Hey there everyone! I'm pretty new to the sport of windsurfing, and I recently came into possession of 3 racing sails made by Cape sail. (I'm sorry I don't have a camera on me right now, otherwise I'd post pictures, I'll try to describe my issue as much as possible.)

The sails all have Cams, and i just wanted to have an opinion on if my rigging is somewhere near correct. when I'm sliding the mast up the luff sleeve, the cams are disengaged, I secure the boom and tighten the out haul, then attach the mast extension to the mast and tighten the down haul. Once that's all said and done, I go back up the Leech and tighten down all the cams. at this point the sail regardless of wind speed or direction has a shape to it like it's filling with wind begin held by the cams. is this normal behavior?

and as a last question, If i were to take the cams out, would the sail be useable as a cam-less sail?

Thank you for taking the time to look at this everyone, and I apologize again for the lack of photos or an insufficient explanation. Any help you could offer me is greatly appreciate!

-A

you should downhaul before outhaul, then release downhaul for an easy fitting of the cams.

never heard of cape sails before though so can't help you much..

Yes, sails with cams have shape because that is what the cams are for. I don't think removing the cams is a good idea, no-cams sails are built differently, with longer battens and narrower luff sleeve.
Also Sheanhogan forgot to add that after releasing some of the downhaul and fitting the cams, you need to re-apply downhaul to the correct setting, and lastly check the outhaul again. Make sure to give it enough downhaul, at least what is printed on the sail, most beginners don't pull it enough and the sail becomes hard to manage.

You can not use a cambered sail without cams ( unless it is one of the very few convertible sails with traditional luff pocket widths.
Outhul dowhaul as explained but for general sailing/ learning and developing your skills i would stay clear of any cammed sail.
they were all the rage many years ago but these days a good soft sail has only a few knots less speed and farrrrrrr! better ease of use, especially if you are new to the sport.
But for free, might as well give them a go.
cheers

Cammed sails are great to sail with but you need some experience with uncammed sails first.
You cannot take the cams out of these sails and expect them to work.
and yes, the camber induced by the "cams" (camber inducers) is what they are for!

Rigging method - apply half downhaul, put on boom and apply outhaul, snap on cams, finish downhaul, check outhaul.

Cammed sails will be more effort to uphaul & waterstart so harder for learning but they are more stable so once you get up & going they handle a bigger wind range.. Make sure you use heaps of downhaul!

Alex, if you're new to the sport and need to ask these questions I honestly think you're wasting your time with them, they'll be a pain ITA Although I've never heard of Cape Racing Sails

Do yourself a favour and get a no cam sail or a 2 or 3 cam freeride, make sure it's one that takes a constant curve mast, makes life easier

And welcome to the sport