So I have been windsurfing for about one and haft season. I'm at the point where I can sail comfortably in the harness and get on the plane consistently, working towards the footstraps. Tacks, gybes and beach starts are getting better, but not consistent yet.

I have been sourcing second hand equipment as I went along. Got a nice older 130L freeride board. For sails I have bought a few older sails for next to nothing, which has keept me going. Some of them broke, some are about to break I was looking around for newer sails but it seems the only ones being sold second hand are slalom or wave gear.
Found a shop selling brand new 2020 model Gaastra Matrix sails at a resonable price. These seems like a nice sail for an intermediate freerider and I was kind of set on buying one of those (probably a 6.2m)Then the other day I found two used sails locally. They are 2018 Point 7 AC-Ones (6.2m and 7.8m) in real nice condition. These are 4 cam slalom sails, but the price for both is half of that of the new Matrix.
So my question is. Will the slalom sails be too heavy/uncomfortable/difficult to rig, compared to the Matrix? Should I stick to one Matrix and enjoy my first brand new sail, or is the two slalom sails a good deal?

The rigging part can be learned by someone demonstrating to you how to add the right downhaul (not full downhaul before putting cams on), adding outhaul, then popping on the cams, then completely downhauling the sail. At least, I think with Point 7 if they rig similarly to other sails. They may need slight differences and others here can probably tell me I'm wrong...but point is that you can learn that on the beach without having to struggle.

BUT, there is a big pocket in the luff of cammed sails that fills with water when you drop it and they have time to sit and suck up water. This makes uphauling that much more difficult due to the extra water weight. On a big floaty board it's one thing, and takes time, but the smaller you go the more challenging. Due to this, it's also very hard to orient and get them out of water when waterstarting. You'll also need a proper mast (cammed sails are often more sensitive to RDM vs SDM being used, as the cams usually only fit one and have to be swapped out for the other). So the cost of mast plus sail may make the cost more for a cammed sail.

Since you are working on beach starting and don't waterstart, your safety and getting back is now reliant on pulling a heavy sail full of water up. It is doable, people do it, but that's the situation you would find yourself in. You could learn to waterstart, but you'll struggle a lot with that I think.

Just things to think about.

Aero is right on but I'd go further - the AC1 is one of the highest performing sails you could buy at any price and also one of the very worst for a progressing sailor. Here's why:

It is tricky to rig, and absolutely requires either the Point7 mast or something very close to it or it won't rig at all - cams won't go on or won't stay on, leech will fall away completely or remain uncomfortably tight and unresponsive. Rigging is a pain - downhaul to this mark - reach into the luff and pop two cams on with your knee, downhaul a bit more, pop the other two on, then finish tuning.

It is demanding to sail - the cams rotate with a big pop so just when you're learning to glide through a jibe you've got to pop hard with your back hand and then deal with the surge of power as the sail fills. It offers lots of grunt but really prefers to be sailed overpowered. In fact, you'd probably sail the 7.8 in similar winds to what you would with the 6.2 Gaastra. The 6.2 AC1 is a highwind speed sail which comes to life around 25kt windspeed.

It's heavy, so if you're going to venture into foiling it's not a great choice.

It does fill with water if you don't uphaul or water start quickly, so you're limited to boards big enough to uphaul while you're learning to water start efficiently. There are many cammed sails with narrow luff sleeves - Sailworks NX, Ezzy Lion, Severne Foilglide (a Foil sail which works over a fin too) are just a few examples.

I own a 2015 AC1 (a 9.3) but rarely sail it, and when I do there are a lot of guys on 7.5 or even smaller free ride sails. I don't know the Gaastra at all but would only say that for most sailors a 6.2 would be pretty small for a 130 board. A lot depends on your weight and the conditions you sail in but for most guys a 6.2 freeride isn't really fully powered below a filled in 16kt or more.

Sorry to be discouraging but the right sail in the right size will be the mainstay of your quiver for years. The wrong sail can cast a shadow over your progression for just as long.

In case you didn't read between the lines what the guys were saying above - I think they were trying to be polite - the Point 7s are not a good idea. At your level, sails like that will make life a PITA. It's not that they aren't great sails, they are, but they are designed for a purpose and that purpose is very different than where you are on the windsurfing journey.

The Matrix is a no-cam, freeride sail. It's easy. That's what you need right now is easy. You have enough going on with refining getting on a plane, the footstraps, learning to waterstart, progressing to jibing, etc Don't complicate it with a sail that is demanding and it's design envelope is beyond your skills (and will be for some considerable time).

The next question, as Awalkspoiled mentioned, is whether the 6.2 is a good size for you - it depends on your weight, where you sail, normal wind conditions, etc. A bit more info about that would be helpful.

Here's a recent thread discussing cammed freeride sails (which might well suit you, too) vs sails more akin to the Point-7s you've been looking at: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Switching-from-2-cam-to-Slalom-sails--Worth-it-

Ok ok, I get it

Thanks so much for the advice, that was exactly what I needed. I had more or less settled on the Matrix, both in order to get myself a brand new sail, but also because I was confident it would fit my level. I just got tempted by the low price of the Point 7s, thinking "how hard can it be"


One of my main concerns was that it would hold me back in learning beach/water starts/tacking/jibing, and you guys confirmed that. So no question, I will get the Matrix and be happy to know that Im getting a sail that fits my level.


When it comes to sail size I was not sure about the 6.2 and I might go bigger. When judging by my previous sails, I was afraid to get a sail that was too big, thinking it would be easier to learn tacks/jibes etc. on a smaller sail, but maybe thats not such a big issue with a light freeride sail?


Im on the heavy side (around 90 kg) and on a 130L JP Excite Ride. I usually sail in fairly flat water and not very high winds (usually 10-20 kts). Have been sailing 5.4 - 6.2 sails before and had no issue getting planing in 16-18 kts, but ofc it would be nice to be able to plane in lower winds as well.


Looks like I have the option to get the Matrix in three sizes 6.2, 6.7 and 7.2.
I get the feeling that you guys is going to say I should go for the 7.2?

I get the most use out of my 8.0, but it is probably lighter wind here. Generally I have much more time on my larger sails.

If you want to practice tacks and jibes, I definitely recommend grabbing your smallest sail on a day that it is light wind and you won't get planing, and practice basic fundamentals like clew first, backwinding, etc. There are a few lightwind freestyle videos up, but this one is a good starter.

These made a massive difference in my sail handling.

There's something to be said for all three sizes - 6.2/6.7/7.2. The 7.2 will give you more planing time on the water for sure, but on that board for an intermediate sailor I think the planing minimum will be around 14kt even with that sail. So, how much time are you actually gaining, and do you have enough 20kt days when you could hold on to a 6.2 but not a 7.2 to make the smaller sail the better call?

One way to decide would be to ask yourself what the NEXT sail purchase should be. If you're likely to go after something like a 7.5- 8.0, then the 6.7 provides a very sensible gap and 8.0 is about as big as you'd ever go on that JP130. If you turn out to love the Matrix 6.2, then the 7.2 would be a fine next purchase, and vice versa.

I made the mistake of relying on older crappy flogged out sails for a few seasons when returning to Windsurfing but can honestly say sails are the thing that will most affect your progression. Lots of people out on well older boards still killing it but with newer rigs. I can't speak for the point 7 sails but I have had Gaastra Matrix in the past and fount them to be dreadful, floppy shapeless, hard to tune and with a very limited wind range before they became unstable. I swopped to NP Ryde (a similar free ride sail) and whilst still not as good as cambered sails they were a massive improvement over the Gaastra.

If you could hold out and get at least a twin camber sail you will not regret it. They are not hard to rig, you can easily up haul on a 130L board (unless you are a seriously big guy/girl) and they stay in shape which helps massively with consistency when trying to improve. All sails are helped by being on the correct mast.

I Have now swopped up again to full on slalom sails and still uphaull almost all the time as it honestly takes less effort (but possibly more time) than flipping the rig and catching wind from the mast top etc. If you can Pratice as part of your routine how to fall off and still get the rig where you would like it to end up its a big help.
One thing regardless is match your fin to your sail and your style helps a lot. Pete.

Definitely try and match the mast make and sail make, this can make a big difference in the right sail shape and the feel of the rig right too.

Matching up with the right fin size for the sail size too is very important. Using the formula Sail size x5 plus 4. So for a 7m sail, it would be 5x7 plus 4 which is 39cm fin.

Sails without cams are easier to rig, are often more powerful and easier to use. People don't realise that cammed sails are faster, more stable and better balanced in higher winds and won't hinge, which means they won't get too unruly in stronger more over powered conditions.

I would get something without cams for sure up to a 7.2m sail, then I think cams help stabilise the sails shape.

IQ Foil uphaul 9M hyperglide and youth under 18 uphaul a 8M. Uphauling a slalom sail shouldn't be a problem for a adult and they will give you more stability while sending it! Go for the slalom sails the rigging isn't difficult and there is youtube if you get stuck.

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Wind Smurf said..
Definitely try and match the mast make and sail make, this can make a big difference in the right sail shape and the feel of the rig right too.

Matching up with the right fin size for the sail size too is very important. Using the formula Sail size x5 plus 4. So for a 7m sail, it would be 5x7 plus 4 which is 39cm fin.

Sails without cams are easier to rig, are often more powerful and easier to use. People don't realise that cammed sails are faster, more stable and better balanced in higher winds and won't hinge, which means they won't get too unruly in stronger more over powered conditions.

I would get something without cams for sure up to a 7.2m sail, then I think cams help stabilise the sails shape.

Agree with everything said except
-no cam sails are seldom more powerful but thats my opinion!
-A no cam choice is ok but I'd drop from 7.2 all the way to 5.8-6M where cams will S*#t on camless!

Hard no on the slalom sails.

6.2 is a bit big on a 130 ltr but freeride boards are very forgiving.
The matrix is a good one for progressing.

Go for the 7.2 as if you get a bit better this one will work for 14-20 knots
Keep the old 6.2 for higher wind sessions

Check out the windrange chart of the Ryde (similar sail)
www.neilpryde.com/pages/wind-range-guide

These are usually for 80kg so you need to compensate a little to the upside.

Alright. Lets just close the slalom vs. freeride sail discussion. I am going to get the Matrix.

Going on vacation soon, so will order when I get back, so have a bit of time to consider size. Im leaning heavily towards the 7.2. I have some old 5.4 and 6.2 sails lying around. They are not ideal and will probably not last forever, but they are usable, so the 7.2 will fit nicely in there.

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len024 said..
IQ Foil uphaul 9M hyperglide and youth under 18 uphaul a 8M. Uphauling a slalom sail shouldn't be a problem for a adult and they will give you more stability while sending it! Go for the slalom sails the rigging isn't difficult and there is youtube if you get stuck.

Yes but the adults are uphauling on a 95cm wide 196L board. I can uphaul just about anything on that board. Big difference between that and a 70 something wide 130L freeride board that isn't shaped like a table. Add some chop in whitecaps and it can get sketchy even on a board like that, which I prefer to waterstart on and just avoid kicking the foil.

I had a mix of raf and cam'ed sails for a while. Like you, found a nice sail at a low price.

Use it and ditch it when it's dead.... A cam sail may need a little more time to setup (outhaul to pop the cams and finish downhauling).

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Heilbuth said..
Looks like I have the option to get the Matrix in three sizes 6.2, 6.7 and 7.2.
I get the feeling that you guys is going to say I should go for the 7.2?

Get the 7.2. The other sails will be too small for the lighter days. You may find that you'll want an even bigger sail (~ 8.5) in the future for the days where the 7.2 is too small. When you do, consider 2-cam sails, but stay away from 4-cams until you either plane through most of your jibes, or you can waterstart and sail in shallow water where you can touch the ground.