I have always just put the mastfoot right back since I got my Rockets..I get really tired quickly on the 95 ltre in 25kts & chop..its so fast .
Would putting the mast foot forward make any difference? The board doesn't misbehave ..I'm a bit scared putting it forward might make it nosedive into the back of chop which wouldn't be fun in those conditions..?![]()
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I'm going the other way with my Tabou Rockets. I usually place the mastfoot in the middle on the basis that I didn't really know where to put it and if its in the middle then its probably halfway right or wrong.
The last few sails I've placed the mastfoot at the back, especially on the bigger board. Its a bit more lively having the mast foot at the back.
I think if the board is bouncing around and out of control the moving the mastfoot forward will improve control. I haven't had any issues with nose dive on my Rockets. I've sailed out in the ocean off South West Rocks with them too. The bigger one's nose slaps into the back of chop as its so broad and big but it hasn't dived.
the back to middle is best
if wind gets real strong around middle but i never go forward of middle
forward is slow, middle is fast, back is same speed as middle just alot livelier
I think generally more modern boards have their mast track further back than older boards. Check out the pictures of early 80 shortboards to get extreme examples of this.
So on older boards I'd be sticking the mast track as far as it can get, especially with more modern sails.
132-134cm from the tail is a good starting point with modern sails, if it's too lively/uncomfortable go fwd a bit and if it catches rail and ploughs into the chop go back a bit
If you sit your boards on the ground and line up the finbox/backstraps you'll find your old waveboard will have the masttrack waaay further forward than your Tabou
So put a texta mark at 132/134cm and work off that
edit ooops Moby beat me toit sorry o wise one![]()
Also keep in mind boom height when considering mast track position - they are directly related through geometry. From what I can gather, most of the "quicks" find the sweet spot for the mast foot and then adjust control through boom height. In overpowered conditions drop the boom a little. Guess it's a bit like downhaul / outhaul - most find the down haul sweet spot and adjust outhaul to conditions.
That said, if you're struggling in marginal conditions, putting the mast foot forward will get you planing quicker, just as letting a bit of downhaul off will give a bit more power. Always exceptions to the rule ![]()