sail problem or pilot error?

GURGLETROUSERS · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 2643

Agree Konajoe.

It's a 'willy waving thing' with some folk who rig too big for the wind strength, then downhaul the guts out of the sail to spill the excess just to be able to hang on to it.

I always feel it best to drop a size, and set the correct (intended) downhaul setting so that it will work at its best and sweetest efficiency.

Seems to work for me.

spennie · Joined: 13 Oct 1995 Posts: 975 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

konajoe: Because you can get a greater range out of a given size, that's why. I also have adjustable outhauls on my 4 largest sails as well: 7.8, 7.1, 6.6, & 5.6. Since I'm 6'4" tall and 215 lbs., it takes a bit of "canvas" to get me going. A little extra downhaul makes a big sail more manageable. BTW, I'm talking about a centimeter, here, not two inches.

Go up to Windfest in the Gorge, Bruce Peterson usually gives a rigging demonstration there, you can argue downhaul with him, since that's where I get my information.

konajoe · Joined: 28 Feb 2010 Posts: 517

cgoudie1 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 10:38 pm Post subject:

Greetings, Bruce is the owner, designer, and one of a couple of testers
(and team riders I guess you could call them) for Sailworks. I guess
you could say he's in a high position ;*) . I do not know about his on the ground rigging suggestions(you'll have to take that up with Spennie), but I do know his sails have great range.

-Craig

p.s. I often use less than the minimum recommended downhaul, on my
Northwaves and on my Sailworks sails if the wind goes light. They don't
perform particularly well in gusts, or overpowered like that, but they
seem pretty good for underpowered conditions.

johnl · Joined: 05 Jun 1994 Posts: 1330 Location: Hood River OR

GURGLETROUSERS · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 2643

Gusty conditions present rigging problems for sure! Our local beach is predominantly cross off, or dead offshore gusty blows, often combined with a long distance ground swell and surf.

The usual pattern is for the wind to increase during the day, but drop off quite rapidly later. It makes sail selection difficult, especially if trying to use low volume wave boards. (Most of avoid such - volume being your friend.)

You can either rig bigger (sail) for power in the lulls to avoid being dropped in, and welly on the downhaul to handle the gusts, or rig smaller (as I do) with minimal downhaul. consequently, when (sometimes if) the wind increases those who were max downhauled already are blown off the water, while those who rigged smaller still have downhaul in resrve, and can get properly lit up. The odds are in our favour.

One thing we all agree - we'd gladly settle for the marketing image of ideal conditions, which they'd have us believe are normal!

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

Getting downhaul correct isn't always that easy. Knowing how to measure based on how the sail manufacturer specifies is critical. This also assumes that the mast is the correct length, Maybe a 460 mast is really 458, then your downhaul will be off two cm.

Maui Sails measures from the bottom of the mast (top of the extension collar) to the bottom of the pulleys on the sail. Your extension setting may or may not be correct since it is a guide, so correct measuring requires a tape measure and knowing what your sail manufacturer has specified to measure.

Plus, new sails may not need full downhaul until they stretch and break in a bit. Old sails may need a little more.

spennie · Joined: 13 Oct 1995 Posts: 975 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

konajoe: Bruce Peterson is the owner & chief designer of Sailworks sails, and has many National Championships to his credit, including double wins in slalom & formula just a couple years ago. He sails his designs nearly every day in the gusty Gorge. He has been designing & building his sails for over 20 years, and in my opinion they are one of the best sails you can buy. His credentials are far beyond question! He's also well known as the nicest guy in the business, which definitely has my vote.

I have been sailing for 24 years, was a former Ambassador for Neilpryde sails, and switched to Sailworks after trying a couple about 6 or 7 years ago. I have helped dozens (hundreds?) of intermediate sailors enjoy the sport more by showing them how to rig properly, and have even given small clinics on occasion. Bruce trusted me to rig his demo sails for Windfest when I was in the Gorge for it, and didn't re-rig any of the sails I adjusted.

Bruce could explain to you how your sail is supposed to develop power near the boom, and the head of the sail is mostly for aerodynamics, doing the same job as those little vertical winglets on jetliners wing tips. Twist in sails has long been hailed as one of the greatest breakthroughs in windsurfing, making sails manageable in a much wider wind range. If you don't downhaul your sail enough, it will develop power in the head, making it handle poorly by pitching forward all the time. If you choose to rig your sails that way, fine, that's your choice, but don't try to proclaim it as the only way to rig.

My personal preference is to rig a little bigger than I could get away with so I'm never schlogging, and downhaul a little extra for better twist so I don't get slammed in the gusts. This makes my sails very smooth and easy to hold onto, even in rowdy, gusty conditions, which is why I recommend it to everyone.

BTW, it has nothing to do with being macho.