Less twist? Or WAY MORE twist?

d0uglass · Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 11:43 am Post subject: Less twist? Or WAY MORE twist?

Seems like we've noticed sails having less floppy tops than they did five or ten years ago. Even most race sails seem to have gone to a more subtle progressive twist-off as opposed to a "break" with all the floppyness above the break.

But the Point-7 race sails (the all-black ones) seem to going in the opposite directions, with the upper half of the sail totally flopped off. And the guy sailing them is winning PWA slalom races. Hmmm.

http://www.pwaworldtour.com/index.php?id=2039

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

Could be that he's underpowered, and it does look like those sailing in the background aren't quite lit up . . .

Otherwise, hmmm.

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371

looks like lotsa tension goes with this guy's style? he's using a waist harness, too. looks like his style is more over the rail than those behind him. more than one way to burger king, it all becomes the same heartburn in the end, right?

is he dominating or just winning some?

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

Really floppy! Looks like they are in a start sequence and not yet racing.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

If you review the photos in the gallery on the link, you'll find that the Point 7 sails retain their notable floppiness compared with other competitor's sails. While they are looking pretty ugly in shape, seemingly their performance tells a different story.

Sailboarder · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 656

The mast seems softer too if you look at videos. They may be on something.
They have good results, and they are probably faster backward than I am full throttle.

They are not dominating however, Menegatti finished 8 overall. Albeau is dominating! In the final, is was alone up front.

fxop · Joined: 13 Jun 1998 Posts: 202

In a recent similar thread on the Southwest forum a sail designer made it a point to distinguish between floppiness and twist, two different things. And he confirmed that they are moving to less floppiness, at least on wave sails.

Look at page 3, user hammerton:

http://www.iwindsurf.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=28127

KevinDo · Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 426 Location: Cabrillo Inside

paulf. · Joined: 21 Mar 1996 Posts: 435

don;t you think its just the mast flexing in the chop at the moment of the foto?

KevinDo · Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 426 Location: Cabrillo Inside