GunSails is focusing on updates and optimisations for most of its sail lines for 2023. For example, the arrangement of the battens and the curvature of the mast sleeve on the Seal wave sail have been changed, says GunSails boss Jörg Müller in an interview with surf. The Flylite, a camberless foil sail that is primarily aimed at freeriders and beginners in the foil sector, is brand new to the range. "We have a foil sail with two cambers and a racing sail, so we are well positioned. Now we have a third sail, the Flylite, which means we cover the entire foil range," says Müller.
Also new are the Re-Torro and the Re-Zoom as brothers of the normal versions, which are characterised by sustainability. "The customer can choose whether to get a normal sail or one where the majority of the material is made from recycled PET bottles," reports Jörg Müller. Because the material is cheaper with the three Re lines, at least Re-Seal and Re-Torro are available at the same price as the conventional versions. The Re-Zoom, on the other hand, uses more X-Ply than the Zoom, making it a little more expensive, according to Müller.
The bags and some features of the wetsuits are also made from sustainable materials. "It's part of our concept that we're trying to change over bit by bit," says Jörg Müller, describing GunSails' sustainability plans. "There's still a lot of plastic, but we're making sure that the packaging is at least right."
GunSails wants to revolutionise surfboard construction
It is fitting that GunSails wants to revolutionise the construction of surfboards with a new construction method. Kanoa Boards, Thilo von Osterhausen's surfing brand, has patented a technology called "Honey Root Technology" (HRT), in which the board is made from 100% recycled materials. "You can completely shred the board and then have the raw material from which you can build a new board," explains Jörg Müller. This is also transferable to windsurf boards and is to be further developed together with partner Sunova. Later on, there may be a licence for other brands.
The Bow will not be on the stand this year; according to Müller, an additional, camberless version is being worked on. "That's not easy because you have to accommodate a mast with a strong bend in a fairly rigid mast pocket." In the area of camber sails, the GunSails boss announced something completely new for 2024.
GunSails is now fully equipped with wing material. The wing will be revised over the course of the year and the hardboards for wing foiling will be added to the existing inflatables at the end of 2022. There will also be further innovations for foils over the course of the year.
More about boot 2023:
- We One - a portrait of the new board brand
- The windsurfing highlights at boot Düsseldorf
- The trade fair innovations at Tabou and GA Sails
- The trade fair innovations at Starboard and Severne
- The trade fair innovations at Point-7 and AV Boards
- The trade fair innovations at F2
- The best pictures of the freestyle show at the boot pool
