Are Camber sails always better than camless ?

ROBWIN · Joined: 22 Feb 2001 Posts: 16

I sail in a lake just for fun (freeride?) and I want to buy a couple of new sails (6 Mt and 8Mt) woudl you say tha camber ones are a lot better ??

spyder · Joined: 24 Sep 1996 Posts: 2790 Location: oahu

cams make the sail more aerodynamic, producing a more consistent and stable ride through gusts/lulls, however makes it it heavier and harder to rig.

Personally I would go for 2 cam sail for those sizes But the large no-cams work well, but dont seem to be as powerful, and generally have to go up a 1/2 meter or so.

If you go no-cam, the rig will be lighter, and easier to manuver the sail.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

This has been discussed at length several times, by experts, sailmakers, and intermediates, on rec.windsurfing. The consensus is that the only thing cams do better is point. So if youre racing upwind for dollars, cams help. Otherwise, camless sails are just as fast, just as powerful, more maneuveable, much easier to rig and waterstart, lighrer, and less expansive than cammed sails. Compared to race sails, one would use a smaller camless sail, because race sails work only in very strong winds relative to sail size. I sail both lakes and the Gorge, and havent used a cam since the 1980s. Some of my sails have optional cams, but I prefer their extra maneuverability and lighter feel without the cams.

Mike \m/

zephyr · Joined: 19 Jul 2000 Posts: 3

For a your 8.0m I would want the cambers. The main drawbacks with the cambers are a litle more work to water-start, and not as smooth when jibing(flipping) the sail. For a large sail the advantages outweight the drawbacks. If you get shifty and unsteady winds the cambers will make your sailing smoother.
You dont need a full cambered sail (Race Sails) ... on a 8.0 around 3 cambers.

ROBWIN · Joined: 22 Feb 2001 Posts: 16

bbc · Joined: 22 Mar 1997 Posts: 1

I am a serious lake sailor, and have been using Neil Pryde V-8s only for about 7 years. The cam sail is superior to the non-cam for fun-type lake sailing, because it will hold its shape when the wind dies or is very light, and will handle strong gusts as well. The non-cams only good point (in my opinion) is they are slightly lighter when carrying them, and when waves or big chop is present. By the way, I have last years 6.0 and 8.0 for sale, in like-new condition. If interested, contact me at BBCcom@aol.com.