Olympic technology transposed

North Sails One Design division open a new loft where one project is a new Enterprise sail, reports Gerald New

Latest North Sails radial cut Enterprise sails

The new Enterprise sail project is part of North's tie-in with Jim Hunt at Purple Sails, who are agents for the class' North-produced sails, and provide the hands-on circuit development feedback. North already had a successful cross-cut sail for the Enterprise (used by Paul Hobson to win the Worlds in 1996) but wanted to move forward, using their (expensively) acquired development data and modern sail production techniques.

Taking moulds produced for the Tornado jib and the 470 main during the Olympic programme, they have produced a suit of radial cut Enterprise sails, that incorporate shape and construction found, in testing, to have a significant performance gain. The sails are optimised for the most common Enterprise mast choice, Proctor/Selden and Super Spar, and Hobson will produce a dedicated tuning sheet but does not feel that there will be much difference to the existing setup.

The radial cut pattern required to produce the mould shape and maintain that shape through the wind range, is produced by the computer from the mould layout. The computer programme transfers the required shape to the finished sail via minute variation in panel sizes bearing in mind economic and practical assembly requirements. Material is then laser cut at the Fareham loft and delivered to the one in Gosport for assembly and finishing.

During testing another tool is available to the team, SailScan. This allows digital photos of the set sails to be computer analysed and produces curves that can then be compared with the mould figures to ensure that design parameters are correct. Using this programme sails can be compared without it being necessary to measure or deconstruct a sail.

Will all this technology produce a better ie faster sail for the Enterprise?

We shall have to wait until the Worlds in Goa early in 2002 to see, but expect to see Nick Craig, who has just been issued with a sail number for his new boat, attracting a lot of interest when he hoists the latest North Radial Enterprise sails.

North Sails Enterprise radial cut jib