Who Is Monty Spindler?

Sailor. Innovator. Sailmaker.

From world-class racer to the creator of record-breaking designs for Neil Pryde, ART, and Loftsails, Monty’s Wind Vision has shaped champions and defined performance for decades.

Early sailing roots

Monty Spindler’s connection to wind and water began in childhood on the lakes of Michigan. From an early age, he was racing Optimist dinghies and a sixteen-foot Minnesota Ysloop, building instincts for reading wind and trim that would later shape his design work. Competitive junior sailing at Annapolis Yacht Club sharpened his tactical skills, pitting him against future Olympians and instilling a respect for precision and preparation. Those formative years also nurtured a lifelong curiosity for how sails work an obsession with shapes, seams, and performance that would follow him off the water and into his workshop.

From sailor to sailmaker

In his teens, Monty began sewing sails in his own room, teaching himself the fundamentals of sail construction. That early, hands-on experimentation evolved into professional work for established sailmakers, where he honed his craft on both traditional and high-performance rigs. His work soon took him beyond small-boat racing into the emerging world of windsurfing. Collaborations with pioneering brands such as Horizon, Island Windsurfing Loft, and Neil Pryde gave him exposure to new materials, rapid prototyping, and the unique aerodynamic demands of planing boards—skills that would define his approach to innovation.

Breaking boundaries in sail design

By the early 1980s, Monty had become known for inventive, sometimes radical ideas that pushed windsurfing sail design forward. He developed the Ultranova, the first full-battened windsurfing sail, and created specialized reefing sails for adventurer Arnaud de Rosnay. His ART RadWing design introduced the “cut-away” leech concept—reducing drag and improving twist which won the Johnnie Walker Trophy for innovation. Throughout this period, his designs powered athletes to three consecutive world speed records, confirming that his blend of artistry and engineering could deliver results at the highest level.

Founding The Loft and the birth of Loftsails

In the 1990s, Monty’s focus turned toward building a brand that could fully embody his design philosophy. He establishedThe Loft in 1999, setting up in Tarifa—where the Levante and Poniente winds provided a natural laboratory for testing and refining sails. From the beginning,The Loft stood for a balance of handling, durability, and race-winning speed, attracting a loyal following of riders and testers. This foundation would later evolve into Loftsails, bringing Monty’s “Wind Vision” philosophy to a global audience and marking the start of a new chapter in windsurfing sail design.