How to Rig a Freeride Sail in Five Minutes

Downhaul, outhaul and batten tension in the order that saves you a trip back up the beach. Harness line length matters more than most riders think. Moving them two centimetres forward took the strain off tired forearms.

The setup that worked

By late afternoon the wind had backed and steadied, and the whole group was planing across the bay on the same tack.

• Check the mast foot pin before launching
• Move harness lines in small steps
• Rinse the rig and let the sail dry loose
• Set downhaul before outhaul

Tune the rig on the beach, not on the water. You will get more runs in.

Kai Andersen, Gustline crew

A little more downhaul flattened the sail and made it far easier to hold through the gusts. The trade-off was slightly less low-end power.