Help: Best choice RACE 7.6-7.8 sails 2008

[geo]

unregistered (post #6),
note that bend curves for Maui Sails TR-4 are 100% compatible with Gaastra masts. Personally, I own a Gaastra Ignition 100% carbon race 460/25 as a backup for my MS SRS 100 mast, and worked/works perfectly well on TR-2, TR-3 and TR-4. Main difference as far as I see is that Maui Sails masts are built stronger and slightly heavier. So if you rule out TR-4s because of mast bend, you should as well rule out Vapors.

When comparing different sails for power, remember to sort forward pull from sideways pull! The first one is what propels you; the second is what makes you need more fin and/or more angle of attack, both things that slow you down. Many sails will feel "powerful" because of lateral pull, but in reality are just hard to sail.

Thanks for your feedback Geo !!

I could be wrong, but from first Vapors (2006) to the last ones (2008), the needed mast is moving from hard top to a constant curve bending. This datas can be checked at:

http://www.peterman.dk/masts-all-imcs01.htm

Ignition 2007 are "constant curve" mast, compared with the 2006 and previous.

For this reason seems possible use other mast brands than Gaastra on Vapors.

Thanks,

SRLL.

[EirikB]

Isen't the cod red just fore hardwind sailing?
to lillele bottmpower!?

Eirik Bakken
Nor-321

[geo]

unregistered (post #12),
let me have your e-mail address and I'll share my info with you, so that you can decide whether it's reliable or not. Gaastra bends are the same as Maui Sails: what applies to one, will to the other too.
Don't know what about the 550 mast going softer in the top, but I see the Peterman site gives no info about the Gaastra 460/25 100% that fits the 7.6 Vapor.

Sent MP with my email.
Thanks,
SRLL.

[DEN-137]

to Unregistered. severne sails designs are cool, and the are not the design there sail fast but the sail

geo, im pretty sure that maui sails and gasstra bend curves were similar, but recently i believe the gaastra mast has been made more constant curve to match the wider market. Check "http://www.gaastra.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=514&start=0" for a discussion of the gaastra mast.

[geo]

In that thread, lots of doubts, no answers. OK, let's put it this way: if I had any doubts about mast compatibility between Maui Sails and Gaastra, and since both masts are built by the same manufacturer, the best thing would be to ask the manufacturer directly. No one can know better than them how the masts are built.

[geo]

I forgot the main point...
In my view, if Maui Sails (and Gastra?) use different bends there is a reason. A Maui Sails rig bends and reacts to the wind over its total length, while others do so only over a small (top) fraction of it. With Maui Sails, you feel the sail "load" like a spring when a gust hits. When I switched from a Neil Pryde RS:3 7.5 to a TR-2 7.6 (both classic, narrow sleeve designs) the difference was quite sensible. This requires the ability to design a sail that accomodates huge changes in leading edge shape while sailing, and I believe this is not common. However, "low (8 - 10) bend charachteristic" mast bends such as Maui Sails' bring a real advantage compared to "classic" (12) or "mainstream" (14 - 16) ones, expecially to normally sized and fit sailors. I would suggest the purchase of such masts as a very sound investment in first place, and the move to suitable sails as a consequence; rather than vice versa.

[steveC]

I think poster 17 is right in that Gaastra modified their bend curve in 2007, as it coincides with discussion I've read on the Maui Sails Forum. Yet, before the changes introduced in 2007 (at least throughout Barry Spanier's tenure at Gaastra), the bend curve was the same as now recommended by Maui Sails.