Planning your sail quiver has perhaps taken on another dimension, now that windsurf kit is so expensive.
In the old days, I'd just replace all my sails in one hit and, in my case, this has been Severne S1s, usually bought new.
More lately, I tend to pick up a sail secondhand, and sometimes you have to take what's available, so you buy just one or two sails at a time. You might also buy last year's sail new, but at end of season sale prices.
How do you do this?
I've tried a few combinations to fit my freestyle board and wave boards and the standard quiver is:
5.2, 4.8, 4.4, 4.0 and 3.6. These five sails could fit on two masts, a 4m and the 370.
I then changed that a bit, because my 5.2 fits on the freestyle board well, but wavesailing generally needs a 5.0m sail or smaller if you want to turn easily on a wave.
So my quiver for the last three seasons has been:
5.2, 5.0, 4.4, 4.0, and 3.6. I also have an older 3.3m for storm days.
The change down from 5.0 to 4.4m is usually fine, but some days you miss not having a 4.8 or 4.7. The 5.0 and the 4.4 are probably my most-used sail sizes, suiting the usual wind we get here.
My 3.6 doesn't get used often and so it looked new when I came to change the 2020 quiver, and I held on to the 2020 3.6 when I upgraded to 2022 sails in the bigger sizes. I then sold that 3.6 recently, in 2024, thinking I'd found a 2022 3.6 at a good price. But, stupidly, I let the 3.6 I had go before I got the new one, and then some other buyer beat me to it. So I was then looking around for a 3.6 for three months.
A 2024 3.7 then came up at a good price in January (2025), and that was a Severne Blade, but I bought it. It looks like new.
I then worked out that a Blade 4.7m would fit well between my 5.0 and 4.4 S1s, and so I bought an unused 2024 4.7 when that came up at a good price.
Ebay then told me that a 2024 4.2m Blade was available, and it was one I'd already spotted but it was now discounted by 50 quid.
They caught me in a weak moment, sat at home with a glass of wine in my hand. The result is I now have a duplicated quiver of ridiculous proportions.
5.2m, 5.0m, 4.7m, 4.4m, 4.2m, 4.0m, 3.7m, and the older 3.3m storm sail.
This now looks like a row of carrots that have been seeded too close together. You could weed out every other one.
On the plus side, I now have a lot of sails to cover the 5m to 4.4m wind range we often get here, and that means the sails I have will last longer.
I also have a new sub-quiver of three 2024 matching Blades, 4.7m, 4.2m, and 3.7m, and if travelling light to places like Cape Town that small quiver covers most wave sailing bases - plus all three sails could just about rig on a 370 mast. That minimalism certainly helps with modern airline board bag restrictions.
I could add the 5.2 (S1) to the travel quiver if I wanted to use my freestyle board in lighter winds, but that would necessitate travelling with a second mast, plus the two boards of course.
In truth, this new way of buying kit has resulted in me having way too many sails, and once I work out which ones I prefer, I'll sell on the ones I find I don't use.
I may have to ban myself from eBay and other selling sites, or perhaps I need help with my windsurf addiction.
But it's not just our sport which does this. A friend of mine who goes hiking and camping told me he has 7 tents - even though he can only use one at a time. Is there such a thing as 'consumer madness' ?
Blades would probably be best 4.0 and down for storm sailing control.
4.4 to 5.2 s1 for when the waves are good.I always try to keep one of my older sails around 5.0 as a spare.Small 4.0 3.7 range I keep for years as they dont see much use.Now I'll probably just pass them on to my kids to wreck.
Select to expand quotesboardcrazy said..
Cripes you must live in a windy location. 
Well the freestyle board used to be the way to solve a light wind problem, and that still works for me with a 5.2m - when some windsurfers go to their slalom gear on 6m+ sails. I personally don't want to go fast, and a freestyle board is the nearest we get to wave sailing and gybing fun when the wind is lighter and the sea is flat.
There was also an earlier time when we'd be on longboards in those 6m or 7m or 8m conditions, although I hate big rigs.
But that has all changed here again, and most people are now on wingfoil gear, in winds less than 20knots.
They get more time on the water than I do, and that's another discussion to be had elsewhere.
The same guys come back to their windsurfing waveboards when it's 5m windy or windier.
When I left the UK in 2012 I bought a quiver of sails, but they're starting to show their age now. but looking at prices now (and the really limited stock we have in New Zealand) I'm starting to think a trip back to the UK might be on the cards. We just don't have many options here. That said, I've started sailing the Windsurfer LT. nice and simple.
Add another family member into the mix and you really gotta work hard to afford a good setup.
over the past 3 years my son has gone from child to teenager so he's required effectively a full change in boards, sails, masts, harness etc. With the kids gear it was all bought new, boards were used but in as new condition. I got help from my local severne shop with acquiring the kids gear which was very appreciated.
Now he's on adult gear so a full transition of equipment. Everything is second hand. sails from 2018-2024. Picking up bits and pieces when the price was right and the opportunity existed was a necessity. I had to wait 2 years to find a 5.2m S1 pro which completed an S1 pro quiver for him of 3.6, 4, 4.4, 4.8, 5.2 & 5.6. All rigged on a 400 gorilla and 370 blue masts with severne carbon wave boom. Boards I got for good deals used when they came up. The smaller sail sizes were used regularly when he transitioned to adult gear so got a season or 2 use but are now only used during intense storms so really he only needs 5.6-4.4. To get his sails I had my name down with severne dealers for used sails, contact with pro riders who were rotating quivers, and jumped on any deals that came up in between. The initial 5.6 I got him was very cheap and very used but he loved it a lot. He went through the window, I patched it, but he went through that so I had it properly repaired. Eventually the repair started to stretch so I got him a replacement used 5.6 in much better condition. Well keep the repaired one as a spare.
i have a quiver of simmer sails, 7.2, 6.2, 5.6, 5, 4.5 blacktips in wave sizes. new from 2018 - and used from 2020 in smaller sizes. Again local simmer dealers helped me out as they are friends. Second hand sails all came from 1-2 sources.
Also, at one time I couldn't get my son the larger severne sizes needed so I picked up a 5m and 4.5m simmer Tricera for him to use on my Simmer masts. We still use them occasionally but not regularly. I'm reluctant to sell as they are not made anymore and are excellent shapes. My simmer quiver is getting on tho and starting to get tired. Thank god my son's quiver is sorted as I'm next inline. First up are 2x 2025 evoqs for my most used sizes. Won't replace those for a few years that's for sure.
boards for me, I build myself or buy deals when they arise. Add the longboards to the list, sups etc and there is a fair bit of kit in the garage. I'm slowly selling gear that's not being used and usually pass on any deals I got when I bought it to help quick sales. 100% of the proceeds from used gear sales goes into new purchases.
There's no way I could replace all that gear every season like I once did. I look after the gear. Repair and maintain everything and teach my son the same skills. We have gear ranging from 2012 to 2024 and it's all excellent kit. Experience helps with what to buy and what to look for. When a board or sail gets acquired and is an excellent piece of kit there is no immediate need to replace it unless it gets broken beyond repair while being used or we feel like trying something new.
we have friends with kids in the same boat. Mix of used and nos gear. As I'm always looking at kit both new and used I give them heads up when I see something that suits.
what I struggle with is selling gear that has great memories
don't even start me with fins.
Not to get political but I'll be making sure nothing I buy in my future quivers is from America. Thats a consumer protest from me. Lucky for me that's not a huge change
Select to expand quoteGestalt said..
Not to get political but I'll be making sure nothing I buy in my future quivers is from America. Thats a consumer protest from me. Lucky for me that's not a huge change
So you've ruled out Northwave...
I'm an ezzy guy, but I would rather support a small company like northwave than buy factory sails from China.
Select to expand quotejdfoils said..Gestalt said..
Not to get political but I'll be making sure nothing I buy in my future quivers is from America. Thats a consumer protest from me. Lucky for me that's not a huge change
So you've ruled out Northwave...
I'm an ezzy guy, but I would rather support a small company like northwave than buy factory sails from China.
i'm probably never gonna buy a sail from northwave anyways so it's no biggy for them.
to keep things on topic it will be interesting to see how tariffs affect windsurfing more broadly and the impact that has on peoples quiver choices.
Select to expand quotejdfoils said..
I'm an ezzy guy, but I would rather support a small company like northwave than buy factory sails from China.
Sri Lanka
Select to expand quoteGestalt said..jdfoils said..Gestalt said..
Not to get political but I'll be making sure nothing I buy in my future quivers is from America. Thats a consumer protest from me. Lucky for me that's not a huge change
So you've ruled out Northwave...
I'm an ezzy guy, but I would rather support a small company like northwave than buy factory sails from China.
i'm probably never gonna buy a sail from northwave anyways so it's no biggy for them.
to keep things on topic it will be interesting to see how tariffs affect windsurfing more broadly and the impact that has on peoples quiver choices.
The rising costs / tariffs are sure to put some of the manufacturers out of business unfortunately, making it even harder on the consumers.
Select to expand quoteShifu said..jdfoils said..
I'm an ezzy guy, but I would rather support a small company like northwave than buy factory sails from China.
Sri Lanka
It has been many years since northwave was made by ezzy in Lanka. Now the only sails that I am aware of that are made in the USA.
Select to expand quotejdfoils said..Shifu said..jdfoils said..
I'm an ezzy guy, but I would rather support a small company like northwave than buy factory sails from China.
Sri Lanka
It has been many years since northwave was made by ezzy in Lanka. Now the only sails that I am aware of that are made in the USA.
Oops, I just heard that Hurricane sails reopened in 2017.
Select to expand quotejdfoils said..
Oops, I just heard that Hurricane sails reopened in 2017.
Yes, friend in the Gorge is singing their praises.
Select to expand quoteGestalt said..
It's ironic that American brands are gonna suffer the most.
very true
Has anyone bought sails from Gun Sails recently? Looking at the prices, it's hard to not consider them, especially seeing as we have so few shops around in New Zealand. The sport is very small here now. Was considering a small 3 sail quiver (4.5, 5.0. 5.7).
Select to expand quoteGestalt said..
Some great sailors using gun sails.
'what about a trip to oz (WA)
Quite possibly!!! Sailing and new gear, sounds like heaven!
