Hi Guys,
I am back at windsurfing after 20 years... dont ask why... in any case i have a lot of old gear and I recently bought a used firestorm v3 101lt which has been amazing and so quick and easy.
the question is... is it worth buying new sails? Is the upgrade so obvious and worth it as it has been with my board? what are the pros of the new sails?
Thanks in advance
I would say it depends on what your old kit is. Some of that old stuff is pretty good
New sails are better but they must be accompanied by the right mast too, it needs to be a package.
Newer sails are lighter and have better handling but in some ways are more specialised too.
I would get the sails that suit the conditions you sail in and wind strengths too.
I would recommend spending the most money on masts and getting used sails. We tend to turn over our sails much more often than masts, and i believe bad masts will make a good sail kind of crap. But agree with making sure you buy the right type of mast custom curve or flex top for the brand of sails you purchase.
How old is the rig that you are using? Use what you already have until it gets destroyed and save until then. You'll learn what direction you want to take also try some other kit if possible and talk to many. identify what conditions you sail in & style of sailing you want - Slalom race with 4 cams, 3 cams, free race 2 cams , free race no cams cross over with fewer battens or wave sails. Yes they are all different.
aslo consider how your board is meant to be sailed as choice of sail can effect this performance. Ie wave sail on slalom machine & Race sail on a thruster set up (extreme examples). when you're ready to buy keep to the same brand & era for sail & mast. Second hand sails are fine but I don't enjoy someone else's crashed mast that still looks fine. Broken sails are pretty easy to spot.
Keep asking questions. great that the Stoke is back for you.
Select to expand quoteBSN101 said..
How old is the rig that you are using? Use what you already have until it gets destroyed and save until then. You'll learn what direction you want to take also try some other kit if possible and talk to many. identify what conditions you sail in & style of sailing you want - Slalom race with 4 cams, 3 cams, free race 2 cams , free race no cams cross over with fewer battens or wave sails. Yes they are all different.
aslo consider how your board is meant to be sailed as choice of sail can effect this performance. Ie wave sail on slalom machine & Race sail on a thruster set up (extreme examples). when you're ready to buy keep to the same brand & era for sail & mast. Second hand sails are fine but I don't enjoy someone else's crashed mast that still looks fine. Broken sails are pretty easy to spot.
Keep asking questions. great that the Stoke is back for you.
Hey! I really appreciate the time and effort you put into answering me! Really appreciate it... If you ever in Greece drop me a line and I will be happy to make up to you!
As of the gear am using a 1996 NP VX3 6.3 along with its matching CK 75% mast... Its working amazingly to be honest... very predictable and fast... I am among the fastest windsurfers on my home beach although they rock 2020 new loftsails!
Good advice overall... will put them into practice for sure!
If youre enjoying it.....keep doing it. Im sure at 25 years old it will give up when its ready. Mast is prob still fine for newer sails. Id be more worried about a 20 year old boom than anything.
Where in Greece are you? Id love to get to Rodos sometime it looks v,nice. Just gotta catch my dose of Corona before can go anywhere !
My favorite sail is a 96 north sails zeta. Strong great performance, light, light in the hands, huge range, unaffected by uvs. I like all sizes 3.7-5.3.
Some new sails tend to last quite a bit too, it's a bit of a lottery to be honest between the different brands, model and model year!
Masts make a big difference too. Any sail from late 90s up should be good.
Love watching old school videos of guys doing incredible stuff on new then but very old now gear!
