Sport Today

by **Bullroarer_Too** » Wed, 17 May 2006 01:37:04

Scuttle***on the beach had me doing an internet search this morning
and sure enough I find that Bill Hansen has teamed up with Devon
Boulon, Mike Pearcy and Doug Beamon to form "Hansen Sails" with a new
logo suggestive of the past. So far it looks like only race sails have
been made, but I'd like to know when I can start putting Hansen Sails
in my non-formula quiver. Any updates from those in the know?

by **LeeD** » Wed, 17 May 2006 02:16:16

If Mike or Jane are at the beach today, I'll ask.
You want wave sails or two cam freerides?

by **Bullroarer_Too** » Wed, 17 May 2006 04:19:41

Yes and no. For me, Two cams are great on 6.5s and up, but from 5.x
and down I prefer camless. (That said, I still love the black diamond
slalom for pure back and forth blasting, but I don't do that kind of
sailing much anymore.) Also, pure wave sails aren't exactly "it" for
the bay either - I like a little fuller foot. Also, I don't do
freestyle so I don't mind a little shape built into the sail.

You asked. ;)

by **jeff feeha** » Wed, 17 May 2006 05:14:10

i wish them luck, it's a tough business, with a lot of competition.
i guess they'll also make kites though.

http://SportToday.org/

on the web site it says that recreational sails will follow.

the race sail looks _really_ nice. the photos seem to show
a huge amount of draft even in upwind trim.

jeff

Quote:

> Scuttle***on the beach had me doing an internet search this morning
> and sure enough I find that Bill Hansen has teamed up with Devon
> Boulon, Mike Pearcy and Doug Beamon to form "Hansen Sails" with a new
> logo suggestive of the past. So far it looks like only race sails have
> been made, but I'd like to know when I can start putting Hansen Sails
> in my non-formula quiver. Any updates from those in the know?

by **LeeD** » Wed, 17 May 2006 10:29:17

Race sails have 10 battens and 5 minis, kinda looks crowded. Mike
has'em working pretty well, it appears.
Bullroarer, lots of peeps like the Bash as was, as it seems to do
waves and freeride, freestyle, and actually slalom go fast pretty well.
Some guys keep up with the twin cam on the Bash no problem, so you're
thinking might need amending.
I have the 5.1 Bash and it's equal to NR's, Onshores, and WaveComps
in most areas.

by **barryxw..** » Wed, 17 May 2006 21:51:57

Devon and Mike will be showing up at the Velocity Games / US Open
[Corpus Christi, TX] in a little over a week with the new race sails.
I'm not sure if Doug and/or Bill is going to be there. B&J/wave and
freeride/slalom sails are planned for future release, but the first
milestone is getting the race sails produced and marketed. Ping Bill at
his web site -- perhaps he can comment directly...

-Barry 'NM-0'

PS -- Re: Lee's comments about 10-batten "crowded" race sails -- the
latest thinking in contemporary race sail design is to try and minimize
luff curve and/or reduce batten induced point loading on the mast. More
battens/cams help in both situations. Race sails definitely put
non-compromising performance at the top of the design criteria list.

by **Dan Weis** » Wed, 17 May 2006 23:42:33

Hey Barry: I wonder how it's possible to keep tension across the width
of a super wide luff sleeve without a lot of luff curve and tension. I
suppose the right selection of material might create a more elastic
section to help with that, and maybe the choice of triple x-ply
reflects this way of thinking. Cam loading to the point of mast
breakage should never occur even though it does. Cams aren't designed
to be high pressure anymore, AFAIK. I had cam rub on one large race
sail because of the slightly different bend curve of my mast. Tuning
the cams stopped the rub but kept rotation very firm. If backing off
the cams did have the undesired result of sloppy rotation, one or two
passes of sandpaper on the offending battens would return the
stiffness.

It would makes sense that that the reduced luff curve race sails use
less cam pressure and more battens to compensate. We are getting ever
closer to the flexible wing concept as each design year passes. Very
cool!

-Dan

by **LeeD** » Thu, 18 May 2006 01:25:57

Barryxw....
FYI, it appears the reduced luff curve idea has been abandoned
already.
Sometimes, rehash of old ideas work, sometimes not.
They're still trying.

by **Bullroarer_Too** » Thu, 18 May 2006 01:56:13

Lee,

I tried to reply earlier but it seems to be lost. I didn't mention the
Bash, you did. I was 'wishing upon a star' since you asked. Regarding
the Bash, I have a 5.6 and I wish it had a little more foot and a
little more shape. Might just be mine though. Wyatt and Rob tried
rigging it for me one day (on a Gulftech 430) and I could tell they
were surprised by the results. Perhaps I got the seamstress' mistake.
I love the full head, springyness and depowerability. In general, it's
a fine sail. (As an engineer I realize that compromise is the order of
the day here and what I am asking for may be impossible, but a guy can
dream.)

Jeff,

Thanks for the link.

by **LeeD** » Thu, 18 May 2006 14:08:18

I used the 5.1 today when JRobb was on his 7.3, a lighter weight
friend on his 6.0Zoom, some guys on 6.6's, and kept up no problem, in
the gusts just walked away, in winds of 12-19mph, mostly on the lighter
end of the spectrum. And I had the sail downhauled to 3.5 battens (all
the mini battens loose).
Certainly I could have used a 6.8, but I sliced my hand open pretty
good and didn't want to fall into the water to get it opened or
infected, so chose conservatively.
I don't think more foot would have helped, if it meant giving up area
up high.

by **hanse** » Fri, 19 May 2006 03:42:39

BT
We are concentrating on Formula first and will have a presence at the
US Open in Texas. Then, other sails will be added in the following
months on a limited availability basis. At this time, we are open to
suggestion regarding what dedicated sailors want in their recreational
sailing. The philosophy is 'keep it simple' so don't expect 4 lines of
wave sails and 3-4 lines of free-race slalom plus freestyle, etc. Any
comments are welcomed on our new forum at http://SportToday.org/.
Best regards,
- Bill Hansen

Quote:

> Scuttle***on the beach had me doing an internet search this morning
> and sure enough I find that Bill Hansen has teamed up with Devon
> Boulon, Mike Pearcy and Doug Beamon to form "Hansen Sails" with a new
> logo suggestive of the past. So far it looks like only race sails have
> been made, but I'd like to know when I can start putting Hansen Sails
> in my non-formula quiver. Any updates from those in the know?

by **weed..** » Sat, 20 May 2006 06:18:49

<< BT
We are concentrating on Formula first and will have a presence at the
US Open in Texas. Then, other sails will be added in the following
months on a limited availability basis. At this time, we are open to
suggestion regarding what dedicated sailors want in their recreational
sailing. The philosophy is 'keep it simple' so don't expect 4 lines of
wave sails and 3-4 lines of free-race slalom plus freestyle, etc. Any
comments are welcomed on our new forum at http://www.hansensails.com.
Best regards, >>

HANG TIME!!!

by **JSNT** » Sat, 20 May 2006 08:27:12

Quote:

> HANG TIME!!!

Hear hear.

by **The Do** » Sat, 20 May 2006 10:47:58

Quote:

> > HANG TIME!!!

> Hear hear.

This has a potential for greatness. I think Bill needs to do a
Double Black Diamond!!!!

Dog
--
http://www.mariner-sails.com (new and improved)
http://www.thedoghouse.net (not new, but regularly updated)

Do I have to explain IP addressing again?

by **weed..** » Sat, 20 May 2006 11:48:25

Quote:

> > HANG TIME!!!
> Hear hear.

This has a potential for greatness. I think Bill needs to do a
Double Black Diamond!!!! >>

Being the fastest on the water isn't every sailors priority, some are
willing to scarifice speed for high floaty hangers.