You may never really know how a sail should feel until you actually sail one. I don’t mean a “Sail” I mean a “RIG”. The Rig is what gives you that feeling of effortless performance-The way the mast works in the sail and how it lets the material flex are a HUGE key to getting it right. You can buy the best sail in the world and if you put it on a mast that isn’t specifically designed for your sail, you are compromising your performance.

No matter what kind of sail I am using, race, wave, or freeride, I look for similar characteristics in each. I like to be able to sail comfortable with that light feel in my hands. I don’t want a sail that is pulling me up and down and all over the place.

Here are some tips to getting it right.

The first is downhaul settings. I would suggest getting a tape measure and learning what those little numbers mean that are printed at the bottom of your sail. There is usually a number in centimeters that should tell you how far down you need to pull your sail from the bottom of the mast- hook your tape over the collar of your base and measure to the bottom of your pulley- that gets you in the ballpark. If you are a lighter sailor, you may want more downhaul to get rid of some of that pull- it will give you a little less power because less of the sail is working to produce power, rather giving you a more exhausting effect. For the bigger guy, he may prefer to have a little more pull to get going easier- do this by setting up the rig at it’s minimum recommendation. Then, I suggest playing around with settings. Try something different and get a feel for yourself.

Outhaul settings are pretty easy these days especially with adjustable outlhaul systems. You can learn a lot from an adjustable outhaul system. The bigger the sail you have, the more key being able to tune the outhaul on the fly becomes! I find that whenever I pull too much outhaul, I don’t have the drive out of the rig. What I mean by that is how the sail pulls me along. I don’t have enough constant power. When I get hit by a gust, the reaction time is slow to turn on. Imagine hitting the gas pedal on your car and there being a large delay- that can happen when you over outhaul your sail. Again, check your settings box on your sail and play around with the settings. Don’t be afraid to change things and learn about your gear.

If you are looking for the ultimate adjustable outhaul system, hit the contact button and we can further advise!!!