Thread your downhaul correctly!
Stop threading the downhaul wrong!
Have you ever wondered how to thread the downhaul? Or just thread the rope from first pulley to the last?
As we have to rig sails on daily basis, i see many of my students are not aware of the right threading of the ropes on the downhaul.
What is the major problem - the pulleys on the extention and the ones on the sail are at 90 degrees angle. So if we do from first to the list (down to up) by putting tension, the pulleys tend to be parallel, as they follow the rope thread. That is all right, but makes the strap that holds the block of pulleys on the sail to twist. Nothing will happen in the beginning, but in a long term, that constant twist will either brake the strap, or the block with the pulleys on the sail will brake.
To avoid that, simply follow the right threading set up. This way you prevent the sail from damage, and actually it is a lot easier to trip the sail
Here a short video, provided by Goya Windsurfing shows the correct way to thread the rope through the pulleys
Enjoy and stay safe
