Just how widespread the misunderstandings are when it comes to trapeze line adjustment can be seen at any surf spot in the world. There’s ‘him’, a 90-kilo surfer, coming out of the water and handing his sail to his girlfriend – who’s two heads shorter and correspondingly lighter – because the wind is dropping, firmly convinced that everything is perfectly adjusted for his sweetheart.
Also popular: the ‘counting’ method, whereby the trapeze line is always attached, say, four hand-breadths from the head of the boom, regardless of which sail is currently in use or how strong the wind is blowing.
Where should the trapeze ropes be attached?
Generally speaking, the trapeze lines should be positioned where the sail’s centre of pressure is located. However, the position of the centre of pressure depends on several factors: for example, loosening the sail shifts the centre of pressure further aft. Anyone switching from a small sail to a larger one will normally have to adjust the spreader, which means they will also need to change the position of the trapeze lines.
Another thing that is often overlooked when friends or couples share a range of sails is that people simply use a particular sail size in lighter winds and thus oppose the sail with less mass. If a 65-kilo female surfer is riding a 5.3 sail in 15 to 20 knots, she will ride with the trapeze lines further forward than her 85-kilo partner, who is riding the same sail in 20 to 25 knots. This means that every surfer must adjust the position of the harness lines for each sail to suit themselves – and only themselves.
How to find the perfect position for the trapeze ropes
Position your sail, fully trimmed, into the wind. Pull the sail in tight so that you can really feel the pull in the sail. You’ll automatically grip the sail in such a way that the pull is evenly distributed between both arms. The sail’s centre of pressure is now exactly between your hands – this is also where the centre of the trapeze lines should be!
"There’s no such thing as the ‘right’ position for the cord – everyone chooses a different position depending on their height and weight."
Windsurfing Basics:
Should the trapeze ropes be close together or far apart?
How far you should slide the Velcro fasteners on the trapeze lines apart is a matter of personal preference. If you slide them right up against each other, the sail becomes very agile. This is generally only preferred by very experienced surfers with a keen feel for the sail, in disciplines where this is crucial, such as freestyle. However, it then requires considerably more finesse to find the correct angle to the wind and to stabilise the sail whilst planing.
For the large target group of freeriders, racers and wave riders, a distance of about one to two hand-breadths is likely to be just right. If you position the Velcro fasteners even further apart (two to three hand-breadths), the opposite effect occurs: the sail feels very stable in your hands whilst planing, but is almost impossible to readjust – something that will benefit those who are just starting out with harness surfing or planing.
What length should the trapeze ropes be?
Many windsurfers still use harness lines that are too short. Yet long lines offer several advantages: they provide better control in gusty conditions, and when planing, the force is transmitted to the mast foot more from above and less from the side, which reduces lateral forces and helps keep the board flatter whilst planing. Depending on your height and personal preferences, harness lines should be between 24 and 32 inches long. To ensure the setup works with long lines, the gaff needs to be attached slightly higher than is the case with short lines.
- Height < 1.65 metres: 24–26 inches
- Height 1.65 to 1.80 metres: 26–28 inches
- Height > 1.80 metres: 28–32 inches
Surfing tip: Variotampen!
If you’re still using short cables, make the change gradually and buy adjustable cables of the appropriate length. Now, with each session, you can extend the straps by one centimetre and raise the fork by the same amount – this makes the transition smoother and you’ll quickly get used to the new length. Adjustable lines are also useful if you share your kit with friends or your partner. Fixed-length lines are particularly recommended once you’ve found the right length for you – these tend to have less play and are therefore especially advantageous for wave and freestyle riding.
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Manuel Vogel
Editor surf