Mauisails 2017

I can't see any of the other sailors sponsored by Maui Sails this year, but don't let that put you off the product, particularly if you aren't very heavy!

Let me explain: Early last year in a good 20 to 25 knots Nor' Easter in Botany Bay, I took up an offer from Remi to try his TR16 8.4m rig on my Tabou Manta 75 wide with a 39cm fin. At 75Kg, I was well powered up on my 7.0m freerace rig, and expected to be pulled all over the place with the 8.4, with the accompanying overload of the back foot on a smaller fin than I would normally use with an 8.4 on my board. Well, not a bit of it! The fin gripped in the holes and gusts, and I was astonished with the softness of the rig, combined with all the usual stability you would expect from a pure race sail. The sail pulled in the holes, but seemed to absorb the gusts, so that the rig could be kept still, without the usual 6 foot plus 90Kg plus of righting moment required on the end of the harness lines, for whom most race sail rig flex characteristics are designed. Note that the only 8.5m size sails on the market to use a more flexible 460 instead of a stiffer 490 are the Maui Sails TR and S2 Maui Venom.

I have typically found full race rigs to be fine in flat water, but too stiff in chop or gusty wind for us light weight slalom heads (75Kg and under) to keep really still, and did notice at the World cup in Noumea in 2015 that some of the PWA women were using shorter masts in their race sails wherever they could. I have found freerace rigs are seldom really stable when well over powered, so one has to keep adding downhaul which just makes them gutless and twitchy in the holes.

As a result of my trying the TR 16 8.4 last year, I now have a quiver consisting of a TR17 8.4, TR16 7.7, and a TRXI 6.6. Each rig is far easier on the downhaul than my other branded race sails of the past few years, and quite a bit more flexible. In terms of sail stability, the lower luff tension is I believe counteracted by having nine battens, and I find no discernible difference in stability between the Maui TRs and the other race sails I have used.

I can't speak for heavy weights - I will leave that to others more qualified, but if you are a lighter weight sailor and want full race sail stability with a smooth and flexible rig, particularly in choppy or tricky conditions, give the Maui Sails a go if you get the opportunity. I believe Remi at The Windsurfing Shed does keep a quiver of demo sails available, so that you can do a test for comparison with your current setups.

Finally got the first chance to take my 2016 TR8.4 for a run yesterday. A light to moderate 10-15kt.

Pre-sail I filed back the cam grooves a little which now allows for quite easy rotation. Very enjoyable sail. A bit on the heavy side when sub-planing, but once it gets going, quite light.

This sail is a mathematician! It knows the speed of the gusts, the speed of the lulls, and averages out the two for your constant speed. Had a really long session and was planing for nearly 5 hours straight. My new light wind engine! A deep solid camber and very stable.

It rigs easy. About 1 or 2cm past downhaul spec felt spot on. Ran it with a 2011 Maui hardtop mast, which while not officially ideal still did perfectly fine. Thanks to Remi at thewindsurfingshed.com.au

Are these sails available with RDM cams?