Guys,

Is it possible that using the 'wrong' mast in a Pryde RS sail (6.7 and 5.8) will completely stuff the shape of the sail?

I have been using two NP RS sails in the last few days with an X3 Mast. While the sails look like they are rigged correct, they pull like a tractor and yet go nowhere and push the nose of the board to wind.

While I'm not a pro, I have rigged and sailed many different sails. But this has me stumped, I have fiddled with the down haul (less and more) and while it changes the shape of the sail and handling somewhat I still couldn't get any balance out of it.

Hence the question, can the wrong mast stuff the shape of the sail that much?

When I down haul to the specified settings the top 4 sections of the leech are as baggy as hell. I assume because of the X3 softer mast. When I let the down haul out to the point where the top 2 sections of the leech are just loose, then the down haul settings are 4cm short of where they are suppose to be.

How sensitive are these NP RS sails to different masts?

Cheers
Bruised

It should rig fine on your X3 masts. The differences between masts of various brands is to do with their 'curve', but you are using a NP X3 mast in a NP sail which it's designed for, so it should be fine.

You may find it is a little heavier and less responsive than using an X6 or X9 mast (80-100% carbon vs 30% for the X3) but the curve is correct so it should work.

When you say 'baggy' in the leech do you mean loose like it's twisting off and wrinkles a bit? That's what a leech should look like:



See this pic of a similar sail. The leech should sit off loose like this one does. Best to rig the sail to specs to get this effect.

If you go with less downhaul on, the sail will feel a lot heavier and be harder to handle in the gusts.

Maybe take a photo of your sail rigged up?

hi sean.

bruce showed me his sail while we were in victoria. the day i saw it, the leach of the top panel was still quite tight, while the second and third panels down were noticeably looser, almost like the mast didn't have enough flex at the very top (well so i'm guessing). i think all of the other rs sails ive seen rigged look like yours and get progressively looser from bottom to the top.

should the top panel lay off more than than the rest?


bruce - the mast hasn't been cut short or anything like that?