Masts

Windsurf Masts

For many surfers, masts are a necessary evil that has to be bought in addition to the board and sail, simply because there's no other way.

However, masts have much more potential than most windsurfers realize. They are not just a means to an end to rig the sail, but can make the difference between fun or frustration on the water.

The differences are not only noticed by a professional doing a forward loop, but by every surfer on every meter of straight sailing. To choose the perfect mast, the bend curve and carbon content, as well as the diameter, must be considered.

Carbon Content

It is generally known that carbon masts are lighter. However, a 30% carbon mast can easily be twice as heavy as a full carbon mast.

While a 1 kg difference may not seem like much in theory, if you consider that a 4 m long mast also has a large lever, the difference becomes significantly greater. As long as you are sailing in displacement mode and have to hold the sail accordingly, this can add up to quite a few extra hours of surfing. Also, in maneuvers, such as sail shifting, a lighter mast makes a noticeable difference in swing weight.

In addition to weight, rebound forces are crucial. Carbon has very fast rebound forces. Modern sails can work in the top area - in the so-called Loose Leech.

Every chop, every small gust of wind, every small body movement changes the position of the sail in the wind. The Loose Leech allows the sail to adapt independently to the smallest differences in airflow.

For this, the mast must cooperate. The higher the carbon content of a mast, the faster this adaptation can occur. Overall, this results in a smoother, more harmonious riding experience – and all without a forward loop.

The bend curve. Every mast bends. Everyone who has ever seen a windsurfing rig knows that. However, not all masts bend the same way.

Some are stiffer in the top section, others softer. Accordingly, the categories Hardtop, Flextop, and Constant Curve were introduced. Which type of mast suits which sail depends on the manufacturer.

The wrong mast choice leads to the sail's profile not being able to form properly. As a result, the effective wind range shrinks, riding comfort suffers significantly, and it may even be difficult to get the mast into the mast sleeve.

A wrong bend curve has a much more significant effect than a low carbon content. If you are still in the beginner stage and not yet eyeing planing, you can certainly overlook it for now.

RDM or SDM masts with reduced diameters – Reduced Diameter Mast – have been conquering the market for several years. They offer easier handling because the sail battens become freer than with a Standard Diameter Mast.

When shifting, the battens no longer have to be brought to the other side with a jerk, and less wind is needed for the profile to form. Accordingly, RDM masts are particularly useful for small, maneuver-oriented sails.

Many modern sails in the wave or freestyle sector now absolutely require an RDM mast, but older sails can also be rigged with them. However, from 460 cm mast length, SDM masts are still used.

These offer better performance in light wind due to their thicker profile.

Incidentally, there is hardly any difference in weight, as RDM masts require greater wall thicknesses to achieve the same stiffness.