Panelled Sails
Posted: August 24th, 2004, 11:48 am
Hey Guys,
On Catsailor there is a thread about the Tornado class and some sailors at today's Olympics have shown up with "panelled" or cross cut sails rather than tri radial or vertical cut sails. These new panelled sail cuts are thought to be faster than the old tri radial cuts. Also new materials are required with the strength aligned across the panel rather than lengthwise along the panel. Check with David Ladurini about this breakthrough idea.
Did youall know that Supercat factory sails have never been tri radial cut?
Tri radial cut sails came into popularity about 20 years ago because you could do more with colors, make many different colorful patterns. Cross cut sails are superior in sail shape control and they are much smoother, cleaner to the wind. The seams on a cross cut sail are parallel to the airflow across the sail and there are fewer seams in a cross cut sail and the seams are shorter in a cross cut sail. The cross cut sail has every advantage except you can't do as much with colors and patterns as you can in a vertical or tri radial cut sail. If you want to go fast, go cross cut. If you want to look colorful, go tri radial.
Bill
On Catsailor there is a thread about the Tornado class and some sailors at today's Olympics have shown up with "panelled" or cross cut sails rather than tri radial or vertical cut sails. These new panelled sail cuts are thought to be faster than the old tri radial cuts. Also new materials are required with the strength aligned across the panel rather than lengthwise along the panel. Check with David Ladurini about this breakthrough idea.
Did youall know that Supercat factory sails have never been tri radial cut?
Tri radial cut sails came into popularity about 20 years ago because you could do more with colors, make many different colorful patterns. Cross cut sails are superior in sail shape control and they are much smoother, cleaner to the wind. The seams on a cross cut sail are parallel to the airflow across the sail and there are fewer seams in a cross cut sail and the seams are shorter in a cross cut sail. The cross cut sail has every advantage except you can't do as much with colors and patterns as you can in a vertical or tri radial cut sail. If you want to go fast, go cross cut. If you want to look colorful, go tri radial.
Bill