• RAKE:

Use the main halyard and headstay length to adjust the rake of the DN. The higher you raise the sail, the more you can lengthen the headstay and the more your mast will bend. Lowering the halyard and shortening the headstay will make the mast bend less. This is because of the increased angle of the headstay to the mast, as well as the sail being lowered into the stiffer, less tapered part of the mast. Adjust the headstay so the boom is slightly angled down from horizontal at the leech end. Adjust the main halyard so there is about 12" between the boom and the deck at the stern (14" in light winds, 10" in heavy winds).

• MAST STEP:

The farther forward the step is, the more the mast bends and the more pressure you put on the front runner. In light air or sticky conditions, move the mast step forward. When you want the boat to point higher and the mast to bend less, move the mast step back.

• SOCKET ON MAST:

The farther forward you put the socket, the easier the mast rotates. Put the socket in the middle for light and heavy winds and in the back for medium winds.

• SIDESTAYS:

Sidestays should be 136" long, measured from the pin that attaches them to the plank, to the pin that attaches them to a Struble or Sarns hound/triangle. The length will vary if you are using a different type of hound attachment. The looser you make the sidestays, the more the mast and plank bend. Tighten your sidestays so when you stand on your plank the sidestays are just snug. Tighten the sidestays more for heavy air and less for light air.

• BLOCK POSITION:

Control the rotation of your mast by adjusting your mainsheet blocks to pull or push the boom. If you move the blocks aft on the boom, your sheet will push the boom forward and rotate the mast. By moving the blocks forward on the boom, you can pull the boom aft and take the rotation out of the mast.

A certain amount of rotation is desirable to add camber for low-end power and acceleration. You should position your blocks so the mast "derotates" when

the main sheet is trimmed hard. The object is to reduce mast bend to get more leech tension for higher pointing and top end speed. By "derotating" the mast, you line up the stiffer fore and aft axis of the mast with high leech loads. This means you can pull harder on the sheet without over flattening the sail and dumping off the leech. In light winds with sticky conditions, allow the mast to rotate. In heavy air with cleaner ice, pull back harder and harder on the boom unless the mast will not rotate after tacks.

• BATTENS:

Many people spend too much time on battens and tensioning devices. Just put the battens in tight enough to remove the wrinkles and then leave them alone. In heavy air, it helps to add a second or stiffer batten to the top one or two battens to flatten the top of the sail.

• PLANK POSITIONS:

With heavier winds and clean ice, move the plank aft to put more pressure on the front runner. Move the plank forward in snowy or sticky conditions when steering is not a problem and you need the most hiking leverage.

• HALYARD POSITION ON HEADBOARD:

The DN headboard has four different holes in which you can attach the halyard. The closer to the leech you attach the halyard, the tighter the leech will be. If you attach the halyard to the front hole, the sail will hoist a little higher and make it easier for the head to twist back and open the leech. To avoid wrinkles in the head of the sail, use the front holes, towards the luff, when you hoist the sail all the way to the top of the spar. Use the back holes, towards the leech, when you sail with the halyard eased.

• CARE AND STORAGE:

The mast is clear coated with epoxy to make it easy for the purchaser to make additions to the mast. The clear coat does have an ultraviolet ray inhibitor. However, the mast should be kept covered when it is not being used. The mast should be stored with the groove down whenever possible, especially during the summer months.

• THESE TIPS ARE A GOOD STARTING POINT!

If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to contact Ron Sherry.

Composite Concepts also produces Clone Hulls, Custom Planks, Tillers, Hiking Racks and Prepreg Carbon Fiber Runner Sides. We are distributors for Bryant Spars, Jofa (helmets), William B. Sarns Company and Harken.