You don't have to be a material nerd to accept that even the best sail can't work properly with the wrong mast. Where previously only the length was supposed to fit to some extent (but even there were ways and means...), factors such as hardness and bending curve have been coming into play for some time now. And anyone who sails different brands will sooner or later be faced with the question: Which mast fits which sail?
Many windsurfers look to the mast selector from Unifiber for this. The accessory brand updates its detailed overview of the various mast curves every year. Until 2020, the compatibility of all sail brands with each other was also indicated, but even if "only" the matching Unifiber models have been taken into account since then, the mast selector is almost the only way to see which brands are compatible with each other before buying, apart from company specifications.
The latest update has just been released, and we asked Jorren Eggenkamp, the responsible product developer at Unfiber, a few questions about measuring and categorising the data.
How much work does it take to update the Mast Selector every year?
Fortunately, it is rare for a brand to change its mast curve. Changing the mast curve would lead to compatibility issues between sails and masts from different years, which brands naturally try to avoid. However, when we hear rumours that a brand has changed its curve, we investigate thoroughly. This is a labour-intensive process. Firstly, we need to gather a representative sample of poles of different lengths and diameters. It is not enough to analyse just one or two poles; only several poles provide a reliable starting point. Each mast is measured several times and in different orientations to rule out any inconsistencies in the measurements or the masts themselves. Only then do we analyse the data to determine whether the rumours are true and whether we need to update the mast selector. Occasionally we also receive feedback from users who disagree with our advice. If the feedback seems credible, we apply the same process to re-evaluate and, if necessary, update our recommendations.
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Do you measure all the details yourself? Or do you also rely on information from other manufacturers?
We always measure the masts ourselves. If the data comes from another source, we cannot verify the accuracy of the measurements. That's why we've spent a lot of time perfecting our measurement system and making sure it's as accurate and consistent as possible. And we continue to work on improvements - we currently measure deflection with an accuracy of 0.25 mm, but we are working on improving this to 0.1 mm. Of course, most manufacturers are reluctant to share their mast curve data, especially with us as a direct competitor. This makes it difficult to collect enough masts for a thorough analysis. Fortunately, we are supported by a network of friendly dealers and windsurfers who are happy to help us collect the samples we need.
More about masts:
What about deviations in production?
This is an important factor to consider, which is why we endeavour to measure as many masts as possible. We favour masts with the highest carbon content, as these are usually manufactured with the greatest precision and the R&D of sail brands is also usually carried out with the highest class masts. Nevertheless, errors can occur. A few years ago, we had to revise our results after realising that a brand we had tested the previous year had produced a faulty batch, which had affected our original conclusions.
Do you also get reactions from other brands or drivers?
To say that we rely on feedback from retailers, riders and our community of loyal windsurfers is an understatement - it's absolutely essential to what we do. Although everyone at Unifiber is a windsurfer, we can't possibly monitor the entire market on our own. Most dealers are happy to support us as we offer an affordable alternative to brand-specific masts.
Occasionally we receive comments from other brands, but most just let us get on with our work. It can be difficult for smaller brands to include masts with material in our Mast Selector, and in turn they may recommend a C50 or C75 unifibre mast as a cheaper alternative to their premium masts. We recently worked with Flight Sails in this way and it has paid off for both parties.
Since the "new" type of selector is limited to the Unifibre masts, how much does this help if you want to combine two other brands?
Since 2020, the Mast Selector has focused more on unifibre curves, so we can give an overview of the last 10 years. While this makes it less ideal for direct comparison of two different brands, the Unifibre curves are designed to match exactly the sail brands they support. The differences are minimal, so if we recommend the same Unifibre curve for two brands, you can assume that these brands are interchangeable. For those who prefer the "old" Mast Selector, it is still available on our website. However, please note that we are no longer updating it!
We have a lot of experience with our Mast test in spring compressed the test models and then measured them, because this represents the bending curve more realistically than the IMCS method. What do you think of the two different methods?
You are absolutely right. Compression is more like the way a mast is loaded in a sail and therefore simulates the luff curve better. A sail designer will not use the IMCS method to find the perfect luff curve for their sail. But when it comes to comparing one mast to another, the IMCS method works just as well. The beauty of the IMCS method is that it can be easily optimised for precision and consistency. And because it's the industry standard, it's easier to communicate with our manufacturers.
Why do you do this work every year?
Our aim is to offer the most suitable mast for every windsurfer, from beginners to professionals, regardless of the size of their wallet and regardless of the brand of sail they use. It is therefore important to provide windsurfers with the information they need to choose the right mast. Windsurfing is a very technical sport and it's easy to get lost in all the specifications, curves and theories. We have developed the Mast Selector and our "Knowledge Pages" so that everyone can make an informed decision!
