R I G A S S E M B L Y
1 . I N S E R T T H E M A S T
Pull the sail down the mast in sections using the tack
handle and working the mast tip to the top of the sleeve before pulling the tack all the way down to the
base of the mast. Try to keep the battens all rotated to the under-side of the mast. Check that the headcap
is seated completely onto or into the mast and that the two-piece coupling of the mast is joined completely
before applying downhaul tension.
2 . I N S E R T T H E M A S T B A S E
If your mast is shorter than the sail’s luff length, estimate the amount of mast base extension needed by
subtracting the mast length from the luff length. Your downhaul pulley system should have 6:1 purchase
and enough line to make lacing easy. The Power Block works best with 4 or 5 mm line. Lace the downhaul
line through the Power Block tack pulley. Keep the path of line looping in the same direction each time
you feed it through the Power Block and through your base pulley (we recommend a counter-clockwise
direction working from the underside upwards). Try not to cross the lines, as this increases friction and
makes the downhaul line harder to pull. Do not fully downhaul the sail yet – leave the downhaul just
“hand-tight.”
3 . A T T A C H T H E B O O M
If you plan to use the on-the-fly adjustable outhaul system enclosed, set that up now. Follow the
instructions enclosed with the adjustable outhaul for setup and use. Adjust your boom to the length
specified for the sail. Attach the boom to the mast at the middle of the boom opening and re-adjust it
after the sail is fully rigged. Be careful not to attach it too high in the boom opening - you must account
for the sail to be downhauled further. Also be careful not to pinch the mast sleeve under the boom
clamp. Lace the outhaul through the clew grommet, and pull the outhaul completely so the sail is flat,
using the recommended boom length.
4 . T U N E T H E D O W N H A U L
The downhaul controls the sail’s shape and performance. Discover its effect by pulling and slowly
releasing the line. Use an easy-rig or downhauling tool so the line is easier to pull hard. Watch the
change in depth and tension of the leading edge (front 1/3 of the sail), and the flattening and loosening
of the head area (upper leech) as more
downhaul is pulled. Specifically notice the
change in the angles, or twist, of the battens; the
top batten should open to leeward the furthest -
called “progressive twist”. Twist is cut into the
sail, but is ultimately controlled by the downhaul
tension. More downhaul induces more twist;
less downhaul allows less twist. Twist improves
sail efficiency by lowering the center of effort and
making the sail easier to control.
The optimum downhaul setting gives a tight luff
and a lean (not full) entry, and the leech area
between the top two battens should become
loose. (see RETRO Settings chart on the
following pages)
Once you’re familiar with the correct downhaul
setting, re-check the headcap length vs. mast
base height. If necessary, re-adjust these so that
the tack pulley sits very close to the mast base
cleat, and the amount of mast extending out the
top of the mast sleeve is minimized by lowering
the mast base.
5 . T E N S I O N T H E S B T ’ S
(Streamlined Batten Tensioners)
The battens are tensioned using the hex-key tool found under the
strap above the tack handle. Insert the hex-key into the cap screw
inside the SBT at the leech end of each batten. Turn the hex-key
to the right (clockwise) to tighten. Tension the battens JUST until
the wrinkles across the batten pockets disappear. Look for
continuous smooth shape to the sailcloth next to the batten
pocket (see photos). You should see a smooth reflection, with no
wrinkles alongside the battens.
CAUTION: DO NOT OVER-TENSION THE BATTENS - POOR
ROTATION, EXCESSIVE FOIL DEPTH AND DAMAGE TO THE
SAIL CAN RESULT.
Replace the hex-key tool back in its pocket above the tack handle.
The batten tension will need to be re-tightened after one or two
uses as the sail sets into its final shape, but once the batten
tension is set, it’s not necessary to release batten tension after
each session.
6 . B A L A N C E T H E O U T H A U L S E T T I N G
Release any outhaul tension and allow the sail to relax naturally.
Now pull the outhaul a minimum of 3.0 cm (1 1/4 inch) from this
neutral position. Cleat off the outhaul line. Check the foil depth
by pushing on the sail area under your harness lines or standing
it up in the wind. Under pressure, the sail will increase in depth as the battens pull back from the mast.
When luffing or without pressure, the sail will flatten. Less outhaul makes the sail fuller and more
powerful for reaching, but it will also be harder to control when over-powered or sailing upwind. For
upwind sailing or over-powered conditions, more outhaul tension will improve performance by making
the sail flatter and tighter. Whenever you increase or release downhaul, realize that the outhaul tension
is also changed and may need to be adjusted too.
T U N I N G F O R W I N D R A N G E
Please refer to the RETRO Settings Chart on the next page.
Light wind (under-powered conditions)
• Less downhaul, to increase foil depth for more power; to tighten the leech for better
pumping; and to reduce twist and increase power in the upper part of the sail.
• Less outhaul, for more depth. A looser outhaul moves the center of effort (power)
further back, which facilitates early planing.
High wind (over-powering conditions)
• More downhaul, to tighten and flatten the leading edge of the sail. This lowers the
center of effort and gives the sail more twist.
• More outhaul, to flatten the overall foil depth and reduce power. This will tighten
the sail and improve top end handling and control.
Needs more batten tension
Correct batten tension
