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Attitude Allstar 2016 681px

ATTITUDE ALLSTAR 4.7M 2016 TEST REVIEW

Stats Price £375 Size (m2) 4.7 Luff (cm) 404 Boom (cm) 162 Battens 4 Ideal Mast Unifiber Flex Top RDM C100 400cm Extension Req (cm) 4

 Attitude Allstar 2016 150px

ATTITUDE ALLSTAR 4.7M 2016 TEST REVIEW

OVERVIEW
The Allstar is Attitude Sails’s manoeuvre oriented sail for both wave and freestyle sailing, sitting alongside the Rebel in the range – the brand’s dedicated sail for wave riding in all conditions. Rigged on a 400cm flex-top mast it sets very flat, with comparatively little shape to its profile throughout its tuning range. For freestyle use, the idea is to leave the sail with a tight leech for extra response, yet with more tension applied the trailing edge falls away progressively. In this setting, there is minimal rotation in the bottom two battens, whilst some stretch in the sleeve and large Dacron luff panel helps the Allstar breathe into a fuller shape. Build quality seems rugged and durable with considered reinforcements in all the right places, if not possessing the finesse of some of the more established brands on test.

BRAND CLAIM
“A true crossover, 4-batten all-round sail, designed to be light and direct with a calm and neutral feel. The AllStar especially suits ‘light-footed’ riders who prefer a sail with precise, refined and delicate handling.”

PERFORMANCE
With minimal shape at idle the Allstar feels very light and easy in the hands, making it effortless for the rider to move and reposition. As the wind fills, the sail adopts slightly more shape thanks to movement in the luff panel and sleeve, generating a subtle, precise amount of bottom end power rather than any obvious grunt. The best words that Attitude use to describe the Allstar are “delicate handling” as that is exactly what it is like. You could almost use the end of a needle to determine exactly where the centre of effort lies, such is the balance and slightness of its handling. Certainly one of the lightest in the group, it can be used to great effect in manoeuvres, going wonderfully neutral as the power is eased out and never pulling the rider to their toes. We can certainly see how it would be ideal for use in the most intricate of freestyle tricks. In a wave environment, the Allstar was best partnered with an efficient, early planing board to make the most of the modest power delivered. Once going however, it is a quick and alert feeling sail, capable of sailing close to the wind and gliding through lulls well. Unsurprisingly, it was liked most by the lighter riders in the team, who could make best use of the energy available. Yet in powered to over powered conditions, the Allstar found favour with all who used it, maintaining good stability so that its crisp handling qualities could be exploited.

THE VERDICT
A well-made and competitively priced sail, the Allstar’s real trump card is its ultra light and precise handling, its subtle easy power delivery being favoured by the lighter rider or those obsessed on pushing their manoeuvre boundaries.

www.attitude-sails.com


Other sails in this test:

EZZY TAKA 2 4.7M

GA SAILS IQ 4.7M

GOYA BANZAI 4.7M

NEILPRYDE COMBAT HD 4.7M

NORTH SAILS HERO HYBRID 4.7M

POINT-7 SALT 4.8M

RRD VOGUE MKVII 4.7M

SEVERNE S1 4.8M

SIMMER ICON 4.7M

VANDAL RIOT 4.7M

 


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