Batten Tuning: The Adjustment Most Windsurfers Get Wrong
ENGLISH VERSION What Battens Do The batten’s job is to support the sail’s shape. Each one holds a section of
On April 11–12, 2026, the waters of Lake Garda in Torbole witnessed one of the most exciting moments of the season for the CHS Wind Solutions team. Italian athlete Daniele Benedetti, sailing under the number ITA 60, claimed first place at the Austrian Cup, organized by Circolo Surf Torbole — one of the most iconic windsurfing venues in Europe.
For Daniele, this was no ordinary victory. In recent months, training time had been limited — life simply got in the way. Yet when it came to racing, quality showed: speed, course management, and the CHS sail performed flawlessly together.
What makes this result even more meaningful is the dedication: Daniele wanted to remember his grandfather, who passed away about a month ago. A deeply personal gesture that tells you everything about the athlete behind the sail number — and one that moved everyone in the CHS team.
I’m really happy to be back on the podium after a long time. I haven’t had much time to train lately, but this result means a lot to me. I want to thank my sponsors for the great work they are doing — I believe they are totally on the right way!! And I want to dedicate this win to my grandpa, who passed away a month ago. I know you’re proud of me and you’re watching me from up there.
— Daniele Benedetti, post-race
Daniele’s words about his sponsors aren’t just formality. The CHS team is working hard on the development of racing sails for the 2026 season, with Daniele confirmed in the official lineup. Every test session, every regatta, every piece of feedback from the athlete translates into technical refinements that go directly into the sails handcrafted in Senigallia.
The race photos say it all: the CHS sail bearing ITA 60 dominated the Garda racecourse in variable conditions that demand reliable equipment and a profile capable of responding to every wind shift. Exactly what Claudio Badiali has been designing for over 45 years.
Circolo Surf Torbole has been one of the world’s most important windsurfing venues for decades. Lake Garda offers unique conditions — the Pelèr in the morning and the Ora in the afternoon — that test athletes and equipment in a precise, repeatable way. Winning here is never a given.
For CHS Wind Solutions, having an athlete on the top step of the podium at an international competition of this calibre confirms the direction taken: handcrafted sails, built in Italy, with world-podium performance.
The Austrian Cup is just the first chapter of what promises to be an intense season. Daniele Benedetti is already focused on the next events on the circuit, with the determination of someone who knows that the work done by the team — on the water and in the loft in Senigallia — delivers real results.
Claudio Badiali — CHS Wind Solutions
Watching Daniele win with our sail, after such a moving dedication to his grandfather, is one of those moments that reminds you why we do this work. Every sail that leaves our loft carries months of work, testing, and passion inside it. I’m proud of the result — and even more proud of the athlete.
If you want to know which sail is right for you, write to me directly: bad@chswindsolutions.com or on WhatsApp. You can find the full range at chswindsolutions.com.
ENGLISH VERSION What Battens Do The batten’s job is to support the sail’s shape. Each one holds a section of
Ask ten windsurfers what they check before a session and most will say downhaul, outhaul, boom height. The leech? Almost