is it just me or anyone else believe race sails generally are cut with way too low a foot?

today sailed or should i say tried to sail a N/P 5.5m evo 11

it was rigged with the rope pulled down to very bottom of Arrows extension.[as should be]

decent amount of downhaul to 3rd or 4th batten and negative outhaul.

took it for a sail and noticed straight away foot of sail at back of board was trailing around 4 to 6 inches in the water,wtf!!!

sailed it 400m out and returned it to owner.

asked owner did he have the same problem? All the time was answer.

in larger sizes for whatever reason this foot catching or dragging is much less of a problem.

the only way i could sail this sail without foot dragging would be to sail with mast very upright,close to 90 degrees to board,mast-track at back, less downhaul and 10cm or so more extension on base.

if i buy a race sail again,will choose the brand with highest foot cut.

my whinge for the day.

just extend the mast extension couple of extra cm higher, this will lift the foot of the sail up....

elmo said...

make your board lower

Eat more...

Try ur harness lines further back. It also may allow you to sail more powered up and not have to be on such smal sails in less than 20knts of breeze.

What board are you on ? Found on some older cross over boards with the mast track further forward, you do rake the sail back more and the foot of the sail could touch the water.

petermac33 said...

i was on new 90 litre sonic,mast-track was in middle

nearly all race sails i have been on foot is cut too low,the reflex one is the highest cut i've come across,the vapor is also cut quite high.

putting too much extension to solve the problem leaves big gap near mast foot,i did try this years ago and sail does not feel or perform as good.

an inch or so too much extension is ok,more the sail feels power is too far away from body.

solution is cut the foot higher making it more user friendly.

not everyone enjoys sailing overpowered on too big a sail.

Use a freeride instead . I love the lower foot as it makes it easier to close that gap and get more speed and power from the sail.
Sounds like that the mast was to forward in the track and not enough wind for the 5.5. Race sails are not for everyone