We will help you make the ideal choice!

Choosing a windsurfing sail can be a difficult choice.

There are different types and sizes of windsurfing sails which can make it easy to lose track. 

Through this blog we would like to help you choose the ideal windsurfing sail.

How do I choose a windsurfing sail?

To know which windsurfing sail or sail size to buy, there are a few things that matter. 

First of all, it is useful to know what your own level is. For example, if you don't use a trapeze yet, it is not wise to buy an 8.5 windsurfing sail right away, because that makes learning to use a trapeze much more difficult. It is also important to consider the wind conditions you prefer. At wind force 6 you need a smaller sail than at wind force 3. 

It is also important to know which discipline you prefer. Are you more slalom oriented or more wave oriented? There are big differences between the different windsurfing sails. In this blog we give more information about this.

For those who have a windsurfing sail, we recommend that you don't always get too close to your other size. For example, if you have a 5.0, don't buy a 5.2 but rather a 6.0. That way you have a wider range of windsurfing sails and you can get out on the water with almost any weather!

The most common sail sizes for wave sails are between 3.7 - 5.2. The most common sail sizes for freestyle sails fall between 4.0 - 5.2. For freeride sails, most sizes fall between 4.5 - 7.8. Here you can already see that freeride has a wide range of sail sizes. Regular sail sizes for slalom fall between 6.2 - 8.7. Larger sails are used in slalom windsurfing.

Types of windsurfing sails

As with windsurfing boards, there are a lot of different windsurfing sails. There are sails for every category.

Generally it goes without saying: if you are a freerider then you need a freeride sail and board. 

But this doesn't always have to be the case. For example, some windsurfers do freestyle with a wave sail.

It could also be that you like multiple disciplines, so you might need a wave sail in addition to your slalom gear.

1. Freeride Sails

Freeride sails are very popular. These windsurfing sails are ideal and suitable for both beginner and advanced surfers. This is due to the large range of available sail sizes and options, freeride sails are very accessible. 

Among the freeride windsurf sails, you can also choose windsurf sails with cambers or without cambers. A sail without cambers is lighter and takes less time to rig.

A sail with cambers takes more time to rig up and unrig, but you get a lot of extra speed in return!

The sail size of the freeride sail depends on your skills, but also for example on the location and the wind conditions.

2. Freestyle sails

Freestyle sails are often used to do tricks. While sailing with a freestyle sail you will notice that you get into plané faster. This allows you to do several tricks in a row. 

Freestyle sails are wider in design and generally have a shorter mast. However, you will find that a freestyle requires a longer mast than a wave sail. Freestyle sails are sailed with small sizes so that you maintain flexibility while surfing. You want to rotate or slide as fast as possible and it is nice to be able to move deftly with the sail.  

Freestyle sails almost always require an RDM mast. (Reduced diameter mast). These masts are narrower in diameter without compromising the durability and strength of the mast.

3. Wave sails

Wave sails you use to rip into the waves and make high jumps. During wave surfing your windsurfing set will take a lot of beating. But buying a new set after every wave session is of course unnecessary. This is because wave windsurf sails are made super strong. 

X-Ply is used in the wave windsurfing sails for extra strength. This allows you to crash through the waves without fear of tearing your sail.

Most wave sails have 3-4 battens, which gives the sail enough strength but also the flexibility you need in your windsurfing sail.

As with freestyle, wave windsurfing sails are sailed with an RDM Mast.

4. Freerace sails

Freerace sails are known for their fast acceleration and jibe capabilities in extreme conditions. 

Many windsurfers like to sail freerace windsurfing sails because they feel comfortable and stable. In addition, freerace sails allow you to achieve a high final speed, which of course is incredibly cool!

Most freerace sails have cambers. Cambers provide extra bulge in the sail, a more streamlined profile, making you plan faster over the water. Because of the tight profile you can plan longer. 

Most freerace sails require an SDM Mast. (Standard Diameter Mast).

5. Slalom sails

Slalom windsurfing sails are often used for competitions. These sails are perfect when you want to windsurf rock hard and win. You can achieve high final speeds with these sails, but it also requires skill from the windsurfer himself. 

Slalom sails can be recognized by the cambers and multiple slats. These provide the extra bulge in the sail which leads to improved acceleration. As a result, you will achieve faster top speeds. Often 6-7 battens are used, which are more than in other windsurfing sails. Because of the multiple slats, the sail keeps its tight profile and stability. This is necessary when racing across the water at high speeds.

One disadvantage of slalom sails is that they are heavier than a wave sail, for example. This is due to the extra slats and extra cambers. They are also often surfed with double the surface area.