Quantum Sails STAR, Tuning Manual

S TA R  /  T UNIN G  GUIDE

ALTERNATE INTERMEDIATE MEASUREMENT  

USING THE SPRING SCALE

You can also set the intermediates using the spring scale method. The 
measurements are the same for this method, but the spring scale should 
have only 18 pounds of pressure. Either method works. Here is a helpful 
video explaining both methods. 

When you’re on the water, a good method for checking whether your 
spreaders are even is by pushing the mast forward at the deck to bring 
the spreaders back to their stops. Check to see if they hit simultaneously. 
The spreader angle tends to move over time so check them periodically. 
If you’re looking for more mast bend, especially in lighter air, push the 
spreader sweep back as far as or 5.75” (14.7cm) from the mast. At this 
setting, you’ll need a little more lower backstay when the breeze comes 
up. Make sure to check that the spreaders are even after making any 
adjustment. 

SHROUDS

Connect and tape the shrouds into place so that they stay attached to 
the mast when the mast is stepped. Make sure that anything sharp is 
properly taped to protect the sails.

BACKSTAYS

If you have a new mast, you need to cut the backstays. The goal is to get 
the backstays to a point where you can pull enough on when it gets windy 
and ease for speed in lighter air. We like to cut our backstays so that the 
distance from the top of the black band on the rig to the bearing point of 
the backstay is 6”-7½”.

SPREADER LENGTH

Next, connect the spreaders to the mast. Once these are installed, tie 
a small line or shock cord between the tips that is even with the shroud 
bolts and check the sweep of the spreaders. The measurement from the 
back of the mast to the line between the spreaders should be 5” (12.7cm). 

Check that the spreaders are even with the same line from tip to tip and 
parallel to the top of the plug for your mast butt. You can check this by 
laying a batten on the plug for your mast butt and sighting the batten to 
the shock cord between the spreaders. 

PART 1

PART 2

PRELIMINARY MAST SETUP