The whole saga started because I tore my Gun Sails Horizon 5.7 on my last windsurfing session. It wasn\u2019t catastrophic, but bad enough to make me accept the inevitable \u2014 time for a replacement. I\u2019ve patched it up ready for the next session, and I even have a previous Gun Sails Trans-Wave 5.7m in the shed (also patched).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But 5.7m is probably my most-used sail, and it therefore needs to be a reliable workhorse. It\u2019s also a fairly critical size in my quiver \u2014 5.7m is about the largest sail that my mid-sized 89L wave board will take, and it\u2019s the perfect size for my larger 104L wave board. It\u2019s also the biggest I like to use in the waves. Anything larger is just too much of a handful here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So when it came to size, that was non-negotiable and an easy choice \u2014 it had to be 5.7m (5.6 at a push).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAfter all, every manufacturer makes a 5.7, right? So surely it\u2019s just a case of picking one at a decent price and job done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, not quite. Here are my requirements in more detail \u2014 and why each one ruins a casual shopping spree:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- 5.7m \u2014 my go-to size.<\/strong>\u00a0Not negotiable. Not all sail ranges actually have a 5.7m in the lineup. Some have a 5.5 and a 6.0, others have a 5.4 and a 5.8, so they were immediately discounted. I know 0.1 or 0.2 square metres doesn\u2019t make much difference, but it also has to fit neatly between my existing 5.0m and my larger 6.2m free-race sail.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Rigs on a 430 RDM.<\/strong>\u00a0Some 5.6 or 5.7m sails actually rig better on a 400cm mast. I do, of course, have both a 400 and a 430cm mast, but when the conditions are good it\u2019s often nice to rig both my 5.0m and 5.7m at the same time \u2014 so it makes sense if they rig on different sized masts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Constant curve mast compatibility.<\/strong>\u00a0One mast isn\u2019t necessarily the same as the next. Sails from each manufacturer rig best on a particular mast bend characteristic \u2014 Constant Curve, Flex Top, or something else. My newest 430 mast is a Unifiber Constant Curve, so I wanted something that rigs well on that. Out of the bigger, easy-to-get manufacturers, that limited me to Neil Pryde, Severne, Simmer Style, and Gun Sails.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Power-wave profile.<\/strong>\u00a0Most (99%) of my sailing is here in West Wales \u2014 onshore wave sailing in mushy, difficult conditions that need a powerful sail with forward draft and punch for gusty winds. Most manufacturers have one of these in their lineup, so that was an easy choice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- All X-ply.<\/strong>\u00a0For maximum durability. It\u2019s slightly heavier, yes, but kit takes a beating here and needs to be tough.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Affordable.<\/strong>\u00a0I don\u2019t mind spending money on kit, but I don\u2019t need the latest 2026 models with 3D panels and carbon weaves. I\u2019d like them, sure \u2014 just not at the prices they\u2019re asking!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Stack those filters together and the \u201cloads of choice\u201d story quickly dissolves. There\u2019s certainly no option to pick one just because it comes in a nice colour that matches my boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like-for-Like Replacement?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the past, I\u2019d always used Gun Sails \u2014 I even used to be a Gun Sails Key Rider, which meant a hefty discount and regular boxes of shiny new sails arriving from Germany. Their designs are solid, their power-wave sails suit my local conditions, and the sail I\u2019m replacing is a Gun Sails Horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They still make this model \u2014 it\u2019s been improved over the years \u2014 and they had a 2024 version in stock for just \u00a3394. It was an option, but since Brexit the Key Rider discount has disappeared, and I now have to pay import taxes, duty, and not-insignificant delivery charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What used to be an unbeatable deal now ends up 25\u201330% higher by the time it reaches the door. It\u2019s not Gun\u2019s fault \u2014 just the new reality of cross-Channel shopping \u2014 but it transforms a no-brainer purchase into a borderline option. Once I crunched the numbers, that \u00a3394 ticket price (which would have previously dropped with my Key Rider discount) actually became around \u00a3605. And I can\u2019t even be sure there wouldn\u2019t be extra customs administration fees or other unexpected charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you consider that, in the UK, Gun Sails are often (unfairly, I think) thought of as a less premium brand, it makes me wonder if it\u2019s worth the very slight saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Other Contenders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve not yet ruled out ordering direct from Gun, but I\u2019ve gone back to them with some options \u2014 maybe if I bought a 5.3m sail as well, they could post them both for the same shipping cost and make the deal a little sweeter. We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other options were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Severne Blade:<\/strong>\u00a0This ticks nearly every technical box \u2014 an all X-ply, power-wave design with a reputation for toughness. It\u2019s well made, rigs on a 430 mast, and suits a Constant Curve mast. It\u2019s a premium brand though, with price tags close to my limit. There are 2023 models available for \u00a3619 or 2024 models for \u00a3699. The 2025 and 2026 models are over \u00a3900, which is just too much for me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Simmer Style Evoq:<\/strong>\u00a0Looked good too, but it really wants a 400 mast. That\u2019s OK, but not ideal. It\u2019s a little cheaper though, with the 2025 model around \u00a3689.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Neil Pryde:<\/strong>\u00a0A safe bet \u2014 they\u2019ll rig decently on a constant curve mast, though their pricing again nudges the top end of what I\u2019d call \u201caffordable.\u201d Their sizing also jumps from 5.4m to 5.8m, missing that 5.6\u20135.7m sweet spot I wanted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Final Decision<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nNone of them…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, I found a 2024\u00a0Severne Gator<\/strong>, which actually looked like a better sail for this size and was a little cheaper than the same age Severne Blade \u2014 \u00a3589 instead of \u00a3699. Of course, by the time I added postage, that became \u00a3618, but it was still better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt arrived the other day, and I\u2019ve now rigged it in the garden \u2014 it looks good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stack those filters together and the \u201cloads of choice\u201d story quickly dissolves. There\u2019s certainly no option to pick one just because it comes in a nice colour that matches my boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like-for-Like Replacement?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the past, I\u2019d always used Gun Sails \u2014 I even used to be a Gun Sails Key Rider, which meant a hefty discount and regular boxes of shiny new sails arriving from Germany. Their designs are solid, their power-wave sails suit my local conditions, and the sail I\u2019m replacing is a Gun Sails Horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They still make this model \u2014 it\u2019s been improved over the years \u2014 and they had a 2024 version in stock for just \u00a3394. It was an option, but since Brexit the Key Rider discount has disappeared, and I now have to pay import taxes, duty, and not-insignificant delivery charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What used to be an unbeatable deal now ends up 25\u201330% higher by the time it reaches the door. It\u2019s not Gun\u2019s fault \u2014 just the new reality of cross-Channel shopping \u2014 but it transforms a no-brainer purchase into a borderline option. Once I crunched the numbers, that \u00a3394 ticket price (which would have previously dropped with my Key Rider discount) actually became around \u00a3605. And I can\u2019t even be sure there wouldn\u2019t be extra customs administration fees or other unexpected charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you consider that, in the UK, Gun Sails are often (unfairly, I think) thought of as a less premium brand, it makes me wonder if it\u2019s worth the very slight saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Other Contenders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve not yet ruled out ordering direct from Gun, but I\u2019ve gone back to them with some options \u2014 maybe if I bought a 5.3m sail as well, they could post them both for the same shipping cost and make the deal a little sweeter. We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other options were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Severne Blade:<\/strong>\u00a0This ticks nearly every technical box \u2014 an all X-ply, power-wave design with a reputation for toughness. It\u2019s well made, rigs on a 430 mast, and suits a Constant Curve mast. It\u2019s a premium brand though, with price tags close to my limit. There are 2023 models available for \u00a3619 or 2024 models for \u00a3699. The 2025 and 2026 models are over \u00a3900, which is just too much for me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Simmer Style Evoq:<\/strong>\u00a0Looked good too, but it really wants a 400 mast. That\u2019s OK, but not ideal. It\u2019s a little cheaper though, with the 2025 model around \u00a3689.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Neil Pryde:<\/strong>\u00a0A safe bet \u2014 they\u2019ll rig decently on a constant curve mast, though their pricing again nudges the top end of what I\u2019d call \u201caffordable.\u201d Their sizing also jumps from 5.4m to 5.8m, missing that 5.6\u20135.7m sweet spot I wanted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Final Decision<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nNone of them…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, I found a 2024\u00a0Severne Gator<\/strong>, which actually looked like a better sail for this size and was a little cheaper than the same age Severne Blade \u2014 \u00a3589 instead of \u00a3699. Of course, by the time I added postage, that became \u00a3618, but it was still better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt arrived the other day, and I\u2019ve now rigged it in the garden \u2014 it looks good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve not yet ruled out ordering direct from Gun, but I\u2019ve gone back to them with some options \u2014 maybe if I bought a 5.3m sail as well, they could post them both for the same shipping cost and make the deal a little sweeter. We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other options were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Severne Blade:<\/strong>\u00a0This ticks nearly every technical box \u2014 an all X-ply, power-wave design with a reputation for toughness. It\u2019s well made, rigs on a 430 mast, and suits a Constant Curve mast. It\u2019s a premium brand though, with price tags close to my limit. There are 2023 models available for \u00a3619 or 2024 models for \u00a3699. The 2025 and 2026 models are over \u00a3900, which is just too much for me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Simmer Style Evoq:<\/strong>\u00a0Looked good too, but it really wants a 400 mast. That\u2019s OK, but not ideal. It\u2019s a little cheaper though, with the 2025 model around \u00a3689.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Neil Pryde:<\/strong>\u00a0A safe bet \u2014 they\u2019ll rig decently on a constant curve mast, though their pricing again nudges the top end of what I\u2019d call \u201caffordable.\u201d Their sizing also jumps from 5.4m to 5.8m, missing that 5.6\u20135.7m sweet spot I wanted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Final Decision<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
None of them…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, I found a 2024\u00a0Severne Gator<\/strong>, which actually looked like a better sail for this size and was a little cheaper than the same age Severne Blade \u2014 \u00a3589 instead of \u00a3699. Of course, by the time I added postage, that became \u00a3618, but it was still better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It arrived the other day, and I\u2019ve now rigged it in the garden \u2014 it looks good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Simmer Style Evoq:<\/strong>\u00a0Looked good too, but it really wants a 400 mast. That\u2019s OK, but not ideal. It\u2019s a little cheaper though, with the 2025 model around \u00a3689.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"Severne](\"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_5591.jpeg\")
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