Slowly looking to renew some of the gear starting with the low wind stuff - big sails. Researching at the options out there I notice lately more more lines change from 7 to 8 battens. Wondering what's your take on that.

Going back to basics i guess more battens, more control on downside more weight?

I think you mean , from 8 to 7.

Oups correct from 8 to 7

Steve former owner of WIndforce is going every bit as fast if not faster on his 7 batten Mach 2 7.8m than on his previous 8 batten Mach1

Lighter guys may find it harder when the wind picks holding on to sails with less battens.

My 8m Hyperglide has 8 battens but is still useless when the wind picks up,so it is down to design as well.

Loft Switchblade from memory has only 6 battens and is still a seriously fast sail.

I think it's to do with the twist up the top .
less battens means easier and quicker twist .
making the sail easier to use ,especially in over powered conditions ,
which is most of the time now days ,we all rig bigger than we use to .

My take on it is weight saving.

more battens generally speaking = more stability. But they've figured out that a sail is plenty stable enough with 7, so why add the weight of an 8th or 9th if it only gains a tiny bit more stability?

how ever this trend has no influenced all sail makers ,Maui sails still remain at 8 & 9 battens.

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Tardy said..
I think it's to do with the twist up the top .
less battens means easier and quicker twist .
making the sail easier to use ,especially in over powered conditions ,
which is most of the time now days ,we all rig bigger than we use to .

Marketing, they have to change something.

Mauisails have over the years had nicest looking twist & that is with the many battens.

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petermac33 said..

My 8m Hyperglide has 8 battens but is still useless when the wind picks up,so it is down to design as well.

Proto Hyperglide? Production Hyperglide (v1) anyway is a 7 batten sail.

What you say is correct though, they are designed for bottom end grunt, not top end.