7 vs 8 batten Slalom/Race Sails

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7 years ago

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NikolasGr

14 posts

NikolasGr

14 posts

7 Jan 2019 11:42pm

Slowly looking to renew some of the gear starting with the low wind stuff - big sails. Researching at the options out there I notice lately more more lines change from 7 to 8 battens. Wondering what's your take on that.

Going back to basics i guess more battens, more control on downside more weight?

AUS4

NSW

1296 posts

AUS4

NSW, 1296 posts

8 Jan 2019 4:49am

I think you mean , from 8 to 7.

NikolasGr

14 posts

NikolasGr

14 posts

8 Jan 2019 1:59am

Oups correct from 8 to 7

petermac33

6415 posts

petermac33

WA, 6415 posts

8 Jan 2019 2:49am

Steve former owner of WIndforce is going every bit as fast if not faster on his 7 batten Mach 2 7.8m than on his previous 8 batten Mach1

Lighter guys may find it harder when the wind picks holding on to sails with less battens.

My 8m Hyperglide has 8 battens but is still useless when the wind picks up,so it is down to design as well.

Loft Switchblade from memory has only 6 battens and is still a seriously fast sail.

Tardy

5337 posts

Tardy

5337 posts

8 Jan 2019 3:26am

I think it's to do with the twist up the top .
less battens means easier and quicker twist .
making the sail easier to use ,especially in over powered conditions ,
which is most of the time now days ,we all rig bigger than we use to .

Subsonic

3413 posts

Subsonic

WA, 3413 posts

8 Jan 2019 7:02am

My take on it is weight saving.

more battens generally speaking = more stability. But they've figured out that a sail is plenty stable enough with 7, so why add the weight of an 8th or 9th if it only gains a tiny bit more stability?

Tardy

5337 posts

Tardy

5337 posts

8 Jan 2019 8:02am

how ever this trend has no influenced all sail makers ,Maui sails still remain at 8 & 9 battens.

mkseven

QLD

2315 posts

mkseven

QLD, 2315 posts

8 Jan 2019 1:37pm

Tardy said..
I think it's to do with the twist up the top .
less battens means easier and quicker twist .
making the sail easier to use ,especially in over powered conditions ,
which is most of the time now days ,we all rig bigger than we use to .

Marketing, they have to change something.

Mauisails have over the years had nicest looking twist & that is with the many battens.

CJW

NSW

1731 posts

CJW

NSW, 1731 posts

8 Jan 2019 3:06pm

petermac33 said..

My 8m Hyperglide has 8 battens but is still useless when the wind picks up,so it is down to design as well.

Proto Hyperglide? Production Hyperglide (v1) anyway is a 7 batten sail.

What you say is correct though, they are designed for bottom end grunt, not top end.

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