on the water is what really improves results.

Who are training sails best for?

Training sails are a great choice for:

• Club racers
• Youth and development squads
• Sailing schools and programmes
• Owners building skills before moving into higher-level racing
• Sailors who keep a championship set and a separate training set

Many competitive sailors run two wardrobes:

• Championship sails (class legal)
• Training sails for everyday use
• Training sails available for your class

We supply high-quality training sails for a wide range of popular classes, including:

• ILCA / Laser
• Topper
• RS classes
• Dart 15/18
• Solo
• and many more

👉 Browse sails for your class:
GP Sails Classes

If you don’t see your class listed, we can usually supply it.

👉 Request a custom quote:
Quote request

Not sure what you need?

Choosing between class-legal and training sails depends on how you sail, your goals, and your budget.

We’re sailors ourselves, and we’re always happy to give straightforward advice — no hard sell, just the right solution for your programme.

Train more. Sail more. Improve faster.

If you’d like help choosing the right sails for training or club racing, get in touch or request a quote today.