Could anyone with solid knowledge and experience outline the major upgrades or differences between the steps of the Mach 2 > 3 > 4 sails? Especially in sailing characteristics.
There was visibly a large upgrade from Mach 1 to Mach 2. However, after the Mach 2, specs, dimensions and batten layout are very similar in later years, hard to tell the differences.

The 4s are higher aspect with increased luff and decreased chord length in comparison to the 3. Our locals are enjoying the new design.

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John340 said..
The 4s are higher aspect with increased luff and decreased chord length in comparison to the 3. Our locals are enjoying the new design.

Does the higher aspect make a difference to the gybing? Is it more critical to get it right?

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sboardcrazy said..

John340 said..
The 4s are higher aspect with increased luff and decreased chord length in comparison to the 3. Our locals are enjoying the new design.

Does the higher aspect make a difference to the gybing? Is it more critical to get it right?

Don't think so, less boom length helps as well as less swing weight. Maybe there is less acceleration out of the gybe, but that should also help.

I've got some Mach Fours, and still have a Mach One and and a Mach Three. Another local has Mach Fours, and from a few month's sailing them we've come to the conclusion that they feel like they pull from higher up, promoting slightly more upright stance compared to former versions. Disclaimer: this may entirely be in our heads. I haven't noticed any difference on the gybes.
If you like race rigs - dayuuum, are they nice to sail. Very composed under heavy load, but that's seems to have been Mach's design philosophy all along.

The only two sail sizes that are higher aspect buy the numbers are 7.8/8.6, the rest are the same.

020 Mach3 Luff Boom Battens Weight Head Mast
5.0 400 178 7 4.21 FIXED SEVERNE 400/370 RDM
5.5 411 184 7 4.43 FIXED SEVERNE 400 RDM
6.2 433 190 7 4.66 FIXED SEVERNE 430 RDM
7.0 462 200 7 5.18 FIXED SEVERNE 430 SDM
7.8 480 216 7 5.54 FIXED SEVERNE 460 SDM
8.6 508 227 7 5.82 FIXED SEVERNE 490 SDM
9.4 520 240 7 6.08 FIXED SEVERNE 490 SDM

021 Mach4

5.0 400 176 7 4 x RDM 4.25 FIXED SEVERNE
5.5 411 184 7 4 x RDM 4.45 FIXED SEVERNE 400
6.2 433 190 7 4 x RDM 4.65 FIXED SEVERNE 430
7.0 461 202 7 4 x SDM 5.15 FIXED SEVERNE 430
7.8 488 210 7 4 x SDM 5.45 FIXED SEVERNE 460
8.6 518 222 7 4 x SDM 5.75 FIXED SEVERNE 490
9.4 518 240 7 4 x SDM 6.00 FIXED SEVERNE 490

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Magnus8 said..
The only two sail sizes that are higher aspect buy the numbers are 7.8/8.6, the rest are the same.

020 Mach3 Luff Boom Battens Weight Head Mast
5.0 400 178 7 4.21 FIXED SEVERNE 400/370 RDM
5.5 411 184 7 4.43 FIXED SEVERNE 400 RDM
6.2 433 190 7 4.66 FIXED SEVERNE 430 RDM
7.0 462 200 7 5.18 FIXED SEVERNE 430 SDM
7.8 480 216 7 5.54 FIXED SEVERNE 460 SDM
8.6 508 227 7 5.82 FIXED SEVERNE 490 SDM
9.4 520 240 7 6.08 FIXED SEVERNE 490 SDM

021 Mach4

5.0 400 176 7 4 x RDM 4.25 FIXED SEVERNE
5.5 411 184 7 4 x RDM 4.45 FIXED SEVERNE 400
6.2 433 190 7 4 x RDM 4.65 FIXED SEVERNE 430
7.0 461 202 7 4 x SDM 5.15 FIXED SEVERNE 430
7.8 488 210 7 4 x SDM 5.45 FIXED SEVERNE 460
8.6 518 222 7 4 x SDM 5.75 FIXED SEVERNE 490
9.4 518 240 7 4 x SDM 6.00 FIXED SEVERNE 490

I assume the 202 onwards would be higher aspect than the 2017s..?

Four of the sails from 2017 are higher aspect than their 2021 counterparts.

UPGRADES FOR 2017 NEW 9.4 SIZE: Replaces both the 9.2 and 9.7 for a single light wind sail.
8 BATTEN LAYOUT ON ALL SLALOM SIZES: Noticeably lighter, more manageable flex.
HIGHER ASPECT RATIO: Reduced drag, and better gybing.
DROPPED CLEW IS SHORTER: Increased back hand pressure.
NEW SLEEVE CONSTRUCTION: Stiffer, more stable.

Surfaces available (m2):
5.2 406 176
5.7 423 182
6.2 443 189
7.0 460 202
7.8 480 222
8.6 505 229
9.4 532 236

sail Weight (kg):
5 / 5.1 / 5.3 / 5.7 / 6 / 6.3 / 6.6

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Magnus8 said..
Four of the sails from 2017 are higher aspect than their 2021 counterparts.

UPGRADES FOR 2017 NEW 9.4 SIZE: Replaces both the 9.2 and 9.7 for a single light wind sail.
8 BATTEN LAYOUT ON ALL SLALOM SIZES: Noticeably lighter, more manageable flex.
HIGHER ASPECT RATIO: Reduced drag, and better gybing.
DROPPED CLEW IS SHORTER: Increased back hand pressure.
NEW SLEEVE CONSTRUCTION: Stiffer, more stable.

Surfaces available (m2):
5.2 406 176
5.7 423 182
6.2 443 189
7.0 460 202
7.8 480 222
8.6 505 229
9.4 532 236

sail Weight (kg):
5 / 5.1 / 5.3 / 5.7 / 6 / 6.3 / 6.6

I have 5.5m and 5m (2017 ) Mach 2.
7m - 6.2m OD M2..have they changed much?

Having upgraded from a 7.0 M2 to a 7.0 M4...and even though I'm an average sailor...., I can tell the difference. The M4 feels to be a bit more powerful, a bit more stable and has a better bottom end...my 2c worth...

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SRO-417 said..
Could anyone with solid knowledge and experience outline the major upgrades or differences between the steps of the Mach 2 > 3 > 4 sails? Especially in sailing characteristics.
There was visibly a large upgrade from Mach 1 to Mach 2. However, after the Mach 2, specs, dimensions and batten layout are very similar in later years, hard to tell the differences.

yes, substantial and easily visible changes from M1 to M2. from there on, it's been more subtle:

M2 to M3: it is said the change in material gives the sail a softer feel; more substantive is the shaping change that raised the location of the draft; some movement toward higher aspects
M3 to M4: further movement toward higher aspects, as best as i can tell

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Magnus8 said..
The only two sail sizes that are higher aspect buy the numbers are 7.8/8.6, the rest are the same.

luff and boom lengths don't tell the entire story.
if the boom length is the same but the dropped clew is shorter (shorter distance from cross-batten tip to clew grommet), that should be a good indicator of higher aspect. eagle-eyed observers might notice that from M2 to M4, batten lengths have shrunk in the 5-6cm range.

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sboardcrazy said..

I have 5.5m and 5m (2017 ) Mach 2.
7m - 6.2m OD M2..have they changed much?

ODs below 7.0 haven't changed much if at all since M2 gen.
the bigger ones have also gone a bit more high-aspect, but not to the same degree as the Machs

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Trousers said..
I've got some Mach Fours, and still have a Mach One and and a Mach Three. Another local has Mach Fours, and from a few month's sailing them we've come to the conclusion that they feel like they pull from higher up, promoting slightly more upright stance compared to former versions. Disclaimer: this may entirely be in our heads.

not in your heads.
the draft is a bit higher.