smaller race sails less mast specific than larger

Do you really need the hassle of four cams? How about a no cam freeride?

On flatwater the rocker line of your board is going to have a bigger impact on outright speed than the stability of your sail.

Maybe save the money and put it toward getting consistent/complementary kit for the task you need it for? Punt one of the other 3 boards and replace it with a dedicated flatwater speed board - depending on how much time you will actually get to use it.....

Less = more

I've received similar advice to above when putting a cammed sail on a FSW and it was true - my favourite comfy board in the whole world suddenly felt like a pig. Is anyone able to explain the technicalities of why that happens?

Similarly, I've chucked a 4.6m cammed sail on a 91L slalom a couple of times. This is obviously below the recommended sail range for the board, but I couldn't handle more sail in the conditions and didn't have a smaller board so made do. People also said I should never do that cos it will feel like crap. Any chance someone is also able to explain the physics of why this doesn't work? What does too small a sail do to a board?

Thank you. Just very interested

for flat water I rig my 4.6 5.0 5.8 n/p rsr's on a sdm and for chop I rig them on a sdm

that was my first thought as well SQ, that there is a mast mismatch at play or it's rigged incorrectly. certainly from my own experience wit hthe 2007 koncept over downhauling killed it.

I'd say the same with the loft as well but don't know that era as well. over downhauling and or and incorrect mast would remove bottom end..

Hi Sue. I do agree to some extent that you may not get the best from a wave type board and a Cambered sail combo. It depends a lot on the shape and setup of the board. One reason is that the longer boom Slalom/Race sails need a more powerful, efficient fin to get the best from them and that is not always easy to find for some wave board base fittings. Another is that the much more rockered hull shape doesn't like to be driven down into the water by a powerful sail. They like to sit very high on just the last bit of the tail with a light rig to get top gear.

But saying that, the Koncept is quite a light sail for a Cammed sail and has a very light feel when rigged on a good RDM mast. They also have a relatively narrower luff than most of the top end race sails and are very easy to rig and even easier to de-rig, easier than most non cammed sails! The reason is because it is so much easier to get the mast in and out of the sleeve.

But for a board like you describe I would suggest you have a good look at the KA Koyote. It is completely compatible with SDM and RDM constant curve masts and a little lighter and higher aspect than the Koncept.

The earlier KA Kults were more like a wave sail with the draft further back and relying more on the mast stiffness to get shape in the sail. This made them more powerful in lighter winds but less top end stability. I have not used the new Kults but I was very impressed when I had a play with some on the beach this summer. There is much more built in seam shape and better battens with the draft definitely locked more forward like a slalom sail, more like the Koyote. For slalom/freeride blasting, the more draft forward style has more drive and stability in the top end. Sails built like that are also a bit less sensitive to different masts. It is really just a matter of what type of sail you prefer and you type of sailing. Many wave sailors really liked the Kults as their light wind wave sails and the sails were great for that use.

I am not familiar with the Sailworks Hucker so I don't know which type it falls under.

A '90's 3.2m is probably way superseded now by much better designs. They tended to be quite high aspect, short in the boom and rigged on long stiff masts. All things that are a sure recipe for 'twitchyness'.

Water starting cammed sails is a skill you learn and develop with experience.
First, you learn not to drop them in the water so much!
And when you do you try to avoid sinking them. There are many little tricks you can learn to keep them up and flying, or fly them quickly before they sink. Likewise, there are tricks to get them out of the water if the luff floods, like pulling the board tail under the boom. Also, going to the mast tip and swimming the sail luff first into the wind whilst sinking you body and extending your arms over your head. Always try to let the wind do the work for you. Wearing more buoyancy in the form of a full wetsuit and/or a buoyancy/impact vest helps as well.
The KA Koncept is narrower in the luff sleeve compared to the KA Race and most cammed race sails so even if it floods it is easier to empty and fly again.

Its is great if you can actually try some different sails and boards at you home spot but it is important that they are rigged and set up to suit your size and weight.
If you can try some different ones it helps you to make sense of what might suit you. I still think you would benefit from a quite small slalom board (around 70-80L) or larger speed board. Combined with a 4.6m or 5m Koncept on a light RDM mast you would be noticeably faster and more comfortable on the speed runs.
I have a few things you could try.