What is the best way to design shade sails?
Sails work best when they are: under enough tension to give curvature, are not on a level plane and are ‘twisted’ for stability. It is important to consider the slope of the fabric to ensure good shedding of water. The shade sail is essentially pulled taut and twisted so one axis is convex and the other axis concave. The best designs we have found are shade sails that have a significant difference with one corner much higher than the other. This gives a striking look. Overlapping shade sails or a series of sails can also give a dramatic sculptural look.
