June 2009
BIC Sport
- RP 3716, Z.I. du Prat - 56037 Vannes Cedex - FRANCE - Tel: 33 (0)2 97 43 75 00 - Fax: 33 (0)2 97 43 75 01
BIC Sport, S.A.S.U. au capital de 1.812.075 euros - B 781 626 957 - R.C.S. VANNES
www.bicsport.com
SAILS
MAST
PRODUCT CARE & MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES
The following areas should be checked regularly for any signs of wear and tear on your sail:
• Any dents, wrinkles, imperfections or heavy scratches on the monofi lm or X-Ply
material, particularly around the boom, foot, clew, head and leech of the sail.
• The downhaul pulley attachment point, the clew eyelets, the mast plug attachment point.
In order to maximise the life of your sail :
• Whenever possible, always rig your sail on grass.
• When threading the mast up the luff pocket, do not force it from the bottom of the sail.
Particular attention should be paid to thread the last 1/3 of the sail over the top of the mast.
• Sails are damaged easily when left to fl ap in the wind, so take care when the sail is
not rigged & under tension (ie. during rigging or de-rigging).
• Always protect your sail from the sun when not in use. The harmful effects of the
sun’s rays cause the monofi lm material of any sail to breakdown over time. After
windsurfi ng, always de-rig shortly after sailing or protect with a beach cover.
• Always de-rig your sail after use. For storage, roll the sail tightly from the head, and
use the sail bag provided - this helps to prevent premature wear of the monofi lm.
• If possible, we recommend that you store your sail lying fl at on the ground &
horizontal. Do not place heavy objects on top of the sail whilst in storage. If it must be
stored in a vertical position, ensure that the luff pocket rests on the ground.
• If storing your sail away for the winter or for an extended period of time, always rinse
in fresh water. Warm water and mild detergent may be used to remove persistent dirt.
The carbon material used in your mast can be seriously damaged by impact with a
solid object, point loading or extended exposure to sunlight. This damage may not
always be visible to the naked eye. Never place yourself in a situation where the
breakage of your mast would make it impossible to return to the shore unaided &
without assistance.
The following areas should be checked regularly for any signs of wear & tear on your mast:
• The base of both the top and bottom piece.
• The boom attachment area.
• The cam contact points
• The ferrule joint
To maximise the life of your mast :
• Always protect your mast from impact damage or point loading. Even if there is no
visible damage, the mast may be seriously damaged if it is dropped or knocked.
• Always de-rig your mast shortly after use. We recommend always using the rig bag
provided for storage and transportation.
• The mast base must fi t snugly into the bottom of the mast, and must extend into the
mast by at least 11.5cm / 5”. It is recommended that the base extend no more than
40 cm / 15.75” into the bottom of the mast.
• When rigging a two-piece mast, ensure that the sections are fully engaged after
sliding into the luff sleeve. The easiest way to check this is by running your hand along
the luff sleeve before applying fi nal downhaul tension. Any separation could cause the
upper section or the ferrule to fail under load.
• Mast-bases, mast ferrules, luff sleeves, sail cams, and all other components must be
free from sand and grit. Be sure that all your rig components are clean before you rig up.
Warm water and mild detergent may be used to remove persistent dirt.
