SurfingSports Standup Paddle Surf & Standup Paddling BLOG

I try to be as open-minded as possible when it comes to windsurfing equipment...because, if something new & mo' bettah comes along, we're all over it...most sailors have been on a certain brand sail/board...etc...for a number of years...same old same old...some brands deserve the loyalty...others don't...

There is a lot of talk about durability these days...most of it is in general terms...and is rarely put in qualified perspective, what kind of use/abuse the sail is put through...

Wave sails are used by people at most venues...even flat water venues on windy days...people use terms like "bomb proof" and "bullet proof" on lakes, rivers, and bays...

To judge durability of a wave sail...it must be used in *real* waves...

If a sail is used in real breaking waves...then the mast sleeve construction/material is very important...

I will further state that Hot Sails Maui stands alone in this regard...

They incorporate a kind of silky firehose material in the sleeve...nobody else has anything close...Jeff Henderson calls it an "exclusive high tenacity weave luff material"...

http://surfingsports.com/images/hot_mast_sleeve1.jpg

I point this out because it is very unique...
I have seen a skinny mast break in 3 pieces and not a single carbon shard penetrated this stuff...

Furthermore, I believe that Hot Sails Maui is the only company utilizing Dupont Kevlar rip stop, 1000# test, rope into the framework of their sails...

http://surfingsports.com/images/hot_dupont_kevlar1.jpg
http://surfingsports.com/images/hot_dupont_kevlar2.jpg
http://surfingsports.com/images/hot_dupont_kevlar3.jpg

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_wavesailing/slides/cali_kevin8.jpg

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_wavesailing/slides/cali_kevin5.jpg

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_spring_fun/slides/aero_cuben_phantom_wd9.jpg

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_spring_fun/slides/aero_cuben_phantom_wd8.jpg

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_spring_fun/slides/aero_cuben_phantom_wd2.html

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_spring_fun/slides/aero_cuben_phantom_wd1.jpg

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_spring_fun/slides/aero_cuben_phantom3.jpg

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_spring_fun/slides/aero_cuben_phantom_wd10.jpg

http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_spring_fun/slides/aero_cuben_phantom_wd3.jpg


“What's special about Cuben Fiber?
It is 50 % to 70% lighter than Kevlar, four times more durable than Kevlar, and lasts as long as Spectra. It substantially improves the strength to weight ratio over conventional sail fabric."

http://www.cubenfiber.com/cfstyles.html

Cuben fiber is arguably the highest strength to weight material used in windsurfing sail construction...and the expansion of it's use this year into it's smaller "Charge" wave sail lineup...

We will be receiving the 5.0m2 and 5.5m2 Charge soon and putting them to the test at higher wind/wave venues this coming year...

Labels: Aerotech Sails, Hot Sails, Light air wave sails, Severne Sails, windsurfing

posted by SurfingSports  # Sunday, February 04, 2007