To compliment our 110-litre freerace board reviews, we’ve tested some of the best and newest no-cam freerace sails designed to be stress-free, fun and fast.
As with the freerace boards these sails could broadly be considered as either ‘detuned’ or as freeride sails with a race bias. The overwhelming message with this type of sail is user-friendliness, namely being lighter and faster to rig than cambered sails, easier to manoeuvre – yet still capable of racing speeds.
TARGET USER The competent sailor who wants more performance from their freeride gear or maybe those taking their first steps into competitive racing that are reluctant to buy full-on, technical, camber-induced racing rigs.
TRENDS As with many sail categories in recent seasons, and to match movement towards wider, shorter boards, there’s a definite move towards lower aspect ratio outlines (shorter and wider). This helps drive the newer styles of hull and helps widen the wind range with more downwards drive to settle the board at the high end, all while delivering good old fashioned low-aspect, bottom-end torque. All of these models feature dropped clews with a mix of benefits from reduced swing weight and manoeuvrability, rider-height-related trimming options throughout the wind range and allow for a shorter-and-therefore stronger boom length – in fact duck gybing a 7.5 these days is a breeze! As well as being easier to rig than cammed sails, most brands’ larger camless ranges are a lot more flexible in terms of mast type (SDM or RDM) and size than days gone by.
TESTING SET-UP We used these rigs on the freerace boards in the same conditions as featured in this issue’s board test, but also on some bigger freeride boards when the wind was a little lighter. They were sailed by different size sailors of differing abilities and style in a wide variety of conditions. As always, to avoid pre-judgments on size and specification, we go straight out on the water before taking a detailed look at shape and construction. To begin with we rig them with near-maximum downhaul and start with slightly positive outhaul then tune them particular to the conditions.
MATCHMAKING There is a broad spectrum of suitability within this category. Some are ‘grunty’ and feel more like cammed race sails, whilst others are lighter and more freeridey. It’s important to identify what you want to get from the sail and where and in what conditions you anticipate using it. For example someone wanting a real slalom feel for flat water blasting might consider pairing their race-orientated board with a more growly engine, whereas a more manoeuvre-oriented rig might better suit a coastal sailor on a large FSW for some sea-breeze drag-racing in and out of the surf.
DOWN-AND-OUT It is notable that nearly all these sails have one recommended downhaul setting which can be set and pretty much left alone unless the sail is being used at the extremes of it’s wind range. Apart from any technical advantage this may have, it is without doubt much less hassle. The fine tuning is instead made through the outhaul, with most sails using up to a maximum of about 3cm positive outhaul. Nik Baker kindly lent us some North Platinum booms to use, each with an adjustable outhaul and this is well worth considering. Whether a casual freerider or a fledgling racer (Nik even uses it on his wave kit), an adjustable outhaul can give a big advantage to the overall enjoyment of your precious time on the water. Apart from the fact that you can instantly tune your sail depending on the wind, without having to return to the beach, it also gives you a tactical advantage depending on your point of sail. Crank on a bit of outhaul as you head upwind and you will find you can point higher. Similarly, easing off the tension for a broad reach will give maximum drive and power for top speeds. And don’t think that if you get one you’ll be forever tripping over ropes as if you were dinghy sailing, it’s really easy to set up and once on, you can rig the sail as normal.
WHAT DO YOU WANT? So, take the time to identify what it is you want to get out of your new sail. What water-state are you most likely to sail in? What wind strength? What’s your preferred sailing style? What type of board will you be using it on? Also, don’t forget to consider where it will fit within the rest of your quiver – and will it fit the masts, booms and extensions you already have? Once you’ve done all that have a look over the next few pages to see our recommendations and observations which will hopefully be all you need to make an informed decision to get you on the water, going fast and hopefully having as much fun as we did! Enjoy!
It’S official! Ricardo Campello has joined the Point-7 Black Team:
BLACK TEAM
A winner is simply a dreamer who never gives up.
Point-7 was nothing more than a dream 6 years ago. Already by 2012 the brand was having top 10 results in all disciplines. B
y the end of 2013 Alberto Menegatti was crowned Vice World Champion in slalom greatly assisted to reach this goal with the support of the Black Team created that very same year.
Dreams are what push Point-7 forward together with an undying passion for the sport of Windsurfing. If there is a morning that we wake up without a dream in our minds, it means that we are still sleeping.
Ricardo is our new dream! The dream to see him developing wave sails with us, the desire to have one of the most talented windsurfers that the world knows on the Black team!
Give him Hawai’i, give him the Canary Islands, give him North Europe and he knows how to do it. We are proud to officially announce Ricardo Campello has joined our Point-7 Black Team.
Ricardo being 28 years old is now in the best age where experience meets talent.
We believe in him and we know that a personality like his needs to be out there promoting our sport, passion and lifestyle.
Read the full interview with Andrea Cucchi and Ricardo Campelloonwww.Point-7.com
BEST FOR Heavyweights, flatter-rockered boards and high wind bump and jump crossover use – you could even race it …
RECOMMENDATION Make sure you use the right mast!
BRAND POSITIONING “The SADO 4g is a master piece of power and the is the longest running wave sail in the P7 range, a masterful combination of power, control and drive. Using a more forward positioned profile mixed with a softer skin tension and thereby creating a powerful yet extremely controllable sail body is what symbolises the Sado and makes it the perfect companion in a variety of conditions.”
OVERVIEW Due to logistical issues the SADO was a late addition to this trip and therefore missed-out on our comprehensive off-water compare-and-contrast assessment sessions. Outline: The Sado isn’t tall but although it has a relatively short boom, most of the area is in the bottom half. This is a five-batten frame with two mini leech battens and quite a lot of luff curve high up in the profile. Build Quality: Pretty much an all-x-ply with dacron trim affair.
PERFORMANCE First of all we have to say we didn’t get to try the Sado on the correct mast and only in pretty powered-up, almost dead onshore conditions. With it purporting to have a constant-to-hard-top preferred bend we first of all we tried it on a Severne RedLine. As a result, on the the water it was like wrestling a couple of bears in a snake pit, and all we’ll say is that afterwards we decided to lock it in a cage overnight, fearful for our lives. It was clear the sail has a lot of power but needs the right kind of weapon to control it. On seeking advice, animal trainer Adam Lewis – who helped in the breeding of this ferocious beast – suggested a MaverX mast, which gave us a much better impression of it’s behaviour. (But please be aware the following comments are not based on using the brand-recommended spar.) First of all there’s tonnes of power and drive both upwind and off the wind and acceleration galore, which was handy to reach ramps early from the inside. The MaverX wasn’t ideal, still making for some twitch at the high end, but all-in-all the sail – which has remarkably low skin tension – had settled down immensely and exhausted power high up pretty well in the gusts while seeming oblivious to any lulls. On the wave there was a little backhand feedback, but generally it was happier in longer, clew-out, drawn-out turns on faster-rockered boards. For onshore riding you might need to adjust your bottom turning style as we occasionally caught the foot in tighter arcs, but most of the time the impressive levels of power on-tap were appreciated and we liked that the power was forgiving when pivoting off-the-top of smaller waves. As it’s name suggests, this sail might not be for everyone and, after being scared of going near it (never approach it from behind) and it was tamed a little, we grew to like it quite a lot – especially the heavier testers. You have been warned.
THE VERDICT Savagely powerful, fast and perfect for larger riders to dominate on fast wave or freestyle-wave shapes. If you dare…
Traditionally, in wavesailing terms, 5.3s were the clunky workhorses in most people’s quivers. Rigs of this size were termed as ‘power wave sails’ and often billed as being ‘real world’ or ‘onshore riding’ specialists, just because they primarily operated at the lower end of the planing wind spectrum, or largely catered for big boys. Sure they might be many people’s most-used size, but they’re not the most popular. That’s the nimble 4.7s. Everyone thinks they’re the cool ones. But with the advent of bigger, floatier wave boards – that often turn better than the smaller boards of days-gone-by – more than ever is now asked of the humble 5.3.
So can our five-something-metre sail be both a compact and capable down-the-line riding weapon? Will it span a massive wind range? Perhaps for lightweights, or any size sailor for that matter in, say 12 knots ‘float and ride’, plus handle wind of up to 30 knots for the big fellas – all while delivering the clout of an older 6.0? Let’s find out …
CAN WE HAVE IT ALL? In last month’s 4.2 test we discovered that, even though we asked the industry what assumptions they’d like us to judge wave gear under, (the answer to which was to assume it’s for dedicated, hard-core sailors in genuine wave riding conditions rather than all-round ‘sailability’) on our test trips, just like your road trips, we don’t always get these ideal environments. This means sails have a wider remit and that, actually, early planing, being comfortable and low energy to use, speed and acceleration to launch fast, catch ramps or get out of trouble rapidly and fly upwind is all critical – rather than simply making legendary turns. We also all sail in a mix of onshore and down-the-line scenarios nowadays as our boards have a wider scope of use. So ‘getting around the park’ is arguably more valid than ever, wouldn’t you agree?
TEST CONDITIONS With a fortnight in El Medano we were faced with some really marginal conditions and a few banging windy days – mostly in pretty small weak surf – and nearly all of it served with bang onshore onshore wind. Like, really onshore wind. These 5.3s were mostly tested on the 95L wave boards that are also in this issue as well as on the 85Ls in the upcoming edition.
TOUCHING CLOTH Well, what did we find?
• Many in this group had really minimal outhaul settings – often touching the boom nearly all the way from the clew to the harness lines
• All had a lot of tech with lightweight stretch control to keep everything nice and tight.
(There’s a lot of scrim and technora cloth on the market – plus a Dacron revival – and not many pure film sails left on the market.)
• All rigged easily, but now – more than ever – correct mast selection is a must to get the most out of them
ON YOUR BACKFOOT In the reports you’ll read about ‘backhand pressure. Let’s just define that quickly. Modern wave board outlines have changed. Regardless of how many fins are sticking out of the bottom of them. These shapes let us attack angles on the wave face that we could previously only dream about – especially when it’s onshore. As a result many sailors now talk about ‘backhand pressure’ in sails. This isn’t the sail feeling twitchy or ‘backhanded’ when overpowered. We’re talking about ‘feedback’, pull, resistance. Specifically when sheeting in during a frontside bottom turn.
Without it, rigs tend to put us on our front leg for more drawn-out arcs, perhaps with more forward rail engaged. But having it helps us transfer weight onto our back leg – at some point in the arc – to tighten that curve up – and hopefully, without losing speed, get some more vert into the turn. As you can imagine this behaviour is a matter of preference, so the sails you’re about to read about all have a varying degree of this characteristic.
Just thought we’d clear that one up. Comprend? Good. Let’s proceed … BM
Over the past few seasons it’s been hard to ignore the inroads the Point-7 Sails Team have made on the PWA slalom tour.
Their trademark black sails have turned heads on the race course since 2007. But, in 2013 the brand elevated its prominence to a whole new level, in particular the performance of Italian rider Alberto Menegatti, who finished the season with an incredible 2nd place finish overall.
We sent John Carter with armed with questions to interrogate both brand founder Andrea Cucchi and Agent Menegatti himself – and to delve into the secrets of the Men in Black and discover what’s fuelled their sudden rise to the top?
JC: The obvious question, but it has to be asked, why black?
AC: We had to choose a colour to be a bit different. At that time the Americas Cup was on and they were using black sails. We thought it could be quite interesting as a colour. We liked it, tried it on one sail and thought it was cool, aggressive – and beautiful – so we went for that. Because the sails were black we eventually decided to make everything black, hence the ‘Black Team’ and everything we do is based around black.
JC: Do you have any problems with the sun with the black sails?
AC: That is the main question everybody is asking because people are worried the sails will melt in the sun. It was actually another reason we decided to go black. It is not heat that ruins material or creates problems. Monofilm suffers from UV rays from the sun and the black actually has a glue in the monofilm that actually blocks the UV rays. So our black sails last longer than a transparent monofilm. Clear monofilm gets hard over time and just cracks. The black actually helps and lasts much longer. So black’s a good thing, exactly the opposite of what people think.
JC: When did you start the whole concept?
AC: I started in 2006. I was a bit frustrated just racing, having done the same thing during the last ten years of my life. I wanted something more so I thought how about if I try to do my own brand? We came out with the first sails in summer 2007, so have been in business around seven years now. We’re a young brand. Alberto was with us in 2008 where we had a pretty successful season. At the time we were to young and too small to fully support him and couldn’t follow up what his needs were. So he went to Gaastra for a few years to gain experience with a bigger brand. Last year we sat down with Alberto and decided it would be a great thing if we work together again. We come from the same town, we have the same passion for windsurfing, so for training development and everything we need to move the brand forward it seemed like the right move.
JC: So both yourself and Andrea are based in Lake Garda?
AM: Yes we only live 15 km. apart and that was a big part in why I went back with Point-7. I tried the sails and I could not believe how well they were performing. Being so close to Andrea meant that I could keep on training, trimming and developing throughout the whole year. That helped a lot to keep my gear tuned perfectly through the whole season.
JC: Whats the story behind your phenomenal success this season
compared to other years?
AM: First of all I knew I had to have the best equipment to compete with the likes of Albeau and Dunkerbeck. The change to Point-7 really helped. The first moment I stepped on the sail I started to go a lot faster. I was fast round the course and out of the gybes I had amazing acceleration. On the other side, I was a lot more focussed mentally and the second part of last winter I totally changed the way I trained. I went to Tenerife to train with the Point-7 Black Team. We started to do proper racing, starts, the whole thing. Everything’s changed for me. I have concentrated on being on the best equipment and then how to make it work on the racecourse. I went straight to Korea and won the first event, so I knew I was on the right track. I’ve had a hard year with injury this season but still have achieved the best result of my career. It still feels unreal to be second in the world after the injury I had this year, the last three or four months I almost didn’t sail at all.
JC: Describe a typical day in Tenerife at your windsurf boot camp, were you guys slaving away at 6 a.m. every day?
AC: I guess you could say we started more like 7 a.m. each day. It wasn’t that windy this year in Tenerife so we really had to take advantage of the windy days. Whenever it was windy we had to be on the water as much as possible. Mark ‘Sparky’ Hosegood set up the training camp with the Black Team and our structure was quite small and we all had to chip in to make it happen. We had to pump up the marks, put them in the water, help get the boat in and out, we did it all ourselves. We had to start all this early to be able to be on the water for a full day. It took a solid hour and a half to set up the course with our limited resources and then we would race from 10.30 until 6 p.m. and have to pack it all away afterwards. Most days we weren’t done until 8 p.m. so it was a lot of hard work. Alberto, Pascal, Maciek and a lot of the other guys on the Black Team were also in the gym, running and full time training.
JC: Do you think the physical training helped give you the edge?
AM: I did a lot of physical training in the years before so it could’ve helped for sure, but the mental side of knowing what to do in the race was where I really felt the difference. After a few days training race after race, the whole thing starts to become natural and automatic. We were training with real starts and everything exactly as it is on the PWA, so when we turn up to an event we are all confident of our routines and not rusty like some of the other guys. This really helps a lot. It’s not rocket science, but most racers don’t get the opportunity to train this way.
JC: Were you doing all that suspension training as well or was that just for the video?
AM: (Laughs) Well we did a bit of that as well. It looked cooler in the video, let’s put it like that. It was just a part of the training. The main theme was the real-life race practice. The majority was the windsurfing and the other training out of the water. I felt pretty strong the years before to be honest. The part that was missing for me was the equipment and the real race training. That’s where we stepped up the game. My racing was better and my confidence on the racecourse was better as well. I wasn’t getting stressed at the start and not worrying about problems, I just do my routine and race – and for sure that’s all to do with the practise we did.
JC: How have the other racers reacted to your leap to the top?
AM: After the event that we had in Korea, when they saw I had great success, plus the improvement of all the other Point-7 riders, I saw already by Costa Brava the French guys were doing the same thing with a trainer and marks on the racecourse et cetera. A lot of the racers obviously wanted to know our secrets and do the same. I guess there will be other riders join us in Tenerife next winter from other teams. They’ve seen it works.
AC: At the first event in Korea, it was obvious a lot of sailors were a bit rusty with their race starts and general race tactics. This was the first event after a long layoff. Then you had the Black Team, who’d been practicing these things all winter, so we were ready. You can’t go to an event without proper preparation and do your absolute best. The whole thing is starting, gybing and dealing with the pressure for five days in a row of racing. It’s not just a question of testing if a sail is fast and if you have the right fin. It’s more to do with the actual racing. If you combine both types of preparation, for sure it’s the winning weapon.
JC: We know Alberto had an amazing season, how about the rest of the team?
AC: Let’s say that Alberto was already our top ranked sailor the years before. He was 12th overall in the world rankings last year. So now he’s jumped right up to second. But also our other guys, the younger guys have also improved tremendously. We have Enrico Marotti who never sailed in PWA events before. He actually won a losers’ final and often made the semi-finals of a race. That was a big step for him considering he had no race experience at all. The same with Maciek Rutkowski from Poland. He was 12th in Costa Brava and has won some other non-PWA events. So it was easy to see how the training has made a difference. At the beginning of the season you actually saw what a big difference it made.
As the season went along some of the guys actually lost their edge because we weren’t able to do the same training through the year between events. Next year we have to try and set it up that we keep the routine going through the racing season.
JC: I guess being from Lake Garda where the wind is usually lighter must have helped this season?
AM: We sail 9.3m and 8.6m a lot of time in the afternoon and 7.9m in the early morning. For sure I get a lot of training in light winds. This was the first year that I felt more competitive on the 7.9m and 107 Starboard [iSonic] than on the bigger gear. We didn’t have much racing this season on the 7.9m, but I won the first final in Korea so I guess that tells me something? I wish we had more wind this season, but it was just one of those years. I have been a very good light wind sailor for many years, but year after year my high-wind level has been improving. I hope next year we’re going to have better wind and I can show that I’m not just about light wind racing. I’ve tested against a lot of people on my 7.9m in a straight line and I feel pretty confident I’m as fast as anyone out there. Most of the season we’ve been stuck on the 9.3m and the 8.6m and my big board [the 127 iSonic].
JC: What do you like about the Point-7 race sails?
AM: The profile of our sails keeps all the power in the front. So, when we hit a gust, we just accelerate – and don’t lose the position or trim of the board. On other sails the profiles are a bit less locked and when the gusts hit they’re fighting a bit more. This is an advantage and, on the other side, having a nice profile on the bottom of the sail gives you a lot of drive in the lulls. So we have a very big range and the best compromise for any situation.
JC: You seem to have a few Italian touches of colour creeping into those Black Sails?
AC: Well we are Italian so there has to be some Italian design there eh? (Laughs.) We have a professional designer working on the graphics of our sails as well. It’s Italian fashion so we try to keep those great things that
Italy offers.
JC: You’ve finished second this year, but factor in a few unlucky moments and you could’ve been on top?
AM: I’m pretty stoked to be second. A lot of different things could have happen. I broke a boom in Costa Brava at a vital moment and a few things went wrong for me in Turkey. Let’s put it this way – Antoine has been there for many, many years and I’ve come from nowhere and, until the last event, I had chances to win the title. That’s plenty enough to show that I’ve had a massive improvement and, if I can do the same for next year, who knows? Maybe there’ll be even better results coming?
AC: Let’s just say when we signed the contracts last November our goal for Alberto was to be in the top ten. So actually what he’s done is more than anybody expected. The goal is always to try to win, but realistically top ten would have been a good result. Now we’re more expecting him to be at least top three and if not it’s ‘oh no what going wrong?’ (Laughs.) That is a complete change of expectations. Thanks guys – and good luck next season! JC
BEST FOR
Heavyweights and those with a more skilled, powerful surfing style – especially in onshore conditions. A strong option for driving a larger board with as small a sail as possible.
RECOMMENDATION Downhaul it enough to activate the upper leech in all conditions. There isn’t loads of draft considering the power, but a few cm of positive works well in strong wind and quite a slack outhaul – barely positive – works well in onshore and lighter wind. Use the Point-7 recommended mast. Without the correct P7 mast to-hand, we used Naish and Severne and MaverX models on all the P7s on test and all brought slightly different behaviours, the Severne probably being the most settled on the Salt.
BRAND CLAIM “The Salt is our all out performance orientated 4 batten wave sail. With a high skin tension and tighter leech, Point-7 has creating a very manoeuvre and reactive oriented ride maintaining a slightly flatter batten profile. The Salt is fast riding on the waves, quick to respond and ultra light in your hands.”
OVERVIEW Due to logistical issues the SALT was a late addition to this trip and therefore missed-out on our comprehensive off-water compare-and-contrast assessment sessions. Outline: The Salt is fairly low aspect in comparison to this group and has quite a high level of luff curve. Build Quality: Pretty much an all-x-ply with dacron trim affair.
PERFORMANCE Launching any Point-7 sail for the first time always has one expecting tonnes and tonnes – and tonnes – of power from the get-go. The Salt isn’t quite the exception to the rule as there’s still plenty of poke there once you sheet in, but it is true to say the pressure is more refined than say, its Sado stable mate. First up, the speed and acceleration is very impressive – something that’s been a real characteristic of this group compared to generally softer sails of years gone by – which is a great help to reach ramps early, such as in the close-to-the-beach shore breaks of the main Médano spots. The generally compact nature also makes the Salt feel easy to flick about and control in moves too and all-round straight-line sailing reveals a balanced and stable foil. In the wave riding department the Salt really comes into its own. It’s very easy to de-power quickly and then throttle on as you need through the turn. The action off the top is formidable, with the low-aspect shape needing a little application and skill to control, but the compact nature makes it super snappy and easy to push a lot of power through the deck (and spray off the tail and tails!) once you’ve got your body positioning and timing right.
THE VERDICT A gutsy, stable sail capable of impressive speed and mobility around the break. Although there’s easy on-off control in the bottom turn, the Salt needs a little application for the onshore pivot, but, in the right hands, can help execute devastatingly powerful cutbacks.
Are you sitting comfortably ?, then let us begin our buyer’s guide to the top harnesses to put on your bottom! Firstly though, eyes firmly on the page for a lesson from our professional windsurfer in residence, the indomitable Peter Hart on just why it may be time for a change of hook.
I don’t have the figures to hand but I’m suspecting the ratio of seat to waist harnesses sold is currently 90% in favour of the latter. There are good reasons to wear a waist harness but amongst them is not the fact that everyone else seems to be.
Length of shorts, colour of rashie – yes these are things that can be influenced by fashion but the fundamental ability to harness and distribute power as efficiently and comfortably as possible, is not. On clinics I have changed more lives by persuading people from waists to seats than the other way round. If you’re pondering the choice, these are the criteria that might push you towards extra bottom support.
Comfort If despite your every effort to stand up and direct the power into your lower back, the waist harness still rides up, then you have no choice but to buy a seat. There’s a hint in the title – so if you haven’t got a waist and the harness can’t tuck under your ribcage, it’s not going to work.
But it’s not just a chubber issue. I was teaching a girl last week, who was skinny as a rake – but she had an unusually high waist which left the hook at around throat height. As a result she couldn’t commit her whole bodyweight to the harness and transmit enough power into the board to release it.
Moving to a seat, the transformation was so immediate that it brought a tear to the eye. Asked why she’d gone for a waist harness she said she wanted to go into waves – and was told that everyone wears a waist harness in the waves.
What are you going to do? Indeed most wave sailors and freestylers use a waist harness for the extra freedom of movement around the groin. The higher hook also suits hooked in moves.
But if you think about waves and freestyle, it’s not about locking down huge amounts of power for long reaches – it’s about getting planing and then doing something – usually hooked out.
There are some slalom sailors using waist harnesses these days but across the classes, including the Olympians, the vast majority favour a seat because it simply offers more support. The hook lines up with your centre of gravity. You can make better use of your weight and lock down the power. Whenever I go out testing sails over 7.0, I slip on a seat harness.
So if your sailing is more about about speed than manoeuvres, seriously think about it. It may be an ‘as well as …’ not an ‘either or …’ question.
Buying tips Things to consider as you sample a seat.
Sliding hook?
This is a style preference thing. Personally I like the hook to slide a little within the webbing so that as I crank the hips forward to go upwind, the hook slides back a little. Equally I know those who like it to be fixed.
Hook height.
The hook on seats used to be very low – as low as winkle in some examples, which took some getting used to and made catapults very severe. On my own seat harnesss, the seat hook is only a couple inches lower than the waist harness – just below belly button, so I don’t really have to change my style much.
So check the hook height – on some it’s adjustable.
Technique This is the subject for another time – but the top tip is just because it’s got ‘seat’ written on it, don’t sit down … well at least don’t squat and get defensive.
As you hook into a seat you immediately engage more bodyweight and power through the legs. You wont go faster by sitting down more. Yes, drop the hips but try and stay tall and go with the flow – and there’ll be plenty more of that!
Flying Objects Transit
Flying Objects say the Transit was developed “through a need for practicality and functionality, a dual function harness that combines a waist with a seat”. This concept provides both the high back support and hook height of a waist harness but with the secure fit and feel of a seat. Features include an independent tension belt, seat attachment, neo leg straps, quick release hook and a bar hold-down strap. Construction is a 3-D Thermo-formed Outer Skin with Full Neo Inner Skin and there’s even a nifty Key Pocket!
The ION design team are known for innovation and with the Peak harness have took the best of both worlds and combined the comfort of a seat harness with the performance of a waist harness! Other highlights include Quick_Fit 2.0, the new lever buckle system which allows superfast and effort-saving tightening of the harness; Cross_Link, an internal load spreading system; Wrap_Tec, the harness is not flat, it wraps itself around your hips ! and the 3D shaped seat part, improving comfort and support. The Peak is the perfect option for all speed addicts and intermediate free riders.
The Balance is an ergonomically shaped seat harness that combines lower back and hip support, with the freedom to move. The strategic synch strap placement puts the hook in a low position to allow the body full range of motion, while supporting the lower back and waist Other features include contoured side shape, neoprene buckle covers, soft fabrics, soft round edge, dual tension belt, split side load-spreading patches, 3D-fit technology and a click-in, integrated spreader bar.
NP bring to market a Convertible Harness System . The laminated EVA inner of the Gravity Seat multi-sport harness is split into three segments to provide dynamic support while the pre-bent shape allows for the harness to completely wrap around the hip and seat area. Click in leg straps are uniquely angled for exceptional fit and freedom of movement. Other features include Anti-chafe seams, Adjustable back support, Replaceable straps and Tie-down system.
The NP Surf S1 Windsurf Spreader Bar features aStraight and narrow hook with three attachment points for maximum stability.
A Freeride and Slalom seat harness with adjustable back support and anatomical shape. Featuring a quick release spreader bar system and lumbar support with Neoprene padded leg straps for extra comfort. In addition, neoprene padding on all edges of the harness.Other highlights include: Ergonomic fit, rear handle, extreme comfort and a new innovative and patented SPQR Spreader bar system with bar pad.
‘Full contact windsurfing’ is how P7’s PWA riders describe the performance of their seat harnesses. Designed using a minimal structure with no padding to keep the direct feeling from the entire rig but still giving the comfort needed to achieve great average and top end speeds with full control. In addition their Slalom seat harness can be adjusted to the millimetre ensuring the optimal fit, comfort and output from the sail.
The Rambler is a Freerace/racing harness. It has a medium high profile for support and allows maximum sail power to be carried at all times. The double buckles combined with the high profile allow a big adjustment of where the power from the sail can be directed into the harness body.
Other features include true 3D seat shaping, an elastic slalom belt, cruising optimized outline profile, an MPL Quad belt attachment, patented pin Release bar System and neoprene cushioned legstraps.
The legendary Italian brand have drawn on the experience of their World Cup winning PWA World Tour Slalom team in the design of their latest WR seat harness. Using the best materials and technology process available today to construct it, detailed features include, spreader downhaul to adjust hook height, very good load distribution to seat area, neoprene legstraps, spreader protector and neoprene edges. Available in sizes: XS-S-M-L
Test Editor Tris Best // Second Testers Maurin Rottenwalter,
Joe North and Dan Sallows Photos Nick George and Alex Best // Test Location Southwest England
To make up for the limited number of sails in last month’s 5.3m test, we’ve had a bumper supply of 4.7 sails for this month’s review! And what a mix they are. Having started this test, one thing very quickly became clear, that with the emergence and consequent refinement of many three batten wave sails in recent years, several brands were starting to shift their belief and understanding about the true wind range of each sail size. A new breed of wave sail has been born to challenge convention … how did they perform?, read on for our surprising results!
This test was originally published in the November/December 2015 issue.
You may be looking at the line up for this test and think it quite bare. And you’d be right! The truth is that at the time we conducted the test, there was a lack of sails of this size in the country… so we were lucky to get these! On the plus side, we were blessed with a fairly windy summer by UK standards, so had plenty of opportunity to try these five out … and in a variety of conditions. And it is often the ‘less than ideal’ day that you really get a good feel for the performance of the sail. From light cross-onshore conditions to overpowered cross-offshore winds, and everything in between.
FINDINGS
The simple rationale behind this new breed of sail can’t be doubted. Empower a smaller sail to generate more power, without compromising its ability to go neutral on demand and you can enable riders to get away with using a smaller sail than most, gaining significantly from the manoeuvre benefits a smaller foil possesses. The principle is great, but in practice that meant going to a 3 batten sail, which soon lost favour with those that tried them due to a lack of stability when the wind increased. Move into 2016 and some leading brands must believe they have now found the answer, introducing the concept to their flagship wave sails. And we have to say, they could well be right! All these sails offer good to exceptional wind ranges, and have enough stability to resist embarrassment if the wind picks up. But the big, bold statement to make here is that you now need to change your train of thought as to where the wind range of a 4.7 actually lies! The new breed has challenged convention and their popularity on the market will undoubtedly swell. Yet there are still new sails being introduced with more battens in their make-up, displaying all too well the virtues of a more typical 4.7m design.
So the most apparent issue facing us as the customer is knowing which style or wind range the sail is designed for, when all sails are simply described as 4.7! You can’t simply guess according to the aspect ratio of the sail, or the number of battens it possesses, (although I think it is a given that a 5 batten configuration is aimed at a more conventional wind range!). After all, it wasn’t that long ago that the four-batten wave sail was viewed as ‘radical’, but has become the standard, judging by today’s line-up. Nor can you draw a conclusion by looking at the length of mast it is recommended for use with. It seems there is a general migration to using smaller, softer masts as standard across sail sizes today. And yet the new breed of sails in this test are recommended for use with a larger stiffer mast, whereas there are conventional sails here, offering masses of bottom end grunt matched with top end stability, yet use a 370cm mast.
After looking at similarities between the sails in the group that favour a revised lower wind range, the best indicator we can see is the amount of luff curve present in the sail. But how do you know this without rigging the sail and measuring it relative to the next 4.7m? Simple answer is you don’t. If our prediction is right and this style of sail becomes more the norm around our shores, perhaps a new additional indicator should be added to the sail’s size classification. Maybe an ‘L’ and an ‘H’? L stands for LOW … for those 4.7 sails that are designed for use in the lightest, most marginal winds possible. H for HIGH … for the 4.7 sails that you can hang on to until the cows come home! Will we see 4.7L and 4.7H on the market in the future? Seems logical to us. Brands, … over to you!
SUMMARY The two standouts in this group were the Ezzy and North, both challenging the range of wind a 4.7m could be used in and both compounding the validity of the newly emerging concept. At the other end of the scale (batten wise) there’s the Simmer, displaying such a massive wind range that some would be left questioning why we ever steered away from 5 battens in the first place! The Point-7 and Neil Pryde both offer a solid, dependable amount of power, whilst the Vandal and Attitude favour a style more focussed on light handling and manoeuvrability. That leaves the RRD and Severne with their forward centre of efforts and excellent structural stability to provide light balanced handling so the rider can concentrate on their own performance. Last, but by no means least are the Goya and GA Sails, both massively tuneable and both pushing the realms of possibility when balancing useable power against precise handling.
TEST LOCATION This test was conducted on UK shores, in everything from cross-offshore port tack to cross-onshore starboard tack winds. With autumn approaching we’ve had a few good ground swells, pushing fun sized waves in at very accessible locations, making conditions ideal for testing. It has meant we’ve been able to get a true sense of the real world performance of these boards and sails in dealing with typical UK frontal patterns.
OVERVIEW The Salt has been in the Point-7 line-up as the brand’s ‘pure wave’ sail for some time now, but has had a new lease of life since being adopted by the sport’s own hell-raiser – Ricardo Campello. Whilst available as his own signature model with its Venezuelan livery, the standard model is tested here, complete with some extra details and options such as multiple clew eyelets. Rigged on an 80% RDM 370cm mast, it requires plenty of downhaul tension, the luff increment stated proving to be accurate. With the two lowest battens protruding beyond the leading edge of the mast, there is lots of shape low down in the profile of the sail, and plenty of breathability to boot! The clew eyelets are also placed significantly higher than others in this test group, whilst the leech has only slight looseness throughout its length.
BRAND CLAIM “The Salt is the Point-7 all-out performance orientated four batten wave sail. Comprising high skin tension and a tight leech, Point-7 has created a very manoeuvre and reactive oriented ride, maintaining a slightly flat batten profile over the boom. The Salt is fast riding on the waves, quick to respond in new school wave sailing and ultra-light in your hands.”
PERFORMANCE On the water, the Salt delivered a fantastic combination of direct useable power and easy, balanced handling that made it a hit with all who used it. Although set on a 370cm mast, it generates plenty of bottom end drive, the power coming from low and forward in the draft to help pin the board down. Travelling over rolling sea states it feels solid and dependable in the hands, yet its low centre of effort is countered by the high clew position to provide a real sense of connection with the sail’s power, enabling more instantaneous response in manoeuvres. It is quite a unique sensation and stance, going some way to explaining why it was so captivating to use. As the wind increased and the conditions became more severe, the Salt’s stability remained, its low aspect outline making it feel compact, whilst the movement in the Dacron luff panel helped to iron out any impacts with hard chop. In cross-onshore conditions, the Salt’s constant drive instils confidence and can be used to punch out of trouble on the inside, or drop into waves and provide the power to push hard and make tight sections. And despite only moderate looseness in its leech, it has excellent natural range on one setting, seeming to twist smoothly and retain control in gusts – no doubt a positive attribute of setting on the softer mast.
THE VERDICT A real eye opener in the group, proving a 4.7m can perform magically on a 370cm mast. Compact yet punchy, the Salt was universally liked, providing constant useable power and crisp direct handling. It comes well recommended.
Have you ever wondered how many stages go into the manufacture of your sail before you roll it out for the first time on the beach? Andrea Cucchi gives us an exclusive behind the scenes look at the production facilities used by Point 7 in the Aquadynamics loft, Sri Lanka.
Words Andrea Cucchi // Photos Andrea Cucchi and John Carter / pwaworldtour.com (action shots)
(This feature originally appeared in the November Descember 2015 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)
TESTING TIMES
There are a lot of steps to arrive at the point that a sail can be rigged on the beach to plug and play and enjoy all the great feelings we have when windsurfing and herein I hope to give you an insight of the production process. The production of a sail starts at the development. This is usually directed by the feedback of the clients who use our final product and of course, the top PWA pro riders who test the gear to its limits and sometimes beyond!. After hours of testing on the water, jetting around the world to discover different conditions, flying to events to be with the riders, jumping on the race course to test, simply sailing with recreational windsurfing friends on a daily basis and meeting with dealers and distributors, finally the whole feedback is put together. The sail is designed on CAD files, graphics are defined, material organized with suppliers from different parts of the world, samples to test, test, and test again, by doing all what you just read over and over again.
TALKING NUMBERS
At the point when we are all smiling and positive results are happening on the water, it’s time to confirm production. When the production facilities receive the final patterns and files of the new editions, their work starts. Generally a brand has 10 sail lines with an average of 8 sizes each. This means having to deal with around 80 different models. Any idea how many pieces a sail is assembled from? A race sail has over 200 patches without counting hardware components, battens, and rubber protections, otherwise it is closer to 250-300. Multiply 250 by 80 models, that means 20,000 different parts. Everything has to fit and it is not like you just press the button with the file of the sail, and the sail comes out ready. The production of a sail range is an extremely complex process and there is no room for error.
STEP BY STEP
Each file is checked by experts in the production process to verify any mistakes in the patterns given. They study all the parts to see if there are any which will be difficult to be produced due to prints, assembly or anything else.
GRAPHICS/PRINTING
The graphics are sent out to the print department in the production facilities as they have to plan out all the screens. Each print has to fit the size of the sail. The other thing to take into consideration is that the graphics can be really cool, but is it really possible to print everywhere? Not always due to the materials. Different solutions need to be found. The colour also has to match on different materials and therefore the shade might need to be changed. The graphical patterns printed through different panels and materials need to be in line, and this is not another quick job, as panels have shaping in them. Sail sizes are not just simple scale downs as there are fixed points, such as the boom opening and clew, therefore each graphic has to be completely re-drawn on each size. So let’s say there are 30 prints on one side of the sail, this has to be multiplied by 2, as there is a port tack and starboard tack, especially when using black monofilm which is not see-through. Times these by 80 sails! = 4800 prints! That is the staggering but true number of graphic screens that are needed each season in a sail range!
NESTING
Going back to the technical drawings, once everything is checked, the various pieces are separated according to the materials and nesting is the next part. Nesting refers to the process of laying out cutting patterns to minimize the raw material waste and is like playing tetris!. The rolls of material are generally not higher than 1.40m. So the patterns of the sails and all the pieces need to be cut to fit in that height. There are computer programs that can manage this, but it is more efficient when done by hand.
THE PLOTTER
Once the nesting is finished, the rolls of the different materials are placed on the cutting plotters which start cutting the material.
MONOFILM QUALITY CHECK
Each material cut is checked to make sure that the cutting is perfect, and that the monofilm has no production defects. After being cut, the material is checked again piece by piece to make sure that there are no scratches or dings.
PROTECTING THE MATERIAL
Each material cut, is covered with super light paper and tape, to protect it from scratches. The paper is cut manually to fit the size of each panel. The monofilm, before being assembled to become a sail passes through around 177 people. If a single person were to make a sail it would take around 597 man hours per sail in a normal production run with all the graphics, care and checks. A sail designer working alone and without the need to put on prints or other detailing would normally take a week to produce a sail.
CUTTING
Much of the dacron tape and materials which are just internal stripes or reinforcements, are cut by hand as it’s faster.
PREPARING SCREENS FOR EACH PIECE
When all parts are cut, they are sent to the printing department. On each piece are written instructions, to make sure that the printing department know exactly what they are receiving.
PRINTING
Before we were talking about how many screens there were, but let’s say that one panel has 4 colours. The same panel has to be screen printed 4 times for the 4 different colours. Each colour needs 4 hours to dry. This means that to finish one panel on one side, it takes 16 hours. When you have to print both sides, it means 32 hours in total!
PRINTING QUALITY CHECK
When each part is finished printing, they are sent to a department which checks again for quality and to make sure the panel is looking perfect, otherwise it
is discarded.
BATTEN SELECTION
The batten department never sleeps. The machines that produce the rods and tubes are working 24 hours a day. The average is 5 battens in each sail and each has different lengths, materials, constructions, stiffness and set ups. The work to assemble, cut and grind the battens is all done by hand.
“ If a single person were to make a sail it would take around 597 man hours per sail ”
SAIL BAG
As the sail is being printed and battens are being made, there is a totally different department taking care of the sail bags. Do you think making sail bags is an easier than a sail? It still needs printing and each bag has personalized prints according to the size of the sail, and the graphics need to fit all different boom lengths of sails. It has zippers, in built protection, different materials, and therefore nesting, cutting and the whole procedure is the same as for a sail.
STITCHING THE SAIL
Once all the parts are ready for assembly they are all brought to the last department. This is where the sail is assembled. There are 8 different teams, each specialized in different sections. It starts with the assembly of the panels on one side, and with the assembly of the mast sleeve on a different side. Once the parts are assembled the stitching starts. It’s a very precise job, as a 1mm mistake in joining the panels gives a different profile and leach opening, so the staff has to be fully focussed when doing this to perfectly match each part.
STITCHING THE MAST SLEEVE
The mast sleeve requires a huge amount of work as well. On a formula sail there are many patches, actually combined they are the size of a small wave sail. There are thick reinforcements which need expensive and heavy sewing machines which cost over 30,000 euros.
STITCHING THE BATTEN POCKET
Once the batten pockets are prepared, these are the first components to be stitched on the sail.
ASSEMBLY
Then for a race sail the most important and difficult part begins. The assembly of the mast pocket to the body of the sail. It has to be done gently and to make it perfect is not simple. It’s an art. Once assembled it goes to the final table to be stitched.
FINAL STAGES
At this point the sail is made. Remember that 220 pieces have been put together until now by hand and 180 people have touched your sail. It has passed through 5 different departments and landed on 30 different tables, left to rest on many different shelves, rolled 30 times, and the monofilm has not one scratch or ding. Did you ever try to roll or lift up a sail with no battens? Or played with a piece of monofilm 1m by 1m. How long does it take you to get the first scratch on a sail? It’s a miracle how in production the sail comes out without any damage at all. There is so much care and love for the work done, it is truly amazing to see. As I said before, each piece of monofilm is covered with paper when transported from one table to the next. To work on the sail, the paper has to be taken out, and immediately after, is put back on with tape. It’s incredible when you see all the attention to detail with your own eyes.
FINAL STAGES
These are the final steps. The sail is then taken to a table where all the extra thread is burned and cut.
EYELETS
On to the next table where the sail has the outhaul eyelets put in.
POLISHING
The sail has no scratches, but a lot of finger prints. So it goes to the next table, where it gets polished with coconut oil to remove the finger prints and notes.
BATTENS
The sail is ready to have the battens and cams placed in.
FINAL CHECKS
The sail is ready to be completed, by being screened on the table of the quality manager. He goes through each single detail checking that nothing is missing, or out of place and that all is clean and smooth. The sail is rolled with extra paper and foam to protect it from being scratched during transport, stickers, gadgets, spare parts are all added and finally all put in the sail bag.
PACKING
The sails are than single boxed, each box has the serial number of the sail, and all the info that goes with it. All is ready to be shipped in the container and ready to go by air or by sea and clear customs in the various countries we distribute in.
JOURNEY
How many kms more will the sail do? How many hands will be involved before it reaches the customer and goes on the water? The answer is many! Every year, new patterns are developed therefore more nesting, the graphics change so new screens, innovations are introduced for hardware and materials and new moulds need to be built. The evolution of sails is a lengthy and ongoing process! So the next time you unroll a sail for the first time at the beach or on your lake, just think for a moment all the stages it went through before it can finally hit the water! Have Fun! Andrea Cucchi.
Your chance to try the latest kit on the market before you buy. Test the latest cutting edge boards and sails and be sure that you are choosing the best.
TEST AND EXPERIENCE – THE LATEST KIT INNOVATIONS FROM…
Ra’iatea is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. Widely regarded as the
‘centre’ of the Eastern Islands in ancient Polynesia, it is considered likely that the organised migrations to Hawai’i, New Zealand and other parts of East Polynesia started here. For Lena Erdil, Ra’iatea was the start of an adventure into ‘’A little piece of paradise on earth, like windsurfing in an aquarium!’’. Lena tells us more about her tropical tale!
From the moment I first set foot on the island of Ra’iatea, everything was like a dream. The scenery, the people, the sea and nature, everything was amazing! I was lucky enough to be there for the Ra’iatea Gliss Festival, an annual celebration of all kinds of gliding on water and land, between catamaran sailing, windsurfing and the infamous ‘blop-jump’ (google it!). What I loved most about the festival however was how everyone involved was a volunteer and the great community spirit that comes with it.
The windsurfing conditions in this paradise were equally amazing! What was especially awesome about windsurfing in Ra’iatea is that the island is connected by reef to the island of Taha’a. The lagoon between these two islands is perfectly flat water, warm and has one of the most amazing clear turquoise tones I have ever seen! It’s such a unique windsurfing experience to be able to sail from island to island and stop in some of the Motos on the way. Moto means uninhabited island, there is so many of them that I think people thought it unnecessary to name them all, so they are simply all called Moto! What makes windsurfing here even more special is the fact that you are basically sailing on top of a massive aquarium with so much beautiful sea life that it can quite easily be an overwhelming experience. Sailing or Sup’ing over the surface you see so many fish, turtles and beautiful corals so clearly that at times you feel you are about to hit your fin! I think windsurfing in Ra’iatea should be on everyone’s bucket list!! In the harbour town of Uturoa there is also a windsurfing and sailing centre called “Ra’iatea Activities” run by Gwenael Zampieri and his family. So if you don’t want to carry your board bags on the long journey to Ra’iatea, they will be happy to help you by renting you equipment or teaching you how to windsurf, catamaran sail, SUP and much more.
After the event I had another week to discover the island and all its beauties. I was really lucky to be hosted by a very friendly family with three little daughters who within a week became like a real family to me! Our house, like about 50% of the houses on the island, was beachfront with a little aluminium boat in the garden (ocean). With a keen surfer as host dad, I was lucky enough to be shown lots of amazing surf spots all around the island’s reefs and Mutos.
Since I spent most of my days on the water I also got to see an abundance of aquatic life: blacktip sharks, Mantas, Whales, Dolphins and all sorts of little reef inhabitants. I unfortunately also got to feel that reef slightly too much on a few occasions! Was I scared of sharks? Well actually I was pretty terrified or let’s say uncomfortable at first until a magic day trip to BoraBora! When the organiser’s family invited me to a speedboat trip to BoraBora I actually wasn’t sure whether I was living a dream or dreaming reality all day long. Our first stop was an outside reef of BoraBora where we were going to see the ‘roquin citrone’ (Lemon Shark). In my mind I was picturing a bright, taxi yellow smiling shark; what I got was an ocean full of big scary blacktip sharks. Looking down at them from the boat I was amazed by their sheer number, I had always thought of them more as lone hunters! Going into the water did not even cross my mind as I watched the boat next to us throwing bread in the water trying to attract more fish and birds and obviously sharks!
The next thing I see, one person after the other starts to dive in and swim with them! All of a sudden I am almost the only person left on the boat and the prospect of also going to look at the sharks from under the water seemed more likely. At least probability wise the risk of them attacking me out of the 20 people in the water seemed less or that’s what I was telling myself! I’m sure I have been in the water with quite a few sharks around on previous occasions but maybe never quite so aware, and definitely never wearing a scuba mask in the middle of the Pacific ocean. I’m so happy I overcame my fear and went in, as being underwater with them and seeing them glide through the ocean effortlessly was one of the most impressive things I have ever seen. After this rather epic start to the morning, the day just kept getting better: eating fresh Tahitian dishes on a Moto off palm leaves with my feet in crystal clear turquoise water; going to look for Mantas and swimming in an ocean teeming with wildlife!
The next day when I went SUP-surfing on one of the reefs in Ra’iatea I saw the fins of some more blacktip sharks but where before I would have probably slightly freaked out, I felt like they were my friends and that we were both enjoying the ocean together, it was really a wonderful feeling. But more than just the ocean, the whole island is also home to lush green mountains, waterfalls and historical sites. In fact Ra’iatea, which translates to “faraway heaven”, was once the cultural and religious centre of the Society Islands. Known in legends as Hawaiki, “the homeland,” many cultures believe that this is where the great Polynesian migration began, from which large double-hulled sailing canoes set out to colonise Hawaii and New Zealand. On the Island people live with the sun, this means that everyone gets up around 5:30 am and goes to bed at around 9 pm.
After a busy summer season in Turkey I really enjoyed being so in tune with nature and the simplicity of life on this island. Within a week I felt that I had made many new friends and I was especially taken with the families who had sailed all around the world and had chosen to simply stop in Ra’iatea and settle there, continuing to live on their boats but never leaving again, I think that says it all! I strongly recommend Ra’iatea to anyone who’s looking for a little piece of heaven on earth and why not go during the Gliss festival or the Tahiti / Ra’iatea version of the Defi Wind to add some extra spice! Rumour has it that the winner of the 2016 Gruissan Defi Wind will win some tickets to go to this Polynesian edition of the Defi Wind, so if winning the Defi was not yet your personal goal this most definitely should provide some extra motivation to step up the long distance windsurfing training!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Windsurf equipment hire, activities on the island and all other help to plan your trip:
Fly via Tahiti, a great place to stop off, visit legendary Teahupo’o and then take a flight or boat to Ra’iatea.
Best time to go for windsurfing:
May-October, when the typical wind speeds of the Maraamu (the trade winds) is 15 – 25 knots and the water temperature is always the same: approximately 27°C. No wetsuit needed, just a lycra rash vest and sunscreen!
Gear to bring:
Slalom or freeride board, 100 – 120 litres and 3 sizes of sails – 6, 7 and 8 m².
Accommodation: Lots of options from hotels to self catering bungalows, but it’s also possible to rent a multihull with a charter company (Moorings, Tahiti Yacht Charter) to discover the Raiatea Lagoon and the other islands (Bora Bora, Huahine) and stay on the boat.
Eats:
Great restaurants or little snacks from street food vendors (called roulotte)
Transport: Avis, Hertz are present on the island but you can also rent bicycles or scooters.
BEST FOR
Heavyweights and those with a more skilled, powerful surfing style – especially in onshore conditions. A strong option for driving a larger board with as small a sail as possible.
RECOMMENDATION Downhaul it enough to activate the upper leech in all conditions. There isn’t loads of draft considering the power, but a few cm of positive works well in strong wind and quite a slack outhaul – barely positive – works well in onshore and lighter wind. Use the Point-7 recommended mast. Without the correct P7 mast to-hand, we used Naish and Severne and MaverX models on all the P7s on test and all brought slightly different behaviours, the Severne probably being the most settled on the Salt.
BRAND CLAIM “The Salt is our all out performance orientated 4 batten wave sail. With a high skin tension and tighter leech, Point-7 has creating a very manoeuvre and reactive oriented ride maintaining a slightly flatter batten profile. The Salt is fast riding on the waves, quick to respond and ultra light in your hands.”
OVERVIEW Due to logistical issues the SALT was a late addition to this trip and therefore missed-out on our comprehensive off-water compare-and-contrast assessment sessions. Outline: The Salt is fairly low aspect in comparison to this group and has quite a high level of luff curve. Build Quality: Pretty much an all-x-ply with dacron trim affair.
PERFORMANCE Launching any Point-7 sail for the first time always has one expecting tonnes and tonnes – and tonnes – of power from the get-go. The Salt isn’t quite the exception to the rule as there’s still plenty of poke there once you sheet in, but it is true to say the pressure is more refined than say, its Sado stable mate. First up, the speed and acceleration is very impressive – something that’s been a real characteristic of this group compared to generally softer sails of years gone by – which is a great help to reach ramps early, such as in the close-to-the-beach shore breaks of the main Médano spots. The generally compact nature also makes the Salt feel easy to flick about and control in moves too and all-round straight-line sailing reveals a balanced and stable foil. In the wave riding department the Salt really comes into its own. It’s very easy to de-power quickly and then throttle on as you need through the turn. The action off the top is formidable, with the low-aspect shape needing a little application and skill to control, but the compact nature makes it super snappy and easy to push a lot of power through the deck (and spray off the tail and tails!) once you’ve got your body positioning and timing right.
THE VERDICT A gutsy, stable sail capable of impressive speed and mobility around the break. Although there’s easy on-off control in the bottom turn, the Salt needs a little application for the onshore pivot, but, in the right hands, can help execute devastatingly powerful cutbacks.
Outline Re-developed from the 3G to improve lightness and high-end performance in overpowered conditions the outline has, since 2013, apparently been reshaped and the entry profile increased to increase drive and stability and reduce drag. There’s still a small boom cut-out, narrow head and quite low luff curve with a full and low-cut foot.
Build Quality The familiar black, US manufactured, metallised monofilm is claimed to be 100% UV blocking.
Rigging and Tuning Rigged as specified the AC-X features a nifty printed mast extension-setting graphic and boom-setting dimensions visible on each side of the clew where you need them. Same for downhaul settings. 4 cm. of range from minimum to maximum downhaul and boom settings exactly as quoted, but we found it set best with slightly negative outhaul. (It looked better and ‘set’ better with more, but performed better with less. ‘Better creased than clean!’ we say). The AC-X definitely needed a little more ‘bedding-in’ than some sails – but the wait to settle is worth it! We found the pulley and P7 extension system a bit fiddly to be honest. Mainly the extension and the tack inhaul webbing, which requires you to be on one side only to fiddle with and unstick – and that was with relatively warm hands … .
BRAND POSITIONING
‘Race performance without cams. The AC-X is developed to be the fastest sail on the water, without having a wide mast sleeve and cambers. The high end performance will give you the high speed that you have always dreamed about with minimal effort and easy handling characteristics.’ (Sic.)
PERFORMANCE
The first thing to note is that the AC-X feels less grunty than before. And, considering how much power was involved in previous seasons, that’s not necessarily a bad thing! There’s definitely more of an easier-to-use, freeridey feel to the product now and the gybing and manoeuvring is much more flicky and forgiving. The AC-X pulls upward and puts you in a nice ‘on your toes’ stance and there’s a good rotational ‘whump’ out of gybes – no sticking or stalling or kicking – and great subsequent acceleration as you get back up to speed, even in dirtier air. The AC-X is definitely better suited to the more racy-oriented freeride or freerace boards on the market rather than more ‘drive-sapping’ forgiving-to-sail outlines out there. At the top-end the AC-X stayed locked in and easy to hold down in all but the very strongest of gusts. This equates to 30 knots plus in the flatwater conditions. Even so, our heavier testers still found it possible to stay in control at the very limit of the range.
THE VERDICT
The beast has been tamed a little, yet the famous Point-7 acceleration and drive are still there in bucket loads – they’re just delivered with a little more refinement. Incredible wind range and much-improved handling make the AC-X a strong proposition for mere mortals to sail like champions – minus the cams. You still have to fasten your seatbelt though. Vroom vroom…
Your chance to try the latest windsurfing kit on the market before you buy. Test the latest cutting edge boards and sails at four UK locations this spring / summer and be sure that you are choosing the best. Four great locations, each perfect for a weekend away with camping and B&B’s nearby.
To partner our WindSUP review, we’ve compiled a round up of some of the WindSUP rigs the brands have designed to accompany WindSUPs or anyone looking an easy and beginner friendly rig to accompany their freeride sailing.
ARROWS iRIG
Brand claim – “Combine Inflatable kite technology together with the appeal and safety of a conventional windsurf rig and you get the most innovative windsurf rig ever made: the iRIG. 70% lighter than any conventional windsurf rig and with the ability to completely float on the water. Super secure – the iRIG makes learning easy and its compact packing dimensions make it simple to transport and store.”
Brand claim – “The Ride SUP rig is designed to power SUP boards fitted with mast tracks and WindSUP boards like our Viper Air and Ripper Air. The perfect light wind WindSUP rig, it is easy to sail, straight forward to assemble and convenient to store. The rigs are supplied complete with mast, sail, boom with uphaul, extension and mast foot. Complete with a handy bag to keep all the parts together”
Brand claim – “The new JP rig for beginners, intermediates and schools is a full-Dacron® sail with PVC window; light, strong, UV resistant and very durable. A set contains one sail, one boom with uphaul, two-piece mast, mast foot and base and neat bag for easy storage and transport. It’s the perfect way to get yourself or family and friends back into windsurfing without breaking the bank.”
Brand claim – “The O’Shea iWind rig is the perfect compliment for the inflatable WindSUP. It’s designed as a novice and family set up .The sail is made from the highest quality “Polyant” Dacron® with PVC window, making it one of the most durable products on the market. In tune with our board, the whole rig packs down into its own compact bag. Rig and board for under £1000!”
Brand claim – “The Airwindsurf Rig Mk1 is a 5 piece mast, 2 piece boom and a freeride sail that folds in half. The sail is a 5 batten freeride design that offers plenty of low end power to get you up and riding. Whether you’re traveling, have a small car, or if you are just short of storage space, the Airwindsurf Rig Mk1 ensures you never have to compromise on performance.”
Brand claim – “KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid. With no extra parts to lose, or extra rigging steps required, the Synergy is the easiest WindSUP rig to set up. Booms and extensions are fixed at the correct length, rigging instructions are printed in the tack and clew so the sail can be quickly and easily set up by anyone. This allows you to skip the complications and get on with the fun part.”
Brand claim– “Designed to power SUP boards fitted with mast tracks and light-wind windsurfing boards. Starboard offers two options: the Classic and the Compact. These light windsurfing rigs are powerful and easy to assemble and come with many upgrades for 2016: a new downhaul hook pulley for hassle-free downhauling, a new boom with two-pin clips for added strength and reliability, reinforced extension and a new mechanical mast base.”
Brand claim – “Unifiber have developed their Experience EVO Dacron SUP/school rigs to be light, strong, UV resistant and durable in harsh sandy environments. Sub-planing specialists, leech control allows them to perform in both stable and gusty-wind locations. Rig packs feature neat, easy-to transport and store bags too!”
Brand claim – “The 2015 Vandal rig packages are here to get everyone comfortably into the wonderful life of being a windsurfer. These great value rigs come with a sail, boom and RDM mast and extension. We’ve even included our lightweight, highly water resistant mast sleeve to keep the sail as light as possible and ensure uphauling is as easy as possible.”
Reigning UK Slalom Champion James Dinsmore joins the Point-7 UK Black Team.
Point 7 UK said: It is with great pleasure that we welcome James to the team. As reigning UK Slalom Champion his speed and consistency is something that no one can argue, and we hope to see that continue domestically and internationally on his new AC-ONE sails! We look forward to supporting him into the 2017 season on both the BSA and PWA circuits, and we are excited to have him as part of the UK Black Team – a team renowned for its un-rivalled support from the top.
Here’s what the main man Andrea Cucchi had to say; “I’ve raced against James for the first time at some of the PWA events. This was the first time we met with his family as well. He then joined our winter training in the Canaries, and always had wished for charm, passion and speed, to use our Black Sails. For 2017 he has decided to do so, and we at Point-7 are very honoured that he will be part of the Black Team, and he will now join us at our Lanzarote Pro Slalom training the next month. I will be more than delighted to support James in the tuning of his AC-One, and in combination with his talent, we all wish him a great racing season.”
2015 was a difficult year for Matteo Iachino. He was leading the world tour going to the last event, but after few mistakes ended up 3rd overall. He needed to learn the ability to win when things are not quite right and emotions are not the right ones. When the things are against you, you can’t let any of it affect your focus.
Next year, he takes on one of the most challenging yet overlooked steps in building a strong athlete performance: adopting the right MINDSET.
Your chance to try the latest windsurfing kit on the market before you buy. Test the latest cutting edge boards and sails at four UK locations this spring / summer and be sure that you are choosing the best. Four great locations, each perfect for a weekend away with camping and B&B’s nearby.
