Last week I done back to back sail test in light winds ,I really can't decide which has the better power
a 2 cam sail or a 4 cam sail .
for sure the 4 cam is has better top end but down low was similar .or am I imagining it .?
theoretically more cams mean a more forced aerofoil shape/wingshape which resists backwinding and allows to sheet in tighter and forces the sail even more to become wing-like and generate power via lift as opposed to drag. This is obviously very desireable when you boost the lift further with apparent wind by going fast.
At slow speeds, especially reaching downwind you operate the sail more in drag mode so less cams will be better. In fact going on a dead run downwind course where the sail is in 100% drag mode doesn't even work on cammed sails as they often wanna rotate out of that position whereas vintage sails are so drag-friendly they really like going on slow reaches downwind and actually feel good to use.
Many years ago I was doing a similar test but with cams v non cam.
found it really came down to which sail could be rigged with tightest leach which in most cases was the no cam version. Plus the weight savings in the larger sized no cam and softer shape meant earlier planing and easier pumping onto the plane
however,
as soon as you plane into a lull the cam sail leaves the no cam for dead because it maintains shape.
On Lake George in marginal conditions, my observation and experience is that 4 cam sails are faster than 2 cam and no cam sails of the same size.
Define power.
there's a lot to consider. Does it mean the ability to get going? Does it mean the ability to keep going through a lull? Does it mean max speed on a deep angle? etc
each one will have a different winner.
