Sport Today

by **Celine Sadoulet-tab** » Fri, 22 Jul 1994 23:48:01

After an unsuccessful attempt to find a second hand 6.5 sail, I think I'm
going to give in and buy a new one...

As budgetary conditions are the main constraint, I have to go for some cheap
sail. I would appreciate any suggestions, comments...

Me: intermediate sailor, only one board (Tiga Gun 8'8") and
two sails (5'8" RAF + 4.0 storm sail). This is my first year
in Wash DC, so I'm not familiar
with the wind patterns yet.

Sails I'm considering:
(1) Hood River Original 6.5 sail ($179)
(2) If the Hood River doesn't get good comments: Top Sails
Free wing 6.5 ($249 not $199 like Windsurfing mag said...)
(3) or if the DC wind conditions are going to be such that I will
have to get a smaller sail than a 5.8 this winter, I might get the
two-for-one deal at Windsurfing Express: 2 stoker sails for $249
(sizes available 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0)

Any comments??

Please do not respond to this account, it is my wife's . Please

All/any comments are much appreciated!! Happy Winds!

Loic

by **Richard A. Peters** » Sat, 23 Jul 1994 05:18:24

Quote:

> (2) If the Hood River doesn't get good comments: Top Sails
> Free wing 6.5 ($249 not $199 like Windsurfing mag said...)

I just bought a topsail freewing from the Sailboard WareHouse
this week, and without even asking, they sold it for $ 199, and
this was for the 7.5.

--

Health Sciences Library, University of ***ia (804) 924-0059 office
C***tesville, VA 22908 (804) 924-0379 fax

by **KJC10** » Thu, 28 Jul 1994 23:15:05

Quote:

(Celine Sadoulet-taboy) writes:

I have a Hood River Original WC 6.5. Not that bad a sail for the price
you pay. The two cambers are really chintzy, but they seem to work. The
luff sleave seems to hold a lot of water which makes it harder to
waterstart. It seems to be sensitive to downhaul: little too much and
the leech totally flops open; not quite enough and the shape sucks. A
good friend has a Top Sails 6.5. Looks like a more durable sail, but he
seems to have problems getting the shape right too, although that could be
his mast.

by **Paul Billing** » Tue, 02 Aug 1994 18:17:37

Quote:

> I have a Hood River Original WC 6.5. Not that bad a sail for the price
> you pay. The two cambers are really chintzy, but they seem to work. The
> luff sleave seems to hold a lot of water which makes it harder to

Some sleeves are wider than others. There's a tradeoff between rigging ease
(you want a wider sleeve) and waterstarting ease (narrow sleeve). I had a HR
Original 5.8 when I started sailing, but didn't notice any problem with the
sleeve. Is there a chance the *mast* is getting water in it?

Quote:

> waterstart. It seems to be sensitive to downhaul: little too much and
> the leech totally flops open; not quite enough and the shape sucks. A

Welcome to the world of high-performance sails. (Well, the HR Original is not
exactly high-performance, but I hope you understand my meaning.) A centimeter
can determine the outcome of a race. There are lots of tradeoffs involved and
many factors to play with: Downhaul and outhaul on the sail alone (not to
mention boom height, harness line length, foot strap position, mast position,
mast stiffness, etc. etc.

General guidelines: less downhaul for light winds, more for heavy. Outhaul can
tension the leech when downhauled a lot. Experiment! Don't be afraid to come
in to change something: it just might improve the situation!
________________________________________________________________________
Paul Billings -- US366 (Maui)
9.2 Gem and 8.8 Strapper slalom, 8.6 RealWind and 8.6 Hi-Tech wave board
Favorite conditions: powered 4.7 and mast-mast1/2 waves

Sick air starts at thirty feet up!

Sport Today

Sails sails sails...

Sails sails sails...

Sails sails sails...

Sails sails sails...

Sails sails sails...