Load Path Sails

As good as any local loft may be, it's unlikely they could hold a candle to North if they (North) really set their mind ( and they're computer resources to a given sail requirement. Even in my own sail designing magnificance ;-) employ a North designed luff curve as a standard from which to base a sail task. They have/had a facility down at what we used to refer to as Area 51 where they built Americas cup sails in one piece over a computer variable mould, with guys flying up and down in Hanglider rigs applying one single continuous strand over the catenary load paths.
Funny this should come up now, I've just be one re acquainted with the sail designer Dave Russell who's early CAD programming blew the windsurf sail world wide open, he went on to work with the outfit that had patented that catenary load line method and had a huge legal case with North over it. He s now working with my Slingshot as they enter the race for kite racing dominance which will be interesting, since North are the dominant force there, it's a small world at the top end of sail designing, but say what you like about them , North are highly professional at it.

GRF- the "computer variable mould" you mention is part of North's 3DL technology as I understand it. I think they now have a smaller rig they use separately for the dinghy sails?

A 3DL main was used by the B14 that won our recent nationals- shown on the left here

Originally posted by alstorer GRF- the "computer variable mould" you mention is part of North's 3DL technology as I understand it. I think they now have a smaller rig they use separately for the dinghy sails? A 3DL main was used by the B14 that won our recent nationals- shown on the left here

My understanding behind having dacron jibs in these instances is that when you have a large jib which touches the mast during tacks then, laminate jibs tend to delaminate due to the impacts against the mast. Dacron survives this much better. The fireballs and GPs have I believe tended towards the same setup.