looks like that in the leech is the same material like in the firelight sail...means weight saving or
this morning scored myself a near new (sailed three times) 6.0 m 2012 GPS + 100%rdm mast+chinook extension+base for 500$ !!!
owner switched to kiteboarding (I assume he's gay...
)
Just need 20 knts now !!
well, I got my 18 knts today, awesome sail, my only concern is the way the sail runs along the board, it's too low !! It even slides under my rear foot toes !!
but still a fast sail !!
Thanks mate, Tried that... doesn't change.
My boom is at the maximum and I can't move the track back much more (on the slalom RRD's you need to have it a bit forward to get maximum speed), but I'll give it a try next time.
Mind you I was quite happy with a 28 knts peak for my first session with it.
It is a flat water speed sail, (written on the bag ). Might be the reason.
Only happens when going up wind. I'll get used to it I guess, just have to keep my toe nails real short !!!
Hi Sean,
Sail looks like it has too much downhaul. I use 8m and 6m GPS and find i use 2 cm less downhaul than lowest setting. I run my 6m on 22cm extension. I also run the middle eyelet in lighter wind and bottom eyelet when speed sailing in stronger winds. Hope this helps.
Can't wait to get the new GPS...
Sean, raise the extension amount and leave a gap between the extension and the pulley - this is how Martyn Ogier sails his as he is a man mountain!
They are not only a flat water speed sail, they work really well in chop and were designed for open sea slalom in maui! Obviously they do work well on flat water.
I have had the same experience as you with my 8m, I went into a gybe at about 30 knots and the foot ended up under both my feet meaning I couldnt get them out of the straps.....I am now a couple of cm taller after the resulting wipeout. Since I have raised the extension 2cm and that has cured it. Rest assured the new sails have a slightly higher foot to stop this. People on Starboard dont tend to have the problem and Tom designs them with his Isonic, I found the foot catches the rear strap a lot with my 7.3 and my RS2, other sizes I dont have a problem with.
Another tip as Waiting4wind said is to move the track right back, I have experimented a lot with track positions in boards from 78cm-69cm-59cm-54cm with different sizes of sail, they all perform slightly better with the track right back. The noticable thing is with my 7.3 and 59cm RS2, if I have it forward as I bear off I sometimes get pulled over the front as I exit a gust (at random it seems), with it back I dont.
The 6m I agree needs 2cm less downhaul than printed, all above that are fine with the printed settings. Although I tend to still be in the habit of looking for a loose leech which these sails do not need as much, the twist is designed into the shape of the leech so you can run it without it being baggy. The clue is in the tension of the luff tube as you pull the downhaul on. Its worth trying them with a tighter leech in choppier conditions, I get faster speeds in chop with less downhaul, but still get fastest on flat water with max downhaul overpowered. If I wasnt so lazy I would swap between 2 consecutive sizes, big with loose, smaller with tight and see what my max speeds are.
I have done an article on the new GPS's, not yet sailed one myself but Martyn did well at Weymouth speed week on his.
www.redsurfbus.com/2012/10/new-kit-to-be-tested-for-2013.html
I'm having a problem with the bottom cam popping off the mast on my Hot Sails GPS 6.6m on the recommended mast.
It looks like there is too much pressure on the cam (no shim). It forms a knuckle at the leeward side of the mast.
About a month ago the bottom 5cm of the batten that fits into the cam broke off.
I pulled the batten out and tapered the new end (that fits into the cam) to match the profile of the batten above.
Put a 5cm extension in at the leach end.
It seemed to be ok for a couple of sessions after this fix but now is happening again.
Tried varying the batten tightness - no difference.
The cam stays on with max downhaul and outhaul - any other settings and I have to pop it back on (difficult) or kick it around to rotate if it stays on.
This small issue aside, I think these sails are fantastic.
Any ideas Redsurfbus or Legless?
Thanks JJ
The previous owner has replaced both bottom cams with gaastra cams on my 6.0 , according to him they rotate better.
(Just discovered that the other day when I saw they were diffferent !! Called the guy and got the explanation...)
Sorry for all the hijacking Legless !!!
The only sail where a cam pops off with less than max downhaul in my quiver is the 8.8. With mine they only knuckle if I put on too much downhaul.
Try the SDM cam solution. If you were over here I could give you the batten piece you are missing.