The Fun Factor, a stunningly lightweight line of 4-batten wave sails. Designed and handcrafted Hurricane’s White Salmon, Washington, USA sail loft, by master sailmaker Douglas Van Zandt. With over 45 years of custom sail-making experience, Van Zandt has poured his lifetime of craftsmanship, innovation, and passion into creating a sail that truly delivers on the sail’s namesake that maximizes the sailors “Fun Factor.”

 

Developed and fine-tuned in collaboration with legendary Gorge windsurfer Sean Aiken, the Fun Factor delivers an exceptionally lightweight yet powerful design built to thrive in all Gorge and coastal conditions. From explosive jumps to fluid carving and aerial maneuvers, this sail gives riders the power, control, and responsiveness they need to push their limits—without sacrificing ease or balance.

 

Every detail of the Fun Factor reflects a dedication to versatility and performance. It’s a sail that feels light in the hands, quick through transitions, and alive on the water. Whether you’re charging swells at the Hatchery, blasting across coastal waves, or drag racing with your friends, the Fun Factor keeps the ride smooth, stable, and—true to its name—fun.

 

Handcrafted in the Pacific Northwest, the Fun Factor represents American sailmaking at its finest—precision-built, gorge-tested, and ready to elevate your sailing experience.

 

The Tech:

The Fun Factor represents the pinnacle of performance and precision engineering in modern windsurf sail design. Every panel is crafted from laminated sail cloth, including several custom laminates developed exclusively for Hurricane Sails. These advanced laminates incorporate unidirectional Kevlar and Spectra Polyester twisted X-Ply, delivering exceptional strength-to-weight balance and responsive handling.

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Strategically placed 4-mil laminates in foot, tack and clew areas provide strength and durability in high-load areas, while 3-mil laminates in the leech and center panels deliver load oriented strength, and superb durability at a lighter weight which is paramount in these areas. The window is a 6 mil laminate, constructed with widely spaced X-Ply, ensures crystal-clear visibility without compromising structural integrity.

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All laminates are produced by Dimension-Polyant Sailcloth in Putnam, Connecticut, the world leader in sailcloth technology. The sail’s precision-tuned epoxy batten system, are engineered, manufactured and CNC tapered by Robachaud Batten Systems (RBS) in Hood River, Oregon, completes a fully U.S.-made design, built for maximum control, longevity, and pure performance in all conditions.