Hi there

I'm returning to sailboarding and recently got hold of an older, lightly used race sail that requires two external cams. I seem to just have the one cam - a Neil Pryde one - and I'm having no luck looking for a supplier online to get hold of another. I was wondering if anyone could suggest where I may get hold of one. I'm assuming they're no longer used, as cams are now built into sails?

Regards

Paul

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gooddroprob said..
Hi there

I'm returning to sailboarding and recently got hold of an older, lightly used race sail that requires two external cams. I seem to just have the one cam - a Neil Pryde one - and I'm having no luck looking for a supplier online to get hold of another. I was wondering if anyone could suggest where I may get hold of one. I'm assuming they're no longer used, as cams are now built into sails?

Regards

Paul

Rafcam?

where are you Paul?

They were made by Gaastra. I remember that the Tiga Aloha sails had the same cams.

They were also used by Neil Pryde on their RAFCAM sails in the mid 1980s

I have got on old gaastra 6.4 that I was going to take to the tip that I am pretty sure has got that same can on it. Pm me your details and I will send it to you if it's the same. Mine is a single cam sail, only one I have ever seen. Actually it's my ex wife's so even more reason for you to have it

RAFCAM was brought into Australia in mid-late 1989 by Neilpryde. In the first year there was a slalom sail and maybe another model with RAFCAM. The 1989 "RAFCAM Slalom" sail only had one cam at the top of the boom cut out (not two).

The concept of RAFCAM was that by putting on the cam you could get more power out of the sail (the motto was "RAFCAM- power in a snap"). The sails (at least the initial ones) were designed to be used with OR without the cams.

The cams were not essential to the functioning of the sail (like they are in a wide luff sleeve "true" cammed sail). It was an idea to bridge the gap between cammed and RAF (rotating air foil) sails, giving some versatility to a sail by either adding or removing the cam.

If you cannot find the second cam I would not be terribly concerned.

Clarence

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

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waynos said..
I have got on old gaastra 6.4 that I was going to take to the tip that I am pretty sure has got that same can on it. Pm me your details and I will send it to you if it's the same. Mine is a single cam sail, only one I have ever seen. Actually it's my ex wife's so even more reason for you to have it

Hi there

Thanks for the offer of the cam! I had a feeling that I could use the sail without the two, as Clarence mentioned in a post, but I wouldn't mind giving it a go with two. I must send you some money for postage. My name is Paul Spencer and my address is 50 Phillips Street Coburg Vic. 3058. I bought the sail and a race board off a very nice bloke in Sydney. I'm guessing he sailed it with the one cam. I'll end up buying newer sails, but would like to try this one first.

Thanks again.

Paul

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clarence said..
RAFCAM was brought into Australia in mid-late 1989 by Neilpryde. In the first year there was a slalom sail and maybe another model with RAFCAM. The 1989 "RAFCAM Slalom" sail only had one cam at the top of the boom cut out (not two).

The concept of RAFCAM was that by putting on the cam you could get more power out of the sail (the motto was "RAFCAM- power in a snap"). The sails (at least the initial ones) were designed to be used with OR without the cams.

The cams were not essential to the functioning of the sail (like they are in a wide luff sleeve "true" cammed sail). It was an idea to bridge the gap between cammed and RAF (rotating air foil) sails, giving some versatility to a sail by either adding or removing the cam.

If you cannot find the second cam I would not be terribly concerned.

Clarence

Thanks for all that information, Clarence. I stopped sailboarding in the late 80's as cams were becoming popular, I think. That's why I don't know much about them. Anyway, I'll see if I can get hold of 'Waynos', but also try the sail with the one cam.

Regards

Paul

I had a look at the "Moving Target" and "Rigmarole" videos (both about 1990) and they show a few sails with 2x RAFCAMs. The sails with the two RAFCAMs seem to have an awfully big opening between the top and bottom luff sleeves. In this case it is probably worth putting in the one cam that you have- as it may stiffen up the boom cutout on the luff.

Looking at the videos they are showing alloy masts on their race sails. I'd reckon finding a mast that rigs correctly with the sail would be far more important than getting the second cam.

Clarence

This is the gaastra one I have got. Not exact but very similar. If you still want it just let me know.

Hi again

Thanks very much. I will get hold of it, if you don't mind the hassle of posting it? As I mentioned, though, please let me fix you up for postage.

Paul

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clarence said..
I had a look at the "Moving Target" and "Rigmarole" videos (both about 1990) and they show a few sails with 2x RAFCAMs. The sails with the two RAFCAMs seem to have an awfully big opening between the top and bottom luff sleeves. In this case it is probably worth putting in the one cam that you have- as it may stiffen up the boom cutout on the luff.

Looking at the videos they are showing alloy masts on their race sails. I'd reckon finding a mast that rigs correctly with the sail would be far more important than getting the second cam.

Clarence

Hi Clarence

The sail I picked up is a Barracouta race sail, and I believe I have the mast that works with it. I'm guessing that the Sydney sail maker either suggested using Neil Pryde external cams or sold them with the sail. I will buy some new sails, but thought I'd give this one a go as the previous owner rated it.

Thanks again for the info.

Paul