Rigging guide
- 1.Unroll the sail starboard side up
2.Set your boom and mast to proper lengths, as indicated on the sail (for adjustible mast and boom)
Slide the mast into the mast pocket.
*Tip: Keep the battens above and below the boom Cut-out close together as your work the sleeve down the mast, it will reduce tension considerably.
3.Set adjustible head to shorttest possible setting, then fit the head cap over the mast top.
4.Downhaul your sail until the leech goes loose 1/4 of the way into the sail body between the top end second batten. This is a good downhaul setting for both strong and light winds. Downhaul should be adjusted only in the most extreme wind conditions- a little more for strong wind, a little to less for ligther wind. Make sure that the tack pulley is within 2-3 cm of the downhaul cleat.
Tip: Always use as little mast extension as possible.
5.Attach boom as desired sailing height.
6.Thread you outhaul and tension to the prescribed length. This should be about 4-8 cm of positive tension from the neutral postion.
Tip: Your boom end should always be within 2 cm of the final outhaul position.
Finally, tension all pattens until all vertical wrinkles on and around the batten pockets disappear.
Note:
Proper batten tension is crcial to the top performance, but it is also important to over-tension battens. An overtightened batten will improve the performance considerably.
Fine tuning
After basic rigging is accomplished, fine tune the sail to suit your particular style.
Using the basic rigging instructions as a starting point, you can now fine tune the sail to fit yourspecific needs. the single most important rigging factor for performance is outhaul tension. you must get the correct amount of outhaul/downhaul on the sail for top performance.
An over- downhauled sail will feel stiff and with less power, it will have a tendency to pitch you backward. Correct downhaul tension will prevent this.
The benefit is once you have the correct downhaul it works an all conditions and you can leave it unchanged.
However, different conditions may require different power settings, which you may adjust with the outhaul.
If you are sailing in light wind, flat water and small chop, try a little less outhaul and downhaul to power up the sail.
If you are sailing in heavy swells or strong winds, or just want to make the sail as manoeuvrable as spossible, and try adding a bit of outhaul.
This will make hte sail more neutral for manoeuvres.
The power of the sail can be changed dreatly by adjusting the outhaul just 2 cm.
Try changing the setting 1 cm at a time, and check out the result on the water.
This is the best way to find the setting that is right for you.
More tips
The most common rigging problem is over downhaul.
It is better to start with a little too less, and then test the sail
wiht gradually more downhaul until you find the setting that is right
for you.
Always re-check and adjust uyour outhaul hwen the downhaul setting is changed.
Use the outhaul to control the draft depth, and overall power in the sail.
Do
not over outhaul your sail in high wind. It is necessary to maintain
depth of foil for draft sability.
An over downhauled sail will feel
twisted and unstable and the leech will flutter to much and wearout
quickly.
A softer than recommended mast will make tha sail more
powerful, and a stifer than reccomended mast will make the sail less
powerful especially in high wind conditions.
A stiffer than
reccomended mast will make the sail more controllable, and a softer than
recommended mast will make the sail more unstable especially in high
wind conditions.
Every sailor has different preferences, so take the
time to try several different downhaul and uothaul settings on the
water.
THIS EXERCISE WILL IMPROVE YOUR SAILING!
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Smaller sail might be equipped with
adjustble heads. Luff lengtha are measured from the tip of the mast to
the bottom edge of the tack fitting.
Adjustible heads shiuld always
be the shortest possible setting for the mast being used. Listed specs
are the starting point for basic rigging, but the final dimensions
should be determined by the on-water performance.
Trouble shooting guide
Problem Solution
If the sail fells top heavy: Add slight downhaul tension and outhaul tension
If wrinkles in the boom area: Add downhual tension or reduce outhaul tension
If the leech is excessively loose and noisy: Reduce downhual tension.
If the leech is tight and not twisting correctly: Add dowmhaul tension.
If the sail feels flat and powerless: Reduce outhaul tension.
If the sail has a lot of back hand pressure: Reduce outhaul tension and/or increase downhaul tension and/or more harmess lines back an the
boom.
If wringles around the batten pockets: Increase batten tension.
If battens are not making an S-sharpe: Increase batten tension.
If the foot of the sail is loose: Increase outhaul, or make sure the tack of the sail is pulled close to the
downhaul cleat.
De-rigging
1. Realease outhaul completely
2. Release downhaul campetely, and remove extension.
3. Detach boom from mast
4.Remove mast from sail.
Tip: Slide the pattens above and below the boom cut - out down the mast, and pull out the mast with a spinning mation.
Roll the sail tightly for storage, starting at the head, all the way down to the tack.
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