Hi
I just sailed my new 2011 Swithchblade 8.5 today. Great sail, it seems very tune-able and stable. I rigged it on a Loft 490 100% SDM.
I have a problem with rigging though, the cams are incredibly hard to get on and off the mast. I followed the normal cammed sail rigging directions. Downhaul off, outhaul on, tried de-tensioning the cam battens. Any ideas? I really can't tell you how hard it is to get the cams on and off. It took me 20 minutes to get them off and de-rig!
I have the cams with large written on them in the sail, to suit SDM is this correct?
Is this something to do with the sail being compatible with both RDM and SDM?
Hey Hovoor Ive rigged the 8.5 yer the cams can be difficult it does get easier as the sail stretches. What can help is if you remove the metal clip that goes over the battern tip. if you take a cam off you will know what i mean.
That allows the cam abit more freedom
.
Are you putting on max downhaul, then max outhaul, then letting off the downhaul till the mast extension is free to wobble around and you can bump it up a notch if needed?
I found that helped, rather than letting off the downhaul before hauling onto the outhaul.
Also are you popping on the cams towards the top of the sail first, then going to the bottom of the sail last?
tbh when done for the day I normally couldn't be bothered taking them off the 'proper' way and so I just let off the downhaul and they popped off the mast by themselves 
Didn't break a batten so that's got to be OK for them hey? 
Hey Hovoor, I have the exact same sail and had the exact same problems. I found it helpful to release some outhaul also. So no downhaul and only a tiny bit of outhaul tension. Start out like this to pop the cams on to the mast, then apply some outhaul before downauling, otherwise the cams will pop back off the mast. I can't rig the sail by following the instructions.
My rigging sequence:
1. Mast up the sleeve
2. 50% downhaul
3. Attach boom
4. Attach adj. outhaul
5. Release downhaul totally
6. Tiny bit of outhaul
7. Pop on cams, top first
8. 50% outhaul
9. 100% downhaul
10. 100% outhaul
And as Vando says, it gets easier after a few sails too...
Thanks for the tips guys I will try them the next time I rig up.
Any other ideas for improving the rotation a bit?
I have only sailed my 8.5 once with an Isonic 135 in about 10-14 knots with a 44 cm fin. I was thinking of going with a longer fin for this setup, 50cm or so maybe?
I am 75 kgs and I think 12 knots is about what I need to get going with this equipment.
With what board, fin and wind speed do you find this sail suitable for?
Cheers
Scott
Scott 48 fin would should be good for your weight with a 8.5.
Rotation will improve with stretching also removing those metal clips will also help.
I have a 7.3 SB on a Loft RDM and the rotation is as easy as it gets. Whilst they do cater for SRM and RDM I think these sails are designed more for the RDM like most of the Loft gear.
