Stefano Basso Wings Sails
The primary motive is innovation and improvement on what already exists. I personally believe strongly in the concept that I call the 'Super Compact' sail. Where can I obtain great power and handling with very short masts and booms, all thanks to concentrated masses.

Nils Rosenblad Naish Sails
At Naish, our objective is to make the best windsurfing gear period – so the driving force behind
introducing a new line is either anticipating an evolution in the way people are sailing that will require specialized equipment that we don't already make, or finding a better approach to an existing problem.  The feather light Indy, with its 2-cams and awesome low end is a perfect example of the latter - it wades into slalom turf that was full of easy-handling but gutless no-cam sails. Technological breakthroughs, on the other hand – if valid - will be implemented across the ENTIRE range of products as applicable. We have zero interest in marketing gimmicks, or short-lived trends.

Robert Stroj NeilPryde
In the case of The Fly, this development was triggered by Kauli Seadi joining our team. We discussed his style of sailing as well as kind of boards he uses and it was obvious that a very compact, four batten sail would suit him best. This resulted in NeilPryde re-introducing a four batten sail to the range as a part of the 2009 collection – 5-yrs after the 4-batten Core was discontinued. We discussed his style of sailing as well as kind of boards he uses and it was obvious that a very compact, four batten sail would suit him best. This resulted in NeilPryde re-introducing a four batten sail to the range as a part of the 2009 collection – 5-yrs after the 4-batten Core was discontinued.


What sparks the thought process of a new theory?

Barry Spanier MauiSails
Hopefully, common sense and experience lead you into new things. Sometimes it starts with a wild-ass guess.

Art Szpunar MauiSails
Every day spent sailing on the water can bring little ideas on how something could work better. One of the ‘problems’ with working as a designer is that you can’t turn you brain off, even when you are freesailing, you can’t help but constantly scrutinize your rig. In the case of the Ghost XT, numerous late afternoon wave sailing sessions, where the wind gets progressively lighter as sunset nears, fuelled the desire for a lighter more efficient rig with great range. Barry, Phil and I often have very interesting conversations in the loft and many ideas also hatch during these random discussions.

Nils Rosenblad Naish Sails
Sometimes it's a team rider – for example, the Boxer was developed in 2004 when Kauli Seadi started merging new-school moves with his wavesailing. Another scenario is that one morning you instinctively know a better way to do something. I can honestly say that we've never looked to other brands for inspiration.


The Stages Involved

Robert Stroj NeilPryde
First the idea will be evaluated within the brand management. If it looks promising and passes this stage, first prototypes will be built and tested. This is the time that the actual concept will be re-evaluated and it will be decided whether it will become actual product or it is a "dead end road". Now, once the concept is approved, we will keep building and refining prototypes until design of all sizes is optimal; this is when the final design is sent to factory for "0-line" sampling. Once 0-line sails are built they are tested against final prototypes to make 100% sure they are identical; after this step actual production can start.

Nils Rosenblad Naish Sails
Once we have a basic concept, it's a simple matter of making prototypes and beginning the evaluation process. If there is any doubt – say over the number of battens, or materials – we will test multiple variations before finalizing the basic design geometry, and even that is subject to change on the fly if we come up with something better.

Barry Spanier MauiSails
The sailor says, ‘I’m looking for X, Y or Z’. The designer/s discuss how that might be possible, then you use your experience to make it happen - or not

Art Szpunar MauiSails
Concept > Materials Involved > Design And Build First Trial Proto > Test > Recut > Test

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