Ezzy Hydra Sport User manual

Calibrated Downhaul System
1) To set your downhaul:
a) Use the correct Ezzy mast combina-
tion and check that the length of your
mast falls within the recommended
length (chart 1). See “Troubleshooting”
if your Ezzy mast combination does not
match with the lengths in Chart 1.
b) Downhaul your sail until the calibra-
tion mark lines up with the bottom of
the mast (figure 1).
Which Calibration Line to Use?
- Powered up: use the MAX line.
- Medium powered: use the MED line.
- Under-powered, use the MIN line.
Additional Information:
- We have set the adjustable head
cap to the correct setting. Do not re-
adjust the head webbing.
- If you feel back-hand pressure, apply
more outhaul.
- If you are foiling, set your sail flatter,
with more outhaul and downhaul.
- To get the best performance, adjust
the downhaul and outhaul together.
For example, if you increase the
downhaul for strong wind, you should
also increase the outhaul. And, for light
wind, to get maximum power, reduce
the outhaul as well as the downhaul.
-The Hydra has been designed to
ALWAYS have a fold of material
extending along the luff from the #2
batten down to the foot batten.
Tuning the Hydra Sport
3.7 340 340 340.5
4.7 370 400 385.5
5.7 400 430 415.5
6.7 430 430 430.5
8.1 460 460 460.5
Mast Combination Total Length
Bottom Top (with tip plug)
(cm) (cm) (cm)
Figure 1: Downhaul until the
calibration mark lines up with
the bottom of the mast.
Chart 1: correct mast
combinations and lengths.
head
luff
leech
foot batten
clew
foot
tack
outhaul
downhaul
MAX
MED
MIN

Fig. 4: Tension tack strap and
store downhaul line in mesh pocket.
Figure 2: With the leech lying
on the ground, downhaul until
the looseness extends to the
four dots.
2) Setting the Downhaul if You Do Not
Have the Correct Ezzy Mast:
a) First, make sure you have NO outhaul.
b) Then, downhaul until the looseness on
the leech extends to the four dots printed
on the upper leech of the sail (figure 2).
Note: to see the looseness, the leech at
the dots must be touching the ground.
c) This is the medium wind setting.
d) Next, move the downhaul gauge at the
bottom of the sail so that the medium
mark of the gauge lines line up with the
bottom of your mast (figure 3).
e) The downhaul gauge is now positioned
correctly. From now on, to set your down-
haul, just downhaul until the the gauge
lines up with the bottom of your mast.
Note: When observing the looseness at
the dots for this exercise, the sail must
have no outhaul. When you apply outhaul
the leech tightens.
Additional Information:
- See page 1 for an explanation on which
line to use of the downhaul gauge.
-If you feel back-hand pressure, apply
more outhaul.
- If you change to a different mast, you
will need to repeat steps a) through e).
3) Tension the Tack Strap
After downhauling, thread the tack strap
through the buckle and pull the strap until
the foot gets tension. You will see a small
wrinkle running out from the corner of the
sail. Then, wrap the end of the tack strap
around your mast extension and loop the
end of the tack strap under itself and
secure the strap with the velcro. Store
your downhaul line in the mesh pocket
located inside the pad (fig. 4).
Figure 3: Downhaul until the
calibration mark lines up with
the bottom of the mast.
wrinkle
tension
store line in
mesh pocket
MAX
MED
MIN

Fig. 5: Positive outhaul
4) Setting the Outhaul:
The Hydra Sport requires more positive
outhaul than most sails (fig. 5).
The three cords sewn at the clew indicate
how much positive outhaul is needed for
varying wind conditions. The longest cord
shows the maximum outhaul for strong
wind; the shortest cord indicates the
minimum outhaul for light wind and the
middle cord shows a medium outhaul
setting.
Follow these steps to set the outhaul:
a) First, correctly set the downhaul.
b) Next, release all outhaul tension.
c) Make sure the battens are all rotated
under the mast.
d) Then, gently pull on the outhaul cord
and set your boom to the end of the cord
(fig. 6).
e) Finally, outhaul your sail to the end of
the boom (fig. 7).
Additional Information:
- When setting your boom to the cord,
don’t pull the clew.
- We suggest starting with the medium
length cord. If you feel over-powered
(back-hand pressure), increase the
outhaul about 1 to 2 cm. If you feel
under-powered, reduce the outhaul by
about 1 to 2 cm.
5) Tensioning the battens:
Use the tensioner key that is stored in
the pad of the sail and tension the
battens until you eliminate any vertical
wrinkles that extend out from either side
of the batten pocket (figure 8).
Note: Your battens have already been
tuned by us in the factory and most likely
will not need further tuning. Be careful
not to over-tension your battens.
Figure 8: Tension the battens
until there are no vertical wrinkles
on either side of the batten pocket.
Fig. 3: Adjust the boom
length to the outhaul cord.
Fig. 4: Outhaul to
the end of the boom.
positive
outhaul

6) Sail Care:
- Creasing damages the sail cloth.
Avoid creasing your sail when rigging
and de-rigging.
- Sunlight kills all sail cloth. Keep your
sail out of the sun when not sailing.
- Don’t rig on sharp objects.
- After rolling the sail, tuck the pad so
it rests along the sail, wrap the tack
strap around the pad and the sail, then
attach the velcro (fig. 9).
- Insert your sail sleeve-end first into
the sail bag (fig. 10).
- Never store your sail upright resting
on the clew.
- Don’t store your sail when it is wet
with fresh water. This can cause mold
or mildew to grow.
7) Troubleshooting:
> I am using the correct Ezzy mast
combination, but my mast is
3.0mm longer than the lengths
listed on your chart, what should I
do?
a) Remove the downhaul gauge from
the sail and re-attach it 3.0mm lower.
> My Ezzy mast is 3.0mm shorter
than the lengths listed on your
chart, what should I do?
a) Move the downhaul gauge up by
3.0mm.
> My sail has too much back-hand
pressure.
a) Apply more outhaul.
b) Reduce downhaul.
Fig. 9: After rolling, tuck
the pad, then wrap with the tack
strap and secure the velcro.
Fig. 10:
Sleeve end
first into bag.
rigging videos: www.ezzy.com / email: [e-mail]
Fig. 11: Threading the tack pulley
for a Chinook-style extension.
Sail
Pulley
start
end
Base
Pulley