New WindPaddle 47" Adventure Sail

I first reviewed this sail two years ago (after using it for a year) and concluded it was a toy, so I gave it only three stars, but after two additional years of using it, fairness required that I revisit the review because I believe I was too critical the first time around. I carried it on my fully-loaded 17.5' sea kayak in Puget Sound, the San Juan and Gulf Islands, on Lake Powell and recently up the Inside Passage. Although it is difficult to find the ideal wind conditions to use it most-effectively, on long trips those conditions do come along, so I find myself always bringing it along due to its very light weight and ease of stowing in the hold or on deck. You just need to know when to take it out and when to leave it below deck. I can generally paddle faster downwind than the sail can carry me, but I get tired and the wind doesn't. On days when the wind is variable, I keep it on deck under the bungees and I put it up and take it down frequently, which is no problem once you become habituated to how to fold it. It mysteriously folds easier when you're sitting in the seat of a kayak than when you're standing on shore. It collects water when stored on deck from waves and paddle drip, but not enough to create a problem. It gets caked with salt on the ocean, and eventually the clear plastic "window" in the center gets wrinkley and yellows noticeably, but that doesn't impair it's essential function, though clarity is diminished. You need the window, and ocean and UV conditions will age any material after awhile. Like any tool, your enjoyment of it improves by knowing exactly when and how to use it.The sail requires a confidence building period to develop the temerity to deploy it in really high winds, but that's exactly when it functions most effectively. Having a rudder on your boat isn't absolutely essential, but is very desirable. In really high winds, you'll need to use the paddle as an outrigger to keep from capsizing, and to steer (in addition to the rudder). When the wind is building behind you, you can sometimes become oblivious to the squall that's driving it and fail to note changing water conditions. Curious things happens when you're traveling by sail with the wind behind you: (1) waves seem smaller than they are, (2) wind speed seems less than it is, and (3) changes in water conditions become less noticeable. I once traveled miles up the coast with the sail up because I was caught unawares, and was too terrified to take my hands off the paddle to take the sail down. You need two hands to fold and stow the sail. That said, if I had it to do again, I'd opt for the new, larger version of this ("Adventure") sail, or I'd buy the "Cruiser," the largest of the Windpaddle line. You want the bigger sail for more moderate wind conditions. There is a learning curve at the beginning, but once you've achieved some proficiency, you quickly start wishing you had bought the bigger sail. For smaller sit-in kayaks not carrying a heavy load, this size is fine. One final point: You can get capsized by this thing if you don't use it properly. It can fill with water and act like a sea anchor if you're fumbling with it, and it can come out from under the bungees and deploy unexpectedly if hit from the side by a big wave. Still, think about the "new" larger size (16" diameter, folded) but it still must fit under the front bungees and not overhang the sides of the boat when stowed, so you don't have your paddle to keep hitting it when it's stowed there.

There is a bit of a learning curve with this. At first I could only sail predictably downwind ... As I've gotten more time using it I find I'm able to sail off wind reasonably well.It excels at being a compact , lightweight piece of gear that is very easy to take along. If you feel like going where the wind is going or if the wind is going where you want , it is A+ in a fairly good wind. You can go off wind but I generally paddle to get me precisely where I'm going after riding with the wind. I added better clips, a compression strap & a carabiner to make it work best for me. I've sailed a canoe for 20+ years with leeboards & a lanteen rig & I did not want all that . I like it and it is close to being mostly what I wanted. It's simple to carry, set up & fold away. The more I use it , the more I like it.

I got WindPaddle "Adventure-47" sail in my first time test. I launch my kayak (12 feet with a rudder) at Riverside Park Vero Beach and downwind sail to nearby city FtPierce where is 13 miles away in 2 hours. The forecast say, 10 m/h to 15 m/h northeast windy; temperature is 70-80 F degree. On the way, people wave to me who are never see a such sail that is a hemisphere and I wave to back. I put the rope that control the sail under my knees so my hands are free. It is high-speed downwind already but I want to more fast, so I paddle also. soon I find it not good idea because it too fast that hard to control. I like it so much we shall buy a second one for our tandem 17'' Hobie kayak with double sails

Works well if the wind is constant and above 15 m.p.h. To point out, the user is sitting directly behind the sail, blocking about a third of the available wind. In addition, the absence of a mast allows the paddle to collapse, mostly on one's head. I wish I had waited and bought a mast mounted sail instead of wasting this amount of money. The product is well made,except you don't get that lovely thick strap with the clips on the end. It's just a thin piece of chord. Not bad, but not what I really wanted. It's fun when it's windy but not as efficient as a properly mounted sail. Forget trying to tack!

I use the Adventure on my SUP. Easy to clip on with two tie-down points on the bow, side by side. Easy to stow. Folding it up took only a little practice. It feels quite durable.I will say that you need over 10 mph of wind to feel like you are getting anywhere. I haven’t tried it over 15 mph yet, but I’m curious to do so. I tried it once in 5-6mph wind, and I was almost standing still. I usually sit on the SUP when sailing, and hook the little line around the paddle. I take occasional strokes to correct my heading. The coordination was pretty easy to get the hang of. Very fun if you have decent wind. I’m curious to try the Cruiser, though, the bigger model.

I've used the WindPaddle with my 10-foot kayak about 15 times now, in all levels of wind, and it has worked even better than I hoped. It is more durable than I expected, showing no signs of wear or tear, and I don't baby it. I use it nearly every time I go out kayaking now. Before I would let the kayak sit on days with moderate to heavy wind. Now I look forward to using my kayak -- and WindPaddle -- on those days. I get a good workout paddling up-wind first, and then I use the WindPaddle to sail all the way "down" the lake, then store the WindPaddle on deck and paddle home. I can use the WindPaddle on a reach -- at up to a 90-degree angle to the wind -- by using my regular paddle as a rudder, but certainly there is no taking up wind like with a sailboat; that's still where the exercise comes in. Using the WindPaddle Adventure Sail (mid-weight model) is so fun and rewarding, I'm contemplating buying the large, canoe-size WindPaddle and using it with my canoe -- and for some really high-speed downwind sailing on my kayak on a windy day!