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Pros/Cons of 4 vs. 5 batten sails
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tailor my sail style and batten count to the conditions. My meat'n'potatoes 4.2 to 6.2 sails have 5 battens and a common design, but my rarely needed 3.7 and 3.2 sails are designed differently to gain stability and comfort in the total nuker gusts more common when it's gusting towards or over 50 mph. Despite the design differences, I just don't see a need for 5 battens in sails that small. I don't get to rig for the lulls as a tropical wave sailor can; too many days in the Gorge are too full of lulls for that. I also do almost all my sailing sheeted in for max power and speed. Thus overpowered stability is more important to me than saving a few ounces. Which FEELS heavier ... a well-behaving 4-pound sail or a sloppy 3.9# sail?
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nw30



Joined: 21 Dec 2008
Posts: 6485
Location: The eye of the universe, Cen. Cal. coast

PostPosted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Slightly different take on the difference between the Elite (4 batten), and the Tiger (5 batten) wave sails.
The Elite depowers instantly when needed for aerials involving rotations, such as loops, goiters, 360's, stuff like that. Thus they are a favorite with the pros that use them.
The Tiger is more of a down the line sail for making fast waves holding it's power with little effort.
I prefer the Tiger (formally the Panther III), my aerial days are long behind me, but if I was younger, I'd be on the Elites.
I use nothing but Ezzys.
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