...I quickly generalize...

15+ years ago sailmakers were just discovering the advantages of free upper leeches. Free leeches provide excellent performance in stronger winds. At this time masts were not well controlled regarding stiffnesses and the flexes were generally hard-top which necessitated sail designs that induced free leeches (the cut-away!).

10 years ago the masts began to be better controlled and the designs began to work in harmony with the improved mast flexes.

5 years ago sail design improved to the point that they expanded effective wind range by being responsive to trim; not too full so that the upper end is good when the sail is trimmed flat, and full enough so that the low end is effective when the sail is trimmed soft (full). Also the sail power center has been dropping lower as designs progressed so that the power generated is in a position to be better controlled by the windsurfer. Soft trim will raise the power centerwhich works in light winds, and hard trim will lower the power center- which works in strong winds.

Materials have also improved and allowed the latest rig design improvements to be realized, both for masts and sails.

Certainly this is a simplification of the involved and complicated historical progression, of course there is more to it, but in a few words...

GOOD WINDS!!!

Monty