My mast cap strap (where the mast clicks into) NP bic techno sail, is now stretching (the strap) originally it was around 1cm into the sail now is hanging out of the sail 2cm.
Any ideas?
I've seen a few snap so idk

Sandman1221 said..
If it moved my guess is the threads holding it are breaking, that strap should not get longer on its own, never had one of my Aerotech sails do that. But if you are sure the strap is stretching, and not slowly ripping out, get it replaced by a reputable sail repairer with a strap that does not stretch.

Im unsure if its breaking or stretching,
Ive had a look myself i cant see any stitching or webbing strap breaking.
When my sail was new it was inside the luff pocket 1cm and now it 2cm hanging out ,
tbf they are a very old design.
but ig still shouldn't be moving?

The webbing on NP sails are flimsy and break thru time.

When getting repaired i recommend getting a standard sail cap repair not the NP system where the webbing fits over a female plug.

Imax1 said..
No way should it move 3 cm . It's about to break .

I first noticed how much it moved when my mast was able to fully poke through the sleeve without going into the cap and poke fully out of the sail,
Then i compared my sail to a new sail and ye it was in alot further.
I'll see if i can find some pics.

From an engineering point of view, with over downhaul , in a wild dream the total luff could stretch 3 cm ???
No way could that small top end strap stretch that much . Something is giving . I'd say the stitching holding the stap is failing .
In a cammed sail , all the downhaul tension is in a strip of sail inside the luff pocket . I've had this fail twice just under the boom . Could this break be right at the top of the sail ?

Imax1 said..
From an engineering point of view, with over downhaul , in a wild dream the total luff could stretch 3 cm ???
No way could that small top end strap stretch that much . Something is giving . I'd say the stitching holding the stap is failing .
In a cammed sail , all the downhaul tension is in a strip of sail inside the luff pocket . I've had this fail twice just under the boom . Could this break be right at the top of the sail ?

Wdym "could this break be right at the top of the sail?"
I have seen the straps snap multiple times before on techno sails in specific.
But idk when its going to snap it looks like its getting bigger and bigger each session.

You mean that the strap slides? Photo and we'll go from there.

Roy1000 said..

Manuel7 said..
You mean that the strap slides? Photo and we'll go from there.

The strap at the very top of the sail(its not adjustable on techno gear ) The strap that connects to the mast cap.
Thanks alot
Ill try and get photos tomorrow.

have snapped it before on 5.8 techno sail took it to a sail maker and they put a stronger strap and now i only use that sail in more than 25 knots and it hasn't moved at all where as the old one had been hanging out the top of sail before it snapped out of the top of the sail. the strap came out of sail intact so it wasn't the strap it was the sail breaking. furthermore it still is class legal.

AUS-024 said..

Roy1000 said..

Manuel7 said..
You mean that the strap slides? Photo and we'll go from there.

The strap at the very top of the sail(its not adjustable on techno gear ) The strap that connects to the mast cap.
Thanks alot
Ill try and get photos tomorrow.

have snapped it before on 5.8 techno sail took it to a sail maker and they put a stronger strap and now i only use that sail in more than 25 knots and it hasn't moved at all where as the old one had been hanging out the top of sail before it snapped out of the top of the sail. the strap came out of sail intact so it wasn't the strap it was the sail breaking. furthermore it still is class legal.

Ah ok thanks,
There seems to be an issue in rules where you cant put reinforcements, i think same goes at xply replacements?

Roy1000 said..
Just looked at my kit today,
my 8.5 cap has stretched around 2cm (max, sorry i overestimated it)
my 7.8 has stretched 1cm

It still sounds like part of the stitching attaching the mast head webbing strap to the top of the inside of the sail luff is breaking and giving way. If so it's only a matter of time before it breaks completely and the top of the mast pops through. You need to get it repaired by a sail maker. This repair will not effect the performance of the sail and should not effect the class certification of the sail.