Proper Course, the blog of a Laser sailboat sailor whose nom de splash is Tillerman does occasionally invite other bloggers to write on a specified topic. He’s doing this now, with the topic being “Worst Sailing Innovation Ever”. I had been thinking it wasn’t a good topic for me, as “worst” doesn’t really come to mind when I think of windsurfing innovations. Yeah there have been some short lived and/or goofy developments (flappers, football fins) but nothing really bad.
Then it hit me. Monofilm. Monofilm sucks. A brand new monofilm sail can not be removed from its bag, rigged, sailed once, derigged, and put back in its bag without being visibly dinged. And that’s if you handle it perfectly. Of course you don't even have to touch the thing for it to degrade. There are monofilm sails sold with instructions that actually say “keep out of sunlight” which should be followed by “do not rig” and perhaps “do not buy”. Yeah I know monofilm sails are light and sail well, but they are an exercise in “accelerated decrepitude” (as Darryl Hannah’s character says in Bladerunner.)
Just gimme X-ply or Cuban fiber or grid or just about anything else.
(See all those stickers on my sail? I'm not sponsored by anyone...those are all patching rips and tears and creases and dings, holding my monofilm 7.0 together. )
I have a 5.5 and a 5.0 set of Aerotech Charge Cuben Fiber sails that are for sale. They are the lightest sails available. I got them at the end of the season and will be getting replacements so not much use on either. They are not too mast specific and work in just about any mast although I did not like they way it looked on a pryde rdm. pics on iwindsurf.
Posted by: Mike | February 13, 2010 at 01:31 AM
Hey Michael,
Coincidentally, the new windsurfing mag has an article about the various sail materials, and the guy/company that makes all the films for sails.
Posted by: Brian S | February 13, 2010 at 02:13 PM
mike i told you mono sucks, especially for slush nuts like us ! a little freeze
7 youve got cracks all over. maybe thats what happened to your 7.0
Posted by: scott k. | February 15, 2010 at 02:33 PM
I don't know what a flapper is in windsurfing but the mental image I'm getting is one that makes me wish I had Bowsprite-like illustrational skills.
Boop boop be doop, whoosh!
Posted by: bonnie | February 16, 2010 at 05:27 PM
Well Bonnie, whenever we've convened a Blogfest you've shown off fine illustrating skills (I included your shark here). Your flapper would have been much nicer to look at than a windsurfing flapper, which is/was sort of a plastic tongue extending above and behind the board's fin, for the purposes of preventing cavitation. Boop boop be doop Sally will like that!
Posted by: Michael | February 16, 2010 at 06:37 PM
That's why I got my North's in HD-monofilm free! They're finally perfect!
Posted by: Chachi | February 19, 2010 at 11:30 PM
I totally agree with this. Monofilm is one of those high-performance technologies that was great for people who could afford to replace their sails regularly. I have several monofilm sails and they're all scratching and creasing.
My favorite sail is a my Sailworks Retro, made of heavy-duty X-Ply. Sure, it's heavier than mono, but that sail is indestructible.
Why do all these high-performance technologies have to push their way down into every sector of the industry. You buy a beginner's sail, and it's made of monofilm. Is that really necessary? Where are the low-cost, durable sails for average windsurfers?
(END OF RANT)
-Ian
Posted by: Ian Berger | February 21, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Hi, I'm using my sails 5-6-7m2 about 2-3 years and about 10 times every winter with -10C. My 4.0 dacran+ vinyl windows, about 10 years old. windows are still ok and kids used it during the summer about 4 month. I think it depends is the monofilm protected or not against UV. monofilm without UV protection of course cheaper for moneymakers. ... now I'm looking monofilm to repair my sails, ???!!! do you know where?
Posted by: johannes | October 02, 2011 at 12:14 PM