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Art.-No. 14900-1204
NOT JUST PHYSICALLY BUT ALSO IN YOUR HANDS THE LIGHTEST WAVE SAIL WE HAVE EVER BUILT!
NOT JUST PHYSICALLY BUT ALSO IN YOUR HANDS THE LIGHTEST WAVE SAIL WE HAVE EVER BUILT!
THE ULTIMATE BUMP & JUMP SAIL BEING AN IDEAL MATCH WITH FREEWAVE AND SMALL FREERIDE BOARDS
THE LIGHTEST YET MOST COMPETITIVE FREESTYLE SAIL OUT THERE!
Four-batten design for maximum handling at with minimal weight
5 batten design for an ideal mix of handling and stability
Four-batten design for maximum handling at with minimal weight
Further back: absolutely neutral load distribution on both hands – ideal for all types of wave boards
Horizontal draft position: forward oriented draft for a crisp and very light feel
Horizontal draft position right at the front for absolutely neutral manoeuvring characteristics
Medium-low vertical draft position: outstanding stability despite the low number of battens
Higher vertical draft position: generates lift for improved planing power and an upright sailing position
Weit oben liegende, vertikale Druckpunktposition: generiert maximalen Lift für alle gesprungene Tricks
- Less loose leech, generating a lot of low-end power
- The larger gap between the third and fourth battens allows the profile to fill out more easily, generating more power and allowing you to depower perfectly on the wave
Sail design with wide trim-range allows to trim the sail with less or more loose leech so that you can cover a very large wind range. Also allows to individually adjust the sail feeling according to the sailors preferences (stiffer / more direct or more elastic / more comfortable)
- Extremely high clew for high-speed diving ducking manoeuvres without losing speed
- CONVEX DACRON LUFF PANEL: highly elastic for maximum lift in all jumps from lee position
- The 100-micron ULTRA FILM, 3 tube battens, iROCKET 2.0 tensioner and the MINI PROTECTOR make the IDOL LTD the most lightweight freestyle monofilm sail on the market
Membrane laminate with 20% thicker special film and increased adhesive content results in a significantly increased durability with just 100-150g extra weight
Hollow Lower Leech with additional MINI BATTEN stabilizes the profile right above the boom and prevents leech flattering
As reactive as a 3-batten sail in drift & go conditions yet super stable in overpowered conditions
The lightest protector on the market, with integrated trim indicator
The elimination of the tack rollers saves another 80g
Unbreakable Epoxy Battens
For the fetishists among the specialists, the SUPER HERO by Viktor Fernandez is now available as a limited edition M.PLUS in ultralight high-tech membrane construction. The membrane body is manufactured by a highly specialized yacht-sail producer on computer-controlled manufacturing plants. The aim was to achieve maximum weight savings in addition to improved durability compared to membrane sails available todate. Using the experience from yachting we use a 20% thicker special monofilm and a higher adhesive content. On the first film layer Dyneema fibers are laid out by a plotter following exactly the force directions. The exact course was defined in advance by computer simulation by the designer and the manufacture. Subsequently, the upper layer is applied and compacted in a vacuum process before the adhesive is activated under heat. Two of the four batten pockets are directly laminated into the body during this process. The mast pocket incl. protector, the remaining two batten pockets and the fittings are complemented in the traditional procedure.
The result is a 20% (= 600 g) lighter high-end SUPER HERO, whose lower weight is clearly noticeable, especially during maneuvers. Never before has a wave sail been so light and loose in the hand and so neutral during wave sailing, especially since the membrane gives the sail a pleasant-elastic feeling and thus especially in the underpowered wind range improves the performance. Apart from that the range of use and basic character do not differ from the regular SUPER HERO. Viktor Fernandez uses only the M.PLUS edition for the world cup, because the weight advantages are simply unbeatable.
Ultimate technology and the most elaborate manufacturing processes mean that the SUPER HERO M.PLUS is only available in very limited quantities at a price well above the regular version.
Important note: The SUPER HERO M.PLUS is a high-tech professional sail, which is designed for minimum weight despite optimized membrane film. This inevitably comes at the expense of durability, which is why the M.PLUS edition is excluded from the 5-year warranty.
At DUOTONE we use a Medium Constant Curve for our masts (our bend percentages range between 61-63 bottom and 75-77 top depending on model and length). As this curve sits right in the middle within Constant Curve masts it offers the biggest compatibility of any bend curve. This makes our masts and sails the most compatible on the market.
HERE IS HOW GOOD OTHER BRAND MASTS WORK WITH OUR SAILS AND VICE VERSA:
Most customers change their individual sail and mast sizes according to demand and therefore end up owning a quiver with different brands. When building up your personal sail quiver, you should try to combine sails that have a similar feel and behavior. The one decisive factor defining how similar or different one sail feels/behaves to another is the position of the draft, in both levels, vertical (high><low) and horizontal (forward><back).
Basically there are 2 different kind of wave sails:
So when mixing your quiver with different sails/brands you should try to combine sails which have a similar draft position and thus feeling and behavior.
Just follow these guidelines:
4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.7 |
153 | 159 | 163 | 167 | 171 | 175 |
378 | 382 | 404 | 406 | 430 | 436 |
FIX | FIX | FIX | FIX | FIX | FIX |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
2.55 | 2.65 | 2.75 | 2.85 | 2.95 | 3.05 |
PLATINUM / GOLD | PLATINUM / GOLD | PLATINUM / GOLD | PLATINUM / GOLD | PLATINUM / GOLD | PLATINUM / GOLD |
RDM/-- | RDM/-- | RDM/-- | RDM/-- | RDM/-- | RDM/-- |
370 | 370 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 430 |
On modern wave sails you want to have a certain elasticity. The easiest way to „inject“ elasticity into a sail is by using Dacron for the luff panel.
Dacron has 2 disadvantages though:
Therefore Kai designs his wave sails with non-stretchy XPly luff panels. Instead he tries to implement elasticity into the sail through other design features. For example on the Super Hero which is the softest of our wave sails Kai implemented the FREE BOOM CONCEPT. Instead of the usual even batten distribution the Super Hero features a very big gap between the foot batten and the batten above the boom. This gap gives the sail "room to breath" but without becoming spongy. We call this PRECISE ELASTICITY.
With the information overkill nowadays no one has the time to read manuals anymore. Therefore we try hard to design our products as intuitive as possilbe to get you onto the water faster than with any other product. No wonder DUOTONE is called the feature world champ.
Here are some examples:
Eliminating stretch and loss of tension. If it’s good enough for safety belts, it’s good enough for windsurfers! We are the only manufacturer to use only polyester webbing for the (vario) top and the tack roller. This advantage of this compared to conventional polypropylene is the negligible amount of stretch. As a result even brand new sails will retain full luff tension and will not need subsequent trimming.
Membrane laminate with 20% thicker special film and increased adhesive content results in a significantly increased durability with just 100-150g extra weight.
The lightest protector on the market, with integrated trim indicator.
The elimination of the tack rollers saves another 80g.
Improved sail control at higher winds. Designer Kai Hopf originally designed the TT TOP for the WARP. The reduced, concave shape improves tension conditions for a more effective, three-dimensional top twist. This means the top twists not only horizontally, but also vertically under strong winds. By completely neutralising gusts of wind, the rig is kept steady in the rider’s hands, and thus works in a much larger range of winds.
Super-lightweight and aerodynamic.
An inconspicuous detail with a massive impact. iROCKET 2.0 batten tensioners are super-lightweight, aerodynamic and highly stable, consisting of high-quality components such as a self-lubricating, salt-water-resistant brass nut with stainless-steel screw which can withstand all batten tensions. Furthermore, the iROCKET 2.0 is an essential component for a true windsurfing revolution.
100% correct batten tension, correctly adjusted when purchased and forever after. We calibrate each individual batten at the factory according to development specifications. And we don’t just leave it up to blind intuition either – all battens are adjusted to 100% accuracy using torque wrenches. We also apply soluble screw adhesive to the locknuts so that the tension cannot be altered. This means that the batten tension remains absolutely correct and will never have to be adjusted again. The batten key included with the sail is therefore only needed for fine tuning or in the unlikely event of a batten breakage.
These prevent unwanted leech flutter.
Short and highly effective mini-battens which provide support for the areas between the battens and prevent undesirable flutter.
Extremely stable, extremely break-resistant. Depending on the range of use, positioning in the sail and the necessary tension, the batten stress is enormous. In order to prevent breakages, we only fit into all solid battens extremely durable epoxy laminates which really can withstand anything and can live up to DUOTONE’s promises in terms of longevity.
Double the durability with half as much stretch. DUOTONE manufactures products of unmatched quality which gives our sails a significantly longer lifetime. A key feature which helps to achieve this is the triple-stitch zig-zag seams. Unlike other products with their single-seam design, these are double-seam. They cover all exposed crash areas, which increases tear resistance and reduces bending-elongation by up to 50%, boosting profile stability and performance.
Eliminating stretch and loss of tension. If it’s good enough for safety harnesses, it’s good enough for windsurfers! We are the only manufacturer to use only polyester webbing for the (vario) top and the tack roller. This advantage of this compared to conventional polypropylene is the negligible amount of stretch. As a result even brand new sails will retain full luff tension and will not need subsequent trimming.
The correct boom length without the need for trial and error. Because the boom is attached to the mast at different heights depending on body size, and because this creates a different angle to the mast, the boom length will vary. Specific recommendations for the correct length are printed directly on the luff sleeve at the boom level.
Perfect trim and a huge range of use.
You won’t find a quicker or more accurate way of trimming your sail. Even beginners can trim the sail in a matter of seconds to 100% accuracy. All you need to do is pull the luff until the top of the loose leech reaches the “lower wind limit” or “upper wind limit”. The VTS acts as a power boost, ensuring maximum performance and broader range of use.
Never position your harness lines incorrectly again. Do away with the tedium of adjusting to the optimum rope position, as well as 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. All you need to do is position the two ends symmetrically at the left and right of the print.
Especially in the top and towards the clew weight is key cause due to the leverage-effect you feel every gram a multiple times in your hands. Because of the quite limited amount of materials available though the only way to reduce the sail weight is by reducing the thickness of the materials. The secret is finding the sweet spot of lowest possible weight but without sacrificing durability and longevity/sustainability.
Modern Windsurf sails consist of the following raw materials:
(1) MAST SLEEVE MATERIAL
Rough woven Polyester fabric. The rough structure gives it a maximum abrasion resistance against impact from the outside (e.g. board contact or contact during rigging) as well as from the inside (through the mast).
(2) MONOFILM
Plastic film made out of Polyester available in clear- or colored versions. This hard plastic film has a very low stretch (for maximum performance) and doesn‘t absorb any water (dry weight = wet weight). Attention: monofilm isn't very UV-resistant. Therefore keep your sail out of direct sun light when not sailing. Also monofilm isn't very abrasion resistant.
(3) XPLY LAMINATE
2 thin layers of monofilm and a pattern of threads (out of Polyester or Dyneema) are glued together creating a sandwich laminate. The additional threads are supposed to function as a rip stop in case the film gets punctured (e.g. falling into the sail with your harness hook first). When using the same total thickness as monofilm (= same low stretch, same UV- and puncture-resistance) XPly is 30% heavier due to the additional adhesive (and threads).
(4) DACRON
Before discovering monofilm original Windsurf sails were made entirely out of Dacron. This woven fabric offers a very good abrasion resistance but is very stretchy plus elongates (means it grows with each use). Therefore nowadays mainly used for reinforcement patches to protect the monofilm and XPly panels in the high abrasion areas of your sail (foot, clew, top and outside of batten pockets).
(5) INSIGNIA
Dacron material with a self-adhesive side. Therefore it doesn‘t require seams when put on top of the film plus prevents water from getting in-between the film and the abrasion patches (= lower wet weight).
Wanna know more details or looking for DUOTONE sail spare parts - here you go
BATTENS
Made out of glass- or carbon fiber either as solid version with smaller diameter (= stronger) or tube version with larger diameter (= stiffer). For a better understanding the mast is like the backbone of your sail whereas the battens act like the ribs of your sail keeping the profile in place. Same as the mast also the battens have individual profiles (thinner tip, thicker tail) matching the profile of the sail.
Simple rule: the more battens the more stable (= faster + bigger wind range) the sail becomes. But also the heavier the sail becomes as battens account for approx. 40% of the sails total weight. Therefore handling/wave-oriented sails usually come with 4-5 battens whereas performance oriented sails usually come with 6-7 battens.
As a second guideline smaller sail sizes require fewer battens than larger sizes.
CAMBERS
Usually there is a certain gap between the batten tip and the mast. This is necessary so that the batten can shift from one side of the mast to the other when sailing back and forth. A camber can be seen as a kind of connection between the batten tip and the mast filling out this gap.
This leads to much better aerodynamics as the cam enables a smooth transition between the thick mast into the thin sail body. In addition since the cam is braced against the mast the batten stabilises the sails profile much more effectively (sail becomes more stable = faster).
The downside is that the rotation from one side to the other becomes much harder. Plus the cambers need a certain space which requires a wider mast sleeve. This makes (water)starting much harder as the wider mast sleeve absorbs more water. Therefore cambers are mainly used on performance Freeride or high-performance Slalom sails.
FOOT ROACH
A sail with a lot of foot roach reduces the gap between the sail and the board (close the gap) which makes it more efficient/performance-oriented.
On the other hand a high cut foot with less foot roach improves the handling especially for all kind of ducking moves.
PROFILE DEPTH
A deeper sail profile gives you more power and performance in general.
A flatter profile on the other hand improves the handling as the distance of the flat profile is much shorter when shifting from one side to the other.
BOOM- AND LUFF LENGTH
Together with the sail size all dimensions increase. Means in general the larger the sail the longer the boom- and luff lengths become.
Simple rule: a heavier sailor needs to take a larger sail size to get planning in the same wind compared to a lightweight.
Rough indication for the biggest sail size: to get going in the same wind a 10 kg heavier guy requires a 1 sqm larger sail.
First you should define the biggest and smallest sail size you will need to cover all wind speeds you wanna sail in. This mainly depends on your body weight (see above).
Let’s take an “average” 75 kg sailor and let’s assume this guy wants to sail in “any kind” of wind.
- The biggest sail size this guy would need is something like a 7.3. With a capable 100-120 litre Freeride board this size would get him planning in approx. 8-10 knots.
- His smallest size would then be a 3.7. On a 70-80 litre (Free)Wave board our guy should be fine up to approx. 40-45 knots.
Second thing is to define the sizes in-between. Important to know: the wind pressure (which you feel in your hands) raises in square in relation to the wind speed. Therefore the smaller the sail size the smaller the size increments need to become. For large sails, the gap can be up to 1.5 sqm, while for very small sails it can go down to 0.3 sqm.
Taking all of this into account a typical quiver for our 75 kg guy could look as following:
7.3 - 6.0 - 5.3 - 4.7 - 4.2 - 3.7
Taking the “10 kg = 1 sqm” rule (see previous point) in consideration a typical quiver for an 85 kg guy could then be:
8.3 - 7.0 - 6.0 - 5-0 - 4.5 - 4.0
You have bought all parts from the same brand but if you rig according to the specs printed on the sail it still feels somehow ackward.
Unfortunately every product has tolerances in production. And the bigger a product becomes the bigger the tolerances become. Therefore tolerances on a smartphone are hardly visible whereas tolerances on Windsurf equipment are non-deniable.
- The tolerances on the mast length are approx. +-5 mm.
- The tolerances on mast extensions and booms are approx. +-3 mm.
Furthermore, there is unfortunately still no standard among brands on how to measure the length of booms and extensions.
- On a sail with all its panels the tolerances over the whole luff length can add up to another +-5-10 mm.
In addition, even with monofilm sails the luff stretches in the first 3 times you use the sail due to the massive downhaul tension.
Adding up all these tolerances you start realising why the absolute numbers printed on your sail (especially the luff length) can only be an indication to adjust your mast extension- and boom lengths.
To achieve the correct downhaul tension please make sure to only rely on the VTS (Visual Trim System) markers in the top of every DUOTONE sail.
Always keep in mind there are exactly 2 things either of them potentially killing at least 30% of your sails performance:
1. The wrong mast (see first point under MAST BASICS on every mast page)
2. Wrong/insufficient downhaul tension
DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT OR IDEAS ON HOW TO IMPROVE OUR PRODUCTS?
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US!
We strive to create products that are superior in performance and function to anything else on the market. Therefore, we are not just interested in the opinion and experience of professional riders, but listen to ALL windsurfers out there. Because we know we can learn from everyone, we want to collect the opinions of windsurfers worldwide.
This project runs throughout the whole year. Every year on January 15th, the best ideas will be rewarded and might actually be implemented into future products.
So, you have got an idea? Contact us >HERE< and take your chance to make a difference. (Please use "R&D input for DTW" as a subject line)
1st - One sail (free of choice)
2nd - One Silver Boom (free of choice)
3rd - One Power.XT 2.0 (free of choice)