11 meter nitro or RS3 ???

[<JW>]

What I'm looking for is unbiased info about the different caracteristics of these two sails. Ease of use, ease of finding the right trim every other weekend. Remember that I'm only a weekend sailor and now and then there is a weekend without wind so that it takes two weeks before I sail again. Therefore I need a sail which gives me the performance with ease.

Furthermore I would like to know whether the sails trim the board up or down, do I need to sail the boom at normal height or extreem high? I like a not so trim sensitive sail (this means trimming of the sail itself and the correct stance on the board), which one is better in this aspect?

Is the sail technical to sail ? I remeber boards that had a 6th gear but that was hard to find unless you sailed it almost every day. Is there a difference like this between the Nitro and  the Pryde?
Remember also that I will sail the sail in less then over overpowered winds. Which one will give me the best performance for that? I can imagene that the 11 meter  is designed to sail in the high end more then in the low end because in these winds the toppers use the bigger sails like 12 or 12.5

It looks as if the most topriders choose Pryde? At the same time I also saw Steve Allen use his RS 2 instead of the new RS3. He is not sponsored by NP? Or is he more used to his older sails? I remeber that Wojtek first used his older sail also only to find out accidently at Florida that the 11 RS3 could give him the first position.

Sailworks would be Ok I guess but no real option because it is not accesible here. North is to expensive overhere so the only two options are the above mentioned. (maybe The Gun is an option too...)

Is an Arrows mast usable in the new RS 3?

[<Stuped>]

Poor Guy ...... Too many techkie questions  ... Just takes the fun out of sailing.

Can someone please help him straigthen him out ???  

[sukhdev]

JW, its unlikely anyone would have thorougly tested both side by side, the best way would be for you to demo both yourself (if possible, though I know thats unlikely). You raise some really good questions (eg most sailors dont use the race sails at the extreme end of their performance range).

I can't comment on the RS3 but we have very thorougly gone through detailed tuning on the nitro 4 for the following sizes: 12, 11, 10.5, 9.8, 9.3, 7.6. If you were in Singapore we would be able to let you demo the 11. All 3 team sailors are very different physical build so we have put together some collective observations - the sails set with a much larger downhaul range than before (ie stay stable when underdownhauled). We have tested them on a variety of masts and are extending that testing (our Ignition masts just arrived yesterday).

Your best bet would be to demo both, failing that, your best bet would be to buy the one for which you can get the most tuning info and help from your local dealer.

Re masts, you have more choices with the Nitro (Ignition, FS, YES, other constant curves). My limited (and dated) experience with the Prydes would be that if you went that route you'd be best sticking with their own masts.

[<JW>]

Sukdev,

Thanks for your answer. It is helpfull.

To stuped,
I know that these sails are both capable of the best performane so i would not go wrong with either one of them. On the other hand they are expensive so gathering all the info there is might just give me the insight choosing which is best for me. Don't worry I have my fun, lot's of it.

Anyone else to give more insight?

JW

[sukhdev]

JW,

you are most welcome. We rigged up today using an Ignition 520 on the 10.5, looks really good, only need time on the water now.

One thing you may want to consider is a GTX, you give up some top end control etc over the Nitro but you gain lighter weight, easier tuning and less mast sensitivity...but in the end .. a Nitro is still a Nitro, nothing quite like it on the water.

[<Stuped>]

Whew, got me stuped for a moment. I would dread for it to be a case of being too heavenly minded to be of earthly use.

Good to hear you're having fun..    

As you correctly pointed out - since you can't go wrong with either one and generally, both price points are similar - you can't go wrong with either. In the end (for the most part), the performance of one's gear lies in the user.

[<Des>]

I don't think the price is similar cos I got quoted nearly $400 more for the Pryde X9 mast compare to Fiberspar or Ignition and the RS3sail was quoted about $300 more than Nitro. Quite a big difference right?