QLD
59 posts
G,day all - I am looking for suggestions on what type and brand of sail would be best suited for light wind cruising on my "SUP". Thinking around 6-7metre range and needs to work with a 430 mast. Any thoughts appreciated.
820 posts
Hi Steve
I only a limited product vocabulary, so I can only recommend the two brands I know:
Mauisails Aloha
Severne Focus
These sails are called "freeride", and they are easy to use, light, and cheap. Buy the compatible mast (ie: Severne Focus and a white line SDM mast)
if you do buy a second hand sail, then avoid anything specialised like "wave", "freestyle", "race" etc. Unless you know a given mast works with a given sail, match the mast with the sail (ie: same brand, same year).
Ja
QLD
1929 posts
light wind cruising on a sup, i wouldn't go larger then a 6m. something between 5.4 and 5.9 would probably be better.
your not gonna be planing anyway, so why bother with a large heavy rig.
*edit*
as for what sail in particular, there plenty out there that work great, in those sizes i've used the naish force, north duke, and simmer icon. out of them i'd probably recommend the north duke if you want something bigger in the 5.9m size, just because being mostly monofilm it is the lightest. however i prefer a heavier built sail so i use the simmer icons and a smaller size sail as there really isn't a huge advantage in going with a larger size in subplaning conditions in my opinion.
realistically you want to buy a sail which you will also use once it becomes windier. so if in over 15kts u want to freeride, get a freeride sail, if you want to wavesail, get a wavesail etc. the only exception i would say is don't get anything with cams. also freeride sails tend to be a lot cheaper.
in my case, i use the 5.3 simmer icon which is a wave sail for when wind is really light, then a 5.9m icon from 12-13kts onwards (thats enough wind to plane), then back tot he 5.3 once its starting to get over 17kts.
oh and if i was to get a sail purely for light wind mucking around, i might think about something like the hotsails superfreak, just cause it looks awesome, and from what i read the dacron is very durable.
NSW
510 posts
6m sailworks retvo works on a 430 mast and 180cm boom ..
WA
395 posts
I've used virtually all styles on SUPs, they're great on low wind days in Cocos.
My choice is the 6.0 Tushingham T4. Cam less, light in the hands, light in feel but stable when the wind gets up. (will use almost any 430!)
Yes, 2ndWind does sell Tushingham, but that's a bonus!
Sailing SUPs is relaxing, as they reach their efficient sailing level pretty quickly, with minimal stress & strain.
Cheers.
Jez
QLD
921 posts
My make uses a NP 7.2 Zen on his sup and it works a treat, fits on a 430 mast ( with 42cm extension )
SA
3027 posts
I have a 5.6 S1 severne - they are light as a feather and it works a treat on my 9'8 *board fish in small cross off waves - I have used a 6.4 s2 and it will get planning but the extra size and weight on a wave make it it less fun the 5.6.
if you don't want to plane a mid 5.3-5.8 will give you enough to cruise out and the wave face wind will get you into the waves without the bulk of a big sail
Good luck -
My 2 cents worth.
