Leaving the water to re-trim the sail - most people only do this when there is no other option. Until now, those who are on their way to the starting line of Defi Wind & Co have had to bite the bullet and persevere. An extension that enables minor trim adjustments to be made while travelling - this promise made us prick up our ears. We tried out the automatic extension.
The basic idea behind the Triple E extension
The extension called Triple E by two clever engineers from the Netherlands is made of carbon and has an adjustment range of 32 centimetres. Inside is a powerful rechargeable battery with a pull mechanism. Two small remote controls are included in the scope of delivery and are attached to each side of the boom with Velcro. By pressing the corresponding button, the mechanism either pulls the sail flat or releases tension. This happens in stages; pressing the button once changes the tension by around 1.5 centimetres. The system is therefore not designed for complete trimming, but is only intended to cover minor adjustments to the luff in a range of +/- 1.5 cm.
This is how the extension is set up
The fact that the extension as such has to be significantly longer than the 32 centimetres is due to the fact that there is still enough space inside for a battery and the pulling mechanism. Due to its size and the integrated battery, the weight of the Triple E is of course significantly higher than that of standard extensions - the test extension weighed 1.14 kilos. By comparison, carbon extensions with a similar adjustment range usually weigh between 400 and 650 grams. The adjustment ring on the Triple E is tried and tested, familiar from brands such as NeilPryde and Severne, and works perfectly. Unfortunately, the Xtension has no printed length information - a shortcoming. The extension can be used for RDM masts as standard, but can also be used for such masts using the SDM rings supplied.
When threading the rope, you first have to rethink a little to get a clean rope guide, as the rope is not fixed to the side on the Triple E, as is usually the case, but comes out of the centre roller, via which it is later pulled into the interior of the extension by the mechanism. At first glance, the extension makes an absolutely solid impression, the push button and rollers look high-quality.
Before inserting the extension into the mast, you should remember to switch the device on. To switch on the battery, you have to remove the small plastic cap at the top end of the extension, which is a little fiddly in practice. The small plug that can be used to charge the battery is also hidden here. The charging cable is also included in the scope of delivery, and thanks to a USB connection, this can also be done via the car's cigarette lighter. According to the manufacturer, the battery should manage at least 100 adjustments - that corresponds to 25 complete trimming processes with all intermediate stages - although it should make a difference whether you are trimming a small wave sail or adjusting a camber sail with naturally higher tensile forces. In any case, the battery should last for more than just one extended session. By the way: You can't see the charge status of the battery from the outside of the extension - but if you want, you can check it via a small app on the smartphone. But: If you remove the cover of the extension, you can see the charging status via the colour of the LEDs. The system costs 495 euros and is available via the Page of the manufacturer available.
On the water
If you want to go out on the water with the Triple E extension, you should set the centre position of the pull mechanism before trimming and rig the sail in the usual manner with a medium luff trim. Starting from this centre trim, you now have the option of relaxing to a light wind trim on the water, which can make a noticeable difference when planing and planing through. If the wind picks up or you are chasing your personal top speed on long room sheet runs, two clicks on the remote control are enough to give the sail significantly more loose leech within a few seconds. The adjustment range of the extension is sufficient to modify most common wave, freeride and camber sails from light wind to strong wind trim without having to leave the water. However, it should be noted that changing the luff trim by a few centimetres ideally always requires an adjustment of the trim sheet trim. Of course, the system cannot do this - but the makers of the Triple E are working on a solution. So if you want to use the system sensibly and for regattas like the Defi Wind, you should still combine it with a conventional trim system for the outhaul and then you have a real trump card up your sleeve.
Triple E extension - the bottom line
The Triple E extension works technically flawlessly and keeps its promise of being able to adjust the trim while surfing. The extension can be used with all types of sails - however, it is probably predestined for use in sporty freeride and camber sails. Use in small wave sails seems less sensible. Questions remain about the reliability of the system - electronics and salt water do not always get along well. The manufacturer emphasises that the system is Dekra-tested for leaks, comes with a 2-year guarantee and that team riders have been using the system for two years without any problems. In any case, you should bear in mind that the Triple E is a technical device that will require a little care in order to function in the long term.
Trimming while driving
Price; Higher weight
No dimensions printed
Note from the editors: In the original version of the test report, we described the position of the clamp as not ideal for threading the rope cleanly. This was not the case - the Triple E can be threaded cleanly with the correct sequence. We have corrected the error and apologise for it!
