VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Hey all,

The thesis (a strategic analysis of a sail maker) continues....

Which of the following factors do think is most relevant to you when you decide to purchase a particular brand of sail?

1. Good test results in windsurfing magazines
2. Word of mouth (from sailors you know or have seen using the brand)
3. Seeing a pro rider on that sail (in a magazine)
4. Price
5. Availability
6. The look of the sail (i.e. colours, patterns, graphics etc.)
7. Your own previous experience with that brand (i.e. owned or demo)

Thanks in advance for all responses,

KC

1. Good test results in windsurfing magazines

to some extent. If it's absolutely new sail I would read comparison tests, it it's been around for a while, I'd use and combine other methods ( brand preference, other people opinions etc )

2. Word of mouth (from sailors you know or have seen using the brand)

If it's been around for a while

3. Seeing a pro rider on that sail (in a magazine)

Some pros ride stuff I wouldn't even touch. So NO

4. Price

yes, but if I really really really want the item - no

5. Availability

It depends on what you mean. If you are talking about "Oh, we don't have it now, buf we can order and it's going to take a couple of months" vs "we have one just like that one, but 3 years old" then not really, I'd rather wait. But if you mean "No problem we have to make a call to China, then they will order some components from South Africa, to build stuff in Australia and it's going to be shipped to you from Timbuktu when we have enough stuff to ship from there" then I would think.

6. The look of the sail (i.e. colours, patterns, graphics etc.)

It must mutch my fur speedo. No, unless it's pink then I want it.

7. Your own previous experience with that brand (i.e. owned or demo)

Would never ( never say never ) buy Gaastra or Neilpride, don't ask me why, just cause, unless I like the demo.

1. test results in magazines
Yes, ... if the sail has received good rating by different testers of varying ability and from multiple magazines, then yes I will pay attention. So yes.

(for myself, some manufacturers that have many different sail models do themselves a disfavor in that their multiple sail models for respective multiple niche applications does not appear to be explained well to the buyer in either the manufacturers own publications or in the magazines, and in those instances, which sail to buy is way to complicated)

Manufacturers could consider hiring high school students (who are competent sailors) that sporadically show up at sailing sites with 10+ full rigs for sailors to demo. See my comment below!

2. Word of Mouth
If the sail has been around awhile and that sail model has only received tweaks in its design, so yes. My opinion is likely incorrect, but new sail models each year suggest to me that the models phased out didn't sell well, so why would a new model from the same manufacturer (with the same sail designer) work any better?

3. Pro Rider.
No. Hey, i will ride any manufacturer's sail if they give it to me for free. I will also tell any other sailor who asks or not it is the best sail I have sailed on today. All sponsors please line up!

4. Price.
Yes, BUT... for the sail that I ride 90% of my TOW, I will pay extra for what I perceive to be the best sail for my purpose.

5. Availability
Not a factor. If it is the sail I want, I can wait for it to be re-stocked.

6. Look of the sail
Not a factor.

7. Previous experience.
Yes,... but has there been substantial change in the sail design, sail designer, manufacturer's strategic plan?

I pay attention to all of the points you present, but I've gotta be honest and say that !LOOKS! are very important. If a sail (board, wetsuit, even booties) is ugly or looks stupid I can' t use it. It may be shallow and immature but if it don't look cool I don't want to own it. The visuals of windsurfing are a big part of the experience for me so I try to purchase good quality, attactive items. I'll research a sail's design to decide it's a good sail, but if it looks great it'll clinch the deal. I try not to mess up my gear and often touch up my board so it will look nice. I know this is probably making someone sick but what can I say? I remember when I bought my Ezzy Infinity 6.6. I went to a park (as home was a ferry ride away) and put it all together to see that everything fit o.k.. As I was rigging a little old lady said "My, that's a lovely sail." A minute later a young guy said "Cool sail." I had to agree. Every time I get it out it's black, clear, white and orange is just awesome to look at. When it's stuck on my white board, lying on the beach, it's just one of the finest looking big-boy's-toys you'll ever see. I'd better stop before this gets embarassing, but I love the look of windsurfing. Colors, exotic materials, all that rubber. It just looks totally cool. It's part of the fun.

jump'njibe'njim wrote: ... Colors, exotic materials, all that rubber.

Rubber?

You know, our fine lookin' wetsuits. I've been told by an attractive female that our "suits are quite revealing", and in a positive way. And, of course, it goes without saying that a woman in a wetsuit is a pleasure to behold. Humans just look good with windsurfing gear around them. Very impressive fashion accesories. After all, windsurfing is essentially a mating display ritual anyway. Might as well do it up right.

How important is the look of a sail....

i.e. if you had the choice....between a sail with parts of it in the shiny metal, reflective X-ply (i.e. Severne Blade) and/or cool graphics (i.e the flames on the Sailworks Hucker 4.2), would you choose that one over a sail that was fairly standard, but still sweet looking (i.e. Ezzy SE Waves)?

Assume cost and performance is the same. Do you go for the "X-Ply/cool graphic look" or the standard look?

Thanks,

I really like the Ezzys, especially the Infinity. I like the curvy shaping, the fast looking outline and the straightforward use of materials. It's good looking in a no nonsense kind of way. I think it's hard to tell if a sail looks good from a photo. I like to see the real thing. To me, the Ezzys have a scuptural quality that seems, well, artistic. Just lying on the beach, it's shape suggests speed. I guess it's form implies it's function.

2. Good test results in windsurfing magazines
Its a lot of work to figure out what the testers really think from the apologist style of writing magazines use so as not to p.off advertisers. But you can get some sense of relative strengths and weaknesses. When you read something like "all the testers raved about the ease with which the mast could be inserted in the sleeve" you know its a dog.

1. Word of mouth (from sailors you know or have seen using the brand)
I seldom get to buy a new sail, but when I do the opinions of sailors I know are by far the best source of information.

6. Seeing a pro rider on that sail (in a magazine)
No influence whatsoever.

3. Price
Unfortunately, a big influence. I'd be happy to buy a new sail from the previous year's model if the price was deeply discounted.

5. Availability
Having so little experience of buying new, this is pretty low on the scale.

3. The look of the sail (i.e. colours, patterns, graphics etc.)
I'll diverge from most of the other contributers by saying this is pretty important to me. I think monofilm did contribute to the loss of visibility of windsurfing as a sport. I applaud the Superfreak in particular. The great reviews from regular users combined with the cheap price (so I've read) make a superfreak probably my next sail (if my big Retro holds out a little longer!).

4. Your own previous experience with that brand (i.e. owned or demo)
I've been really happy with most of the sails I've owned. My Retro I'm very happy with everything about it except its fragility, but I don't expect many sails to survive scrapes over barnacles unscathed. My Ezzys I like for their stability and top end and their huge improvement over the 1988 sails they replaced! I have a North that sets beautifully and never seems to age (well, its a 4.5 so doesn't get a ton of use).

1. Test Results in mags.

I pay attention to test results but read between the lines. More than once I've tried a product that received luke warm love from testers and it rocked for me. The opposite also holds true however. It's more the specs and perceived "feel" of the sail I'm trying to ascertain. If, over the years, I've gotten to know a particular tester's typical likes and dislikes in gear as well as his style, I can get closer to the truth of whether or not I may be interested in the sail.

2. Word of mouth

This is useful, but nothing beats trying the sail yourself.

3. Pro riders influencing my decision to buy a particular brand

The adult in me says "NO". The 13 year old in me says "yes". But really, my answer is no.

4. Price

Price is a factor, though not the ultimate one. If I love the feel of a sail, I'll shell out for it. A cheap sail that wipes the smile off of your face when you get dumped in the surf and have to swim a shredded mess back in is NOT worth any deal, no matter how good.

5. Availability

If it's that sweet, I'll wait. Impatiently. 'Cause I neeeeeeeeeeeeeds it. I always seem to end up waiting stupid long periods of time for my gear. Not sure why.

6. Look of sail

Performance is number one, but if it's pimpin' all the better! I'm tired of the invisible monofilm look. Bring back the color into this fun sport! If two sails are the same in performance, of course I'll be drawn to the cooler looking sail. Windsurfing has been a bit slow to use interesting graphic designs that look cool but also serve the function of the sail. My favorite looking sail at the moment is the Hotsails Superfreak. The Ezzys have always had a simple yet aggressive and clean look. Severne is the only company in my opinion making the metalite sails look good. Other companies' metalite sails have been plain ugly. Sailworks
has always been a bit too conservative and plain with their sails. Naish and the new Gaastras have sharp looking rigs that really grab the eye.

7. Previous experience with the brand

This factors in quite a bit. If my sails held up well and performed well, chances are I'll be serious about buying a succesive year's model It's nice to know if a company stands behind it's sails. It's also really nice if a company has a forum or way of allowing people to get tech info quickly. Sailworks, Ezzy, Hot, Gaastra, Maui Sails etc all have good customer service this way and I think it helps keep people slightly more loyal to a brand when the designer himself replies to an inquiry if possible. Sailworks is fantastic this way with Bruce Peterson replying very quickly and helpfully. Maui Sails is the same.