Windy Sam, kitesurf craftsman in Leucate

Windy Sam is a sail loft in Leucate Village, located at the entrance of the business park in the Manufacture de la Glisse building, a short walk from the surf shops. It is run by Sam, a sailmaker who kitesurfs, windsurfs and wingfoils himself; the workshop has new industrial sewing machines and a large floor for laying out sails.

The workshop repairs windsurf sails (torn clew points, new eyelets), kitesurf kites (leading edge, canopy, new bladders) and wingfoil wings, reusing the original fabrics and threads wherever possible. Windy Sam is an approved Aluula Composite repairer, the material used in high-end kites and wings. It also makes custom Dyneema flying lines, finds and fixes bladder leaks, replaces valves (most models are in stock) and works on boat sails, sprayhoods, covers, biminis and marine upholstery.

Repairs are done on site or by mail, with quotes given remotely from photos. A drop-off locker is available for guests of the Sandaya campsite in La Franqui. The workshop also offers an emergency repair kit, publishes repair tutorials and passes kites that are too worn to repair on to partners so they can be reused.