Anyone racing their Nacra 6.0 with a square top main w/no bottom triangle? What is your Portsmouth? Theory has it that there is no oversize main penalty because the effective sail area is the same. The bottom triangle is just relocated up top.

What has been your experience with this sail?

Inquiring mind,
Kris

We have a 5.8 in our group that races with this type of configuration. From my perspective, they are a little faster than the stock boats in light wind (more sail area aloft) and about the same in stronger winds. They still take a portsmouth hit though due to the fact that they are not using a stock mainsail (adjustment factor "MN").

Tim Dry
http://www.catamaranracing.org

I use a sq. top on my 6.0, and if I get another sail, I'll go back to the class sail, my orig. one is trash now, '94 boat.

I've always still used the mod for a non-class legal main., the former sq top adjustmenat one.

that's probably fair - that dang triangle can't offer much down so low in all the fuzzy air. After a year's use the thing's so wrinkly it probably gives you more drag than anything!

The purpose of the lower triangle on the 6.0 sail is not really to add extra sail area, but to keep the air on the sail. Wind on the sail takes the path of least resistance, it will spill over the ends if it can. The triangle makes the sail look longer and keeps the wind on the sail. The real world effect is the 6.0 sail has more power down low where it produces less heeling than say a Hobie 20 sail.

Hi Jake,
That wrinkle is a problem on Nacra 18sqs too.
I assume you will be at Spring Fever, get with me and I will show you how I got rid of it.

OK - but I've got a delima for Spring Fever...two friends of mine (AND friends of my girlfriend) are getting married on the Saturday of Spring Fever...Oh the delima. I'm not sure I am going to make it this year.

Bring 'em - Cap'n Kirk can perform the ceremony, and Honey Baked Ham will cater the reception with 200 of your closest friends. Not sure where the band is coming from this year, though...