mental floss
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Is the new sail designed to use the same amount of vang the current sail?
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Everything fits the same. I made black marks on the cunningham and outhaul with the class sail and put up the practice sail and the marks were less than 1 inch different.
Sent you a PMOnly thing that totally sucks with the new sail is the fact that I got to buy $65 in battens since the old ones won't fit!
Thanks for this. But remember that these are only instructions. The rules still have to be amended for the national letters, as the current rule measures them from the bottom horizontal seam. It's probably safe to assume, though, that the measurement will be 400 mm from the bottom batten pocket (as in the instructions) +/- 12 mm (the tolerance for all other character placement).
Think of it like this. The sail is basically an airfoil turned up on end. You want to have the curve at the forward portion of the airfoil. The skinny/flexible end needs to go in first to help maintain that curve.
Yes, it helps by allowing a soft transition into the stiffer leech that the battens give. This softness also reduces wear that can result in softer sailcloth and stretch at the "bow end" of the battens.Think of it like this. The sail is basically an airfoil turned up on end. You want to have the curve at the forward portion of the airfoil. The skinny/flexible end needs to go in first to help maintain that curve.
Stuff(sic) Australian spars?It must be noted the other sailors and I were all using stuff Australian spars. We discussed and it may be beneficial to use softer sections with the new cut sail. More testing needs to be done to see how manage the sail in breeze and with different mast combinations.
Move to Australia. All these isues with different regions having equipment in different parts of the tolerance is a non issue if people don't source equipment from outside their region. The tolerances are there to permit 2+ manufacturers to build within reasonable manufacturing constraints and not for competitors to assemble the perfect boat.Stuff(sic) Australian spars?
Softer sections?
Different mast combinations?
Where can I buy those?
Move to Australia. All these isues with different regions having equipment in different parts of the tolerance is a non issue if people don't source equipment from outside their region. The tolerances are there to permit 2+ manufacturers to build within reasonable manufacturing constraints and not for competitors to assemble the perfect boat.
All this is relatively new and to the detriment of the class.Yes Alan but people do source the best mast combinations and one is forced to at least match at the HIGHEST level of sailing, not an issue for your club or national level sailing.
I sailed this past Sunday in light winds (5-10 mph); some hiking required (for a light-weight). Upwind, I seemed to move along with the leaders (with older sails), but downwind my sail looked UGLY because of the luff pocket. My vang was on a bit, but as I wrote, the sail shape looked sub-optimal. Tightening the C'ham didn't do much, it seemed.I would like to hear what people are thinking about the new Mark II sail in the 3-8mph range. I spent about two hours with 6 other boats in flat water. I was the only boat with the new sail.
My observations during this time, include the thought that this new sail is a completely different animal! I was constantly experimenting, changing vang, cunningham, outhaul, all while trimming constantly. I thought I used more vang than with the old sail, to simply match the mast to the luff curve built into the new sail and was thus NEVER close to two- blocking. Two-blocking made the sail way too flat. I also had to use a longer cunningham, as the old minimum setting was just too tight. A tiny amount of cunningham seemed to cause a terrible wrinkle in the luff, which I would not think to be fast. I did not ease the vang from my old base setting, but suspect that to be a point of experimentation.
I think by comparison in these conditions this cut is slow! I had a difficult time matching other boats for both speed and height! During starts the regular cut would just shoot off the line with faster acceleration, and seemed to point more easily. As new pressure would fill, the older cut would slowly walk away. It is my thought that the tacking angles in these conditions, differ between the cuts as well. I think the new sail has definite gears one must shift through to achieve its full potential, it just seems the older cut moves through those more easily.
I am very interested to hear what others have experienced in the light stuff, as I am a lake sailor and will probably sail in that most. Initially I think that this sail was not built for the light end of the range, but I would like to hear what others think. What are you doing for set up?
Thanks,
John
"Ugly" and "sub-optimal" aren't very specific terms... how did the shape differ from what you wanted? Was the sail too flat/full, maximum camber too far forward/aft, too much/not enough twist? Did any of the control lines run out of range of adjustment?... downwind my sail looked UGLY because of the luff pocket. My vang was on a bit, but as I wrote, the sail shape looked sub-optimal.
Encountered exact same thing in similar conditions while frostbiting this weekend. Using my vang off wind pre-set was wayyyyy to much vang off. New sail seems to need more vang down wind to avoid the vertical fold or pocket you described.I sailed this past Sunday in light winds (5-10 mph); some hiking required (for a light-weight). Upwind, I seemed to move along with the leaders (with older sails), but downwind my sail looked UGLY because of the luff pocket. My vang was on a bit, but as I wrote, the sail shape looked sub-optimal. Tightening the C'ham didn't do much, it seemed.
Recommendations, please.
More vang?
We just had our Western Australian State Championship in very light winds (up to 10 knots) and the Mark II performed very well. Most master sailors, except me, had the new sail and I was definitely underpowered going upwind. Downwind I did not notice much difference. The problems with the Mark II seems to be the 15+ range. Any suggestions and pictures of the sail upwind in breezy conditions?
Duncan, it's my opinion that you are overthinking the issue. Just go learn to sail the boat with whatever sail you can find. More in general, the Mk II sail is supposed to be identical to the older version. Yes, there are conditions where one sail may outperform the other, but that will be apparent only to hard core Laseristas. Moreover, the idea that the Mk II sail is more tuneable, is debatable. I have read otherwise.I would be interested to have your opinions on the value of the new Mark II for beginners. Is it worth to invest in a new Mk II to start learning with that sail as opposed to
the Mk I? I could also imagine the increased ease with which it can be depowered makes it attractive for a beginner.
Best,
Duncan
I would be interested to have your opinions on the value of the new Mark II for beginners. Is it worth to invest in a new Mk II to start learning with that sail as opposed to
the Mk I? I could also imagine the increased ease with which it can be depowered makes it attractive for a beginner.
Best,
Duncan