Aluminum is significantly more flexible and gives more control over sail shape.
The rig allows for better sail shape, and purportedly, quicker speed.
The potential sail shapes are intrinsically linked to the cut of the sail.
'It could be anything from a new sail shape or keel design to gossip about a skipper's sexual preferences.'
A further use of carbon rod is for sail battens to control flutter, or to improve sail shape.
The excess sail is rolled up neatly around the mast out of the way and still I've good a good sail shape.
In your enthusiasm to get afloat in a good breeze, it's easy to forget about getting the right sail shape and the effect can be dreadful.
A cunningham may be rigged on the luff of the mainsail to help control the sail shape.
Older fabrics (especially cotton and low budget synthetic), have the tendency to stretch with wind pressure which results in distorted and consequently inefficient sail shapes.
The Sail bridge as its name suggests is designed to look like a sail shape.