6 tips for low trim forces

Whether extensions for RDM or SDM masts, the pulley size has a massive influence on the trimming forces. When buying, therefore, make sure that the pulleys are as large as possible and ideally made of metal (right). Small plastic pulleys (left) make your life unnecessarily difficult.

The more parallel and neatly you thread the rope, the lower the frictional forces. Therefore, make sure that the rope does not cross over. A neatly threaded luff extrusion also lasts significantly longer.

Ropes made from Dynema material are very smooth and resistant, which reduces friction. As a result, they reduce the trimming forces and last significantly longer.

The longer a mast, the harder it is. If you use a mast in your sail that is too long and protrudes too far at the top of the vario top, you will always have to pull harder to bend the mast forwards. You have the choice if your sail offers the option of using two different mast lengths:

One example: A sail has a luff length of 406cm. You can therefore extend a 400cm mast by 6cm or let a 430cm mast protrude by 24cm at the top of the Variotop.surf tipIf you weigh less than 80kg, take the shorter mast, this reduces the trim forces and makes the sail a little softer. If you are tall and heavy (>80kg), a long mast makes more sense because the sail is then a little tighter and more stable. The higher trim forces should then not cause you any problems.

When trimming, keep your back straight and support yourself with your foot on the mast extension. Make sure that your luff extrusion is long enough, otherwise you will bend too much and put unnecessary strain on your back.

With a trimming aid, you can take a firm grip without the rope cutting uncomfortably into your hands. These aids only cost a few euros and are available in any well-stocked surf shop. If necessary, a screwdriver or a normal aluminium tube (e.g. a second mast extension) around which you wrap the end of the rope will also do. Trim cranks are somewhat oversized for everyday use and are really only recommended for large camber sails, i.e. high-performance sails with profile-forming braces between the battens and the mast (camber). These have extreme trim forces and are not recommended for hobby surfers for this reason.