attatching the Uphaul

Question
Hi Windlover, this looks like a great site for novices like myself, i have done the beginners course and loved it and now i have my own equipment to use but havent had the guts to go out there on my own yet. I know how to rig the equipment but i am unsure how to attach the uphaul rope to the mast, can you help? Luckily i live near calshot beach which has a sheltered area and is very safe for beginners but any advice for someone starting out on their own would be great.  Also the mast foot which slips into the bottom of the mast has various holes for height adjustment and i am unsure how high it should be is this dependant on the person using the rig?

Thanks

Emma

Answer
Hey Emma,

Welcome to the greatest sport on the planet. You are now hooked and your sporting life will never be the same. Just remember to have fun no matter how hard it seems. It will all be worth it.

Sorry about the delay in my response. I did not receive an email informing me of your question. I've also experienced problems getting on this site.

To your question, the uphaul should have a non stretch loop on one end and a stretchy loop on the other end. Feed the non stretch loop through the boom end and then feed the uphaul through the loop to attach it to the boom end. Then slip the stretchy loop over the bottom of the mast foot. Now attach your sail to the board and you are ready to sail.

The holes in your mast foot are so that you can use different size sails on the same mast. Each sail has a specific length that the mast should be. But masts are only made in specific lengths (ie; 430, 460, 490, ect.). With an adjustable mast foot you can fine tune the length of the mast to get your sail rigged properly. On the sail, there will be numbers printed. Luff = mast length, Boom = outhaul length. Luff is mast + mast foot when the sail is rigged. The bottom grommet on the sail should be pulled down to within about 1-2 inches from the pulleys on the mast foot. Boom is length of boom measured from the front of the mast to the tail of the boom.

As for height of the mast foot, it is strictly for the sail luff. Height for the person is adjusted by the boom height. The normal height of the boom is set when the sail is on the board and the person is standing on the board holding the boom. With the sail upright and standing on the board, the boom should be between chest and shoulder height. As you advance, you will find the height that works best for you. You can make this adjustment by rigging your sail, attaching it to the board, then with fin off, stand on the board and uphaul the sail. Then adjust as needed. The board should be on grass or sand to prevent damage. Attach your fin and you are ready to go. You can use a permanent marker to mark the boom height so that you get it close to right each time you rig.

Again, I'm really sorry for the delay. Hopefully things will work better for my access. I'm usually very prompt in replying to questions.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover