Let's go back to basics! Let's talk windsurfing kit set up! In this week's blog The Official Test Centre (The OTC) Team Rider, Aaron Smith talks about stability, control, and lightness in the hands that can only be felt when a sail is rigged correctly, how the footstraps are a crucial component to windsurfing and how the fin provides directional and lateral stability. Then we moved onto the deck plate and how to trim a sail, by loosening the outhaul and downhaul to give the sail more power. Haul up your kit to perfection! Here at The OTC we have a team of experts ready to help you get the best out of your kit, book some 1:1 tuition and get dialled in or alternatively speak to the SurfDoctor team who can help you get you kitted out to perfection! The power is in your hands, why not make the most of our schorching hot deals on kit across the range and take advantage of our expertise, grab a bargain set up and sail away happy!
By Emma Maguire.
Let's take a closer look at the technical parts of your windsurfing set up that when tweaked in the right way will give you that dialled in feel;
Front Strap: Having the front strap further forward gives you more access to the front area of the board and more control for manoeuvres. Having the front strap further back gives you more power on the tail rocker, rails, and fin.
Deckplate: To start with, place your deckplate in the middle of the track, and from there you can decided whether it needs moving forward to help keep the nose down or if your prefer more flight and lift from the board then move it back. If you're lucky the middle of the track will be perfect!
Fin: If you using a multiple fin board, moving the fin cluster further back will give your board more speed, grip and control. Better for bigger waves or stronger wind and perhaps for onshore conditions where drive and upwind ability are important. Moving the fin cluster forward will make your board looser and skatier under foot. If running a single fin set up, it's much simplier. Depending on the width and volume of the board will be indicative of the size of fin you need, the bigger the board, the bigger the fin and vice versa.
Downhaul: Downhaul is a very important part of when rigging the sail, the more downhaul you have on your set up the more drive you will feel from the sail as it will provide more shape in the front of the sail, however the caviet to this is the feeling of less power, this is because the will be more leach twist but overall this does increase contralability. By having less downhaul the sail will feel more powerful but at the cost of stability.
Outhaul: Use more outhaul the windier it is this makes the profile flatter but you do loose power, the less outhaul equals more power and vice versa, find the perfect sweet spot it in the middle and use a crossover of power.
The Official Test Team Rider, Aaron Smith said: "Foot strap positioning is hugely personal preference, inboard/outboard (if board has the options) and then the option to have them a few cm further forwards or back. I use boards that only have inboard set up which makes that an easy choice for myself! But for bigger sails/higher speed, go outboard, and smaller sails/more turny feel go inboard. I put my front straps a hole further back and my back strap a hole further forwards to get me feet closer together for more pop."
Aaron said: "Deck plate a little further forwards to keep the nose down and further back to help lift the nose up. I have been quite near the back to help get the rig closer to me, for freestyle the closer everything is too you the more explosive you can be when you through it."
Aaron said: "Fin further back for more speed and further forwards to get it into your foot to allow you to 'kick the tail' which can be great for wave riding or an extra spin in freestyle. I like to have mine a little further forwards, more under the back foot, to have a greater 'kick' into another spin."
Aaron said: "I personaly always rig my sails the same every time whatever the wind and change down/up if necassery to always have the same feel. But if i were to make any adjustments i would first go with small adjustments on the outhaul to try and help lose/gain power. All is very kit/personal preference specific so play around a little and find what works best for you!"
Get tips and advise from The OTC team and book some 1:1 tuiton to sharpen up all aspects of your windsurfing skills, call the centre on 07817 717904!
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