Hi guys, I have the opportunity to waste some money and I was planning to buy 2 sails and the corresponding 75% mast.
I have in mind the Gaastra Pilot or the Ezzy freeride, both 2010 models.
Here in BM most of the windsurfers use Ezzy or NS but only because they are the two available distributors on the island. I found a new one in US that will ship here also Gaastra and they look pretty good to me?
Any experience about Gaastra sails and masts? Looking at the video it seems that they are pretty designed for Slalom and not really for Freeride or waves but I downloaded their catalog and they have a very big choice of models, bigger than the 3 models offert by Ezzy.

raffaeu, I've used Gaastra Manic (wave) and Remedy (crossover). Both great sails, I really like the Gaastra feel. Haven't owned Ezzys but have sailed one or two. I think the key difference is that Ezzy comes with more pre-shape. Gaastra battens float behind the mast and the shape comes under load. This leads to the two sails feeling quite different. It comes down to personal choice which you favour.

Thanks paddymac.
I would say that right now the most important thing for me is the durability of the sail and the wind range.
Now, for the entire summer/mid winter the wind will be between 15 up to 20/23 i the luckiest days.
I was thinking about a 4.5 and a 5.5 to start with.
I am 70Kg and I have a 130 JP.

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raffaeu said...

the most important thing for me is the durability of the sail and the wind range.

You'd be mad not to go with Ezzy -- support your local shop if nothing else. And despite everyone having their own favourite brand, no-one will dispute that Ezzy sails last and last and last and last and last... the wind range is exceptional as well.

One thing they don't do well is freestyle, if you're into spinny backwinded things then I'd recommend something else. But for general freeride no-hassle grooving till the sun goes down, Ezzy's the way to go, at least for me

I see. What was worrying me more is that Ezzy is pretty cheap here compared to the other brands so I was not sure if the sail is a good quality or not.
But at this point I will move to Ezzy.
I think I will buy a Freeride 5.5 and a Panther 4 or 4.5 for the most windy days.
I'll let you know about the prices. I will not get the mast from them as I have everything for SDM and Ezzy has only RDM masts.

Well, it is a really nice sail, Gaastra probably good also. What I like with Ezzy is the BIG Range,durability and the way it handles gust, smooth, predictable and it doesn't pull you off gard, nice feature in Surf and freestyle, for me anyway. Some better like Full HorsePower right now, the nife under the troat, like a wild horse to pass the white water or whatever, this is not what that sail deliver however! It got power, but diliver it gradually.

I think I already told that story, but I did a 6 month trip once with 2 sails(5.2 and 4.2) Ezzy Wave. I sailed from March to Sept in my local spot in Canada. Then Sailed to Maui from Sept to 19th of Dec, get rinsed a lot btw. Passed 2 month in Australia and a month in NZ. When I sold the sail the next year, the guy who bought it told me, wow, almost new, you did not sail much this season....he coudn't beleive it, he bought the sail and never heard any comments, so must be still on the water!
cheers.

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raffaeu said...

I see. What was worrying me more is that Ezzy is pretty cheap here compared to the other brands so I was not sure if the sail is a good quality or not.
But at this point I will move to Ezzy.
I think I will buy a Freeride 5.5 and a Panther 4 or 4.5 for the most windy days.
I'll let you know about the prices. I will not get the mast from them as I have everything for SDM and Ezzy has only RDM masts.

Thanks Nord for the detailed feedback. Right now it looks to me they are both "more" Ezzy for freeride, slalom while Gaastra has a very big range of rig types.
With Gaastra is more complicated as I had to contact a retail in EU and look how to get the stuff delivered here, while with Ezzy I have the dealer in on the island but he is crazy expensive, one sail is 750 while online in US is no more than 400 ...

Seems like you are already leaning towards the Ezzy, which is good, but I thought I'd chime in too. I had a Gaastra Pilot a few years ago and while it sailed OK, the durabilty was shocking. Within a couple of uses it had a small split in one of the panels near the luff from bunching the sail up while inserting the mast. One of the battens also broke while rigging when I flipped the sail over. I ended up getting another brand sail to replace it and didn't use it for about a year. Decided to use it one day and the pulley block exploded when I got to full downhaul. I'm sure other Gaastra sails are great but the Pilot is a budget sail and I would not recommend it.

Just a few points to consider.

The Gaastra Pilot is an entry level freeride sail (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

North and Ezzy seem to be the predominant sail in your area - so there will be lots of replacement masts (new and 2nd hand) which should be interchangable between North and Ezzy sails - ( David Ezzy use to design North Wave Sails)- Ezzy seem more tolerant of other brand masts - eg: Loft Pryde etc. Gaastra masts are/were? quite unique to thier sails.

The Ezzy sail will outlast the Gaastra - no contest here.

I've use both Ezzy and Gaastra (Gaastra Matrix was a fantastic freeride sail), Freeride performance wise I think Gaastra (not considering the Pilot) have the edge over Ezzy.
Which ever route you take will be a good one, but if go down the Gaastra road you will be pretty much committed to continue building your quiver on that brand - not that thats a bad thing but something you need to consider.


Happy shopping

Hi Raffaeu, I am usually a NeilPryde man and went through the sails like crazy. My mishaps made my sail maker rich over the years. Bought an 5.5 Ezzy Wave SE a few months back after I completely destroyed my 5.7 NP Saber. The sail is unbelievable tough and riggs very well on my 430 NP masts. It has an incredible wind range, you can trim it from fat to flat. From what I've heard Gaastra uses stiffer masts, so it depends what masts you have. I can only say I'm very happy with it.

The guy here told me that if I buy the Ezzy I can still recycle for a while my NP 430 and 400 mast (70%).
Then I can gradually buy the Ezzy masts so that I will not have a huge loss in my wallet
Again I Still do not know what boom to buy ... A full carbon looks to me too expensive and too delicate for what I am learning now.
He suggests me a Alloy tube + carbon end for a less weight and better performance, around 400 USD. Alloy is 250 and full carbon is almost 900 (my way said no way ...)

Go Ezzy

I stepped away from windsurfing for 10 years to kitesurf. I just came back to windsurfing. I wanted the range of my kite in a sail. Kite range spoiled me. I was a one kite guy.

I tried Gaastra and Hot Sails Maui. The range did not impress me and I felt like the sails had not advanced much in the 10 years I was gone.

Then I tried an Ezzy. Wow, it was exactly what I had hoped to find. I'm getting insane range from my Freeride and loving windsurfing again.

The Ezzy is a very special design. The batten tips are designed to sit behind the mast when rigged, keeping the draft full and locked all the time, regardless of out haul setting. Genius design work in my view.

Great NC Surfer.
I am trying to see with my wife what we can buy that can be used by both as a first roundtrip of sails.
I was planing about 4.5 and 5.5 considering that I am learning plane while my wife is still on a 200 Lt. I have NP 400 and 430 x6 SDM and I would like to survive with this setup until 2012, then I will buy in 2012 the RDM Ezzy booms and probably a 6.5.
Thoughts?

Those sail sizes will be fine. I used to have a 5.0 and a 6.0 and they did overlap a bit.

They will work reasonably well on your masts as well.

Enjoy!

I finally got the 5.5 free ride and I will post a nice review soon.
Awesome sail, easy to rig, perfect shape, power and lighter than expected.