I am looking to buy a new freeride sail for 20-30 knots and I am not sure what to buy, any suggestions ?

Have been sailing about 1 year and looking to improve. Mainly sail in flat water/small waves. (110L excite-ride, 75kg)

Have looked at the Neilpryde hellcat 5.2, North x-type 5.4, Naish Rally 5.2, North Natural 5.4 etc

you could buy my 5.3m ka kult. awesome sail.

full xply!

Loft sails O2 their's a reason they are multiple magazine test winners

Jeez, when it's really blowing 30kts, everything works.
I'd be on a 4.5 and a wave board.
If you are sailing on a speed bank, teh water might be flat, but if there is any fetch at all, it's gonna be bumpy.
As Gesty said, a nice onshore wave sail will do you well.
NP Fly, or a Kult etc.

Freeride varies a lot

Freeride in normal winds is more blasting oriented, freeride in nuking conditions may get more B&J

What fin and skill level?
Do you want more comfort and control oriented, or more "I wanna go as fast as possible!!" ??

Value wise? If u want a freeride not slalom or "high performance" sail get a Loft O2 - great sail. Good as some of the others that are way overpriced. Tune well and built tough. Cant go wrong

Severne Blade.

Ive had my 5.3 blade for a year now ( its a 07 model though ) and i absolutely love it!

it doesnt seem to have an upper limit, its just rock steady and pulls like a train, but never seems to throw me off or put up a fight. couldnt be happier!

I have Loft O2 6.6 and a few KA koyotes, the wind range is best in the O2 but high wind is definatley the Koyote country, so much more stability. Good luck.

I think if your looking for a sail for up to 30 knots you want something you can trash abit and + your fairly new to the sport so Id be looking at a wave sail around 5.0 for you weight, Ive got a 5.2 Loft lipwave that i would use in that wind range and im 85kg.

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sailpilot said...

I have Loft O2 6.6 and a few KA koyotes, the wind range is best in the O2 but high wind is definatley the Koyote country, so much more stability. Good luck.

Sorry to disagree with you sailpilot but I reckon the Koyotes also have a fantastic bottom end! I've been really surprised at how I manage to keep planing in lighter airs on my 08 5.3 Koyote, but it still feels really stable and manageable in high winds. I recently brought a new 2011 5.9 Koyote and the top end handling and control appears to be very close to my old 5.3! Very durable sail as well due to full x-ply construction.

Also depends on what other sails you currently use and how choppy it is where you sail, though I do hope you realise that your 110L x-cite ride may have reached it's limit in 25-30 knot winds on flat water, could be a bit hectic particularly if you've only been sailing for a year.

I regularly use one board, a 93L freeride (Fanatic Hawk) in approx 12-25+ knots and I also weigh 75kg (also have an 85L freeride for crazy stuff). If you've got good strong wind technique then a 5.3 would probably be sailable in 30 knots, though I would prefer to be on my 4.5 (07 Severne Blade) and 85L freeride in winds around 30k!

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KenHo said...

Jeez, when it's really blowing 30kts, everything works.
I'd be on a 4.5 and a wave board.
If you are sailing on a speed bank, teh water might be flat, but if there is any fetch at all, it's gonna be bumpy.
As Gesty said, a nice onshore wave sail will do you well.
NP Fly, or a Kult etc.

true on that one! np zen, firefly?

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evilC said...


Have looked at the Neilpryde hellcat 5.2, North x-type 5.4, Naish Rally 5.2, North Natural 5.4 etc

evilC,

An important consideration when choosing a sail would be the mast you're using with your bigger sail/s. Try to get a sail that matches the bend curve of that mast as NP and Naish sails fit masts that have somewhat different bend curves, though I think that North is much like NP. The length of that mast will also determine how small you can go in sail size, probably no less than around 5.0 if you've got a 430.

Would certainly recommend going for a full x-ply sail whatever you buy, they handle the inevitable high wind crashes much better!

Second the Loft 02 5.3. Great sail in strong winds, tough as nails. Bud at Windsurfingsales offers great service.

some discussion of masts here
i imagine not only full x-ply , butt also RDM in the big winds ??

thx

why do you need an rdm mast?

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joe windsurf said...


some discussion of masts here
i imagine not only full x-ply , butt also RDM in the big winds ??

thx

From my own personal experience using both RDM & SDM in strong winds in my 5.3 Koyote and from what I've read in UK Boards mag mast tests, a SDM does give a sail better top end stability, though obviously some sails will only work on an RDM.

Severne Gator.

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GazMan said...

joe windsurf said...


some discussion of masts here
i imagine not only full x-ply , butt also RDM in the big winds ??

thx

From my own personal experience using both RDM & SDM in strong winds in my 5.3 Koyote and from what I've read in UK Boards mag mast tests, a SDM does give a sail better top end stability, though obviously some sails will only work on an RDM.

that's been my experience also using both sdm and rdm in the same sail. rdm seems to improve bottom end and sdm improves top end. most likely due to luff diameter in the lower part of the sail. i guess that only applies to non cambered sails though.

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evilC said...

I am looking to buy a new freeride sail for 20-30 knots and I am not sure what to buy, any suggestions ?

Have been sailing about 1 year and looking to improve. Mainly sail in flat water/small waves. (110L excite-ride, 75kg)

Have looked at the Neilpryde hellcat 5.2, North x-type 5.4, Naish Rally 5.2, North Natural 5.4 etc

At 75kg I would look at a smaller board first, about 85L max for that wind range.
Try that with your existing sails, you will be surprised at the difference.

I have to ask, is that a measured 20-30kts, or an estimated 20-30 kts ?
Cos a real 30 kts is quite different to 22 called 30.
If I can measure 18 kts, I can use a 5.8 onshore wave sail and a 92L wave board, at 80kg, and be nicely powered.

I would recommend any wave sail. Generally built tough and will withstand a few stacks if you are still crashing a lot. In 30 knots it is more about control than speed therefore it might also be time to consider a smaller board.

I would love to get another smaller board but I don't think the boss would allow it just yet. Took a bit of persuasion for a new high wind sail.

It seams some people recommend a wave sail and some a x-ply freeride sail. Is there much difference in performance between to two ?

A smaller fin helps as well...

Not in 30kts.
The limiting factor here will be your board and fin combination.
As Nebbian said, a smaller swept fin will keep things under control for you and make gybes and landings easier.

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evilC said...

I would love to get another smaller board but I don't think the boss would allow it just yet. Took a bit of persuasion for a new high wind sail.

It seams some people recommend a wave sail and some a x-ply freeride sail. Is there much difference in performance between to two ?

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evilC said...


It seams some people recommend a wave sail and some a x-ply freeride sail. Is there much difference in performance between to two ?

Yeah, quite a lot. A high wind freeride sail is designed to keep a bigger board down on the water, and be stable. A wave sail is designed to lift a smaller board up out of the water and be manoeuvrable.
The difference is in the shape distribution (above or below the boom) that then defines how much down force the sail puts on the board. There's a lot of other differences in geometry, etc that also play apart but that's more complexity...
The simple way of looking at it is; get a freeride sail for a freeride board, get a wave sail for a wave board.

So now I will choose between the following (any help will be appreciated):

- KA Koyote 5.3
- NP Fusion HD 4.9
- North X-Type 5.4
- Loft O2 5.3

Please help me choose.........

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Ben Severne said...

evilC said...


It seams some people recommend a wave sail and some a x-ply freeride sail. Is there much difference in performance between to two ?

Yeah, quite a lot. A high wind freeride sail is designed to keep a bigger board down on the water, and be stable. A wave sail is designed to lift a smaller board up out of the water and be manoeuvrable.
The difference is in the shape distribution (above or below the boom) that then defines how much down force the sail puts on the board. There's a lot of other differences in geometry, etc that also play apart but that's more complexity...
The simple way of looking at it is; get a freeride sail for a freeride board, get a wave sail for a wave board.

Thanks Ben, it's educational.
It's not always a clear cut. What woud you suggest for a general ocean choppy sailing?

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evilC said...

So now I will choose between the following (any help will be appreciated):

- KA Koyote 5.3
- NP Fusion HD 4.9
- North X-Type 5.4
- Loft O2 5.3

Please help me choose.........

I'd go the Koyote. I have a 6.6 and it is one of the smoothest sails I have sailed. I admit that I am a beginner but that confinces me all the more re the sail. It's range is really good and when the wind went up to more than 20kts I was still able to hold on to it. that or the loft

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razzmatazz said...

evilC said...

So now I will choose between the following (any help will be appreciated):

- KA Koyote 5.3
- NP Fusion HD 4.9
- North X-Type 5.4
- Loft O2 5.3

Please help me choose.........

I'd go the Koyote. I have a 6.6 and it is one of the smoothest sails I have sailed. I admit that I am a beginner but that confinces me all the more re the sail. It's range is really good and when the wind went up to more than 20kts I was still able to hold on to it. that or the loft

Me too for KA Koyote 5.3. I'm biased as I have 2008 5.3 & 6.6 Koyotes and a 2011 5.9 Koyote and my newer 5.9 appears to have close to the top end of the 5.3 whilst getting going almost as early as the 6.6! Also, Koyotes will work well with either SDM's or RDM's. Can't really give feedback on other sails as not really familiar with them (have used NP sails mostly b4 KA), though check that they do have full x-ply construction, particularly in window. A Severne Gator or Blade could also be an option, though best rigged on RDM.

So would think that the 2011 5.3 Koyote will handle really well in 30 knot winds but agree with others that the limiting factor would be your board and large (34cm?) fin. Up to around 30 knot winds, an 85-95L freeride or freestyle wave with 24-28cm fin would probably give you the best range for your weight if you want to use just one board with different sails in 12-30 knot winds. Any chance of doing a swap with someone?

If you can learn to keep it all together in 30 knots on your x-cite ride then you will be a much better sailor for it!

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Obelix said...

Ben Severne said...

evilC said...


It seams some people recommend a wave sail and some a x-ply freeride sail. Is there much difference in performance between to two ?

Yeah, quite a lot. A high wind freeride sail is designed to keep a bigger board down on the water, and be stable. A wave sail is designed to lift a smaller board up out of the water and be manoeuvrable.
The difference is in the shape distribution (above or below the boom) that then defines how much down force the sail puts on the board. There's a lot of other differences in geometry, etc that also play apart but that's more complexity...
The simple way of looking at it is; get a freeride sail for a freeride board, get a wave sail for a wave board.

Thanks Ben, it's educational.
It's not always a clear cut. What woud you suggest for a general ocean choppy sailing?

I got new panels put into Ben's KA Pterodactyl 4.7 from Neptune know when.
One camber inducer (below the boom), 460 mast, can be depowered like a kite.
It is a lovely thing, should it work with a modern board?

Severne turbo, very stable twin cam.