NSW
1176 posts
I"M going buy some 2013 Ka sails, im looking to replace a np evo11, 7m and 7.8, should i go ka race 7.9, 7.1 or should i go ka koncept 8.5, 7.5, ?????, from the bigger size sail, 7.9race or 8.5 koncept, i dont care too much about speed, but the 7.1race, or 7.5 koncept is a size that i do enjoy or i have enjoyed my np7m and getting better results over time, i take it out in flattish 15 to 25, so i guess im asking race or koncept, and are these rigging ok on a neil pryde x6??, thank you for your time
QLD
384 posts
I use only KA race and koncpt and find them, excellent, if you can ,try both. I use X6 masts and they work fine and rotate every well. I would have all race sails if I could afford it
SA
3591 posts
Ka Sails Like to operate between the 13% and 14% (13.5%) with a tip flex of 77.5% giving it slightly more flex than normal Constant Curve masts.
The NP X6 has a bend characteristic further in the Flex Tip range with the less carbon content the more flex ie X35 - X100
I guess if you're not too concerned over flat out speed then this will be ok though i'd be leaning towards a more constant curved mast than the NP's
TAS
1471 posts
In my opinion its all about personal preference and the conditions that you sail in.
I have used both and personally for back and forth sailing and racing I would choose the KA Races, because I feel that they are more powerful sails, they have better drive across the wind and better upwind ability.
On the downside the Races are a heavier and a more physical sail than the koncepts, cam rotation is also better in the koncepts and you can also use RDM masts in the koncepts(by swapping the cams to rdm ones) but you cannot use RDM masts in the races.
The Koncepts have plenty of speed off the wind and thats what these sails were created for. If you just want to sail around with a light 3 cam sail that still performs, rotates easily and have the option of rdm masts which are more durable, I would go the Koncept.
I have used a neil pryde rdm mast in a 2008 Koncept 5.8 a couple of years ago and I thought it rigged and performed really well.
I am pretty sure the Neil Prydes a about 16% and my KA masts a 13.5%. I think the KA sails a more flexible in what masts you can use in them than some of the other sail brands, In my opinion the x6 mast should work fine.
NSW
1176 posts
hi, thanks for all the great info, and thanks to those who sent me private messages, i really appreciate it,,,,i'm not sure what style of sailor i am, really i'm shaped and motiviated by the gpstc, but im not a speed sailor, although speed is important and most runs involve bearing off, compared to speed sailors i dont bear off deep enough, and am concerned about plaining all the time, really i guess im asking which style to people think will suit sailing for good hrs, alphas etc, my only complaint about np evo11 is how deep i set them, (no adjustable outhaul), that was sweet off the wind but crosswind and upwind is a mission, it sounds like the koncepts are the go for me, my only concern is thier power, they sound faster, crosswind, but are people happy with the depth off wind?, thats the only reason i'd be thinking race, more power off wind, any other time, cross and upwind, im finding too much power a handful, thanks heaps for your time
QLD
14953 posts
the koncept has a deeper more forward draft for off the wind when compared to the race. the Koncept was design for off the wind sailing and is lighter than the race in the hands.
the race will have more power coming out of gybes and going upwind. I would guess a smoother feed of the power if you were being picky. I think the jury is still out as to whether the race will lose traction due to draft when going as deep of the wind as the Koncept.
martin love is the man to talk to.
VIC
2421 posts
Milsy, if you are just blasting, not racing then the Koncept will be the better choice I think. It is lighter, softer in it,s handling yet still an extremely fast sail. The Race is superior upwind and sailing square but the Koncept is the equal if not better sailing deeper angles. The Koncept may overpower earlier than the Race, the Race with 8 battens and 4 cams has the stability edge, but not by much.
If you do like a stiffer really locked in feel though the Race will give you that, personal preference there.
As for the X6, well I have not rigged either sail on one so cannot comment from personal experience. I know people who do use X6 on Koncept and are happy with the performance.
NSW
1176 posts
thank you all, great info, i think ill go the koncepts, and then soon after that, ill be king of gpstc......mid north coast maurders, ha, thank you everybody,
NSW
1176 posts
hey, sleepless night thinking about sails, future speed related glory, ha, i think i will go the 7.1 race, most people are leaning towards koncepts, but this is why im thinking the race sail, my 7m ev011, luff 460, boom, 202, im doing about 32 to 34.5kt back and forth with a powered up 7m, im hoping over the next couple of years to improve those numbers by a couple of knots, i just cant see myself doing it on a bigger sail, 7.5 koncept, luff 474, boom 213, its just bigger, and i dont do that well on bigger than my 7m measurements, which is really just a 6.7 measurements from a few yrs ago, out of interest, what speeds are people getting off their 7.5 koncept? i use my 7m in lighter winds on a bigger board for fun, and on about 100l boards in about 10 to 25, and hope to have a great session in those conditions, is that what the 7.5 koncept is, or more lighter wind sail? thanks for your time
226 posts
I've been using my 7.5 Koncept on my 95L ahd SL1 and liking it so where. I haven't really tried to do any speed with it as the wind here has been so so but a few days ago I managed to consistently go over 30kts every time I beared off in about 15-20mph winds. Didn't know I was going over 30 as I didn't have speed genie on as I was just planning on having a normal blasting session so when I did check the data I was surprised.
-Kevin
240 posts
Never understood why some brands were doing slalom and race sails in the 90s and even less today.
Less time to develop each sail and customers are more confused...
NSW
1176 posts
hey, i bought the 7.1, 7.9 ka race, i really wanted to go the koncepts, but the sizes just didn't match up for me, and with the 7.5 koncept being bigger alround, i just think the 7.1 race will be my light to medium fire meeting water sail, thanks to all for all the advice, its appreciated, i'm happy to finally be supporting KA, a great windsurfing brand which has done a lot for gps style sailing and supports a lot of great slalom/ speed sailors in Australia who i look up to,,,,,, YAY!!! Ha, i'm getting crazy excited about sailing this summer, sure, winds in general a bit lighter, but theres heaps of fun to be had, and i really wanna man up and try and achieve some distance goals, baron style!
