NEILPRYDE RX1 is a high-performance windsurfing sail designed for experienced riders seeking top-notch speed and control. Whether you're into slalom racing or course racing, this versatile sail delivers exceptional performance in various wind conditions.
Featuring an innovative design and cutting-edge materials, the RX1 offers precise tuning options to match your personal sailing style and the demands of different water conditions. With its adjustable outhaul system, you can fine-tune the leech tension and power delivery on the go.
The sail's balanced shape, with its low center of effort and evenly distributed leech tension, provides stability and control even in gusty winds. The optimized draft placement ensures efficient power generation, allowing you to accelerate quickly and maintain speed effortlessly.
NEILPRYDE RX1 is a high-performance windsurfing sail designed for experienced riders seeking top-notch speed and control. Whether you're into slalom racing or course racing, this versatile sail delivers exceptional performance in various wind conditions.
Featuring an innovative design and cutting-edge materials, the RX1 offers precise tuning options to match your personal sailing style and the demands of different water conditions. With its adjustable outhaul system, you can fine-tune the leech tension and power delivery on the go.
The sail's balanced shape, with its low center of effort and evenly distributed leech tension, provides stability and control even in gusty winds. The optimized draft placement ensures efficient power generation, allowing you to accelerate quickly and maintain speed effortlessly.
This guide is intended to assist in obtaining the best possible performance
from your new RX1 sails. In addition to the latest tips from Bjorn Dunkerbeck,
designer, Nils Rosenblad and the Neil Pryde Team, the end of this section
contains graphic instructions showing two simple steps leading to perfect
trim for all the RX1 sail sizes from 5.8 through 10.6.
BASICS
In order to get the best performance from your sail, it is essential to understand
the fundamentals of rigging and tuning. What your sail looks like sitting on
the beach is completely different from how it looks powered up and pressurized
in all three dimensions while sailing.
CONTROLS
Downhaul
The downhaul determines the draft placement and the amount of twist in
the leech.
Correct downhaul tension puts the sail’s center of effort low and forward
ie right in front of you. The leech should appear to be twisted and somewhat
loose (see specific details that follow). Compared to the Z1, the RX1 shows
a more evenly distributed overall tension in the leech, with a bit more looseness
between the battens, especially in the top sections. The degree of looseness
(in static state on the beach) varies between the smaller slalom sizes and
the larger course racing sizes.
Undertensioning the downhaul moves the draft up and back in the sail.
This makes the sail harder to sheet in, lifting you up on your toes. An under
tensioned downhaul creates a sail shape that is too full on the leading edge
producing excessive draft and limiting top-end speed potential. It also pushes
the nose of the board down increasing friction with the water. This makes
the board slow and hard to control.
DO NOT over tension your downhaul (unless you’re in survival mode)
because it will twist the sail too much, take power away from your sail and
may cause excessive leech flutter.
NOTE: Changing the downhaul tension effectively changes the outhaul
tension as well. When you adjust one you will probably need to adjust the
other as well.
Outhaul
The Outhaul setting determines the amount of power in your sail and the
position of the twist in the leech.
The RX1 generally requires a minimum of ‘neutral’ to 1cm of positive
outhaul. At ‘neutral’ outhaul the clew reinforcement patch may look loose,
but not crumpled – there will be only light tension on the outhaul line on the
beach. ‘Positive outhaul’ should be measured from this point. In very light
winds or puffy conditions where getting onto a plane is difficult, the RX1
sails may benefit from a slightly looser outhaul setting. Refer to the outhaul
dimension printed on the sail for the effective minimum.
Correct outhaul tension properly positions the leech twist: to be open at
the top without sagging at the mid leech. A correctly outhauled sail will feel
well balanced. If you are overpowered, try more outhaul before over-
downhauling.
Undertensioning the outhaul causes the draft to move too far back and
allows the lower leech to twist excessively. This makes the sail unbalanced
and difficult to trim correctly underway.
Overtensioning the outhaul makes the sail too flat aft. This depowers the
sail, restricts the leech twist, and moves the balance point too far forward.
If you feel too much back hand pull, add outhaul. If there is excessive front
hand loading, ease the outhaul. If the sail feels ‘dead’ or slow to plane,
decrease outhaul tension.
NOTE: Changing the outhaul tension effectively changes the downhaul
tension as well. When you adjust one you will probably need to adjust the
other one too.
Bigger sizes (7.6 and up) are generally used in course racing conditions
and can advantageously be used with adjustable outhaul systems, whereby
you tune the sail while sailing. The RX1 is designed to have a variety of
outhaul settings without negatively affecting the leech characteristics. Generally
speaking:
♦ The outhaul should be ‘on’ (flattening the sail) going upwind or reaching.
♦ The outhaul should be let out when going downwind, to get a ‘spinnaker
effect’ making the sail more powerful.
In fact, more and more riders also use these adjustable outhaul systems
also in the slalom sails.
The Three Position Clew
Select the clew position which is most comfortable for your personal sailing
style and which best fits the relevant performance requirements as outlined
below.
UPPER CLEW POSITION: Excellent for smooth water or underpowered
conditions. This position makes the leech firmer and trims with less rake
angle. Also used for course racing going upwind.
MIDDLE POSITION: Good average setting
LOWER CLEW POSITION: Good for rougher water. Makes the leech
softer even with firm outhaul. Trims with more rake angle. Increased control.
Batten Tension
Correct batten tension is an important aspect of proper sail tuning. Correct
batten tension is just enough to remove all batten pocket wrinkles. Any more
is too much. Excessive batten tension forces too much draft into the sail
which spoils the designed shape, and may hinder rotation. Extreme over
tension can damage the sail. If the battens are correctly tensioned, there is
no need to detension them before de-rigging or storing the sail.
ON THE WATER
Course Racing Tips
Course racing requires tuning with the emphasis on more power and more
leech tension to deliver the best possible upwind and downwind performance.
The trick is to reach a balance between enough power and leech tension
2
RX1 TRIM GUIDE – ENGLISH
for optimum pointing ability without sacrificing reaching speed and downwind
control. Reaching this balance is a process of trial and error to determine
which tuning is best for your board and fin combination.
Slalom Tips
Slalom racing requires tuning with the emphasis on top-end speed and
power, period. The smaller RX1s (5.8–7.1) are aimed at solid slalom
performance in winds from 15 to 35 knots. Tuned ideally they should still
have a fairly round entry and very even twist. If you have to use them for
course racing try a bit less downhaul and use an adjustable outhaul to get
the optimum upwind performance.
TUNING
The tuning instructions in this Trim Guide are intended to help you achieve
the correct settings by observing a rigged sail on the beach. The best way
to start is by getting the sail trimmed close to the luff and boom dimensions
printed at the tack.
Once this has been done, step back and look at the result. Hold the sail
up in the breeze, then fine tune to the conditions and your personal preference
working from the drawings for each sail category (slalom or course racing
sizes). With the sail lying in front of you, the head area on the ground, you
will see a loose area between batten #1 and #4. By raising and lowering
the head off the ground using the boom as the lever point, the shape of the
looseness will be more apparent.
Generally, when the sail is being used fully powered, you will be at maximum
downhaul tension (slightly more looseness), and controlling the power in
the sail with the outhaul. Any luffsetting less than that will increase power
but reduce the top end speed. Adjustments of a few millimeters will make
differences that you can feel on the water. Some sizes will appear slightly
flatter or fuller than others, and the leech tension, as seen on the beach, will
not look exactly the same from size to size.
GENERAL POINTS
Sail ‘Break In’
It should be noted that the RX1, will ‘settle in’ during the first few uses. Luff
lengths required to obtain optimum performance settings may become slightly
longer over time, and this is perfectly normal.
In fact performance generally improves as the sail is used, and experienced
racers pay special attention to changing trim settings during the first uses
of new sails; often beginning with minimum downhaul settings and working
toward more downhaul as the sail breaks in.
Harness Lines
Most top racers are using adjustable harness lines to maintain optimum trim.
Neil Pryde Vario Harness Lines can be easily adjusted to longer settings for
slalom or shorter lengths for course racing.
Alternative Masts
All of the tuning instructions above apply to the sail as used with the
recommended first choice mast (RacePro). Tunings for second choice or
compatible masts are best found by experimentation, working from the
information above.
Take Care Of Your Sail
It is an expensive piece of high tech equipment and deserves to be kept
clean with a regular fresh water shower. Put it away dry! Don’t leave your
sail sitting in direct sunlight for extended periods. Over exposure to ultraviolet
radiation can irreparably damage the sail fabrics and films. Furthermore, we
strongly advise you to keep the Shear Tip fittings free of sand and dirt by
rinsing them often. This will ensure a better rotation of the Shear Tip arm.
Curved batten
Batten end falls below smooth leech line
Minimum Outhaul
Maximum Outhaul
Batten end in line with smooth leech
Straight batten
3
RX1 TRIM GUIDE – ENGLISH
RX1 TRIM GUIDE – ENGLISH
Select the correct Neil Pryde RacePro or Race mast
♦ Consult the relevant section of this guide
Select The Correct Mast Base
♦ Consult the section of this guide pertaining to the size of your sail.
♦ Select the recommended base, and adjust it as shown.
Select The Correct Boom and Adjustment Position
♦ Consult the section of this guide pertaining to the size of your sail.
♦ Select the recommended boom, and adjust it as shown.
To Trim the Outhaul
♦ First check the boom dimension as printed on the tack.
♦ Outhaul until the clew is within 1–3cm of the correctly adjusted
recommended boom.
♦ Measure from the leading edge of the mast (at the center of the
boom cutout) to the aft edge of the clew (between the two grommets)
to fine tune the outhaul.
To Trim the Downhaul
♦ First check the correct base setting as printed on the tack of the sail.
♦ Downhaul until the tack is within 1-3cm of the pulley.
♦ Downhaul until you reach the desired luff tension.
HOW TO SET UP THE RIG
Recommended Luff 471.5
MAST 460
471.5
4
Measure from the leading edge of the mast (at the center
of the boom cutout) to the aft edge of the clew.
Example: Recommended luff 471.5.
RX1 TRIM GUIDE – ENGLISH
Size Luff Boom Recommended Masts Base
+/- 1cm +/- 1cm
NEIL PRYDE INTEGRATED RIG
Carbon Alum
5.8 430 188 RacePro 430 Race 430 0 0
6.1 434 192 RacePro 430 Race 430 4 5
6.4 443 198 RacePro 430 Race 430 14 15
6.7 459 201 RacePro 460 Race 460 0 0
7.1 469 209 RacePro 460 Race 460 10 10
7.6 478 216 RacePro 460 Race 460 18 17.5
8.0 495 221 RacePro 490 Race 490 6 5
8.4 504 228 RacePro 490 Race 490 14 15
8.8 512 234 RacePro 490 Race 490 22 22.5
9.3 522 242 RacePro 520 Race 520 2 3
9.9 530 248 RacePro 520 Race 520 10 10
10.6 545 253 RacePro 520 Race 520 26 25
Slalom Sizes 5.8–7.1
Race Sizes 7.6–10.6
RX1 RECOMMENDED RIG
5
Leech Looseness
To begin, place your base at the recommended setting and downhaul to
within a centimeter or so of maximum. Observe the loose area and experiment
with increasing and decreasing the tension until you can see the setting that
you are after. The boom should be on the sail with the outhaul at the medium
setting printed on the tack of the sail.
The drawings underneath are meant to be a guide – not an absolute –
and a reference to enable you to attain consistent tuning results. According
to prevailing conditions, you will then either increase or decrease the downhaul
tension by one centimeter.
As for the outhaul tension, we strongly recommend you to use an adjustable
outhaul system which will enable you to tune your sail ‘on the fly’. Nowadays,
competitive riders use adjustable outhaul systems in all conditions, slalom
and course racing.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
NEILPRYDE RX1 is a high-performance windsurfing sail designed for experienced riders seeking top-notch speed and control. Whether you're into slalom racing or course racing, this versatile sail delivers exceptional performance in various wind conditions.
Featuring an innovative design and cutting-edge materials, the RX1 offers precise tuning options to match your personal sailing style and the demands of different water conditions. With its adjustable outhaul system, you can fine-tune the leech tension and power delivery on the go.
The sail's balanced shape, with its low center of effort and evenly distributed leech tension, provides stability and control even in gusty winds. The optimized draft placement ensures efficient power generation, allowing you to accelerate quickly and maintain speed effortlessly.
Ask a question and I''ll find the answer in the document
Finding information in a document is now easier with AI
Other documents
-
Infinity Ezzy Sails Quick start guide
-
MAUISAILS TR-3 User manual
-
-
-
-
-
RS SAILING Vision Rigging Manual
-
Topper Topper Owner's manual
-
Hobie 18 SX User manual
-
