best allround wavesail on the market?

[geo]

I don't have much specific experience in different wavesails designs, but I'd like to add my thoughts.
The times when sailmakers were making tentatives to design decent sails are past. I don't think there is any one sail model that does not work satisfactorily. This does not mean that each one cannot have its own distinct "flavour".
That said, and should I decide to change my wavesails now, I'd be attracted by the specific "flavour" of: Maui Sails Legends, because of great power and performance in a classic wavesail handling package; and Ezzy Sails, because of reliable lightweight durability. Such sails would probably satisfy everybody. As for Superfreaks, I never sailed one, I imagine their performance is OK, but from what I read their peculiar "taste" may be too spicy and specific to suit to everybody.

[Guest]

since when are ezzy sails light?

[geo]

I guess some other sail may be lighter; but in my opinion, Ezzys display a great combination of durability and lightness.

[Guest]

can we get a handle of what light actually is then?
what is a lightweight 5.5 wave sail? 4.2 kg?4.0kg? 3.5kg, 2.7kg?

[Guest]

Thank you for the answers! Hot sails and ezzy could be an option. What about simmersails?

A question to Ola: I like to travel with "light" stuff. My sails are 4,2 4,7 and 5,3 sqm. Can you rig the SO in the sizes 4,2 and 5,3 on a 4-meter rdm without too much lack of performance. I??m about 75 kg.

Cheers Karl

[Ola_H]

I would say a mid weight 5.5 sail is around 4kg. 3.5 would be very light. A superfreak is 3.55 in 5.5 size, I believe. Its probably hard go go signaficantly lighter and both stay strong enough and keep attention to detail.

As for SOs. The 5.3 is recemmended on a 430 (438 luff) but at 75 kilos will work great on a 400 too. The 4.2 is rec on a 370 and is 394 luff. It can definitely be used on a 400, but will work better on a 370. So, I would say you can rig 4.2-5.3 on a 4m mast "without too much lack of performance). The same goes for Smack 4.3-5,3 (and here the 5.3 is rec on a 4m mast (424 luff). Again, the SO is a wonderful sail, but have a look at the Smack too. They are not at all what they used to be, and I would say they are an even better all round wwave sail for most peoepl than the SO (but it IS a matter of taste).

[-Lampi-]

Hi!

About the rigging.... For the 3.7 SO i'd definately reccomend you to buy a 370 mast that is soft enough for it (16 imcs ?? ), so it will work nicer. I tried to rig mine with a 400 mast and it didn't feel quite right. 4.2 can go with a 400 mast (USE RDM ONLY!!! to me RDM's make a totaly different SO). I don't have a 5.3, do have a 5.0 and i use the same size and model of mast that i use for 4.2.

If i were you i'd listen to ola..... he knows what he's talking about. So take a look at the Smacks.

All the best!

[Guest]

Assuming it could be built strong enough, what woud be the effect of getting a 5.5m wave sail down to 2.7KG?
Anyone think it would be good?

[Ola_H]

A 2.7 kg 5.5 wave sail: If all else was the same, it would feel great. However, getting a sail that light means using very light materials and since sail cloth character decides a lot of the feel in the sail, I think it is hard to build it with the same feel as a "normal" sail. So in practice, the answer on the question "would it be good" would be "it depends".

The lightest sails I ever had was my 2001 Hot Psyclone. I think the 5.3 was just under 3 kilos. It was a really nice sail which also survided lots lots of chrashes in mast high Maui waves. Compared to the current heavier sails, the cloth was thinner, the mast pocket was not nearly as strong (ie got tore by broken masts, reef etc) and lots of other details was also more simplistic. Overall, I think the current models are better sails, despite weighting 600-800 grams more.