If you want to trim your sail properly, there is usually no getting round some kind of "tool", especially with larger freeride or freerace sails, the trimming forces are so great that you can no longer grab the rope with your bare hand. On the one hand there is no grip, on the other hand the ropes cut in unpleasantly.
Suitable trimming aids include sticks, tubes, screwdrivers, an extension or the harness hook - there's something in every surfer's car. Various brands also have Trim handles with clamps in their range. In some cases, it is sufficient to simply wrap the rope around the trim aid several times, but this often doesn't hold, especially with harness hooks with a wide plate. On the other hand, we can only advise against "real" knots, as the tensile forces often cause them to tighten bombproof. Then the sail is well trimmed, but you waste a lot of time fiddling with the rope again.
The solution is this life hack that many windsurfers already know: A loop in the rope that is quick to make, holds well and can be released just as quickly. Manuel shows the most important steps in the video above:
- Downhaul the luff a little at first, then the rope won't have to travel as long later on
- Lay the rope into a loose loop about 20-30 cm from the base, with the loose end at the top
- Hold the point where the rope crosses with your thumb and index finger
- Fold the loop with the other hand from above over the rope in front of the crossing
- Pull the rope up through the loop and down both sides of the loop at the same time
- You can then slide your trimming aid, e.g. the harness hook, into the opening that forms
- Tighten and hold the loose end of the rope loosely, then you can trim
- Afterwards, loosen the loop a little and pull out the trimming aid
- If you now pull on the loose end, the loop will come loose almost by itself!
More windsurfing lifehacks:
