sails

[FHH]

to anyone who knows,  
is there a difference between sails for long and short boards? if yes, what is the difference?

thanks

[<sail man>]

Basic difference is that long board sails tend to have more draft and a tighter leech. More low end power to drive a heavy board.
Short board sails tend to be flatter, more twist in the leech. Tend to have less low end, but better top end speed.
I think Mistral one design 7.4 is one of the few long board sails produced today. Most other sails are for short boards

[FHH]

what are the effects of say using longboard sail on a short board? and vice versa?

thks again

[FHH]

what are the effects of say using longboard sail on a short board? and vice versa?

thks again

[<sail man>]

If you use a long board sail on a short board, you get very early planning, but the sail will quickly feel uncomfotable and "backhand" as the board speed increases. This is due to the tight leech not allowing the sail to exhaust/twist.
If you put a short board sail on a race board(a better combination) you will loose some low end drive, but the sail will be comfotable as the speed and wind increases.