Am I the only one that has dreamed of a sail that can be reefed / adjusted in size to suit the wind so you only need one sail? Don't know if it would be feasable performance wise & the manufacturers would hate it as it would cut sales but.. How about a vertical system where the sail can be adjustably 'scrunched'/gathered ( not that rugged but i cant think of a better word) at boom level to reduce the size? .. I wonder if it would be feasable?
Hi, SBC,
It's already been done.
Back in the early nineties in the USA, there was a crew called Multi Sail who marketed a sail with a zipped-on section below the boom.
In low wind, you used the full area of the sail, then as the wind rose, you zipped the foot of the sail off.
Can't recall that it was ever tested by the US magazine "Windsurfing", so I don't know how well it worked, but the company is no longer around so perhaps it didn't work that well.
Regards,
WindmanV
Bugger..
I thought I was on to something..It mustn't have performed because you'd think people would be lining up to buy it!
I am pretty sure Lefebvre also did an adjustable sail back in the day... have a look at www.lefebvre-sails.de/ for more futuristic designs.
sboardcrazy,
I think the thing is sail makers rather sell two sails at $900 each than sell you an adjustable sail at $1000.
No matter how you do it, the sail would suffer performance-wise
Plus, its the same as all other extreme sports - everyone wants to go faster and higher etc and 'compromise' gear never sells well.
Just carry a pocket knife & some duct tape...too strong = punch a few holes in it...to little = tape it back up!
a project i did a while back to make a small sail bigger for a land yacht.zip on section ,battens slotted into gaastra gtx batten adjusters,mast tip ext.wouldnt work [i dont think for a performance sail]could have merrits though for beginner-kids sails sub planing conditions.
Yeah, it wouldn't work - unless manufacturers really put their considerable talent, imagination and ability into something that would instantly reduce sales by at least 50%.
I've dreamed of this myself many times, but considering the forces at work on a sail while planing, and the fact that making small adjustments to equipment can make such a huge difference to performance, how are they gonna make, say, a 7m which converts to a 5m and still works just as well? On the same mast, even?
yeah .I thought it wouldn't work performance wise but we can dream! All the wasted time & energy 
spent thinking about ( while under/ over powered) changing sails & then finally doing it..could be time spent on the water!
There is one solution that may help (or not...) -> rig up both sails, then use whichever sail is the correct size, and save the de-rig for packup time. Just make sure to tether you spare sail to something that wont blow away.
Gee todays sails have a bloody good wind range compared to the 1st sails I owned.
Mathew said-
There is one solution that may help (or not...) -> rig up both sails, then use whichever sail is the correct size, and save the de-rig for packup time. Just make sure to tether you spare sail to something that wont blow away.
I did that last gale..unfortunately I didnt think of it until too late as by then i was too buggered to use them .I would have to buy extra masts etc though.I just happened to have a really old boom for my 3.3m ( one length & tie on inhaul).So if I ever get an extra mast + boom & extension etx it may work..more $$
bluedog no probs you are right , the whole industry does rely on gimics to set themselves apart but it often hurts those that do differ, for example alot of people were iffy about airpipes or very short boards. Unless it works exceptionally well you get those that may see an advantage, but generally to differ from the norm scares people. As they say evolution not revolution. Edit- i am referring to large gimics as opposed to say wingers etc.
I'm still iffy about airpipes - they've been around for decades and I have yet to see them work!
sorry back onto adjustable sail, it can also be a bad thing- damage your sail you have nothing either side to use in the meantime. We windsurfers are a funny bunch, largely i think we are either technophiles or we just love seeing lots of shiny new toys. Anytime the industry has offered a solution it hasnt met acclaim- eg neilpryde shock concept- several sails, 1 mast, put into compact price effective package.
I long time ago I read about someone sailing around Tasmania, with a sail you could decrease in size (rolling up the edge and zipping it into a pocket I think). So long ago my memory might be playing tricks.
my project was meerly a back yard tinker[no wind day]i'm sure the technoligy is out there to do it .as for the marketing aspect perhaps the sail companies are a little short sighted ??? if a beginner could buy 1 mast ,1 boom ,1 sail with one add on, maybee even 2,they get hooked !! and we all know what happens when you get hooked $$$$$$$$ [and a board of coarse]
Hi, All,
Here is a Multi Sail ad showing their whole range:
Also, I wuz wrong. There was a test of a Multi Sail and here it is (note how long it took to downsize then upsize the sail):
I hope both images turn out correctly for all viewers.
SBC: please ask easier questions in the future (!)
Regards,
WindmanV
I had heard they worked quite well as a sail but the idea never took off in the market. It really needed a major player to pick it up but why would they? There was also a 3 size version. You could reduce your quiver by 3!!
I still think it is a goer. A lot of guys are getting slammed on excess baggage by the airlines when they make dashes to the other side of the country.
NB the patent would be expired by now
under two minutes to change sail size!,with all the new materials,sail design and fittings the concept would work second time round.
I like it! Extending the foot of the sail is such a simple idea! 
I had previously envisioned having zip-off (or velcro) panels higher up, on the leech of the sail, but this would involve problems with extending the battens and unimaginable performance and reliability issues. The bottom panel could be extended so much more easily!
Also, what about the top panel? This is half a square metre or so which doesn't take much of a load, and could be removable, leaving you with a bit of mast poking out (the vario-top look) and a few inches of luff sleeve. You'd just need to add downhaul after removing it.
Attention, sail makers! I hereby volunteer to be your guinea-pig! (None of that kinky stuff, though...)
