Hi, everyone.
I have offer to choose between Loft's O2 and North's Natural and Vandal Venture freeride sails.
Natural i can buy for a near half a price because it's 2011 model, lofts are 2012.
I am beginner - it's my second season windsurfing, i am not sure how to choose between
brands, and what's the benefits choosing one or another.
thank you!

No experience with those sails except the O2, mines a 5.9 and a few years old, it's great and easy to use. There's quite a few up here and no complaints, I can highly recommend them

I have a Loft O2 2009 7.4 and I find it very well made and very tunable. Great value and keeping the competition honest.

Nice neutral handling sail, not too hot and not too cold, as Goldilocks would say.

Thanks, some experience with Severn's? Severn Gator, Mojo or Covert?

It will be useful for me, if i have one 5.0-5.2 wave/freestyle for stronger winds in Turkey and Greece, and one freeride/slalom 6.5-6.7m2 for Bulgarian usual wind conditions.

I too have Loft 02s. 2009 models, a 7.4m, 6.6m and 5.9m.


Over the last two years they have been durable, they still look good and work well. They are quite stable though not as stable as a race sail. They rig well on my Neil Pryde X6 460cm mast. They are easy to rig, not requiring humungous amounts of downhaul. Light and neutral in the hands. They respond well to changes in rigging though I'm no expert of this.

I have not used the other sails you mention so I can't compare them.

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ivoodoo said...

I am beginner - it's my second season windsurfing, i am not sure how to choose between
brands, and what's the benefits choosing one or another.

None of the brands you've listed or will find advertised in a magazine make bad sails. As a beginner you wouldn't be any better or worse off whatever you choose.

The benefit of one brand or another at your level is mainly down to what gear you already have or may have in the future. Mast/sail compatability is an issue with modern sails so you're best to choose a brand with a mast in the constant curve range, then in the future you will have a lot more choice if you want to try other sails on your existing mast. Have a look at this chart to get an idea of what I'm talking about www.unifiber.net/masts-selector

Severne Gators are brilliant sails, I had a mismatched bag of sails in my first year learning then changed over to a 5.5 and 6.5 gator. It was heaven with those, they are really tunable, they are easy to rig and great to learn the differences in rigging as they are quite forgiving. Mine have done well over a thousand miles each and are still going strong, I have gone through both with a harness hook in the centre of a panel and fixed with duct tape and forgot.......

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Squid Lips said...

ivoodoo said...

I am beginner - it's my second season windsurfing, i am not sure how to choose between
brands, and what's the benefits choosing one or another.

None of the brands you've listed or will find advertised in a magazine make bad sails. As a beginner you wouldn't be any better or worse off whatever you choose.

The benefit of one brand or another at your level is mainly down to what gear you already have or may have in the future. Mast/sail compatability is an issue with modern sails so you're best to choose a brand with a mast in the constant curve range, then in the future you will have a lot more choice if you want to try other sails on your existing mast. Have a look at this chart to get an idea of what I'm talking about www.unifiber.net/masts-selector

Hey Squidlips, thanks for that, have never seen a matrix like that, if its accurate that is very valuable information

What he said^^^^^^ - that is invaluable information Squid Lips.

Just wizzed out and bought a (second hand) replacement 400 mast on the strength of it.

north natural's are ccaaaarrrraaapppp!!!! i get going on my 5.3 ice sooner then a 7.0m natural....

these sails make me angry, cheap tho

Thank you guys, i'v already order Loft's Oxygen 2012.
Cheers!!!