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Rigging camless sails (Kaos, Kult and Koyote)
- Lay the sail out flat. Avoid abrasive surfaces.
- You can't just push the mast into the sleeve, you need to work it on bit by bit. You need to 'compress' the sock. This may be something you don't want to do with your new acquisition, but does far less damage than trying to force it up.
- Adjust extension to the required length, fit to mast and thread downhaul.
- Put a moderate amount of down haul then attach the boom.
- Tension downhaul and outhaul to your preferred settings.
- Read the tips below.
- The measurements on the sails are to help choose equipment and not for final tuning.
- Have fun and most importantly - don't be afraid to experiment to find what is right for you.
- Remember: as your sailing improves, or you change other pieces of equipment, your sail settings should also change.
Rigging cammed sails (Koncept and KA Race)
- Lay sail out with cam zippers facing up and the zippers open. Avoid abrasive surfaces.
- Sleeve the mast passing it over the top of the battens. You can't just push the mast right up the sleeve, you need to work it on bit by bit. You need to 'compress' the sock. This may be something you don't want to do with your new acquisition, but does far less damage than trying to force it up.
- Adjust extension to the required length, fit to mast and thread downhaul.
- Downhaul until enough mast is exposed in the sleeve cutout to fit the boom.
- Fit the boom, attach the outhaul and tension.
- Loosen the downhaul off with the outhaul still tensioned
- Now place your hand into the cam access slots and pop the cams on to the mast while pushing down on the batten with the other hand, starting from the top cam.
- Close the cam zippers and downhaul to the required setting.(See downhaul tips below) NB. If you have forgotton to close the zippers prior to downhauling do not try to force the zippers closed without easing some downhaul off. Trying to close the zippers with full downhaul tension can damage the zippers.
- Tension outhaul to the required setting.(See outhaul tips below)
Downhaul
The top and leech of the sail are designed to be loose and fall away to leeward, twisting under load. This is achieved with high downhaul tension. It is very common to see sails rigged with too little downhaul tension. You won't pull the sail apart or break the mast, so don't be shy - give it a big tug! Once the correct downhaul setting is found, it does not need to be changed much although slightly (<2cm) less for very light wind may help you get on the plane. The main adjustment is done with the:
Outhaul
Tension the outhaul more for overpowered conditions. Experiment with the outhaul setting in different conditions - it is easier to adjust and unlike the downhaul there is no "correct" setting. Too much tension will kill the acceleration and downwind performance, not enough will cause instability in high winds and lack of pointing ability.
Do you want more power/less tension or more control/more tension?
The correct balance of outhaul tension and downhaul tension is essential for optimum tuning. With time you will develop a feel for your own settings.
Experimenting with different settings will teach you the different feelings and with time you will notice the changes in performance. Once the downhaul is correctly tensioned, minute adjustments in outhaul tension will change the sail's performance.
If the sail feels sluggish and heavy, you probably need more downhaul. If the sail feels light, yet a bit powerless, you probably have too much downhaul or too much outhaul. It's often a fine line between right and wrong setting, so it pays to experiment a bit until you feel comfortable with the sail.
De-rigging the Kaos, Kult and Koyote
- Ease the downhaul slightly.
- Remove the boom.
- Undo the downhaul
- Slide the mast from the sail.
- Roll the sail from the top, preferably clean and dry.
De-rigging the Koncept and KA Race
The de-rigging procedure for the cammed sails is in effect a reverse of the rigging procedure. The critical aspect is this....
- You first ease the downhaul off with the boom still attached and sail still outhauled.
- Unzip the cam access slots and pop the cams off the mast, this is most important. Failing to do this can lead to damaged cams and broken battens.
- Remove outhaul and boom, then release the downhaul fully.
- The mast should pull out of the sleeve quite easlily now.
Maintanance
Store in sailbag and prevent crushing. Wash the sail with fresh water whenever possible, and especially before long term storage. Make sure the sail is dried after washing with fresh water to avoid mould forming. Try to keep the sail free of sand and dirt. Rolling the sail while sandy will scratch the monofilm and eventually make it opaque.
Dirty film on the clear panels may be cleaned with a soft brush or cloth and dish washing liquid.
Repair any small tears with clear mylar tape or a sticker. Make sure the area is clean and dry. Larger tears should be repaired by a sailmaker.
If leaving the sail rigged for long periods, especially in hot weather or direct sun, release downhaul tension slightly to reduce load on the rig. Store in shade if possible. (Reducing the area exposed to the sun by aligning sail to sun helps.)
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