BM: When did you start designing sails and how long have you been designing sails for/with Robby Naish?

DM: I have been involved with sail development since 1982 and competing in the world cup from 1984 until 1992. I started working with Robby in 1988 at Gaastra Sails.

BM: When you were working with Gaastra & Simmer which sail lines were you designing? Which do you enjoy designing more, race or wave sails?

DM: At Gaastra Sails for the first few years I was designing all lines and in the last years I was concentrating on the MW5, Heat Wave, MX4, M6 and the Mistral line. I like the challenge of the race sail and the testing of the wave sails. So, they both have a place in my heart.

BM: Can you tell us a little about your Aero computer aided sail design software? Do you feel it gives you an advantage over your competition?

DM: The computer program is a tool which helps the designer to speed up the process. The design program is only as good as the designer. I don't have any experience with my competitions' software but I am sure it is a similar concept.

BM: How involved is Robby in the actual hands-on designing with you, or do his priorities lean more toward prototype testing?

DM: Of course Robby is always involved.

BM: For people who like slalom sailing but don't want to deal with a sail that's heavy and difficult to waterstart because of the cams and wide luff sleeve, the NOA concept seems like the perfect answer. What was the inspiration behind this Race/RAF cross-over design?

DM: Robby is a sailor that really appreciates simple equipment, with as little complications as possible. We have learned so much about materials, sail stability, draft placement etc. over the years, that we knew it would be possible to make a very good slalom sail using all of the tools available to us....without the cambers and wide luff sleeve to hold them in. In many ways the resulting sail is a lot more versatile, more fun to sail, much lighter in feel, and arguably just as fast on most points of sail. There are a lot of customers out there that simply don't want the hassles of a full blown race sail, but don't want to be let down in the speed / stability area.

BM: What is your opinion of these new "Flexi-tip" sail designs. Is it enough of a break through for the average sailor to go out and "re-gear" with these sails and special masts that they take?

DM: At this point it would seem quite expensive. One would have to be pretty into "having the latest, at any expense" to buy one. Some work fairly well, depending on the size and use, but at least up until this point they are no faster than a well designed "regular sail." You do get lots of stuff to fiddle with though.

BM: Naish sails does not produce a single cam sail as many other manufactures do? Do you feel that there is not enough difference between a single cam sail and an RAF with the same number of battens to warrant producing a single cam line? In your opinion does the single cam provide any benefits?

DM: In our opinion a single cam is not doing enough to make it very viable. There is not enough stability created to make it "locked in" like a twin cam, yet there's the inconvenience and reduced "fun factor" compared having to no cam at all. Sticking a single cam in a bad sail will not make it better. Taking it out of a bad sail will not make it better. There are a lot of elements that work together to make a sail work well. There are some pretty good single cam sails on the market. Still, I think that they would be "better" sails if they had one more cam, or one less, depending on what you wanted to do with the sail.

BM: People like to talk about the weight of sails, whether they are heavy or light. How much does the weight of sail actually affect its' performance?

DM: There is a big difference between physical weight and apparent weight. A sail can "feel" heavy when you are sailing due to draft instability, draft placement, shape positioning and other factors. A lighter sail may actually have a heavier feel due to it's design and how it is rigged. For sure a huge difference in weight will be felt, but overall performance will not be changed with a small difference in rig weight. A good balance of materials will allow a reasonable weight in a package that will last.

BM: What do you think will be the next big "break-through" in sail design, major or minor changes? Any secrets that you can let us in on?

DM: The future changes will be simplicity making the sport accessible to anyone at any level (coming back to the roots of windsurfing).

BM: In the video RIP, you take a pretty nasty wipeout trying to get out at Jaws? Have you been back and sailed Jaws since that time?

DM: I haven't been back to the launch site at the lighthouse but I have been back to Jaws and it is always nice to come home in one piece at the end of the day.

BM: Windsurfing board designers seem to be a tight-knit community who discuss their thoughts and ideas of designs. Do sail designers discuss ideas or concepts in casual conversation or is it more secretive?

DM: Most designers have something they want to share, but there is always a little something they keep to themselves!

"Sail to die or don't sail at all" ,

aloha Don

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