Can anyone give advice about vario tops for sails? I'm looking to get some smaller sails and hopefully can use them with the 370 mast that I already have. What is the maximum that you should let the mast out the top? I'm looking at sails with 356 luff (letting out 5.5 inches at top) and another with 344 luff (letting out 10 inches at top - is that too much?)
I wasn't sure if there are considerations when letting the mast out at the top. One interesting thing is that the sails have a low aspect ratio. And another is that they are supposed to be used with slightly harder masts which may work out well since my masts are of the softer variety but being the longer size would be harder, so the IMCS number may end up being correct.
The more mast exposed, the stiffer the rig.
Modern thought is soft responsive rigs.
^^^ Yep
Often its pointless as a 4.0 with a few cm sticking out the top doesn't work as well as a 4.2 setting properly on the same mast.
I say up to 5cm yes, after that its not ideal.
But if you're only just up the planing stage it might be OK if it gets you out those few extra days per year
What others have already said.
What are the sails and mast brand+model?
If they are sails that you want to use only rarely, on a skateboard, or until you get ap proper mast maybe...
What will happen is that the sail twist up top will not go in towards the mast luff but only stay at the end of the leech roach. So the pocket will stay up and the sail will pull.
Similar situation to using a hardtop mast in a fkextop sail. If you have a fkextop mast and want to use a hardtop sail it might actually work a bit better that way.
Thanks for the replies!
The sails might get used a lot going forward. I never thought I'd be using < 4.0 until I followed some experts to an insanely windy location only 15 minutes from my house. It may be that when conditions require the 3.4 that my ability might not be up to that level of wind lunacy, so maybe less that one.
The sails are used sails, both from 2013. I'm hesitant to buy anything too nice, since I'm still improving my skill.
Loftsails Purelip 3.4 luff 344 boom 148
Loftsails Purelip 3.7 luff 354 boom 152
Does anyone know anything about them? I decided to purchase them online but don't have them in my possession yet. I may get a half mast 340 which would give an almost perfect length for the 3.7 and some sticking out on the 3.4. Could always get the other half later.
Good buy for a couple of c-notes.
RDM works much better than SDM.
My SDM 3.9 does feel stiff and nit rangy.
I was in the same boat with access to a frequently blowing 3.0 spot. Just look for a 340 on the used market, they tend to go for less because of the smaller demand. Same with super small sails.
I tried 3.7 in 35-55 knots, just ended up way upwind. We all did, none of us had bought small enough gear!
I always rig my Aerotech Freespeed 5.8 with my 460 mast, let 14 cm out of the top and use 5 cm (min.) extension, works fine, and looks right when rigged, but is supposed to be on a 430 mast.
