I got the same issue with my Fly 2. The stitches are giving up on the leading edge. Same place by the look of it. I came to the forum as I was looking to check if anyone else experienced the problem. It does look like manufacturing defect considering this.
I cannot post photo on the thread yet, as it is restricted for new members. I will post when I can, but feel free to reach out and I would be happy to share photos.
Just following up on the stitching concern I mentioned earlier. I have some bad news: while I was pumping the strut today (with the leading edge already sealed), the leading edge spontaneously exploded. A friend lent me a spare wing from another brand, and the difference in construction is pretty obvious. Their closing seams are folded and use multiple rows of stitching, whereas the Firefly's stitching seems to be the weak point here. I've attached photos of the burst seam.
More or less the same is with there windsurfsails: the desgin is ussually good and looks cool, but the way they build it is focused on producing repetitive for a low (labour) cost. Rather cheap and cutting corners on longlivity while looking high performance.
Select to expand quoteJeroensurf said..
More or less the same is with there windsurfsails: the desgin is ussually good and looks cool, but the way they build it is focused on producing repetitive for a low (labour) cost. Rather cheap and cutting corners on longlivity while looking high performance.
I agree. A friend of mine has already switched to another brand because of durability issues. From a construction perspective, the Aluula wing doesn't appear to represent a fundamental change in build philosophy. The seam layout, stitching density, and reinforcement strategy still seem optimized for manufacturing efficiency rather than long-term structural integrity and fatigue resistance. High load areas-especially along the leading edge and strut junctions-need more robust seam construction and reinforcement. I do not want to buy a new wing every year. Unless NP significantly upgrades their stitching quality and overall durability standards, I will be taking my business to another brand.
I hate reading this thread because I own two NP Fly wings - the standard poverty pack ones. I've really enjoyed using the wings, and now I'm just waiting for something to blow out.
Shame as I went with NP as in my old windsurfing days them and Gaastra were the flashest on the market in terms of quality and performance.
Select to expand quoteSA_AL said..
Just following up on the stitching concern I mentioned earlier. I have some bad news: while I was pumping the strut today (with the leading edge already sealed), the leading edge spontaneously exploded. A friend lent me a spare wing from another brand, and the difference in construction is pretty obvious. Their closing seams are folded and use multiple rows of stitching, whereas the Firefly's stitching seems to be the weak point here. I've attached photos of the burst seam.
Not saying this was the cause of your blow out, but the instructions for inflation say you should inflate the strut first, then the leading edge, and deflate in opposite.
Select to expand quoteshi thouse said..
I hate reading this thread because I own two NP Fly wings - the standard poverty pack ones. I've really enjoyed using the wings, and now I'm just waiting for something to blow out.
Shame as I went with NP as in my old windsurfing days them and Gaastra were the flashest on the market in terms of quality and performance.
Apart from a slight twist in the frame, which I've seen on Dacron wings from other brands and doesn't noticeably affect performance, and dealt with under warranty by Pryde - a big shout out to the UK rep Karl - I've clocked roughly 170 hrs on Firefly's in mostly standard construction, no worries for me.
In fact the warranty process should give you full confidence if you have any problems. I had quality issues with a wing from another brand and was fobbed off from the start.
Hi! Out of curiosity, I took out my 3-year-old FLY and inspected the seams. I did the same with last year's Firefly after a full season of riding. In neither case is there even the slightest sign of thread damage. Some time ago, when I was selling another FLY after two seasons, I also examined it carefully to make sure I wasn't passing off a defective product to someone. The wing was in excellent condition. Many of my friends ride NP wings, and honestly, this is the first failure I've come across.
The more I analyze wing construction, the more I notice a trend: many brands utilize a reinforced lapped seam (with a protective fold) on the leading edge, whereas NP use a different approach. I suspect this folded stitch design provides superior structural integrity, allowing the wing to maintain its shape better under high PSI without stretching or failing at the seam.
