VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

[quote="UnusuallyLargeRobin The sail makers put those specs on the sails so you don't end up with this discussion. They are not "guidelines", they are THE proper rigging instructions for that sail as specified, [/quote]

I beg to differ with your disagreement, ULR! Yes, if the printed instructions are right, they should be a close approximation of good. But I have a HSM Superfreak which says it wants a 35 cm extension (which seemed extreme for a small sail to start with). It actually rigs with 5-10 cm extension, on the HSM Hotstick RDM mast of the correct size. THe wrong numbers are printed on both the sail and the sailbag. This error isn't limited to HotSails either; I've talked to half a dozen people that have found the same thing, with different brands.

how dare you compare your hippie bedsheet sail to a NP precision instrument!

I didn't say "ignore" the sail specs. I said they are intended to be used as a guideline, which is exactly what the sail designers say as well.

I agree, a beginner isn't going to know how a sail should "feel", but they can learn pretty quick what a properly rigged sail should look like by learning the visual clues.

You can use a tape measure to get your rig set up initially, but you'll ultimately be tuning it by how it looks and feels. I've rigged lots of sails according to the "specs" and they weren't even close And I'm not alone.

The bottom line is you need to figure out a system that works for you. Get to know your sail, how it looks, how it feels, how to tune it, etc. Once it feels good, mark or record your settings for boom length, boom height, mast extension, downhaul etc.

Good luck

I was just preparing my more staid rebuttal of : "well I obviously should have said reputable sail manufacturers", but I think I like yours better Dave!

Hippie Bedsheet!!! I'm OUTRAGED! as Ed Broadbent used to say (and was lampooned forever more by Air Farce etc.) Cummon BWD, RD, Winddoc, back me up here!

I believe the other offending mis-printed sail specs were on North, Neil Pryde, and Ezzy. Nyah, Nyah!

just kidding of course - i love my own SF 5.3.. i even named her 'ragged glory'!

now an attempt to add something useful to this entertaining thread: some good rig tips
http://www.star-board.com/2009/pages/ne ... admore=458

Still there, Nanmoo? Dave's link is great.

I will check it out and hopefully hit up IV tomorrow and try some of the tips. I think I am on day 5 or 6 now... by the time summer rolls around I should be flying along.

definately get some feedback from some experienced sailors at the beach. I spent a couple of years hearing " not enough downhaul" . until one day after sailing and fighting my rig. I got back on the beach, gave it another inch of downhaul and was pleasantly amazed at the difference in stability of the rig.
Hippie bedsheets? ewwwww, too much dna.