The wind teased the race fleet first thing this morning on the opening day of the 2026 Citroën Windsurf World Cup, but despite several sailors making it out on to the water it soon dropped below the minimum threshold of 6-9 knots and continued to deteriorate from there, so we will have to wait for the first official results of this edition.
With plenty of downtime we managed to catch up with Youp Schmit (Flikka / Hey You), who recently started his own custom-made sail company to find out more about his new venture:
PWA: Hey Youp, you recently started your own sail brand, Hey You. Can you tell us a little bit about the brand and how you originally got into sailmaking?
YS: “Hey You is a custom-made sail brand based in Bonaire. I’m the sailmaker and sail designer. I’ve always had an eye for R&D and development in windsurfing, and that’s how I eventually grew into starting Hey You sails.”
PWA: In terms of making your own sails, do you have a sail loft and cut everything by hand, or how does it work?
YS: “It all originally started in the repair shop I own on Bonaire, Hey You Surf & Marine Repair Shop. I repair huge catamaran sails and do all kinds of upholstery and sail repairs on boats, as well as windsurfing, kitesurfing and winging equipment. Basically, everything that goes onto the water.
Having the space and the loft gave me the opportunity to start experimenting. I thought, “Let’s try something myself,” together with some of the Bonaire riders such as Kiri [Thode] and Björn Saragoza and all the others. Getting feedback from them is the key of building a great sail.
That’s how I developed my first prototype. I started testing it on Bonaire, and eventually I had the guts to start my own brand and build custom-made sails here in Bonaire.”
PWA: In terms of materials, what are you using for your sails?
YS: “Coming from the sailing world as well, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and test a lot of different materials. I’m also very close to some sail lofts around the world that build high-performance sails for SailGP, the Olympics and other sailing competitions.
By spending time in those lofts, I’ve been able to see what they’re doing, learn from them and experiment with some of the materials they use.
Right now, the bottom panel of my freestyle sails is made from one of the lightest materials I’ve ever worked with, and I combine that with monofilm, which we commonly use in windsurfing sails. The result is an extremely light freestyle sail.”
PWA: Do you know roughly what the weight is?
YS: “It depends on the sail size, of course, but my 4.8 is 2.6kg. I’ve built some even lighter than that, but I’ve also had to make sure the construction is strong enough to last.
That’s the balance I’m trying to find: making the sail light enough to work perfectly in the light winds we have in Bonaire, where you want a very light and early planing sail, while also making it strong enough for conditions like Fuerteventura or Sylt.
I’ve just been trying to find that balance, and it’s been so much fun.”
PWA: And what is the most rewarding part about making your own sails and launching your own brand?
YS: “The most rewarding part is riding on the water and feeling really good with what I have in my hands. I’m very comfortable with what I’ve built.
And when I’m not happy with something, I can bring the sail straight back to my loft, adjust it and tune it to exactly what I want to feel. Being able to change those details myself and keep developing the sail has been the most rewarding part of it all.”
PWA: From start to finish, how long does it take you to make a sail?
YS: “It used to take me a few weeks, but now I can make one in two to three days. It’s still quite a lot of labour because every sail is custom made not only for me, but for each individual rider.
If someone is taller or heavier, for example, I can raise the boom position or adjust other parts of the sail. Some people prefer a taller sail, while others like something more compact. I can really adapt each sail to the individual rider.”
PWA: Do you have an overall goal in mind for Hey You, or are you just taking it as it comes?
YS: “The main thing is to keep having fun with it and not let the business take over too much. My goal is still to be on the water as much as possible and keep enjoying what I’m doing.”
PWA: At the moment you're mainly making freestyle sails?
YS: “At the moment I’m mainly building high-performance freestyle sails, but I also make beginner sails, which are being used by local surf schools such as Bonaire Windsurf Place and Frans Paradise.
I’m also working on a freeride sail, and something is cooking in the wave area too. I’ll be developing some more sails next year, and for the wave range I’m looking at collaborating with another wave rider from the Caribbean. I think together we can build a really cool wave sail.”
PWA: Are your sails available for the general public to buy?
YS: “Yes. You can find me at www.heyou-sails.com. Everything is custom-made, so you get in contact with me, tell me what you’re looking for, what colours you like, and we take it from there.
Normally, an order takes around three weeks. Once the sail is ordered, I can build it in Bonaire within about a week, and then shipping takes a couple of weeks. We can ship worldwide.”
PWA: Great, thanks Youp. Is there anything else you would like to mention?
YS: “No, this was really cool, man. I really appreciate the recognition, and I’m proud to do this interview.”
PWA: Perfect. Thanks again, Youp. Good luck in freestyle and with Hey You.
The forecast for Sunday looks more promising 12-18 knots predicted during the morning, which is predicted to increase to 15-25 knots as the day progresses, which means we will either hopefully see the start of the Freestyle - where the Men’s world title is at stake - or the first races of the event completed.
Skippers’ Meeting Times (GMT+2)
Freestyle 10am - first possible start 10:30am.
Foil Slalom 10:30am - first possible start 11:30am.
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