I am looking into buying smaller foil sail for windy day foiling as I was overpowered on my Sailworks Flyer 7.0 on a recent windy day. Based on my search, HotSailsMaui Superfly seems to be significantly lighter than any other brands. However, my understanding that the Superfly is designed as high aspect sail that is claimed to be less efficient for lifting but good for runs on windy days. Since I am considering sail for windy days, I am thinking this is fine for my purpose. I would appreciate if anyone used the Superfly smaller 5.5 m sail (2.9 kg).

I checked information on some of the foil dedicated sails with a similar size for weight comparison:
Sailworks Flyer 7.0 3.8 kg
Naish Lift 7.2 4.25 kg
Naish Lift race 7.2 4.62 kg
Duotone 6.8 4.5 kg
Ezzy Hydra sport 6.7 3.89 kg
Ezzy Hydra sport 7.0 3.99 kg
Hot Sails Maui superfly 7.0 3.1 kg.
NP V8 sail 6.7 4.72 kg
RRD and Goya Weights not provided on their website

I'd rather use my heavier sails for foiling. Lasts longer, keeps the board stable.

What foil and how much wind?

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Grantmac said..
What foil and how much wind?

For me, I am thinking Infinity 76 with 5.5 sail on >18 mph wind (I am 220 lbs).

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SA_AL said..
For me, I am thinking Infinity 76 with 5.5 sail on >18 mph wind (I am 220 lbs).

Size sounds about right. Most 5.5s are reasonably light (keep in mind that mast & boom are also lighter and shorter). So I'd also look at durability. Some (but not all) regular windsurfing sails work great in these conditions. I have had better luck with bottom-end oriented sails than with top-end oriented sails in general, which includes a few fun sessions in 20-25 mph.

Personally in that size and not on a race foil I'm looking for a sail which is multi-purpose rather than foil specific. Thats where my gear starts to cross over. I'm about 35# lighter and the 7.0 Flyer (I've borrowed but don't own, I have a very similar 7.2NX) is good to 16-18kts then I jump right on a 5.2m HSM QU4D, there is more overlap than you'd think with those sails.

In my case I've been very impressed with 4 batten power wave sails. Either way I rig them with as little DH as possible then tune with OH.

Oftentimes, heavier sails also have more tunable wind range.

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LeeD said..
Oftentimes, heavier sails also have more tunable wind range.

This is incorrect. Heavier sails are way more unstable while foiling.
How is all that weight up high possibly going to do any good?
The lighter the better

Heavier means MORE material and usually more technology.
Modern sails are much heavier than sails made between 1983-2005.
Some say modern sails have more range, but only the high end models
, which are heavy and more expensive.
Light just means fragile and narrow wind range.

No, still incorrect. I don't think there would be any sailing craft at all that would benefit from a heavier rig.
It's really a very basic concept.

You don't windsurf, so you don't know history.
My Hot Superfreak 4.5 is 8.75 lbs. dry. Not a freak, my 4.2 is almost the same
My 1996 Windwing 4.5 wave is 7.2 lbs. It's monofilm brother is 7 lbs.
My 2002 NP search 4.5 is 6.6 lbs dry.
But in the water, AND WET, they all feel like 4.5's

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LeeD said..
You don't windsurf, so you don't know history.
My Hot Superfreak 4.5 is 8.75 lbs. dry. Not a freak, my 4.2 is almost the same
My 1996 Windwing 4.5 wave is 7.2 lbs. It's monofilm brother is 7 lbs.
My 2002 NP search 4.5 is 6.6 lbs dry.
But in the water, AND WET, they all feel like 4.5's

Huh???

You are just spewing theory, which is why you can't understand.

Incorrect again LeeD. It is not a theory it is a very well known fact that a lighter rig is a lot easier than a heavy rig for foiling and windsurfing.

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LeeD said..
You are just spewing theory, which is why you can't understand.

Let me help you : www.windsurf.co.uk/lowdown-severne-fox/

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SA_AL said..
I am looking into buying smaller foil sail for windy day foiling as I was overpowered on my Sailworks Flyer 7.0 on a recent windy day. Based on my search, HotSailsMaui Superfly seems to be significantly lighter than any other brands. However, my understanding that the Superfly is designed as high aspect sail that is claimed to be less efficient for lifting but good for runs on windy days. Since I am considering sail for windy days, I am thinking this is fine for my purpose. I would appreciate if anyone used the Superfly smaller 5.5 m sail (2.9 kg).

I checked information on some of the foil dedicated sails with a similar size for weight comparison:
Sailworks Flyer 7.0 3.8 kg
Naish Lift 7.2 4.25 kg
Naish Lift race 7.2 4.62 kg
Duotone 6.8 4.5 kg
Ezzy Hydra sport 6.7 3.89 kg
Ezzy Hydra sport 7.0 3.99 kg
Hot Sails Maui superfly 7.0 3.1 kg.
NP V8 sail 6.7 4.72 kg
RRD and Goya Weights not provided on their website

I have only tried the naish lifts so dont really have much to compare to, but I love the 3.7 as my high wind sail.

Everyone else I know that has tried it doesn't care for it, but I think that is because they do not use enough outhaul.

Add 10cm to the boom setting and it is good

It seems the light weight is preferred for foiling. Following site has a review on Sailworks Flyer and Naish Lift and from the discussions I gather that the lighter sail is much better. That is the reason I think the HotSailsMaui Superfly may be better than other brands and I like to hear from someone who already used this sail.
https://shop.wind-nc.com/blogs/windsurf-sup-foil-buyers-guides/foil-specific-windsurfing-sail-test-sailworks-flyer-and-naish-lift-review.
But going back to Superfly, I could use this sail with my high carbon 430 mast rather than buying another smaller mast.

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gorgesailor said..

LeeD said..
You are just spewing theory, which is why you can't understand.

Let me help you : www.windsurf.co.uk/lowdown-severne-fox/

Your link is describing the board from Severne. What is the connection with sail performance or this topic? Did you mean to give a different web address?

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SA_AL said..
I am looking into buying smaller foil sail for windy day foiling as I was overpowered on my Sailworks Flyer 7.0 on a recent windy day. Based on my search, HotSailsMaui Superfly seems to be significantly lighter than any other brands. However, my understanding that the Superfly is designed as high aspect sail that is claimed to be less efficient for lifting but good for runs on windy days. Since I am considering sail for windy days, I am thinking this is fine for my purpose. I would appreciate if anyone used the Superfly smaller 5.5 m sail (2.9 kg).

I checked information on some of the foil dedicated sails with a similar size for weight comparison:
Sailworks Flyer 7.0 3.8 kg
Naish Lift 7.2 4.25 kg
Naish Lift race 7.2 4.62 kg
Duotone 6.8 4.5 kg
Ezzy Hydra sport 6.7 3.89 kg
Ezzy Hydra sport 7.0 3.99 kg
Hot Sails Maui superfly 7.0 3.1 kg.
NP V8 sail 6.7 4.72 kg
RRD and Goya Weights not provided on their website

The Superfies use very long mast negating much of any weight advantage. Compare: The Sailworks Flier 7.0 or 6.0 go on a 430, the 5.2 is on 400. The 7.0 Superfly goes on a RDM 490, you need a RDM 520 for the 8.0, and the 5.5 is on 430 ... Not sure what they are thinking at HSM

But to compare sails based on weight is not really meaningful, you are just counting battens or cams. The more you use the heavier it is.

If you have a Flyer I personally would buy another one in a smaller size. Otherwise try the sails out if you can or read tests ... forget the weight.

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If you have a Flyer I personally would buy another one in a smaller size. Otherwise try the sails out if you can or read tests ... forget the weight.

This makes the most sense to me. Unless you hate the 7.0

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thedoor said..

If you have a Flyer I personally would buy another one in a smaller size. Otherwise try the sails out if you can or read tests ... forget the weight.

This makes the most sense to me. Unless you hate the 7.0

Flyer 5.2 weight is 3.2 kg. and HSM Superfly 5.5 is 2.9 kg. Both are light but I don't want to purchase another mast if the HSM is liked by other foilers. Mast requirement for Flyer is 400 vs Superfly 430. I already have 99% carbon RDM 430 compatible for Superfly.

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SA_AL said..

thedoor said..

If you have a Flyer I personally would buy another one in a smaller size. Otherwise try the sails out if you can or read tests ... forget the weight.

This makes the most sense to me. Unless you hate the 7.0

Flyer 5.2 weight is 3.2 kg. and HSM Superfly 5.5 is 2.9 kg. Both are light but I don't want to purchase another mast if the HSM is liked by other foilers. Mast requirement for Flyer is 400 vs Superfly 430. I already have 99% carbon RDM 430 compatible for Superfly.

You are a bit fixating on the weight ... but even there a 430 mast weights 200-300 grams more than a 400, so there it goes ... See for example chinooksailing.com/products/100-superlite-rdm

If you mast is ideal for the Flyer 7.0 then likely it's not got a soft enough tip to rig an HSM sail. Probably not enough for a major issue and perhaps the Superfly is different than the rest of their line but there you are.
You could look at the Hydra Sport 5.7 , that should rig better and it seems as though the people who have them like them although it may be a slightly too tight quiver sizing.
Another option would be a Sailworks Revo 5.2, I foil with my 5.8 and although I prefer my QU4Ds it's a fine foiling sail.

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SA_AL said..

gorgesailor said..

LeeD said..
You are just spewing theory, which is why you can't understand.

Let me help you : www.windsurf.co.uk/lowdown-severne-fox/

Your link is describing the board from Severne. What is the connection with sail performance or this topic? Did you mean to give a different web address?

My post was directed at LeeD .... he seemed to be in doubt of Hoop's credentials.

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LeeD said..
I'd rather use my heavier sails for foiling. Lasts longer, keeps the board stable.

Really depends on the foil you're using and the width of the board.. yes it is a counterbalance, but a small board with a manouvre oriented foil will be horrible with a heavy sail..

Personally lighter is better. The S2Maui Dragon's I use for foiling are both very light and durable, and have a very stiff profile, increasing range enormously.

Lighter sails go on more racing oriented going straight foils, but you'll feel you have to make the turns longer etc. Because otherwise the board will topple over because lack of counterbalance. You can turn a racefoil thighter with a bigger sail. For the more manouvre priented sets really only light sails will work, heavier (big) sails offbalancing the whole in the turns. (Ex. 8.6 twincam on a SS Wizard with I76 is horrible, the same sail on a formula with SB Race works like a charm, the SB Race under the wizard with a small (light) sail is fine, just need to make wider arcs.)

On topic: for high end control better just get yourself a wavesail. They're made for that kind of windrange and tbh in the small sizes I dont feel foilsails add much if anything. Having tried the hydra, naish lift and Horue Swart sails, in small sizes I like my wavesails best... people make the mistake of trimming their wavesails with too little loose for foiling, making them heavy, unstable and the profile inefficient. Just trim the sails the way they are designed to be trimmed and they will work best.
For racing the foilrace sails are definately better, and in the 7.0 range a SW Flyer or Severne foilglide or something will have more power, but lower max speeds.

Talking 5.5 sails.
None are too heavy for foiling.

I've got 5 batten power wave sails, but for foiling I've found 3 batten Maui Epic wave sails to be brilliant. I think they are replaced now with KS3. Light weight, don't take much wind to generate some shape, pump well. My go to is a 4.6 for all wind speeds, but I'd use a 5.5 on lighter days if I had one.