Adjusting the luff tension is something that every windsurfer only does if they absolutely have to - after all, you have to go to the beach and invest a little time in it. In this respect, the promise of the new Triple D mast extension sounds like the dream of all lazy windsurfers: retrimming at the touch of a button, while riding! Naturally, we pricked up our ears and asked the developers behind the innovation, Wim and David van Houdt, for an interview.
Wim, before we talk about the technical aspects, tell us a bit about your background. How did you come up with the idea of developing an automatically adjustable extension?
I developed the Triple D extension together with my son David. We are both engineers and passionate windsurfers. The idea was to develop an extension that allows you to adjust the trim via a remote control on the boom while surfing. This is a great option, especially for regattas and races like the Defi.
Did you have support for this or did you develop all the components of the extension yourself?
We developed all the electronic components, the remote control and the entire mechanics ourselves. It took two years to develop the first radio-controlled extension, the one for SDM masts, and then another two years for the thinner version for RDM masts.
Let out a little luff and you'll be the first to planing. If you're travelling at speed, pull the sail flatter and outrun everyone!
How does the system work from a technical point of view? Can it be used to carry out the complete trimming process?
The sail is set up as with a normal extension. Starting from the centre position, the system can ease or trim in the range of 1.5 centimetres. If the entire trimming process were to be carried out using an electric winch, a significantly larger and heavier motor would be required. In this way, the system remains comparatively light, with the entire SDM extension with inner workings weighing around one kilo. Of this, around 500 grams is accounted for by the extension itself and 500 grams by the electronic inner workings. There is a remote control on both sides of the boom that can be used to retrim - two steps up and two steps down. Let out a little luff and you'll be the first to glide. If you're travelling at full speed, pull the sail flatter and outrun everyone!
How many trimming cycles can the battery manage in the extension?
The battery lasts for around 20 to 25 trimming cycles. The battery can be recharged via a USB port, for example in the car. Of course, you can also use the Triple D extension like a normal extension without the inner workings. But everyone who has used it so far doesn't want to go out on the water without it.
Electronics and water don't always go well together...
The system is protected against overcharging, overheating and deep discharge. It has been tested by DEKRA and is waterproof (>30 min; > 1m), and can also withstand tensile forces of over 500 kilos when trimming. Naturally, the product comes with a two-year guarantee. The complete system costs 495 euros and is available from our Website available.
