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In order for sailmakers to have a good view of how much prebend is good, I'd think they'd have to see the results of a lot of racing. And we're just beginning to get into that.
A factor affecting a few boats is that most have a Kenyon spar while a few have an Offshore spar. They'll have different bending characteristics.
Another variable is that many people sail with a severely raked mast (and droopy booms). A few very competitive sailors do not and sail with their masts more plumb and with the mast butt located in the aft as opposed to the forward position. It may very well be that the optimal prebend can depend on that as well as other things.
For instance, if most of your racing is going to be windward-leeward, there may not be as much advantage to having as much control over draft as when you're racing a triangular course with a lot of reaches.
The advantage of prebend, as I understand it, is that when some exists, it makes it much easier to bend the mast further which would take out belly/draft and flatten the sail. So the sail is cut and sewn with a maximum draft to occur when the mast has that specified amount of prebend. The further the mast is bent from that point with the adjustable backstay, the more draft is taken out of the sail and the flatter it becomes.
Another factor is the effective strength of whoever is working the adjustable backstay and what kind of advantage the existing tackle gives. If someone has a cascade giving an 8:1, that can be a lot different than someone who has a 3:1.
If my understanding of this is wrong, please someone, correct me.
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Prebend -- Jeff H, Vulcan Mermaid, 6.7, Orlando -- 5/12/03 4:47a.m.
Re: Finding answers to how much Prebend -- Bob Pr., S2 6.7 #81 "The TARDIS" Topeka, KS -- 5/12/03 11:28a.m.
I'm not sure about that, Frank -- Bob Pr., S2 6.7 #81 "The TARDIS" Topeka, KS -- 5/12/03 5:19p.m.