I saw a couple of people with rocks today and they had them rigged with basically no outhaul. The clew was very floppy. They told me that this is how they were told to rig it by the guy in the shop. Is this good rigging? How does the sail perform with no outhaul? I've done this a couple of times and the sail just seems to sit on the boom when powered up. Does this deminish the sails true performance? I only ask this question as it just doesnt seem right?
I've got a mate who uses rocks, and he complains they need too much outhaul pressure, but that was a season or so ago. I've had some of my sails on a mast that was too soft in the middle for them, and with correct downhaul, couldn't set any outhaul, otherwise sail would have been dead flat. Some slalom sails have had negative outhaul, just relied on downhaul, doesn't seem like a smart idea to me, must allow the shape to wander a bit even with very stiff battens and cams.
I think I might just answer my own question as I have just watched the Tushie rigging DVD and this might help anyone else with the same question. Negative outhaul or not enough outhaul can feel uncontrollable and bad to handle. Unless you are going for the world speed record and have alot of downhaul and really over powered this gives you massive off-the-wind speed. The down side makes it harder to get back up wind. As decrepit has said, on the DVD, it said this only works with cam sails. I'm sure if you delibrately rig these sails way outside the recommended settings they are still usable. If the sail is resting on the boom, as you sheet in the power goes onto your backhand causing the rig to drive the board sideways and you won't go upwind. The DVD describes this little outhaul rigging like hanging onto an umbrella in a gail. It puts you in conflict with the rig and you take on a wide arm, squatting stance. I'm stoked this DVD has answered my question and I highly recommend watching it as it has much more on rigging Tushies.
sounds like these guys put alot of downhall on and as a result the sails looked like they had negative outhall.
ROCKS RULE !
We have been experimenting with the downhaul and out haul settings this year on the new rocks. With the different size between sailors we have found that the sails can be rigged very differently to suit a power level different for each sailor.
Juice sets his sails with little downhaul and slight outhaul to give him loads of power, while others rig them with lots of downhaul and outhaul for a lighter feel in the turn on waves.
No sails should be rigged with the sail billowing over the boom arm, but sometimes this does happen if you use to small a sail and don't set it right or don't want to change sail sizes.
The benefit of the rock is that it can be used in the different settings without feeling uncomfortable and therefore gives a bigger wind range. Some sails will not work at all unless you have the manufacturers recommended settings to the exact millimetre.
Jez
Seein as how I've been sailing since 1976, I guess that Jez could = windsurfer, but as far as WINDSURFER = Jez?? nope, I'm happy with my own tag.
ROCK ON
Jez
The world must be a harder place to live in when always viewed with such cynicism.
