Hey legends,

I could really use some advice from the brains trust here. A bloody wonderful friend gifted me with a Bic 293 6.8 metre rig, and I don't know how to rig it. Settings used as per specifications, but the pulleys seem way too high? I feel like if I put anymore downhaul on it, it is going to snap the mast? Rigging on the supplied Techno 460 SDM mast.

It is windy finally, and I really want to get this weapon out on the water. Also, and less immediate? Can anyone tell me where I can buy the hand controlled pulley system, to play with downhaul pressure on the fly? Thanks so much in advance guys

Get the pulleys together. Keep cranking it down. No chance that you'll snap the mast , LOL

yep ,crank it down mate .nothing will break ...make sure you have the rope out on the end of the down haul stick so it runs free of the cleet when downhaulaing keep pushing it out ,wait till ya crank a 8,6 race sail down then you'll know what pressure is .
when sails are new they do need a good stretch , it will loosen up .

Redjimi said"where I can buy the hand controlled pulley system, to play with downhaul pressure on the fly?"

Mate, are you referring to the power xt extension?if so, they're available at most windsurf shop in AUS. Started using these a few months ago and won't use anything else now. Bloody awesome.

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BSN101 said..
Get the pulleys together. Keep cranking it down. No chance that you'll snap the mast , LOL

Thanks mate, I will do my best. It felt unnerving though! Appreciate you taking the time to help

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Tardy said..
yep ,crank it down mate .nothing will break ...make sure you have the rope out on the end of the down haul stick so it runs free of the cleet when downhaulaing keep pushing it out ,wait till ya crank a 8,6 race sail down then you'll know what pressure is .
when sails are new they do need a good stretch , it will loosen up .

Thanks mate, I have never had a new sail, so I wasn't aware of this. I will put a bit more on next time and see how I go. 8.6 race sail would be hectic, I imagine. Thanks for the help dude

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Orange Whip said..
Redjimi said"where I can buy the hand controlled pulley system, to play with downhaul pressure on the fly?"

Mate, are you referring to the power xt extension?if so, they're available at most windsurf shop in AUS. Started using these a few months ago and won't use anything else now. Bloody awesome.

Hey Orange, they are indeed the bomb, and have wanted one for years. In this case though, I have discovered that this racing class has a funky pulley system which is tied just below the boom, and allows the sailor to dynamically adjust downhaul mid sail. Think of the outhaul adjuster (which I have never used but now think I should).... thanks for taking the time, mate

Just an update: Before I read all of these great replies I attempted to go out sailing again. Just used the previous config, and the sail was bloody amazing. It just looked way different to anything my mate and I expected when rigged. If putting more downhaul on it makes it even better, then I think that this rig is going to send me to the promised land. Cheers legends!

Here is are some examples of on-the-fly adjustable downhaul: www.boardwise.co.uk/products/bic-techno-od-downhaul-kit
harnessline.com/products/downhaul/

You can also make a similar one yourself, just need the appropriate harken stuff. Get the Formula line for attachment to the sail, it is the only line than will be longlived enough.

A plastic ball on the line below the boom can keep the pulleys away from the mast and prevent damage (to luff sleeve and mast).

Tuning tips can be found here: techno293.org/tips-and-tricks/

I was told you want the pulleys to be within 1/2-1", so just decrease the extension setting to get that, sail looks fine with downhaul you have so decrease ext. setting by 2-4 cm and see. I was told by a mfg that the downhaul settings "written on the sail" are not always perfect since they have to determine them before sail goes into production, so they can be printed on the production sail.

Oh, and you may want to completely release all batten tension and let sail sit for a week, then redo batten tension, especially if sail was sitting for several months or longer with tensioned battens, long term batten tension will stretch out the sail panels.

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RedJimi said..
Settings used as per specifications, but the pulleys seem way too high?

Most extensions will not allow you to set it at only 2cm, and from your image I'm guessing it is at around 4-5cm? So there should then be a gap between the pulleys at the recommended down-haul setting. On the Techno sails you can also use less downhaul for sub-planning conditions, while the recommended setting (462cm luff) is for fully planning conditions.

Looking at the images, I would say that you can increase the batten tension in the boom area.

That top back edge (Leech) should be loose down to the third batten.

Theres some great rigging videos on You tube.

They do adjust the downhaul on a race course but you highly likely would never use it so I wouldn't bother.
With the Clew of the sail where it is the other end to the mast, use the top ring on lighter wind days and the bottom one when its blowing a bit more.

Sometimes the measurements printed on the sail are slightly out so dont worry. If the sail doesn't meet the base its probably because people do use the adjustable down haul system and it allows for maximum downhaul and minimum downhaul with the same setting, this can often be around 3cm difference. just downhaul until that back edge goes a quite floppy it should go loose from around 2/3 of the way across that top panel.

Also tighten any wrinkles out of those batten pockets, not too much as it'll stop rotation.

Other than that, go and enjoy it.

I too saw the need for more batten tension based on the wrinkles in the picture, but that is how I ended up over tensioning the battens and tearing a X-ply panel along the batten sleeve and wearing a batten rod through the sleeve end, by trying to get the wrinkles out of a sail that had been under constant batten tension for several years.

Try turning the batten screws out until they are flush with the tensioner ends (way past a loose batten) and let sail sit for a few days or better a week, and then tension the battens till 95% of the wrinkles are gone. If the sail is going to sit for a couple of weeks, month, or longer, release the batten tension by backing out the screws till flush with tensioner end. I actually release batten tension every couple of times and when I have a break in the wind.

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RedJimi said..
Just an update: Before I read all of these great replies I attempted to go out sailing again. Just used the previous config, and the sail was bloody amazing. It just looked way different to anything my mate and I expected when rigged. If putting more downhaul on it makes it even better, then I think that this rig is going to send me to the promised land. Cheers legends!

That rig is designed for one design racing so it is highly tuneable and made to be adjustable on the water, there is no one setting that is correct as the rig is made to be useable across a massive wind range, in higher wind the leech should be floppy at the top as per a normal slalom sail rigging, in light wind you can release downhaul and have a tight leech so that it has a deep draft and does not spill wind. The outhaul settings can be altered to suit downhaul tension and point of sail.

You cannot buy an adjustable downhaul you have to make one yourself by purchasing the components, ie pulleys and shackles and ropes. The adjustable outhaul can be purchased as a kit.

Did you succeed?

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SurferKris said..
Here is are some examples of on-the-fly adjustable downhaul: www.boardwise.co.uk/products/bic-techno-od-downhaul-kit
harnessline.com/products/downhaul/

You can also make a similar one yourself, just need the appropriate harken stuff. Get the Formula line for attachment to the sail, it is the only line than will be longlived enough.

A plastic ball on the line below the boom can keep the pulleys away from the mast and prevent damage (to luff sleeve and mast).

Tuning tips can be found here: techno293.org/tips-and-tricks/

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SurferKris said..
Here is are some examples of on-the-fly adjustable downhaul: www.boardwise.co.uk/products/bic-techno-od-downhaul-kit
harnessline.com/products/downhaul/

You can also make a similar one yourself, just need the appropriate harken stuff. Get the Formula line for attachment to the sail, it is the only line than will be longlived enough.

A plastic ball on the line below the boom can keep the pulleys away from the mast and prevent damage (to luff sleeve and mast).

Tuning tips can be found here: techno293.org/tips-and-tricks/

Page not found for
www.boardwise.co.uk/products/bic-techno-od-downhaul-kit
harnessline.com/products/downhaul/

Loads for me. Are you sure no one is blocking you?

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JessieJim said..
Did you succeed?

I did indeed succeed! I love the sail

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Paducah said..
Loads for me. Are you sure no one is blocking you?

Huh, well thanks for letting me know Paducah. DuckDuckGo browser may be the issue?

You guys are all a wealth of knowledge, thank you for your help! I thought I had already responded...thanks for all expertise and Merry Christmas everyone!