I am re-equiping myself slowly but steadily with second hand gear. Last year I bought off flea bay a rig, a 6.7 RX2 Neil Pryde sail with complentary NP carbon boom and mast.

I really love the combo. Even though the stuff is about 7 years old I have found it fast, stable and comfortable.

I bought another older NP race sail off eBay, A 5.9 VX2 I think. It looks good for its age and I look forward to stronger winds to use it with. Back in the day when I was good at windsurfing, these were the bees knees but I could never afford one. Fast as greesed lightning.

I just purchased off Seabreeze buy and sell another NP race sail, this time a 7.2 RS6. The design is really amazing, the wide luff seems to be like a wing mast. Its very different to the RX

Anyway its a bit scary with this new sail but I look forward to trying it out. All up my NP quiver cost me around $900. I'd rather buy second hand top spec race gear than newer detuned designs.

How do you feel when you get new (to you) gear thats going to challenge you?

Yep its always good to try a different board or sail, I tend to get a bit dispondent with the new gear claims that always say this years version is soooo much better than last years. OK so there's R&D etc but really how much of it is just a nip and tuck here or there with a rehash of something previously done eg wide boards - narrow then wide etc, sails fuller - flatter twistier. Maybe your right moby, just get 5 year old stuff as it comes back into fashion ( but somehow much much faster).

Maybe I'm just getting old and cynical

hardpole said...

The only other thing this brings to mind is how nice it is to get a new sail and be able to SEE through it. I usually only replace my sails when they are worn out, so the last few seasons of use I'm sailing / gybing blind on the downwind side - and thats my excuse for anyone I nearly collide with.

Too true!!!!! I had 3 sails for years and years, when I finally invested in a new one it was like "wow, check out the view on the other side!" So then I bought some more new ones.

Yes... I was amazed at how much heavier the water traffic got when I bought a new sail.
I've no idea where they all came from.

new gear is awesome.

choco said...

"Do you get intimidated by new gear?"


New gear doesn't intimidate me but more so the..............price$$$$$$$

Thats part of the fear factor. I am not sure how this RS6 will rig on my mast and boom. The mast should be okay as its a NP 460. However my boom might be a bit short. It extends to 210cms but the sail needs 210 so there won't be much leeway.

I have an older aluminium boom which is longer but I'd rather use the carbon one.

Pity I had to work today as the wind was great in Sydney and now I have to go out to friends for dinner.... Anyway I hope to try out the new gear (to me) soon. Perhaps the intimidation factor comes from getting a big high tech sail which is designed for speed.