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Wind range
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I was given a 6.6m Koncept ( 2008?) and its my most used sail. I find it very forgiving and manageable but I was wondering about its low wind grunt? I use it in 8- 20kts and it goes great c 15kts + but 10 -15kts doesn't do much. I weigh 63kgs and have a 125ltre freeride board.I only sail in those conditions as I have a long drive to water and I want to make the most of any wind.
I gave someone else a go and he felt it was gutless but he was heavier than me and it was subplaning conditions.
What conditions are they designed to work in and for what ideal body weight?Tweet -
The 2008 Koncept was cut a bit flatter in the leading edge than the Koncepts are now. We have progressively added more seam shaping down low to increase bottom end power without sacrificing top end speed, it is a progression and we modify the sail design every year as we recieve feedback from our customers and as the design team tests and reacts to those tests.
When I gave you the sail I thought it would suit you as you are light and you wouldn't be craving heaps of low end pull like a heavy sailor does. It would be interesting for you to take a newer Koncept for a spin and see what you feel, I think you will notice that it has better bottom end.
You could get a little more shape into the bottom of the sail by sanding the front 300-400 mm of the 3 cam battens. This will give the sail a bit more pull, but there is a limit to how much difference it will make. -
Interesting.Thanks for the sail.
As I said it's my most used sail..
So what sort of wind do you think it should start to work in for my weight?
If I ever get any $ I'll be keen to upgrade although it would still need to be a few years old with my budget.Would a larger Kult have more low down grunt & point better?
I used to rig it with the top 2 panels a bit loose but a guy who used to sail your sails a lot told me to use a lot more downhaul so the top 3 are very floppy. It seems to work great in the top range 18kts + but do I leave it like that and just adjust the outhaul for the lighter stuff or reduce the downhaul as well?
I think you sanded the battens before you gave it to me..
Ok I suppose what I'd like to know is hows the best way to rig it to get lightwind performance + upwind -or is it impossible to get both at the same time..? -
If you rig with a touch less downhaul, top 2 panels loose, it will have more bottom end pull. It is OK like this in marginal conditions but as soon as you are fully powered you will need to pull some more on as it will start to feel heavy. Make sure you have the outhaul loose so the sail is touching the boom, only flatten it when really overpowered.
Koncept will have more grunt than a Kult. If you upgraded even to a 2009 you will notice more power. 2009 was when we started adding more shape in the lower half of the sail. -
So it will still go upwind ok with the outhaul so loose?
I spend the first half hour /hour or so of each sail working upwind to get c 500m above where I start so I can feel 'safe ' to bear off a bit & practise wide carve gybes..I rarely go further off the wind than a beam reach as I never fell I am upwind enough.Maybe the last run of the day .
PS - how does sanding the battens increase bottom end? I thought shorter battens would make the sail less powerful as it would be flatter at the base, less draft.. -
Sue, I meant sanding the thickness in the tips so that the battens flex more at the front. This will allow the sail to have a bit more draft forward. Don,t sand any off the length.
If you have your outhaul really loose it will be hard to go upwind as the lower leach will b e twisting off too much. You do need some possitive outhaul to drive upwind, you want the leach in the bottom 2 panels above the boom reasonably straight as that will generate height. However to get upwind you need power so you can drive off the fin, so don't flatten the sail off too much. It,s a bit of a balancing act, some outhaul to keep the lower leach a bit firm but also lot,s of power to drive off the fin.
This is why it is very hard to go upwind when you are underpowered. -
You said you'd sanded the battens when you gave it to me..Do I need to do more?
Ok Ill fiddle with the outhaul.An adjustable one would prob help.... Thanks. -
Sue, If I said I did then I would have, so no , I doubt you need to touch them again. I have messed around with so many sails, I get into my nutty proffessor zone, hard to keep track.
Yes just play with downhaul and outhaul. Marginal wind back the downhaul off just a bit, will get you going earlier.