ACTION, ACTION....click on action images to enlarge

Bjorn Dunkerbeck on the ICE in Pozo (pic: Reinhard Mueller)


Andre Paskowski on the DUKE in Margarita (pic: Axel Resse)

Greg Allaway on the VOODOO in Maui (pic: Thorsten Indra)

Nik Baker on the ICE in Maui (pic: Thorsten Indra)

The ICE

The DUKE

The VOODOO

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North Sails 2006: WAVE

INTRO TO 2006

It appears that North are trying extremely hard this year to become the No.1 sail brand in the industry.

With their funky new 'white' branding, top R+D team and a majorly re-vamped range ,we predict they will be giving Neil Pryde some headaches this year!

They have looked through their product line and made some major changes:

The new ICE replaces the SUPERSTAR & the INSTINCT as their 'World Cup' wave sail, whilst the VOODOO remains their heavy duty wave sail, benefitting from a major facelift.

The DISCO is dis-continued and is now replaced by the DUKE as the dedicated freestyle sail.

Each sail range has been designed to fit onto one mast (some ranges on a 400cm others on a 430cm). This makes life cheaper and easier particularly when travelling.  There is one small catch however as a couple of the biggest sizes will actually require a 'carbon extender' - more details later in the year!

North have finally produced a RDM (skinny) mast with a difference (see Inside line), a platinum carbon boom and NEW North harnesses are on the way.

As you can see, a lot has been going on at North not to mention them enticing Jimmy Diaz and Bjorn Dunkerbeck away from arch rival Neil Pryde to give them, in their own words, the best Test Team in the world including Nik Baker, Greg Allaway, Micah Buzianis and Daida Moreno.

So all good news for the customer from.....

TECHY NEW FEATURES explained!

North have loads of techy features but these stand out in the 2006 ranges.

DOUBLE SEAM TECHNOLOGY: This is complicated but basically it means they have two seams instead of one on the vulnerable bits of your sail. Ask your granny about this or anyone who is a professional seamstress. All we know is that two seams has got to be better than one for strength and durability!

RIPSTOP FRAME DESIGN: You put a hole through your sail with your harness hook, but by the time you get your kit back to the beach, the hole has ripped open and split the whole panel. NOT any more!!! North have put reinforced fabric around the whole sail to guarantee that the hole will remain a hole and not a write -off!

EASY T with size indicator: The elastic band to tie your sail up is a great idea and one which many other brands have adopted. But North have now got the sail size written on a tiny piece of cloth on the elastic cord so you can tell what sail you're about to unravel - handy!


Double seam            Ripstop frame           Easy T & size indicator

ICE: **NEW** World Cup wave sail

Kai Hopf was asked by North to come up with a sail that has the durability of an INSTINCT and the handling of the SUPERSTAR. Impossible? Well, the answer was to remove a batten and of course make a few other changes.

* 5 battens (2005 Superstar had 6)
* All fit & work on a 400-19 mast but you will need the 50cm North carbon extender or a very long extension for the 6.2m!


ICE colours. Interesting fact: The whole 2006 sail range has been modelled on Apple's iPod (think grey and white).

DUKE: **NEW DESIGN** for wave, freestyle & flatwater

Visually, this sail is very different from 2005. The idea was for it to stand out and with the iPod theme, white was the key colour. The weight has been lowered by removing a batten making it a lighter sail. Basically, if you were sailing DISCOS last year, then the DUke is your sail for this year.

* 5 battens
* All sizes will work on a 430-21 mast but again you will need the carbon extender for the 6.9.


DUKE colours

VOODOO: Don't forget the monofilm free Voodoo!

This is North's weapon against the Neil Pryde Combat. It still uses a vinyl window, making it feel more comfortable in gusty winds and giving it extra stability (due to the stretch characteristics of vinyl). This sail comes with an increadible 5 year warranty!!

* 5 battens
* One mast fits all! (400-19)


Voodoo colours

AVAILABLILTY of all 3: end of July 2005
ICE from £309, VOODOO from £339, DUKE from £319