Sail Technology

50 years of leading sail technology

For more than 50 years, we have been focusing exclusively on research, development, and production of high-quality profiles and sails for yachts, and for windsurfing and kitesurfing boards.

Athletes have won everything that there is to win using our profiles. Revolutionary approaches and technologies have always been and will always be part of our success. Almost all details and features that went into our windsurfing products emerged during the development and evolution of the WARP World Cup race sail and its predecessors, which always delivered the highest performance possible. When comparing them with other sail brands, you should always pay particular attention to the unique solutions and innovations that are responsible for the performance of NORTH SAILS Windsurfing. You will realize that most of the features can be found only in our sails.

5 YEAR WARRANTY

Quality guaranteed. To prove the superior durability and unique NORTH SAILS quality, we grant a 5-year warranty on all our sails (does not include monofilm)!

Register your sail here!

 

NEW: iBUMPER


(RAM F12, S_TY PE, X_TYPE, DUKE, ICE, HERO) More protection, less abrasion. The iBUMPER is probably the most innovative mast protector on the market. Under heat its highly resilient surface material gets thermally connected to a shock-absorbing foam. The intelligent arrangement of the ribs and surfaces not only offers weight advantages, but also eliminates the two most common problems. The contoured upper section provides unprecedented bump protection and cushioning in the event of foot or lower leg contact. The lower part however is designed towards maximum abrasion restiance to meet the frequent board contact. This is indicated by the absence of ribs and the generous surface. Smart detail: a mesh pocket at the inside to store the excess downhaul rope.

 NEW: HIGHTECH-LAMINAT "ODL"


(ID only) Extremely light, extremely high-tech. Yachting sail specialist POLYANT delivers one of the most desirable laminates available today. ODL is an extremely lightweight material that is unbelievably 50% lighter than regular X.PLY and makes every weight freak rave. Since the film thickness is reduced to an absolute minimum this laminate is exclusively used for the ID ultralight. Please note the reduced UV-stability!

 NEW: SET & GO VARIOTOP

(S_TYPE, X_TYPE, DUKE, ID, ICE, HERO) Find the optimum vario top setting without the usual try and error. From the first rigging now the length of the vario top is set correctly. Easy to read length indicators show the perfect setting in relation to the used mast length which eliminates any testing and readjustment!

 NEW: FULL.MAST.OPTION

No mast diameter limitation! All non-cam sails up to 6.9 have been developed to work with SDM masts as well as with our RDM masts.

 The DOUBLE.D.BUCKLE


(all sails with Vario Top) has been inspired by high mechanical load capacity climbing harnesses and racing helmets: The exclusive two-pieces DOUBLE.D.BUCKLE replaces present standard solutions.
This construction guarantees outstanding trimming options and eliminates webbing slipping completely.

POLYESTER.WEBBING.ONLY

No stretch, no tension loss. What has been proven in safety belts is just good enough for us windsurfers! As the only manufacturer we use from now on Polyester webbing, both at the (vario) top, the tack roller and the batten tensioner attachment loops. The advantage over conventional Polypropylene is the almost non-existing stretch. Even brand new sails now keep the full downhaul tension and need not be retensioned. The same is true for the batten tensioner. A small change with very great effect!

 CUTAWAY.CLEW


(WARP F2012, RAM F12, S_TYPE, X_TYPE, NATURAL from 6.2) Minimized rotation forces improve handling. The CUTAWAY.CLEW has an extremely positive influence on the sails agility and feel. The shorter and stiffer boom makes the sail more compact, stabilises the profile when overpowered and reduces the sails' centrifugal mass to enhance control.

 CROSS.BATTEN.CONCEPT


(WARP.F2011, RAM F12, S_TYPE, X_TYPE, NATURAL from 6.2) Optimum combination power and handling. This intelligent solution, shifts the sail’s centre of effort downwards and supports the larger surface area in the boom zone. It also allows for an early planing profile without losing handling.

 5.YEAR.WARRANTY


(except ID) quality guaranteed. Short term minimum weight is great. But over reducing necessary reinforcements automatically reduces the longevity. NorthSails is famous for the perfect ratio weight to durability. To prove the superior durability and quality, we grant a unique 5.YEAR.WARRANTY on all our sails (does not include monofilm)! To secure the extended warranty claims please immediately register under www.north-windsurf.com/fre/warranties/register. Otherwise just the legal warranty period can be granted.

 NO.PRINT.ON.FILM


(DUKE, ICE, HERO) Your sail should still look as good as new after its first season’s use. While most sail brands make decorations by printing big areas of the monofilm and X.PLY, on our wave sails we choose to print only cloth panels. Expertise has shown that printing on film doesn’t stand the tough impacts of wind and waves long-term.

 RIPSTOP.FRAME.DESIGN

(S_Type, X_Type, DUKE, ID, ICE, HERO) No more tears. It doesn‘t always take gigantic waves
to damage a sail. Sometimes even the harness-hook can drill a hole through the surface after a catapult. Although the hole is usually not a problem, it may present a risk if the sail is ripped across the whole panel on your way back to the beach. In a worstcase scenario, the sail will rip into two pieces beyond repair. The RIPSTOP.FRAME.DESIGN, consisting of reinforced fabrics that frame the entire sail, helps avoid this risk. Moreover, the intelligent combination of lightweight materials in the centre and robust materials on the perimeter results in a much lower weight.

 TWIN.TRIM.CLEW


TWIN.TRIM.CLEW (WARP F2011, RAM F12, S_Type, X_Type, DUKE, ICE, HERO) Increased range of use, individual tuning options. The secret of the TWIN.TRIM.CLEW are the 2 horizontally placed clew eyelets. The outer clew position provides more power and a more direct feeling, while the inner position gives more control and a softer sensation.

“I was using the upper eyelet to start with as I wasn‘t too powered up, then the wind picked up a lot so I changed to the lower/inner one and it changed the sail completely. It felt like I had one size smaller. With the new TWIN.TRIM.CLEW the sail has such a wide range of use, it‘s great.”

Laure Treboux, free style shooting star PWA top free style & wave rider

HYPER.CAM


(WARP F2011, RAM F12, S_TYPE) Soft rotation and excellent rigging comfort. The ultimate in smooth sailing with unequalled advantages.
Advantage 1: Super-fast rigging. (Sliding-up instead of snapping-on the mast.) No need for repeat adjustments to luff and outhaul tension.
Advantage 2: Minimum friction means soft batten rotation, since the HYPER.CAM features free rollers without plastic buckles, so that only the rollers touch the mast.
Advantage 3: Optimised shape for the best possible mast pocket profile and ideal aerodynamics.
Advantage 4: Fits all mast diameters, since only the rollers but never the plastic body touch the surface, which also makes the HYPER.CAM extremely easy to rotate.

 NEW: iROCKET

Lighter, more aerodynamic, extremely durable. With 50% less weight than its predecessor, the new iROCKET is our lightest batten tensioner ever! Despite the significantly lower dimensions there is no loss in durability or adjustability. Stretch-free, abrasion resistant Polyester webbing results in a rock-solid fixation of the iROCKET!

 TRIPLE.TACK.ROLLER


Minimum forces for perfect trim. The integrated, now nickel-plated brass triple roller minimises the downhaul forces tremendously. The new, optimised side plate with integrated rope led prevents that the rope will be damaged or jumps from the roll.

HYPER.LEECH II

Makes speed sails even faster! This solution was inspired by airplane wings. The precisely defined spot of HYPER.LEECH II is located slightly higher, improving tension distribution in the leech and making the reaction of the top extremely sensitive. The result is an improved loose-leech twist for better control and higher stability in gusts or when getting over-powered.

 DURA.LUFF.PATCH


Extremely stable luff reinforcement. The area around the boom cutout is particularly exposed to wear and tear, because the luff panel always forms wrinkles when inserting the mast. Over time, this "accordion effect" may cause cracks in the monofilm. The flexible DURA.LUFF.PATCH reinforces the area around the boom and creates a soft transition to the monofilm, while preventing cracks in the film.

 DOUBLE.SEAM.TECHNOLOGY


Twice as durable, half the stretch. NorthSails stands for unsurpassed quality that guarantees a longer life for our sails. The triple zig-zag seams significantly contribute to this. And they don‘t come, as usual, in a single, but in a double version! They cover all exposed crash areas that would otherwise be damaged. The result is higher resistance to tear and a reduction of stretch by up to 50% as a result of the second seam, also benefiting profile stability and performance. Only the DOUBLE.SEAM.TECHNOLOGY by NorthSails can deliver this!

 TWIN.STRAP


Keeps the sail rolled up and the protector on the mast. This improved version of the brilliantly simple fastening system not only keeps the sail safely rolled up, but also makes sure that the mast protector is closely attached and fastened to the mast while surfing (not available with Drive)!

 TT.TOP II


Improved sail control at higher wind speeds. Kai Hopf relied on the WARP F2012 to design the TT.TOP II. The concave shape is slightly reduced, which improves tension and allows for a more effective, three-dimensional top twist. This means the top twists not only horizontally, but also vertically under strong winds. By virtually neutralising gusts, the rig’s kept steady in the rider‘s hands, and gives a much larger range of winds.

 DURATECH.FOOT


Long-term warranty for the foot. The foot of the sail is often dragged across the anti-skid surface during water starts or accelerating, especially with wide boards. The DURATECH.FOOT keeps the seams in a wide plas tic channel, protecting them against damage from the rough anti-skid surface.

 HTS HARNESSLINE.TRIM.SYSTEM


Say goodbye to misplaced harness lines! Forget the time-consuming search for the ideal harness line position, the numb forearms, and the endless fiddling around! The patented print on the sail shows exactly where the centre of the harness line has to be. Just position the two ends symmetrically at the left and right of the print, that‘s all.

 INDIVIDUAL.BOOM.LENGTH.INDICATION


Choosing the right boom length without experimenting. Since the boom is positioned at different points on the mast depending on the rider‘s height, the ideal boom length varies due to the different angles. To make it easier to find the right length fast, the individual recommendations are now written directly on the luff panel at boom level.

 TAPE.TECHNOLOGY


No wrinkles. All seam tapes are cut to match the curve instead of being sticked in a curved fashion, thus preventing the tape from being wrinkled or coming off.

 INTELLIGENT.BATTEN.SYSTEM


Individual batten setting for better performance! Since each batten fulfils a different task, we use no less than 7 (!) different batten types. They differ not only in their cross section (round or rectangular) but also in the materials used (glass, glass-carbon composites, full carbon) and in their geometry (thickness, width). Moreover, all battens have specific stiffness degrees and profiles, regardless of their length for 100% centre of effort stability in the centre of the sail, optimum twist in the top (horizontally and vertically), and reduced top weight (easier handling).

 X.PLY


Excitingly beautiful, extremely durable. As many as three different X.PLY layers with varying fibre density and film thickness are used in our 2012 sails. The materials are always carefully selected to match the sail‘s application and to obtain the ideal combination of durability and weight.

 MINI.BATTEN


Eliminates unintentional leech flutter. Short, highly effective miniature battens support the areas between the long battens and prevent any annoying flutter.

 MAST.SLEEVE.OPENER


No more friction when threading the mast into the mast pocket. A brilliant trick makes inserting the mast a breeze. The NorthSails logo above the boom cutout opens the mast pocket just a little, allowing the rider to insert the mast with just one hand, without having to pull at the luff.

 VTS.VISUAL.TRIM.SYSTEM


Perfect trim and a huge application range! Even beginners can accurately trim the sail in a matter of seconds. Simply pull the luff until the top of the loose leech reaches the „min dot“ or „max dot“ (depending on the wind speed). That’s it! The exclusive VTS acts like a turbocharger, ensuring maximum performance and an extended range of application. Trimming has never been quicker and better!

 PROGRESSIVE.BATTEN.CONFIGURATION

(WARP F2011, S_TYPE, X_TYPE, NATURAL, DRIVE). Better handling. Total control. The number of battens plays a decisive role when it comes to a stable centre of effort, weight, and handling. The PROGRESSIVE.BATTEN.CONFIGURATION introduces a system that determines the ideal number of battens for each sail, depending on size and intended use. This provides for an ideal combination of performance and the lowest possible weight for each size.