• Registered: 2006-04-05
  • Posts: 14

Topic: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

Just to be used as a reference being aware of the large span of personal preferences:   

I wonder what you consider to be the best trim on slalom XL boards (80-85 cm wide) in general in normal 10-16 knots conditions paired with sail of approx. 9 sqm?

Boom height ?
Harness lines length?
Mast track position?

Thanks !

  • Registered: 2006-06-26
  • Posts: 53

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

Andy,

You should be much more specific - boards differ, sails differ, fins also make gear set up different. And even if you gave all those details, it would also depend on your personal sailing style. I think there is a lot written on general rig set up. You should begin there.

  • From: Cape Verde
  • Registered: 2008-02-13
  • Posts: 151

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

Andy, one thing I can say is generally I like to get my 9.2 as light feeling as possible which usually means maximum downhaul setting. I generally use shorter harness lines on my 9.2 with my boom a little bit lower, although higher should be better, just for me on such a big sail I feel more comfortable with the boom a  little lower.
Aloha,
Josh

Josh Angulo's Website

  • From: Montréal, QC, Canada
  • Registered: 2008-10-22
  • Posts: 127

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

lower boom - would that also apply to say an 8.5 ??

i like it a bit lower, but am always wondering if i am makin a mistake
still manage to blast, but want to do it right ie most ROE = return on effort :-)

thx champ

joe windsurfer @ 100 kg -> now 95 :-)
2006 AHD FF 160/79 cm
Gaastra Flow 3x 7.0, MS Pursuit 8.5, MS TR-4 10.0
  • From: Cape Verde
  • Registered: 2008-02-13
  • Posts: 151

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

8.4 is ususally getting a bit of wind , so I like the boom a bit lower in order to keep some control by sticking my butt out. Come to think of it, I really only ride my boom high if the water is real flat and wind steady, otherwise usually a bit lower.
Josh

Josh Angulo's Website

  • From: Argentina
  • Registered: 2009-01-15
  • Posts: 30

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

Hi Andy,
Even if i didn't register the 9.2 last year i tried it a lot in maui. I like both the 9.2 and 8.4 with a lot of downhaul. This makes them feel very light in the hand when sailing. When is that light you need to have a super light and responsive feel just in case you have to modify your course. If you have a bad start or you need to point up out of someones wake or if the next mark is high on angle always is nice to have a bit of downhaul. it helps aswell to trim the board high in the water and to ride on the fin.
I never had a good feel when using little downhaul, it happends a lot in formula that you put less downhaul and you think you will get more power and everything is gonna be on trim but then you go out and everything feels super heavy and sticky.
I like to use my harness lines shorter than my smaller sails. Normally when we use those sails the water conditions are smoother and flatter so you dont need to be too far from your rig to control the equip at high speeds. I use the boom higher and the mast base pretty far back to have an agressive feel of power in the setup. I like to sail the big stuff with a lot of power so when you get stuck you have some extra juice to come back. If you are leading is easy to put a high wind stance and to control the fleet..
You need to check of course your personal equipment and tune it for your style but i would say that good downhaul, farback mastbase, high boom and shorter harness lines is the way to go.

Those TR6 look really good on the other post..!

  • From: Finland
  • Registered: 2005-02-10
  • Posts: 51

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

I've been out with my iS131 + TR-6 9.2m2 about five times now.
I can't believe how early this combo planes.

My board is not really flying, only in stronger wind.
I know that raising my boom and moving the track back might help as i have not had any problems with control.
I'm hesitant to go in this direction as my stance is not that good to begin with.
My front foot is very light, only when going deep downwind my stance feels good.

I usually have my harness lines positioned so that i can let go with my back hand.

Maybe more downhaul would do the trick for me.

I have my foot straps in the back position. I'm 175cm tall, my boom is about chin high, mast track in the recomended position. I use adjustable harness lines, i have them usually in 28" but might lenghten them if going deep downwind. I use waist harness. In light wind i use Select S10 53cm and in stronger 49cm.

well have to do some testing....

FIN555's Website

8 Reply by vv

  • vv
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-10-28
  • Posts: 12

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

if your stance does not feel very confortable maybe try to move the mast track a bit(or a lot)forward,
I had quite the same problem with the x fire 122 and the 9,2,I had to move the base 4cm,now seems better,I am not an expert but check this option.

  • From: Finland
  • Registered: 2005-02-10
  • Posts: 51

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

Thanks for the input vv.
With the mast track forward my stance was better, but speed was poor.
Too much wet surface.

From the link below you can check few pictures my brother took of me sailing the combo.
There is no picture where i would be fully blasting but you get some idea about my setup.

http://www.extremebrilliance.com/photob … index.html

FIN555's Website

10 Reply by geo

  • geo
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: southern Tuscany, Italy
  • Registered: 2006-01-24
  • Posts: 497

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

In my experience (with smaller sizes, up to 7.6) TR-6's do better with the mast track way back compared to, say, TR-5's and 4's.

geo's Website

  • From: Finland
  • Registered: 2005-02-10
  • Posts: 51

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

Thanks for the tips. Now some wind please...
I will let you know how it goes.

FIN555's Website

  • From: Finland
  • Registered: 2005-02-10
  • Posts: 51

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

My stance feels much better now. I moved my boom up and moved my harness lines back.
The mast foot in the middle position, same as before and my stance and speed is better.
I don't know why this helped with my light front foot?

FIN555

FIN555's Website

  • Registered: 2006-04-05
  • Posts: 14

Re: Q for Josh and Gonzalo - Slalom XL tuning

FIN555 wrote:

My stance feels much better now. I moved my boom up and moved my harness lines back.
The mast foot in the middle position, same as before and my stance and speed is better.
I don't know why this helped with my light front foot?

FIN555


Good to hear. Harness lines in the exact right position is key to good speed and comfortable stance. Moving the lines back a bit is an efficient way to divide pressure equally on both feet. If you have the lines too much forward, you will end up pulling more with your back hand, which in turns direct more pressure down to your back leg. I always set up my harness lines for strongest wind strength for that specific sail. Might feel unbalanced in very light winds but when you're fully powered up you're just right. Bearing in mind that slalom sails are designed to use in powered to overpowered conditions...