I have the 2018 7.9 and 7.1 KARace. They have replaced my 2015 models. I have so far used the 7.1 twice in 13 to 20kts SEer in choppy water on Moreton Bay, Qld. My initial thoughts re comparison with the 2015 model:
- deeper draft in the bottom 3rd of the sail
- more luff curve in the top third and nice progressive twist in the leach
- feels lighter
- feels like it has more forward drive at the low end of the wind range
- nice and stable in the high end of the wind range
- rotation is a bit sticky (its rigged on a new Ka 100% carbon 460 SDM mast). This will get better as the sail beds in and cam rollers wear on the mast.
New sails always feel better. but having sald that, I am very happy with the new sail and look forward to trying the 7.9. It was also very good value, I got a great deal from Mark Jordan at Jordan Boating Centre at Port Macquarie.
I'll post some photos of the sails when I next rig them.
2018 KaRace clearly working well for Slowy...
www.gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2017-11-13&team=10
Used my 6.3 on Sunday straight out of the bag and extremely happy, powerful, very slippery / fast and the rotation was really good.
A few photos of the 2018 KA Race 7.1. Boombusters 2017 7.0 Koncept is in the background.
Purchased a Karace for the first time, I've always just used Koncepts. The idea was to replace the 8.5 & 7.5 with the 7.9 race as most of the sea breezes are in that 15/22 kt range.
So far I've used it only in that range and it's perfect. Stable,fast and rotates sooo easy, I love it. Hoping to test the lower range tomorrow on bigger volume boards but so far it's a winner.
Compared to the Koncepts it seems that they need more downhaul, the leech is floppy further down than the Koncepts. Is it correct ?
Select to expand quotekato said..
Purchased a Karace for the first time, I've always just used Koncepts. The idea was to replace the 8.5 & 7.5 with the 7.9 race as most of the sea breezes are in that 15/22 kt range.
So far I've used it only in that range and it's perfect. Stable,fast and rotates sooo easy, I love it. Hoping to test the lower range tomorrow on bigger volume boards but so far it's a winner.
Can you give some rigging tips. Although i have a huge 8.7m it like to hear how you tweaked for upper & lower conditions.
KAR8.7 2017 with NP 490 mast & NP X9 180-230 to be used on SB US147.
Cheers Dave
Select to expand quotepowersloshin said..
Compared to the Koncepts it seems that they need more downhaul, the leech is floppy further down than the Koncepts. Is it correct ?
Correct. The leech is looser and more twisted on the Race when rigged to specs. The Koncept has a slightly more dynamic feeling twist IMHO. The Koncept twists plenty when loaded.
Don't know for how long i've been waiting for KA to change the name of that damn sail. Is that word the most over-used term in windsurfing? And then to spell it with a "K"!
I think the earliest windsurfing usage I can recall was the Orthogonal ******t of the Bombora 292.
All KA sails names start with a K. 
They have done that forever.
At least it is not a silent K, Mr Knight! 
Select to expand quotemr love said..
I am on to your agenda, you just want us to rename it the Knightrider.
Knightrider!!
That would be perfect for Kato! 
Getting this thread back on topic 
. There's about 15/20 mm difference between my high and low wind settings. I use the depth of the sail at the boom height as the reference point. I also look at the twist from the tip once it rigged as a final check.
So far the 7.9 KaRace to 6.6 Koncept spacing works quite nicely.
Select to expand quotekato said..
KaRace
According to the marketing strategy, it should be called the Kace
Select to expand quoteNotWal said..
K**t?
That name has been used......... by the way...cigarettes F**K you up.
Back to the post........been using both 7.1 Race and 7.5 Koncept a lot this season. The Race has more power and is an overall faster sail, feels more slippery and more stable at the top end. The Koncept is physically lighter and easier through the transitions, and easier to pump. May also have the edge deep downwind....maybe. The leach on the Koncept is a bit more active and the sail is excellent in rough water, the race in comparison feels a bit more locked in. Overall they are both extremely fast sails.
Select to expand quotemr love said..
Back to the post.......
No I think we should resolve this renaming of KA sails. I just looked up KA's range of very fine sails! The "K" is OK but then it goes haywire. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, wartime tactics, animals, religions. KA needs needs a theme. Look at the old Bic range. Musical tempos (I had a Veloce once) and musical genres (Techno, Hard Rock, Calypso etc).
Maybe meteorological terms? ( Unfortunately VW has taken the winds) There's plenty left over. The Kumulus (for ocean sea breezes of course, replaces the Kult), and then you can choose from the Koriolis, the Katabatic, the Kelvin and the von Karman. That'd have to be for the race board sail of course ( or maybe just plain old " K" Or even" K= 0.40" . A universal constant for a sail name - that'd be cool?)
plenty more to choose from
novalynx.com/store/pc/Glossary-of-Meteorological-Terms-C-d11.htm
It's a pity that the modern perception of the word Kamikaze has those " war tactic" connotations as the word actually translates "Divine Wind" or "Spirit Wind' which is something very relevant to windsurfing. Historically it goes back to describing a typhoon which sank Kublai Khans fleet in 1274 saving Japan from the Mongolian invasion.
But you knew that Ian didn't you.....
Select to expand quotemr love said..
But you knew that Ian didn't you.....
No, you learn something on the internet every day....that one's a keeper.
