Windsurfing 101 ... Masts Part 2

Masts:

Mast Length vs. Sail Luff:

Ideally sails should be rigged on exactly the right size mast so that not only is the curvature and stiffness right but also the diameter at each point of the sail is correct. This is especially important with inducers and cams which are designed to fit snugly around a mast of a given radius. If the mast is too large they can become hard to rotate and if the mast is too skinny they just rattle and leave the luff sleeve out of shape.

Even with the longest of extensions there comes a point where the sail is too big, so to cover a wide range of sail sizes you are almost certain to need masts of more than one length.

Take note of where the stiffest / thickest part of the mast is situated in the diagram above. In both cases, you have displaced the flex of the mast upwards thus displacing where the sail will react when in the wind.

Mast Bases:

Should your mast be slightly too short for your sail, you will need to extend your mast with an extension. Extensions are available in various lengths depending on your needs and they come in either aluminium or carbon. 90% of all windsurfers use aluminium, so as a beginner, this is what you are to look for. You will have to discuss your options with your windsurfing shop owner to get the exact size of extension that your rig will require. They all have numerous holes that are generally spaced 2.5cm apart for adjustments and have a collar to lock down the length adjustment.

Mast Bases:

The mast foot fits in the bottom of the mast, and includes a rubber or mechanical universal joint which connects either straight into the board's mast track, or to a deckplate, bolted into a slot in the board's deck.

The universal joint allows a rig to be inclined or held at any angle to the board, and it is this device that endows a windsurfer with the unique ability to steer simply by moving the rig around. The mast base may also include an adjustable mast extension, or one can be added if the mast proves to be too short for the sail.

Mast bases also come in a variety of connectors; US Base and Euro Pin. IN the example below we have used the tendon 1 bolt mast base, but there are a multitude of different styles that you can choose from. It is better for the sake of space for you to discuss your options with your windsurf shop owner as to which base will be the right one for you.

How They Both Fit Together:

A picture says a thousand words, please note that the picture is sideways due to lack of space on the page…