One hundred and eleven people responded to the online questionnaire on this website between 19th August 2001 and 15^th December 2001, and the comments are listed below. Three of the respondents were female and 105 were male (3 unrecorded). Ages ranged from 16 to 67 years (average age 38 years). Twenty-five classified themselves as beginners, 57 as intermediates, and 29 as expert sailors.

For earlier comments, please click on the links below:

archive 1

archive 2

archive 3

archive 4

archive 5

archive 6

A warm thank you to everyone who has taken the time and trouble to take part so far! I have added my own comments where appropriate (right-hand column).

• Comments about existing rigs

"Seems to be a large learning curve in the proper uses of traditional sail usage."

"I'm an intermediate windsurfer. I like my current rig (430 fibrespar 3200 mast, NP Zone 5.6 sail and NP boom) but need to get more sails for different conditions as my current rig only suits 14-21 knots
for someone of my (65kg) weight (my gear purchases are currently limited by lack of funds!)."

"Fairly easy, too expensive, look good but used on a sea kayak, need a faster system of reefing and stowing."

"yeah - pretty good big fan of Neil Pryde."

"Cost is right and give good performance."

"Fairly easy to use if on the costly side."

"6 sails is too many. The one I currently use the most is my 7.5! I have often thought about a sail than can be adaptable (i.e. remove sections of the leech or rolls around the mast)."

"Often modern windsurfing sails have an extremely high centre of effort; the transition rig sounds as if it may address this."

"I use mainly Demon windsurfing sails on Nautix carbon masts. The kit is light and well made and will obviously last years. The sail is fairly easy to rig and is comfortable to sail in varying windstrengths. I use my 7.5 up F5 then switch to a 5.9. Last month I was sailing with a 3.3 Gaastra in F8, gusting 9 in Dahab. My kit is at the more expensive end but given its expected lifetime, should be good value."

"Modern windsurf sails are a vast step up from 5-10 years ago in lightness, handling and (least important to me) top speed."

"Excellent with enough challenge so that my windsurfing is not easy; I'd lose interest if it were. Masts and sails are too expensive but modern sails look great."

"Windsurfing rigs are fine, but you do require a quiver of several sails for different wind strengths, and also associated masts, booms etc. This adds to the cost. I think they look good and work well, the new designs have a good wind range."

"Present designs too bulky. Rigging and storing complicated. For every level a different sail, mast boom."

"Easily over powered. Need many sails (windsurfing) to cover a range of conditions and sailing abilities."

"They seem old-fashioned, save some of the newer sail materials."

"I am Danish and have both a dinghy and a sailboat 39 feet. The present rig is difficult to handle when sailing singlehanded. The mast, rigging and sails are very costly."

"Quite good actually."

"Mine work well enough for now. always willing to learn."

"Too limited; much fooling about with standing rigging."

"Masts, simple yet effective. The only possible improvement in windsurfing masts is diameter, the current is too large. Weight is already impressive, does your mast weight under 1.5kg, cos that's what the one I use weighs in at. Sails, windsurfing sails are already using twist principles (esp north/ezzy, which twist without excessive loose leech). Can you use the size in the same windstrengths?"

"Lateen sail rig for kayak, not very efficient."

"OK. I would like cheaper but... I am one who uses only ONE sail for windsurfing -- can't be bothered with decisions of ‘which to use."

"Carbon mast, sails for cross off wave sailing only."

"We learned to use them, but the problems begin when the conditions become rougher. It is difficult to decrease the area of the sails on a dinghy when you are sailing."

"Difficult and clumsy to use."

"Not currently a boat owner. Planning to build a small James Wharram designed out rigger canoe. Crab claw sail rig is the intended design. Tried it once on lake, easy to use and construct, very cheap, looks unusual but 'groovy'."

"Not easy to use. Rigid and difficult to handle, especially in gusty wind."

"They do their jobs."

"Current masted sails are cheap and easy to use, however stepping the mast is a bit of a pain."

"Sails can be complicated if you don't know how they work. Current, or "modern" sails haven't even been around that long, but plenty of people have learned to sail using them. I personally have always thought the cost of boats was a little high, but I grew up on the Chesapeak Bay, so there was never a shortage of boats to sail. I'm inland a bit more now, but we have some lakes around here. I'd like to find a nice, portable sailboat I could take out daysailing."

"Ease of use of current sails is not exactly easy, especially on the large boat my professor has, cost I can't even begin to imagine but I'm sure no matter the cost it's still nothing attractive."

"Bermudan rigs are pretty mature. Cost and ease of use are close to optimal in performance. You are on the right track, there is a parallel between sails and wings... and the foils in the water too."

"A pain in the head, but tried and true."

"Sailworks & Simmer sails, 4.0 thru 7.5. Carbon masts. Ease of use is ok for setup, but can be very difficult for high-performance: tweaking (adjusting downhaul, outhaul, battens, boom position, mast track, etc."

"Gosh, never really thought about it. They're certainly expensive (esp. carbon rigs and molded sails), but other than that I can live with them."

"I enjoy using current systems of masts, sails and rigging and understand them well."

"Cumbersome, but functional."

"I have a 29' junk rigged cruising sailboat. I like the rig very much for it's ease of handling and safety. Appearance is gorgeous. Cost; normal."

"What I grew up with."

"I am annoyed by the necessity for stays and struts. If the 'wing' were "self-stabilizing" under load, such that the aspect-ratio were a function of wind-speed then I think you'd have a brilliant scheme."

"I sail lasers primarily, and therefore find them pretty easy to use/lug around. It does take a bit of time to get everything rigged up properly but is well worth it!"

"Existing masts/sails/rigging can be time consuming to set up and strike, but once learned can easily be done without much thought."

"Tradition has its values, but they are a bit cumbersome."

"I don't really know anything about masts and sails."

"Sailboarder... They're fine as-is."

"Cost and appearance are fine. I have a Laser and I am sorely disappointed with the effort necessary to raise and lower the sail. It requires stepping the mast. I was dumbfounded that my Sailfish (similar to an AMF Sunfish) had a simpler system (large gaff and boom)."

"They are traditional (boringly white) main and headsails that came with the boat. We sail on a reservoir in which the winds are very variable, shifts constantly, and has strong gusts. We really should have multiple sails - from light sails to heavy. Because of the wind variability we find ourselves changing our headsail from a jib to a genoa and back on the same day; and from full main to reefed main."

"Modern fractional rigs are a delight. The progress in technology over the last 15 years is astounding. IOR Masthead rigs suck."

"One often wonders if there has been any serious thought in the past several hundred about sail and mast design."

"Appearance could be worked on but not too showy, is there was some easier way to roll a sail that would be great, and they are quite expensive, but isn't in boating?"

"I have not owned one. Took sailing in college and occasionally rent one."

"I don't own a boat currently but I have sailed. I'm fairly happy with current technology. Reefing provides decent adjustability and it seems like current technology provides near optimized shapes for creating wings."

"Appearance is fine. I have a Saroca, 16' boat with a two-part performance sail."

"Could be lighter, easier to handle and cheaper."

"Nice, but time consuming to set up and expensive."

"Seem to work okay. :-)"

"They suck. I've been sailing on and off for 30 years, started out on a 110-foot gaff-rigged ketch, have sailed gaff, Marconi, lateen, and square in all shapes and sizes. I hate them all; the basic tensioning and adaptability of these rigs is just far more complicated than it needs to be, too rigid and complex. They *separate* you from the wind and what it is doing. Have you ever spent time adjusting and tuning outhaul, downhaul, vang and cunningham to get .25 more mph in light winds? You know what I mean."

"I am the second owner of a kit made dinghy. The boat is very similar to a Wayfarer. The current rig is very easy to use single handed due to some modifications that were made."

"Haven't sailed in over 18 years, so cannot comment"

"Good considering that the technology being used in current mast and sail production lags far behind what should be expected considering the rate of innovation in today’s world."

"Reliable, standardized, expensive."

"I don't own any yet, mainly due to the need for several sizes of equipment for several wind velocities. Considering buying a sheetable kite for it's versatility, but you still need several sizes."

"Great, once, but now that I'm disabled, w/ use of only 1 arm, I realize that sailing will now require special devices. Any ideas?

"They are fine, just boring."

"Like."

"I sail skiff's off the coast of Nova Scotia Canada. For the last two years I've sailed a 29er class skiff produced by byte boats. They are capable of actually exceeding windspeed while headed downwind due to the asymmetrical spinnaker. My current mast is aluminum, with a carbon fiber tip. the aluminum is great because it doesn't flex too much, which allows for a generally stiffer rig for acceleration. the carbon fiber tip will flex when a large puff hits the rig, spilling the top part of the sail, which means that the sailors on board don't have to correct as much, by letting out the sail, which slows the boat down."

"I usually sail Lasers, and they are easy to use. I sail at the parks department, so it's free."

"Only rent, they’re ok."

"I have up to date, modern gear in good condition. I find the sails generally easy to rig with the exception of my 9.3 meter race sail which is a bitch to rig. The carbon masts are very good, being light and strong. The cost of gear is a strain on a modest budget for sure. The appearance of the rigs is quite colorful and attractive in my opinion."

"High quality equipment that is used in the Columbia River gorge, Oregon surf, Maui, and Puget Sound. Easy to use, light, and reasonable cost."

"I've been off the water for quite a while, but recall windsurfer sail technology as making great strides a few years back."

"Existing masts and sails do their job very well. With a little experience and a new set of sails in most classes it is possible to create many useful shapes. Traditional rigs are now being superceded by many interesting variants e.g. America’s cup boats, or the huge wing masts on wind speed record cats."

"Not a whole lot of flexibility there, don't really want to pay for another set of sails for different weather. Appearance doesn't matter as much..."

"Lame, stodgy, and gray are words that come to mind."

"29' cruising boat with conventional sloop rig. Aluminum spars. Jiffy reefing system. 110% & 150% Genoas. Symmetrical masthead spinnaker. This system fine for my type of sailing - short cruises, day sailing, club racing."

"I am a board sailor, and like the fact that the type of sails that I use are efficient, light, and work well. I don't like the fact that I must change sails with changing wind conditions. My limited time on the water is often limited even more by the need to rig a new sail. Thus the appeal of this design."

"Much better than all previous generations of my old ones, but yes - expensive."

"Inflexible - either fast and dangerous or slow and safe. Modern rigs don't easily reef and the rigging gets ever more complex - and easy to trip over when moving around the boat."

"I race one design, I have no real say in what the size, cost and other things are."

"I'm mostly interested in canoes, so a lightweight and easy to pack solution seems essential. Traditional masts and sails do not always provide the simple and small size packing requirements."

"Hey, you know that they cost a lot. In Ct, USA you need to cover 5.0 - 8+. That means two full rigs are required and they don't come cheap. Four and five batten sails are always a drag to rig. We'd all rather be out on the water than sitting rigging/tuning."

"As a racing sailor, appearance is not an issue, performance and ease of use is. CF while very expensive is tough to beat, while extruded aluminium is heavy but more affordable."

"I love to sail, hate stepping masts. I like light boats with huge sail area... hobies, lasers, etc but have very little patience for properly stepping a mast after trailering a boat out to the ocean every day."

"I'm a windsurfer, beginner to intermediate. I think the latest existing windsurfing sails are great, but (de)rigging is a pain in the ar*e."

"Cumbersome, specialty driven for different conditions and when reefing become sub optimal"

"Ease of use: Easier the more you do it. Hard for a beginner. Depending on rigging, can be downright frustrating to fine tune for conditions. Cost: Too expensive for many people. Appearance: Beautiful."

"Well, once I used crutches and a sheet to make a sail with an inflatable rubber raft. It worked well, but you had to hold the crutches, and that became difficult in high winds."

"Expensive, easy to break, beautiful, high-maintenance, difficult to transport and store (always being longer than the boat)."

"Don't currently have a sailboat"

"Main problem is sizing in variable conditions. Rigging time cuts into sailing time; especially when winds are short lived."

"I'm a shoestring (budget) sailor, usually buy used sails and boards, new spars. I am satisfied with what I've got but I'm always looking for a silver bullet which will combine low price, high performance, rig itself, last forever and always look great."

"Generally easy to use, except for the fact that I have seven sails to choose between. Cost is nearly prohibitive for new sails. Appearance is good, Mostly monofilament now. Durable, light, although prone to catastrophic overpowered crashes due probably to too large a fin. Prefer wave sails for ease of use, but race sails are certainly more stable and capable of handling gusts more predictably."

"All used stuff, '92-7 vintage variety of sails 5--7.5 and still going strong if you don't mind taped mylar and so forth. Takes 15 minutes to rig or switch."

"My 10.5 sq/m camber induced sailboard sail is good for a range of winds up to 12 kts then it bends off to leeward and depowers even with a carbon mast."

"Sailboats have always been a warm spot for me. They are so graceful and beautiful in their curves and straight lines, but it takes years of experience to use one proficiently. I personally really like the sails of the Junk boats of China with their wonderfully colored sails."

"Your rig design is a logical progression from what we currently have, but I assume the technology was not available earlier to allow it. Adaptability to changing wind conditions along with ease of use are incredible design aspects. Apply to this an eye for aesthetics, and you have something truly great."

"They all work for me. I select a sail and can rig and be on the water in an acceptable time. I suspect cost is determined primarily by what the market will bear and not by the cost of materials, production, overhead or distribution."

"They suck."

"Not so easy on a kayak. I have used most types, but still come back to the golf umbrella with appropriate wind/direction."

"Windsurfing, Neil Pryde V8 sails (5.5m, 7.0m) 2 piece mast (75% carbon)Good sails very fast, but rigging creases the fabric, causing splits etc."

• Comments about the transition rig idea

"Seems like a revolutionary idea."

"I think it’s fantastic, it seems to be a break through in design, although it's been adapted from nature. Excellent work."

"I like the one-size-fits-all sail idea - no need to switch sails. My concerns about the rig are its weight relative to a conventional rig. Also possible difficulty in waterstarting due to weight/shape and deep luff sleeve filling with water (like a cam sail does). I am also curious how the stretchy fabric performs compared to conventional mylar."

"Interesting"

"Excellent idea, somebody is finally applying science to sails, rather than know-how accumulated by trial and error."

"I am a designer - great concept - not convinced by the graphics on ya site"

"Innovative - the inventor is obviously a keen observer of nature!"

"At last someone has decided to make radical changes to a basic design which has been around for thousands of years."

"Nice concept, but I would question the stability/serious use for intermediate/advanced windsurfers. Good luck though!"

"It sounds a fantastic idea; but what degree of downhaul/outhaul flexibility is there or is that not relevant?"

"An interesting idea. But since starting windsurfing in 1979 I have seen lots of novel ideas that did not come to fruition, or just didn't work when they were actually sold. I haven't read every bit of your website yet, but I'm not sure whether you have a clear objective for your product. Is it meant to be faster, easier to sail, more portable or what. I doubt if you can honestly claim yes to all of those aims. My concerns are the complexity of the joints which in turn suggests that manufacturing costs could be higher than conventional masts. Also, all those joints would be prone to wear on their bearing faces and snapping through side loading and twisting."

"I'm afraid it sounds over-complex. It will be hard to implement in a lightweight yet rigid manner, and hard to shape efficiently. As such I suspect it will do well only in niche applications in which it is impossible to use more than one sail size, probably in sports in which a sail is not the most critical component. Despite this it is a neat idea and I would love to be proved wrong!"

"Good that someone is looking at alternatives to the current rigid masts and sails and the current need for several masts and sails of different sizes to work in a balanced way in different wind strengths."

"I think the idea is good and hope that it works."

"Looks great but would like to surf one how can it handle strong and gusty wind? ?will it react like a free ride? ?what will be the price range / how many sizes are planned /"

Transition rigs will be introduced first for canoes, kayaks, and other small craft where wind-assistance is the main aim. More sophisticated versions for windsurfing and dinghy sailing will follow on. At this stage, it is not possible to give specific answers to your questions, but we will endeavour to keep prices down to encourage more people to take up sailing.

"Brilliant. One sail for general sailing. I can accept that it would not be OK for extreme conditions. But with a young family, extreme conditions, I should be lucky!"

"fantastic"

"Apparently innovative thinking and an attractive new approach. Looks promising."

"very complex"

"as a sailmaker, I have many questions, but I'm willing to listen to reason. but it is still a sail and there are certain aspects of tension and construction which will be extremely challenging. I've built sails for many mast configurations, and have a twenty year experience with this form and its wild variations. teach me why you will make it work."

"Best idea for small, transportable sailing I've yet seen. Should be very versatile and forgiving."

"Please let me know one clear advantage that it offers over current sail/mast combos."

"Interesting concept"

"Cool idea. Would love to try it (and on a canoe). Fear that there may be too much power lost on windsurfer -- there is nothing better than the thrill of being whisked up by catching a nice gust (right before the point of being catapulted about the harness over the top of the mast anyway!!)."

"Brilliant. Read the new scientist article. I'm concerned over weight and flexibility/ load transfer issues posed by the sail set up. It not useful for my interests."

"It is a great idea when it will work."

"Very interesting, but no idea on windward performance."

"The greatest advance in sail design for 200 years"

"Very interesting, how does it perform compared to more traditional rigs? Could it be made double skinned, would this make it a more efficient aerofoil section?"

"It looks like a great idea! I'd love to try one out. What will they cost?"

"If the reaction to changing conditions actually allows smoother and more continuous power output, they will be a dream for low wind days with sharp gusts. If they underperform in consistent wind conditions, well, tried and true will win."

"Cool"

"It looks like a fantastic idea, provided of course that you have some control over the sail's flex - there could be times when you want it fully extended in a bit more wind than usual - everyone likes to walk on the edge sometimes."

"Very interesting, half of the trouble with sailing is storage, and the other half is manipulating the sail to get where you want."

"very interesting but difficult to see what the advantage is for cost, ease of use, or performance."

"I like it"

"Lots of questions need answering: strength, center of effort movement, efficiency, pointing....?"

"looks interesting, concerns would be durability (wave sailing?) and materials (can the sail be all mylar rather than mostly opaque- what would this do to folding ability?) Also, what about performance? is this just for beginners? how does the mast handle in high wind (25+ kts)?

"In the multihull world (I sail an F-27) the square-top mainsail has become quite popular over the last few years. It seems to be at least a partial proof-of-concept of your idea in that it provides lots of power in light air and less when it blows. It looks to me as if your idea takes that a step further. I think it's extremely interesting."

"It's a very interesting idea and I'd like to know more about it."

"I'm astounded that it hasn't always been done this way. Your design looks like something out of Da Vinci's scrapbook, just rotated 90 degrees. A brilliant flash of insight!"

"I am always fascinated by new technology. You have a very interesting idea there. I wish you luck with it. I will be interested to see how it develops."

"Great Idea. the question is does it adjust automatically or does it require some manual approach? Like an outhaul."

"potentially VERY interesting, if the rods/tubes were made of some light flexible polycarbonate. Note also the current NASA research on "intelligent fabrics". If you could get them interested in a fabric which could changes its 'stretch' on demand, you'd have an absolute winner."

"I think that it looks really interesting, hopefully you will be showing it in Ontario Canada next spring/summer and let a few people try it out. I am going to be buying my own rig next year..."

"I think the transition rig idea is extremely interesting! I would love to see something like this in action, and on more types of craft than are showed in the pictures (they seem to be primarily ultra small craft that use the pilot for control... eg windsurfers, and dinghies)."

"I like the compact folding. Performance on a small dinghy is not as important as a sailboard. Would like to be able to rig from deck of larger boat or from the dinghy itself, not from land."

"Actually, I found the link over www.slashdot.org, and I find that your design to be intriguing. I really enjoy finding out about new advances in design and technology especially when they have a fusion with nature."

"I wonder whether you'll be able to get the performance out of this rigging. Plus, I would still have to remove the sail from my mast unless I buy one for each sail - most people have 3-4 sails for wind conditions."

"Awesome."

"Fascinating. The idea of having a sail which can handle variable winds without changing the sails would make sailing a greater pleasure; not to mention the possibility of outsailing the rest of the fleet."

"Neat idea. It *looks* like an extension of the junk rig. I don't quite understand the geometry. How does the sail flatten in increased windspeeds?"

"Very interesting. Thoughtful."

"Excellent idea.....reminds me of windsurfing...it is different looking...but I'm interested in what makes this sail better than the 'traditional' ones. Faster, better performance, easier, and who would use it?"

"Love it... appeals to my belief that we must be more in tune with nature instead of fighting it every time we turn around."

"I think it looks really cool. Anything that makes a boat quicker to setup and break down is good! It makes it easier to go for a sail at lunch or something. What concerns me is whether this design would provide the "wing" effect creating negative pressure in front of the sail instead of only acting as a wind trap. Maybe you address that on the page and I missed it."

"I like the adjustability to wind conditions. I'm not an expert sailor, and the location I sail (off Cape Cod) has rather variable winds. I also like the ability to fold up easily. Since we moor the boat right off the beach, assembling the rig has to be done every time we go sailing, and it's done in the water or on the beach."

"Very interesting. Doubtful in a gale."

"interesting!"

"Interesting, I'd have to see it work. I mean it makes sense but whether it is just easier, or whether it is more efficient is the question on my mind. Keeping in mind I want speed."

"I read a lot of science fiction, and have *always* felt that the inherent conservatism of sailors and nautical engineers has retarded development of new approaches to such ancient tech."

"It looks like a very interesting concept. I would be interested in trying one to see how it performs. I don't think this rig would work well in my boat as a single contact point for the mast would not be strong enough for the amount of sail needed on my boat."

"I like the concept and I saw your description of other sail rigs. However, one thing I did not see was a description of the efficiency of this type of 'wing'. How does the sail perform compared to a similar sized Bermuda rig or Una rig? Speed/weight ratio? aerodynamic efficiency?"

"They look really cool -- will they be easier to use?"

"I would love to see this technology in use. Maybe there is still people willing to push the limits of a field that has had little in the way of completely new ideas in sailboats."

"interesting. I'd be interested in seeing the price on one of these rigs, and the reliability in high winds. Plus, does flying a sail such as the proposed mean no spinnaker??"

"Very cool - it looks to me like you can automatically dump power, and use the same sail with some adjustments for a variety of conditions."

"I've never used any of your masts/sails, I was told about the Transition Rig idea. The only thing I could find about it was the picture. I don't understand how it is supposed to adapt to changing wind conditions by itself (unless it has an active device within). I think you should look for simplicity and performance, the second one been the most important."

"looks good. update me when it is really available"

"Looks cool and I could mount it on my canoe."

"It looks interesting, I’m very attracted to copying designs from nature."

"really like maybe"

"Very interesting - Looks like it would simplify sailing"

"I find the idea of a transition rig interesting, but I would be cautious. I question how well the joints would be able to stand up to the forces a 25 knot breeze, while being sailed by experienced skipper and crew, who are more likely to put stress on the rig in favor of greater speeds. also, what about a jib and spinnaker? how would these work with the transition rig? is this only for cat-rigged boats and the like? are they as efficient in all types of breeze?"

"I think it's flaming awesome."

"interesting. The practical issues, ie how well it works, are more important than where you got the idea from. Please put up a page, on your web site, showing how your sail would work for a water start for wind-surfing."

"If the rig makes sailing easier, more fun and or cheaper, this is a good thing. It looks like it has potential. What would interest me would be sailing reports from good sailors. Cheers to you for your innovation, determination and spirit!"

"Looks like it would be suitable for Lake sailing in the 6 meter to 9 meter range. I go not think it would hold up in the gorge or surf in 3 to 5 meter sail sizes. But testing will provide the real answer."

"I think it's a fantastic idea - partly because I'm very fond of bats, and partly because I'm aware of their aerodynamic efficiency. It makes excellent sense to me."

"I would be afraid that the rig would be too complex and fragile for anything more than a very small craft in light airs. The idea is intriguing though."

"Personally I think it is a good idea and may even eventually replace the need to have many different sails on ocean racing boats. The picture on the home page of the rig on a mirror looks interesting. What about head sails? Have you developed a similar headsail because this is an important part of steering most dinghies for example on a busy start line the best way to luff quickly is to release the jib, especially in light winds. I think the transition rig will be better accepted on new classes and sailboards, the problem will come with one designs and rules!"

"Looks really cool!"

"sheer, unmitigated genius. of course, i feel almost redundant when i point out that the transition rig looks more badass than the law probably allows."

"May be good in extremely variable conditions such as lake and small bay sailboarding where surrounding hills cause big wind shifts and velocity changes. Not something I would go for in large bay and ocean sailing."

"The idea seems to have quite a bit of potential. My interest is in easy handling dinghy or sea kayak rigs, and this may well fit the bill."

"I've done zero sailing in my life...but this idea is so cool that it might tempt me to start..."

"Conceptually, the idea seems great for my type of application. If it would reduce the number of sails in my quiver, I would be ecstatic."

"How heavy and unwieldy is it overall? Will it plane as easily?"

"I'd like to see some comparative tests. But its a neat idea! Good one. There's lots to be learnt from structures which have evolved in nature."

"I like the Idea, but why re-invent the wheel. It's still just a stick in the air that holds sail. In recent years there have been many great advancements in hull design, but very few have radically changed the sport. Take the viper 640 for example. It is superior to the j24 by ten fold, but the j24 still has a superior world class fleet with better racing. I think progress is good, but I just don't know how something like this will adapt to current sail racing."

"Cute! "

"Sounds good, but it looks like the CP is aft of a more traditional sail. This may work okay with the newer, wider boards that have more volume aft. What is your experience so far? Also, there isn't much head to twist off in gusts. Are you relying on the sailor's reaction to gusts to fold the rig? That could be a little slow."

"Interesting, good application for wind surfer or smaller boat, need to see how it could be applied to larger boats."

"elegant. As an engineer, I immediately have a thousand questions about its stiffness in the various axes, its longevity, etc, but I'll wait and see when you get it finished."

"If you can keep most of or all of the performance factor of modern windsurfing sails, and remove some (or all!) of the hassle of (de)rigging, then you're onto a winner. Or, if there is a performance reduction, then offering the advantage of easy (de)rigging to the beginner windsurfing market would be fantastic - once experienced, sailors could move onto normal windsurf sails (in this scenario)."

"Interesting"

"Very interesting, especially if fast and durable."

"It makes sense, and I hope that you will prosper from it."

"Fantastic. It's about time we had some true innovation for sailing."

"Sounds interesting."

"Great idea but concerned about draft stability."

"It sounds interesting, I was expecting something on the order of the Multi-sail not a self-adjusting rig."

"Interesting, although it always seemed to me that the sail profile should be as clean as possible -- the Transition Rig looks like it might suffer from drag."

"Main question: does the sail shape stay efficient as the area expands or contracts? It would be nice if it does and was truly able to shrink/expand at the user's need. To this end, perhaps needs to have tension settings, like on ski bindings for example to enable it to shrink only at a reduced rate for those who truly desire the overpowered experience."

"Must be mechanically reliable and lightweight while presenting the best possible airfoil over a wide range of wind speeds."

"At first glance it appears to complex to be reliable. With variable geometry you will at some point be carrying material that is not used being efficiently. Not a plus in my book. I want a sail that is stable, simple and reliable."

"dumb"

"Could be the answer to my long distance kayaking."

"It appears the sail gets fuller as the mast bends and the wind increases. A full sail is the last you want in a strong wind. I may be wrong but that is what I see."

The transition rig is different in having a jointed mast and elastic sail cloth. You are right in suggesting that the 'fullness' (depth of the aerofoil curve) of the sail will tend to increase in a stronger wind - this will happen anyway because of the elasticity of the cloth which allows the sail to bag out under pressure. The trick is to keep this change under control and in the right places. And you are right to say that this is not ideal in a stronger wind, since a flatter aerofoil will give a better top speed under these conditions.

The difference is this - in the case of the transition rig the elastic sail membrane is held taut by the tensioning applied to the mast to hold it extended, plus the outhaul tension at the clew end of the boom, the downhaul tension at the foot of the mast, and the chord-wise tension of the cloth as it is pulled out along the battens. The result is a tight membrane rather like a drum-skin. When the mast flexes, either in response to the shift in bodyweight when windsurfing in stronger winds, or by changing a control in the dinghy, the sail has to change shape too. However, since the whole membrane is elastic and tensioned, a change in tension in one dimension can be at least partially compensated for by changes in tension in other directions. There is however a limit to how effective this compensation can be, and this is mainly determined by the qualities of the cloth and the geometry of all the joints as they move in relation to each other. Thus, on the prototypes at the moment the range of effective positions is smaller than I would wish, but I am sure we can improve on this with time. I wish we could do what the bat does, and that is to embed muscle fibres in the membrane to take up the slack where most needed - an active membrane.

So in principle you are absolutely correct, but the transition rig behaves a bit differently from what you might first expect given experience with normal rigs. It's all to do with resilient structures - nature seems to use them very successfully but we are still having to learn how they work. They have to be rubbery in the right ways, and not flop around all over the place. I have plenty of failed prototypes that do the latter, but gradually they are improving.

• Would you consider buying a transition rig?

"yes" (x 13)

"Very much."

"Definitely"

"I would certainly like to try one and could be tempted to buy one (except that I don't have much money right now!). I would be really interested to know how more experienced sailors have found it for carve gybing etc. Have you had any "tryout" sessions with a range of sailors?"

"Yes. Depends, of course, on price and ease of adaptation to my use"

"yep - gimme time and a demo"

"Yes, if proven to be durable and of equiv. performance."

"If I sailed boats I may be but as I am a windsurfer I feel the rig could be a bit too cumbersome but I would be interested to see the finished design and how it will perform against current sail design, eg upwind and speed across the wind."

"Not until I've seen some pictures of someone blasting along on a wide-style board using it, and also on a shorter slalom board."

"Certainly if the performance was better and the price not significantly different"

"I would want to be able to test it in F4 - F6 winds first, and would then wait a year to hear about their reliability and robustness. But I wish you luck."

"Not for windsurfing. For this application efficiency and light weight are more important than adjustability; over the timescale of a surfing session the wind does not usually change that much."

"Yes, after trying one or more Transitions Rigs in a range of wind and sea conditions."

"I would be tempted by one of your rigs, depending upon how well it works and the wind range that it could cope with i.e. how many traditional sails would it replace? Also the usual bugbear – price"

"Yes. If light enough and enough power in light winds to still have fun."

"Absolutely. I have for many years been looking for an alternative rig. My choice until now was the Canadian Non-such boat or the like."

"Sorry, not yet as many many years of evolutionary development will be required before they match the performance of the current crop of fixed windsurfing foils."

"send me one tomorrow."

"if the same size rig could be used in the same windstrengths as current windsurfing rigs then yes. please don't waste your time on this, I can't believe you've spent thousands on getting a patent for it. what possible commercial use do you think it has? if you want to see innovation in sails then have a look at www.demonsails.co.uk they're doing really impressive stuff with materials, to cut down the weight of the sail without reducing any other factors"

"yes if adaptable to canoe/kayak or small dinghy"

"Very tempted!"

"may be for a small land craft"

"what about the costs?"

"Yes, I am trying to put a sailing rig on a 16 ft square stern fiberglass canoe with inbuilt daggerboard. 15'10: x 43" beam x 90 #"

"Yes, but only for a land based system"

"yes. Cost and maintenance are prime considerations though. what is availability of different sized rigs?"

"absolutely! But what is the cost?"

"I would need to do some serious demo time. Much like when sailboards came out and the manufacturers would do week long demo sessions with lessons to interested parties."

"I would be temped to buy anything affordable that I could use on the lakes in this area."

"For a first boat I don't see why not, assuming it fulfills the intended design of easing sail use and reducing storage complexity/difficulty."

"if there were a performance advantage of some kind, vs. cost of existing rigs."

"later"

"one advantage i can see is it's rigging time, so if you can make a product that can be taken out of the bag and stuck to a board and be ready to sail, then certainly 'yes' (for beginners). also, the wind speed versatility is another consideration. if the loss of performance compared to a perfectly tweaked traditional sail at a certain windspeed is less value than the benefit of not having to re-rig when the windspeed changes +/- 7 knots then another 'yes' (i know this is hard to quantify but i think you get the idea)."

"Do you have plans for a high-performance boat, either a planing dingy or a small catamaran? That might be interesting."
"I would buy such a rig to try out on a small sailing dinghy."

"Yes! Hell, I'd buy one just for style points. It has benefits too? Woohoo!"

"If I were in the market for a new boat, I would be tempted, yes."

"very much so. It also gives me ideas for ultra-light aircraft."

"Yes, but only after trying it out a couple of times of course. The only thing I would be concerned about is high wind sailing and mast stiffness."

"If the transition rig was available on a catamaran (my primary sailing preference) I would be EXTREMELY tempted to buy a transition rigged craft."

"Would be interested for a sailing dinghy to use from my 38' sailboat."

"Perhaps, but first I would need to learn how to sail."

"I would have to see it in operation in high wind conditions to know."

"Absolutely."

"Yes - assuming the cost is reasonable."

"If it gives better performance than a fractional rig, which I doubt."

"Indeed, I think I would like to one day"

"I would! (but I would want to see specs...like strength of material, and also more mention of how the sail affects the ride... seems like it will be smoother, but how efficient is it? I guess what I'm looking for are plots [wind speed -VS- speed of craft]"

"Hell yeah!"

"Depends on the price, and I'd like some idea of the relative performance."

"For a small boat, yes"

"You bet. Depends on how it performs in racing configs. And does it scale (what about bigger boats, like 25' up)?"

"Yes. It would depend on cost, performance and usability."

"I would, if it were something that were better than what is out there -- I don't know how practical it is, but it looks really revolutionary. could you include "muscle wire" and let it be controlled by buttons as well as ropes? A solar panel could keep a battery charged -- maybe not on windsurfing board but could let one person control a larger craft more easily?"

"Ohhhhhh yeah.... give me more info"

"I'd have to try one out first."

"Yup! Sign me up! The main reason I've been avoiding buying equipment is because of the need for a whole rack of sails."

"Currently I race in more than 4 categories in Argentina, the main reason to buy such a Rig will be performance."

"if price is minimal, yes"

"Yes if it is available as a kit for around $500 for a canoe or small boat."

"Yes, definitely, I’m just concerned about jury-rigging a sail in case of damage, or having to buy one or have one made in some obscure part of the world"

"Yes - small sailboat or cat, not board"

"yes, but must be strong (enough), durable, and offer a good value compared to buying more than 1 sail. Also, what are maintenance issues going to be?"

"Only when I think that they are some advantage over what I now have."

"I would have to see it sail before I would buy. I see it of use in conditions where the sail size would change more than 1.5 meters since one can easily sail a meter overpowered with today’s equipment."

"Definitely, should I return to the water."

"Yes if only to see its tunability etc"

"For a windsurfer, without a doubt."

"hell yes. sign me up for two. wait. make that THREE"

"Probably not. It sounds too expensive and complicated for me."

"As with many others, Yes, depending on price and performance. Unfortunate fact of life, while many of us would love to fund the development of a good idea such as this, if it can't meet immediate needs, it unfortunately won't sell. Hope it works out for you ( and those of us who are potential buyers ;^)"

"...please put me on an email list so I'll at least know it's out there!"

"I certainly would if I could go from 4 to 1 sails for board sailing."

"Need more info; if it really works well, yes."

"I'd need more info before committing. You also need to think about the marketing. If it’s an improvement then you need to link it to a class of boat. At present one-design rules would prevent many people from fitting it."

"I would if the rest of the world did."

"sure, for a reasonable price and a well workable version for a canoe..."

"Sure, if I had the money and it was well proven. I won't buy the first one!"

"For wind surfing, maybe..."

"Yes. I'd probably want to see one first hand before I'm totally convinced (i.e. take it to trade shows...) but I am interested."

"Definitely, for windsurfing, if it offered some advantage over current sails - i.e. easy (de)rigging for comparable price/performance to other sails/rigs, or if performance took a hit, then perhaps slightly cheaper."

"Depends on shown goodness in larger implementations. Full size sailboats, 30 to 50' "

"Yes, if proven effective and affordable."

"currently no, I am not in the market for one yet. I would be interested in purchasing plans, or a kit."

"Definitely tempted to try sailing using one. Depending on cost etc... I think it could make a big difference in sailing pleasure. I would be interested in reviews of the product by independent sailors."

"Only after it has proven to be equal or superior to the performance of a conventional windsurf sail."

"If the price were attractive. I wouldn't be the first on my block, especially as I usually buy used stuff."

"If it worked I would buy it. Theoretically, if the sail were under power and then one were to launch off the lip of a wave the sail might expand and act as a larger wing surface while in flight?"

"for now, pretty content with learning the old slow way. By the time I'm ready, and it is common place to look like a flitting bat as one leaps insanely from crest to crest in a variable 25-50 miles wind gust situation, sure, I will probably jump on the band wagon."

"Yes, I need to get a hands on feel for its potential first."

"Oh yea. You bet."

"Not until I saw them being widely used in Gorge conditions."

"nope - i prefer using a kite"

"mmmmm ! lets see the demo on a kayak. Let me know when the kayak version is finished, with a report. You know the way it is, everybody has the answer and I have tried all of them."

"It would have to come down to cost vs performance. Speed is very important to windsurfers, if it works well, but is slower than traditional rig, then no. Trialling/demonstrations will be an important part of the marketing"