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The Loft 2003 |
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The Loft 2004
 Beyond rigging, trim makes the rig perform.
Wind range expansion is the cutting edge of progressive sail design; get more from your equipment...
TRIM IT!
Sails from The Loft are designed to be trim sensitive so you can maximize your performance envelope with less gear!
Optimising trim for high performance windsurfing is a learning process which has no limits! Improvements in one area will compliment trim improvements in other areas. Your windsurfing performance will expand as new trim configurations are experienced.
FEEL IT!
Please check also our Troubleshooting Guide
Downhaul for light winds
Should the wind drop, or should your sail be small for the wind strength, less downhaul tension will firm up the leech and make the sail body fuller. This reduced trim generates greater low-end power. Note that as soon as the winds are sufficient for easy planing, it is a good moment to experiment with more downhaul tension. The fresh feeling of free speed will set your windsurfing soul free. The downhaul adjustment range between ideal low wind trim and ideal high wind trim may be as much as 4cm.
Downhaul for strong winds
Downhaul tension is of critical importance to sail trim... all rigs respond favourably to increased downhaul tension for high-wind sailing. For strong winds it pays to be radical. More downhaul tension equals easier handling and greater speed in strong winds. An 8:1 hook system is recommended for easy application of strong downhaul tension; critical to strong wind performance. When overpowered, tension the downhaul! High tension makes the sail's leech (rear edge) open and free; power is released from the top of the sail. This makes the rig easier to handle and increases top-end speed.
Greater downhaul tension will directly flatten the sail body, making the rig's passage through the wind slim and slippery. Be aggressive with downhaul tension as the wind rises... sails from The Loft are designed and built to respond positively to high downhaul tension!
Outhaul tension
The outhaul is a critical adjustment which has direct impact on rig performance.
Reduced outhaul makes the sail deeper in profile, generating greater power for light winds. Greater outhaul tension flattens the sail profile, making the sail much easier to handle and faster in medium and strong winds as the sail passes easily through the wind. In very light winds slack outhaul tension will add depth of sail profile, which directly powers up the rig. The distance between ideal strong and light wind outhaul trim may be as much as 5-7 cm.
Boom height
Boom height has direct impact on performance.
A low boom will make initiation of planing difficult and make un-hooking the harness difficult. An overly high boom promotes early tail walking, makes manoeuvres difficult and can make hooking and un-hooking the harness difficult. A good position to begin is chest/shoulder level.
If there is too little wind for the sail size being used, the boom is best raised to assist the initiation of planing. A higher boom places more of the windsurfer's weight onto the rig, and less on the board. Consequently, the board has a greater capacity to lift and plane. If the wind is strong for the sail size, lowering the boom will give the windsurfer greater control. With a lower boom position, the rider's weight becomes more board oriented, increasing board control in rough conditions.
Harness lines
Harness lines are your power transfer, so their position and length directly affect rig performance. Finding the right position for the harness lines on the boom is a question of balance.
Lines too far forward will limit speed by keeping the sailor too far forward on the board and not allowing full power transfer. In this situation the back arm becomes fatigued. If the lines are too far back catapults are more likely and the forward arm becomes fatigued. Try sailing with no hands! If the lines are in the correct position, you will be able to sail for some moments with no hands! If you reach for the boom first with your back hand, the lines should be moved back. If you reach for the boom first with the front hand, the lines should be moved forward.
Lines that are placed further apart may give windsurfers a feeling of greater stability. Wide lines (30cm+) comfortably harness the sail's power and are generally better suited to beginning windsurfers. Harness lines placed close together on the boom will make the power transfer very direct, demanding greater attention be paid to to the rig´s position relative to the wind. Racing & competition-oriented windsurfers usually opt for lines set close together, as close as 5cm.
Harness line length also influences windsurfing performance. 24cm to 26cm is the average harness line length. Overly short lines limit speed potential. Bodyweight is your power generator. Bodyweight too close to the rig, and maximum power is unavailable. Overly short lines (less than 25cm max from boom) also limit reaction time as the windsurfer encounters changing wind and sea conditions. Overly long lines may cause arm fatigue and rather wet windsurfing as the sailor makes frequent contact with the water.
Outhaul tension affects harness line position. Soft (powerful) outhaul will need harness lines set farther back. Hard outhaul (flat for strong winds) will bring correct harness line positions forward.
A loose fitting harness affects negatively power transfer and windsurfing performance. Keep your harness tight!
Batten tension
Batten tension is simple! Tension the battens until the sail becomes visibly taught. Many windsurfers overlook batten tension when setting their sail. Full batten tension makes the rig more stable as well as removing wrinkles from the sail. Cammed battens may need special care as over tensioning cammed battens may result in hard sail rotation.
Footstrap position
Footstrap position determines the sailor's stance on the board, and therefore the board's attitude in the water. Generally, a wide stance is control and manoeuvre oriented. For rough water straps placed farther apart and forward will result in more control over both the board and the lift of the fin. On flat water footstraps may be best located further back. Rear footstrap positions allow the windsurfer to fly more on the fin with less board in the water for greater speed potential.
Mast stiffness
Masts influence rig performance. It is best to use the recommended mast for the sail. If a softer/shorter mast is used, the rig becomes more flexible. Handling may become easier in high winds, and the rig may become easier to close down on the board ("closing the gap").
A stiffer mast will have the opposite effect; the rig will become more difficult to close in the upper wind range, will go upwind more efficiently and become more light wind oriented. |
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