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The KA Formula has finally come of age.
Stability : Power : Speed : Rotation : Top End : Bottom end : Usability
The 2008 Formula has it all. It has been a long time coming but we got there this year. All feedback has been super positive, read these comments from our tester Steve Charles:
- 8 Dec 2008: Had a couple of races today which I easily won with 9.8. There was a guy who has a RS 6 9.8 who was just behind me. I accelerated away from him like he was standing still. What I am noticing with these sails are when you tack the sail goes around quicker than any sail I have had (short boom length, I dunno). Then a couple of pumps and you are planning instantly. They are definitely really powerful. Dave (Morehead) said today they are the best Formula sails he has seen. He also said they look more like a slalom sails, which is funny because that's how they felt the first time I used them.
- 6 Dec 2008: Just got back from an insane sail with the 11.6. It wasn't too windy when I first went out but by the time I got in, really windy. The 11.6 can handle some seriously windy conditions. It was flying, I am super impressed with how well it was going. Probably ideal from 8-16 knots, around 12-14 knots felt really good.
- 25 Nov: Had a fantastic sail on the 9.8 today. Well powered up in a solid 20 knot sea breeze. First time I used the KA 520 mast and the only the second time on the 9.8. Felt I had the downhaul perfect, on 536cm. Sail was extremely good, I was really hammering along going super quick. Sail is very responsive and had heaps of power. Never felt over powered and would have loved another 5- 10 knots. Cambers go around every time without having to kick the bottom one. Also easy to pop cams on when rigging up.
- 30 Oct: I have had about 10 hours sailing time on the
10.7 and it super responsive. I think the shorter boom
makes a big difference, I can really work it up and
down wind. I had it out on Sat with some really strong
25 knot gusts coming through and it handled it very
well. Overall it seems to be pointing very high and
going really fast.
What's New: (Other than a full re-design...)
- New material selection incorporating new graduated Monofilm, Solid X-Ply and luff pocket material.
- Added Kevlar leech strip and enhanced mini battens
- 90 degree turn on downhaul pulley
- Boom height slot modifications
- New mast foot pad
Design: A word from Amac
There is no doubt that the Formula is technically the hardest sail to get right. It really pushes a designer: there is a massive list of parameters that have to be got right and to work together.
Martin Love (the guy who also does all the graphics for the sails) also worked really hard to work through the issues with the 2007 sail, get re-cuts done and play with various camber inducers. Without this we would not have got there.
There was also a change in our philosophy this year that got us across the line: depend more on what we learnt from the Koncept rather than being caught up in what others were doing with the Formula. It worked and now we have a sail that is a massive leap forward and may be the best Formula sail to had. Time will tell.
The design goals:
- Even twist - when unloaded, experience shows there should be no sudden deviations in the line of the leach
- Lightly loaded luff sock. Moving the downhaul load from the sock to the body of the sail improves rotation and gives better downhaul range.
- Lighter feel. Not that rip-your-arms-off style that is favored by some, but a sail that that naturally accelerates in the gusts and when you pump.
- Power where you need it/when you need it. Experience with the Koncept showed us how to match the the stiffness of the carbon tubes to the sail shaping. This locks the power right where you can most effectively use it.
- Keep the power stable for all outhaul settings. Again, experience with the Koncept showed us how to do this, now you can power up in gusty conditions without fear of getting unstuck due to shifting sail balance.
