Is there a general guide for matching sails and masts,I've got a 460 25 and I'm looking for a 7.5 ish sail for lighter winds.another question,on lighter wind days in the surf do you rig a bigger sail or is there cut of size for wave sailing.cheers

The mast question has been asked on here frequently, the consensus is the safest way is to use the same manufacturer for each. There is a compatibility chart somewhere, google may find it for you. The crucial thing is bend curve, some masts bend more at the top some at the bottom. Stiffness is less of an issue, if you're heavy you can use a stiffer mast, if light a softer one may feel better.

My biggest wave sail is a 5.3, anything bigger I tend to catch the clew in the wave, and a heavier sale is less manoeuvrable. But I'm only 5' 7" and 70kg

Some of my heavier taller mates will use about a 6.5 I think. I prefer to go for a board that's 10 or 20 litres over my weight, so it's comfortable to grovel around.
Here the wind is usually slightly onshore, so you don't power up going down the line. 12 knots is about the lightest wind that's worthwhile here, anything less and the sail acts as a wind brake going down the line. With the 5.3 and a floaty board I can pump on to a wave before it gets too close to the impact zone, so going for a bigger sail doesn't help much.

here's one chart.

www.unifiber.net/masts-selector

Very interesting

That chart is good.

You'll find if you really mismatch a sail and mast that the sail just doesn't form the right shape. I've had a couple of combinations that had the sail way too loose up the top. Sure, I could have released the downhaul but then the problem just moves further down the sail.

A lot of different brands will go together just fine. Again, that chart is good.

i also think that over time the sails stretch and their characteristics change. i've got a 2008 4.7 np zone which i somewhat disliked when new, it had a small wind range and not much low power (but seemed very fast for a wave sail in strong winds), but now it feels great and has a ton of low end grunt, and i'll be sorry to part with it as it's now so brittle, faded and about to explode. i've been using the same masts since the sail was new

ever since new, and unlike other sails whose panels get progressively floppier as you go up the sail, this sail always had a tight top panel, but the second and third are floppy?? i've never had or seen another sail like it adn wondered if it was a manufacturing fault?

An over simplification but it should give you an idea



For instance, if get a sail that is designed on a hard top mast and rig it on a soft top mast you may find the bottom battens do not rotate well as they will be poking behind the mast too far.

Select to expand quote

Haircut said..

i also think that over time the sails stretch and their characteristics change. i've got a 2008 4.7 np zone which i somewhat disliked when new, it had a small wind range and not much low power (but seemed very fast for a wave sail in strong winds), but now it feels great and has a ton of low end grunt, and i'll be sorry to part with it as it's now so brittle, faded and about to explode. i've been using the same masts since the sail was new

ever since new, and unlike other sails whose panels get progressively floppier as you go up the sail, this sail always had a tight top panel, but the second and third are floppy?? i've never had or seen another sail like it adn wondered if it was a manufacturing fault?

Have you been using a Pryde mast? They are soft top, stiff in the bottom. If you have been using a Powerex or something like that you'd expect it to rig tight in the top and a bit flat in the bottom.