❌ 3 TRIMMING MISTAKES almost EVERY WINDSURFER MAKES

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In this video:
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🎥 Edited and filmed
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by Lars Wichmann
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0:00 Trimming can be complex
0:30 Mistake #1 Too little downhaul tension
2:23 Where am I?
2:58 Mistake #1 Too little downhaul tension
4:12 Mistake #2 Too much outhaul tension
5:39 Mistake #3 The wrong mast
6:38 Get out and have fun!

[@maxsjostrom67]

Super that you bring out this topic of too much downhaul tension. It's a real sail and performance killer. I've been there and really felt stupid afterwards when applying just the right downhaul and the sail was better especially in gusts. For s slalom guy wave sail was odd to tune and has totally other way of trimming. Maybe that could be a good topic. Thanks Nico. I'm starting to like this stuff 🙂

[@Statek63]

The sail twist is also needed because of wind gradient (change) at different heights above water level. It does not matter when someone is stationary because then the apparent wind is the same as the true wind - but when you start sailing then the apparent wind - both direction and speed - changes depending on the height above the water, because the true/stationary wind speed decreases significantly just above water level. So a "twisted" sail reflects this change of both speed and direction of the apparent wind whilst windsurfing. The bigger the sail and board the bigger the effect, mostly because with big sail and board (or foil) the board speed can be as much or more than the true/stationary wind speed. I do not do foil but a formula board can easily plane twice as fast as the wind speed, thus the wind gradient effect on apparent wind direction becomes very pronounced.

[@surfcello]

Great tips, and you explain things very well from the perspective of the rider. However I would like to mention the technical / physical explanations, as they helped me understand these things: 1. Sail twist is important due to the gradient in wind direction between water surface and be mast top, as others have pointed out. This gradient increases with board speed compared to wind speed. 2. More curvature across the chord of the sail increases aerodynamic lift at low speeds and allows a greater angle of attack. The angle range between no lift and stall is smaller for a flatter sail, which is what you refer to as a more nervous sail. 3. The mast curvature must match the sail curvature. I have noticed that I was using the wrong mast if I had already applied the correct amount of downhaul yet the battens still had difficulties flicking around the mast on a change of tack. Of course one may be safest to buy only from one brand, but if you really want the sport to become more accessible, then give us some tips on what to look out for when we mix and match different used material, old and new.

[@drpaj-chi-wo]

If I win the lottery, I will hire you as a personal trainer

[@windsurf888]

I love this kind of technical stuff!

[@HolgerWild]

Thanks for all your work in your videos! They brought me back to windsurfing after a 25 years brake. Man, how much changed in rig and board technology! Starting now with some new and not too old used gear and having fun now on the water again. Thanks for your great motivation and tips in your vids!! Keep on riding!

[@martyc5674]

I love your shops goal- “To get as many windsurfers back on the water as there were in 1976”- THATS AWESOME!!!!

[@sandorbolla6070]

Another clear and concise high quality video. Please keep it coming. Highly appreciated!

[@stephenmartindale]

That's great content and it's always nice to hear sensible advice. Please do another tuning tutorial on a more advanced and technical issue: cam inducers! There's so much new to talk about: batten tension; what if they don't 'pop' nicely; what if the very end of the batten doesn't 'pop' all the way; what if only the lower or upper one doesn't 'pop' properly and the sail forms an 'S' profile? Word on the 'Ufer' is all very well but this is a dark art that deserves its own lecture. There are so many nuances and ways that cams can misbehave. Please, Nico, please!

[@k74-martijerrard12]

Totally concour with Stephen. My 6.6 Evo behaves totally different to my 7.4 which I believe is now down to baton and cam tuning... I fly on the 7.4 but as the wind picks up and I change down not only am I slower but the 6.6 even looks different when rigged. I need advice and qucik bcs if they are anything like my Point 7s I am about to start cutting batons down to find that perfect S shape.. or ruin a perfectly tuned sail bcs its my sailing lol

[@ElectroHouseFanXXX]

Can you make a Video about how to tune your batten and camber rotation butter smooth? Especially for foil sails and slalom sails most sails come with a too hard rotation . I think that's a huge problem for many windsurfers who don't know how to improve that

[@Statek63]

Too stiff or wrong curve mast can also cause that for cambered sails. Or too little downhaul...

[@bicboy49]

As far as the cams not rotating smoothly would more outhaul fix that to ?

[@Statek63]

@@bicboy49 some sails have cam spacers that can be added or removed to help with smooth rotation. Downhaul and outhaul should be optimized for general sail performance, not to fix cam rotation problems. Myself I prefer adjustable outhaul for big and mid-sized cambered sails ( so from 12 sqm down to around 7 sqm ). For smaller sails I use mostly fixed outhaul. Cambered sails will always need a bit of a sharp pull to rotate the cambers - I adjust the camber spacers when even that sharp pull does not help and when the cambers need to be kicked into place. HTH

[@khadanse-DJ-KHA]

​@@Statek63Interesting point. but how do you adjust the cumbers in case the are not rotating smoothly? thanks in advance

[@tristan_krn]

For some reason, KZbin didn't notify me for this new video, but thankfully I'm subscribed to the newsletter and got the email :)

[@nikos9270]

This is a great video Nico and I really appreciate all your content as my 12 year old watches them religiously... Tha ks again and all the best for your racing season ( p.s. the videos are helpful for me as well 😄 )

[@nebelung]

Good info, but also big thumbs up for the production values of the video. Really well done and it looks and sounds great.

[@jesterhyde]

Excellent instructional video. Very good blend of technical knowledge with practical application explained very clearly.

[@WindsurfGenerationX]

Very professionell video with personal touch. If I meet you sometimes in a windsurf spot, I spend you a Pizza for trimm my sails perfectly.

[@karstenklein8626]

Tipps for suitable trimming tools like the (Trimmknochen😅) or technics for downhawling, can you show us something for this point of view?. Race sails for example have very high trimming powers. Nice video I think. Go for it, Nico😉

[@Chyller1]

Love this really detailed video 👌

[@Rom_th29]

Thank you Nico, the explanations are always clear and usefull!

[@gdrl6985]

Amazing tips and video, keep it like that 😁

[@lukasz3tabis]

Great video as usual! Thank you!

[@eirikmikk]

Great video! Wish I had more time to go windsurfing/make mistakes!

[@gillesaribiers8612]

Terrific stuff !! Thank you very much, all of your videos are super interesting !

[@TimLaine01]

Great top clear infomation as always 😎👍

[@geel3889]

Nice to see the new panasonic S5 mark II is working well. Autofocus has improved a lot so we get a smoother video experience. It's with good video equipment the same as with the right windsurf gear;)

[@ghughes20]

Another fantastic video. Thanks Nico!!

[@dark-fins]

super poradnik! Dzięki 🤙

[@Ingenuus32]

У меня старый парус NP Slalom MkII - не могу найти инструкцию на него, мачта FX100, вроде должна подходить, выставляю размеры как указано, набиваю, - не переключаются камберы, ну т.е. раза с третьего может быть перекинутся. Меток на нём насколько должен быть твист - нет. Камберы вроде рабочие (там эта их система UltraCam). Одна из металлических бобышек была с сорванной резьбой, я разобрал, поменял. Все "шапочки" лат стоят на ближайшем к парусу отверстии (там, если кто не знает, три отверстия, есть ещё с двумя. Видимо если лата сломана, то можно переставить в более дальние от паруса отверстия и камбер будет более натянут, но у меня в самых ближайших к парусу, т.е. должны быть самые прослабленные). Смотрел видео как настраивать и как ремонтировать систему UltraCam, но у меня и так всё по минимуму. Лето закончилось, теперь буду только в следующем году пробовать, но сейчас смотрю - наверное по мачте я всё же не дотягивал, хотя ну уже некуда дальше было. Наверное надо чуть подлиннее выставить удлиннитель.

[@peterowensbabylon]

So can you talk about adjustable out haul and when and where it is useful?

[@DeagleBingo]

This is exactly what I wished was easy to find information when I started windsurfing years back… and still of course as most of us do …. Need reinforcement and re-learning

[@Indigosbridge]

🎉🎉🎉Bravo nico you became like a body🎉🎉 builder its normal with so much fight with the wind it came alone, your shoulders are with perfect analogy out,super nice..

[@speedquestwindsurfing]

Thank you Nico. Very helpful to a lifelong NP V8 user.

[@jeroenhessel7535]

Great video Nico, nice and clear explanation. Can I ask: If you don't have markers on your sail, do you check the downhaul of the sail when it's flat or when it's upright? Would love to hear your answer and why.

[@alfskaar489]

I do it flat. Remember any downhaul marking is a reference point not the perfect trim for the conditions and the rider. If the sail have to little downhaul you will feel it to. It feels heavy and don't accelerate like holdeing a dor against the wind. All sails need to be sailed to get the perfect trim. Also the mast length from same brand and type is always slight different. Measure the mast length and write it on the mast if you have multiple mast that are the same.

[@khadanse-DJ-KHA]

this is a good question, but may you explain what means upright in this context. thanks Nico for your great videos

[@lars-gorangustafsson4650]

Well explained tutorial.

[@hugoboss920]

Danke für die vielen guten Tips!!!

[@sharewavestv]

Very entertaining to take class in your windsurf school ✌🏼

[@giorgosgavriilmanganaris4035]

Nice video!!!!!

[@konradjohannesen9723]

This is really useful for me as a rookie or newbie to windsurfing 😅

[@slverwoerd2335]

Great video! what is the surf spot in the video? seems really nice :). Good for all directions?

[@Yomimi1]

Hi niko your videos helps me so much keep up the good work

[@mariosterker673]

Vielen Dank für das Video. Leider bleibt ein nicht unwesentlicher Trimm-Aspekt - die Spannung der Segellatten - unerwähnt. Zumal diesbezüglich die NeilPryde-Segel ein negatives "Alleinstellungsmerkmal" haben: Das einzigartige System mit den umklappbaren Plastikverschlüssen ist extrem anfällig für Materialbruch. Ich fahre seit Jahren nur NeilPryde-Segel (und liebe sie), aber die Lattenspanner sind eine Katastrophe. Bei meinem neuen Speedster 5.2 lassen sich 3 Latten von Anfang an überhaupt nicht korrekt spannen, da sich die Plasteschraube überhaupt nicht bewegen lässt (da offenbar Gewinde und Schraube nicht aufeinander abgestimmt und wie verbacken sind). Bei anderen Segel sind im Laufe der Zeit die Flügel der Schraube abgebrochen. NeilPryde ignoriert das Problem beharrlich (Anfragen im Kontaktformular werden nicht beantwortet), Ersatzteile ("Cent-Produkte" aus Plastik) sind auch über die lizensierten Händler nicht zu erhalten. Sehr schade! Wie handelst Du das bei Deinen Slalomsegeln?

[@karlhelbig4001]

Hello Nico, thank you for the very informative video. I have the following problem with my 3 camber sail, Northsail 7.4m², the mast hand always has to compensate a lot in strong winds and is always very stressed. I sail a longboard/raceboard fanatic mega cat 1995. Do you have a tip. Thanks very much.

[@thedahman1]

Thank you, will try to improve the rigging

[@Funkphenomena]

Trimming is the best way to get connected with fellow weirdos on the beach :D

[@lomicwind]

Some years ago Neilpryde use to do rigging videos for their sails. Now they rely on content creators to do so. I've searched for a rigging guide for my then brand new Free Flight 5.7, but found nothing (even for a 2021 one). Found myself by using it, but I would have appreciated that the rigging video. By the way my sail is heavily featured in the mast part of the video. (And I don't have a NP mast, shame on me, but the one I have seem to fit quite well).

[@paulholland1802]

Every days a school day!

[@jeanpatrickbordes7624]

slt nico I have a problem with my 8.2 evo 13 I have trouble going upwind with 118L yet the sail is taut with the armor as it should and practically no tension when listening, I have to really put my foot forward of matte

[@Nico_GER7]

I don't you. What do you mean by "no tension when listening" and "forward of the matte"?

[@jeanpatrickbordes7624]

@@Nico_GER7 no tension on the back of the boom, I pulled the footstraps back first

[@eliasfauser2764]

I love to see you do well in pwa. But incresingly on the foil. Could you do a video about realy pushing the foil? I feel there is jet mutch to be said. Grüße.

[@davidketley5359]

Nico I see you using adjustable harness lines. Which ones do you use please?

[@agostinochiaravalloti]

I've noticed that using a constant curve for a Flex top sail Is like too much downhaul. What about reducing the extension to balance It?

[@nikemie1]

Where are the NP slalom foils , I have not seen any for sale, and parts.

[@Tony-lc7op]

thanks !

[@Mariz650]

old school gear also trim with nowadays loose leech sails?

[@torstenfrling1213]

Thanks, thanks, thanks 🙏

[@noohohno]

Guilt of mistake #1 back in '99/00 on Maui. Never rigged a Naish Nalu 4.2M until that season. No fun on the water until the rep. pointed out my mistake. Sweet sail when properly rigged. Ezzy only user since '12. You gotta be a real dolt improperly rig and tune Ezzy sails. Built in tuning aids and marked at the factory for the medium setting.

[@peterowensbabylon]

How do you decide to use top or bottom clew position?

[@stephenmartindale]

Personally, I've never held a sail that behaves as nicely on the lower clew as it does on the upper one so I only ever use the lower one when I'm on my smallest, already, and still overpowered or struggling with the sea state - the lower one seems to allow the leech to open and twist out, more, and feels a little more forgiving to me. The upper clew seems to match what the sail maker imagined on the lofting floor.

[@justlovelyaintit]

Ich bin jetzt 61 Jahre alt. Hab gewindsurfd von 16 bis 31 Jahren. Glaubst Du das hiesige material ist einfacher zu fahren als vor 30 Jahren? Mein letztes Board war eine Mistral Screamer. Moechte wieder anfangen. Weiss aber nicht ob ich das noch schaffe.

[@Yomimi1]

Hi Nico can you sometime go to norway i live there and i love windsurfing here

[@ox4tune]

I wish it was a lot simpler to find a matching mast for a sail without spending a fortune :(

[@ox4tune]

Very useful video. It's not easy to see how much out/downhaul is needed, next time I'll know better what to watch out for and hopefully have a better rig! Thanks for the tips :)

[@1212354a]

I hadn’t yet heard about the 45 degree angle of the apparent wind at speed accounting for the twist in the sail. How much twist should my foil sails have? 6.0 Sailworks Flyer and 6.4 Duotone F-pace. I definitely overdownhauled the flyer last week as the sail felt lethargic and hard to control.

[@jimbojetset3306]

Me neither! I have been windsurfing for 20+ years and have never heard as good an explanation for it!...I thought it was to allow the sail to release/soften the gusts. Really appreciate your videos Nico, although I still bear a grudge against Neil Pryde for making the 4wd Wave/Slalom...worst sail ever...

[@Statek63]

@@jimbojetset3306 Read my post above, the twist is also needed because the true wind speed varies with height, thus the apparent wind speed AND direction varies with height above water. The twist also helps to reduce induced drag at the top of the sail but that is another subject...

[@markushusi2668]

What's about the downhaul and the outhaul tension for foilsails, I hear there it is slightly different. And a following question: I bougt a foilsail, that brings me into trouble: with strong downhaul i have too much loose leech and when i do it some less, then I ll have a bad rotation around the mast, this with a mast that is recommended what do you suggest?

[@madziarII]

🤙

[@jakefiersing]

Eine Variante auf deutsch würde ich sehr schätzen.

[@paridaengillis]

My current board is from 2013, so i could use a new one.