When choosing the right sail, there are several factors you should consider. These include your skills, your riding style, the conditions at the spot and the type of board you use. Here are some tips to help you choose.
The size of the sail
Choose the size of sail that suits your body weight, skill level and prevailing conditions.Heavier riders need more sail area to get going than lighter surfers. Beginners usually ride smaller sails, combined with large boards. With more experience, you can do well with larger sails.
From a certain level on, the choice of sail size is based on the prevailing conditions, especially the wind strength. If there is more wind, you will use smaller sails, if there is less wind, you will use larger sails. It is of course advantageous to have a range of sails so that you have a choice for different wind conditions.
Windsurfing disciplines
Depending on whether you prefer freeriding, wave, slalom/race or freestyle, there are different types of sails tailored to your riding style.
Freeride
Freeride sails, like freeride boards, are designed to deliver as much control as possible without sacrificing performance. They are usually designed as all-around sails that can be surfed in a variety of conditions. They are usually available in medium to large sizes. They offer good handling and have a good bottom pull to get going quickly.
Wave
Wave sails are usually smaller and have a lot of power, but they also depower well and can still be controlled even in a lot of wind and strong waves. They are also made very robust, for example with X-ply reinforcements, so that they can withstand the stresses in the wave well. These sails are also very suitable for strong winds on the lake. Very small sails - apart from beginner sails - are usually only available in this discipline. There are different types of wave sails - with 3 to 5 battens, the naming here varies depending on the manufacturer. The number of battens in the sail is crucial for control in strong winds, more battens means more control. On the other hand, maneuver handling and sail weight improves when the number of battens is lower.
Freestyle
These sails are made for radical rotations and wild jumps. They build up pressure very quickly and directly to gain a lot of speed and are easy to control during jumps. Usually this type of sail has little to no loose leech, which makes it difficult to control in very strong and gusty winds. Freestyle sails require a lot of skill and experience due to these characteristics.
Slalom/Freerace
Slalom and freerace sails are designed for maximum speed. They are available with camber or without. Cambers are "profile tongs" that are supported on the mast in the extension of the sail batten and provide a pre-profile (i.e. more sail belly) in the area of the mast pocket. This makes the sail a bit more planing. In addition, the camber stabilizes the profile even in increasing wind, camber sails are therefore longer to control. The disadvantage of camber sails is the handling. The rotation of the sail is more noticeable and the mast pocket is wider and therefore takes up more water which makes sheeting and water starting more difficult. Slalom sails are mostly used by professionals together with slalom boards in competitions, but also everyone who just wants to go as fast as possible can reach for these sails. Freerace sails, however, are better suited for hobby use, as they offer a bit more control and are easier to handle.
Foil sails
Foil sails are made specifically for foil use and offer the best control when windsurfing foils. They usually have a very good low-end, so they already build up good pressure with little wind and therefore you don't need a lot of wind to have fun on the water.
Beginner & Kids Sails
Beginner or kids sails are special rigs designed for maximum control. They are usually produced with different materials (Dacron) than sails for advanced sailors and have a construction that allows stronger gusts to pass through well. They also do not build up too much pressure and are therefore perfect for learning the basics and for children and teenagers. Dacron material has the advantage of being very strong and durable, but unfortunately heavier compared to the lightweight monofilm sails. Monofilm is not as durable and also breaks down faster when you fall on the sail.
Windsurfing sails brands
In our store we sell windsurf sails of all major windsurf brands like Naish, Ezzy, GA/Gaastra, Goya, Loftsails, Neilpryde, RRD, S2Maui, Severne, Simmer Style
