Hey everyone,
My wife and I both windsurf and I'm looking at getting her a sail that is bigger than a 4.5m (not enough sail power) but less than a 6m which she finds too powerful. We need a sail that would fit a 430cm mast with an IMCS (unsure how important this is) of 21. Is that going to be a possible sail to find secondhand(on a budget)? We are at a beginner/intermediate level and so far are keen on freeride.
Hope you guys can provide some advice. One day I'd like to get us a full quiver but that won't be for a while yet.
What brand of 430 is it? They all have stiffness standardised to IMCS 21 these days but their curves vary.
The curve doesn't have to be exact for camless sails but you must avoid mixing mast and sail from opposite extremes and try to find reasonably close matches.
The Unifiber mast selector is very helpful guide to compatability:
www.unifiber.net/masts-selector
Something to keep in mind for the rest of you quiver is that you will find the most cross brand compatibility between masts and sails if you stick to constant curve. Theres nothing wrong with the others though.
A 430 will fit sails from about 5.5 to 6.5 or 6.8 max. Manufacturers all post sail specs on line. Anything with a luff length longer than 430 and less than 430+the length of your extension will fit.
Your wife may prefer using short masts and a long extension rather than a mast that fits with very little extension because shorter masts are softer and nicer to sail for light weight sailors. It's not that important when you're learning but when you go blasting in gusty winds a forgiving mast is a joy. That wont fit your criteria now but it's something to keep in mind.
Anything 5.5m that rigs nicely on your mast. This means take your mast and extension with you and rig the sail to see if it rigs ok if you're not sure. If it looks OK it'll be fine for a learner-intermediate level.
Click on the Buy & Sell tab. Filter on sails between 5.5 and 6.0m2. There is a good choice for you to look at. Just check the luff length of any you are interested in to see if they suit a 430 mast.
You can go down to a 5.2 or 5.0 easily if you get a sail with a top cup that can lengthen. You say you're both beginner/intermediate, so I wouldn't be too concerned about the mast stiffness, as long as it's a constant curve. That's getting a bit too deep in the weeds with details that you wouldn't really be able to appreciate until you get into the good/advanced stage of sailing, also widens out your market for a used economic sail.
But I will add that 21 is a pretty stiff mast, so I'd try to find a sail that's good for the ocean, for a good blend.
Depends where ya do your shopping .
surf & sail has a 5.3 Goya .and 5.8 ezzy secound hand
both will fit a 430 .
both easy to use sails .
Look for a sail around 5.2/5.4m thats a good around size and you will be able to grow into it. IE: when you get better it can be your higher wind sail.
I would look for one with an adjustable head or with a luff length of 430cm + then you can use your extension if needed.
Although you are both beg/int and free ride it would still be advisable to get a wave sail, they are just built stronger, one with 4/5 battens would be better as they are more stable, don't get one with 3 battens as they might be all the rage now but aren't as stable.
Most sails are made for ram masts these days.
Good luck....
