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DCIM100GOPRO

EZZY TAKA 4.5M 2015 TEST REVIEW

Stats Size (m2) 4.5 Luff (cm) 391 Boom (cm) 154 - 159 Battens 3 Ideal Mast Ezzy 370 base (£205) + 400 top (£213) Extension Req (cm) 6 Price £515 (with mast £933)

EZZY TAKA 4.5M 2015 TEST REVIEW

OVERVIEW
The Taka is Ezzy’s latest edition to the range and there has been a great deal of buzz about it as many sailors have been converted to its 3 batten charms. Available in 5 sizes from 3.6 to 5.4 with just 2 masts required to span 4.1 up, it has been in development for several years with the usual David Ezzy, single minded, exhaustive and detailed approach. Its most striking visual feature are the unequally spaced battens, which make it unique in appearance compared to all the other 3 batten sails finding their way onto the market. The illusion makes the Taka appear taller than it actually is, it’s not the shortest in this test but it is still 25cm shorter than the Goya Banzai 4.7.

BRAND CLAIM
“I designed the three batten Taka to be a pure wave sail. It’s light in the hands and rides waves better than any sail I have ever used.’’
David Ezzy

PERFORMANCE
The physical lightness, softness and subtlety of feel were universally praised on test. It’s unusual to have no battens in your direct eye line and the vertical crease behind the luff, which inflates as you sheet in, allows the sail to depower from the luff as well as exhausting from the leech; a high tech, modern take on the principle of how fully soft sails from the 80’s worked. The pull is middle and forward and stable when you have become familiar with it, although it will move a touch more than some 4 and 5 batten models. Some testers found it twitchy at first, coming from more locked in sails but it is worth persevering with as the sail’s other benefits grow on you. The low end is impressive when you have become accustomed to the feel with many users optimizing this gain to use a smaller sail than they normally would e.g. a 4.9 in place of a 5.3. Acceleration off the beach can feel a little lacking at first but the gains are all in the manoeuvrability and ease in transitions especially gybes. The top end control was not explored to the full but we observed the leech starts to motor a little in the head, however the power point does not move considerably so the Taka politely tells you it’s time to change down, rather than giving you a good hard spank!
For the Medano conditions we encountered with shifty, variable wind it is worth adjusting the outhaul setting, especially when powered but for more stable wind conditions the untuned range is good and the sail light and easy in use.

THE VERDICT
Soft and subtle with a different feel to stiffer foils makes for good throw about maneuverability and a stand-out product worth trying. Add the super easy rigging systems incorporated into all the Ezzy sails and you get a sail that will satisfy the Ezzy faithful and also tempt some new blood to the clan. Recommended.

www.ezzy.com


Other sails in this test:

GOYA BANZAI 4.7m

MAUI SAILS MUTANT 4.6m

RRD VOGUE 4.7m

SAILLOFT HAMBURG QUAD 4.7m

SEVERNE BLADE 4.7m

SIMMER BLACK TIP 4.7m

TUSHINGHAM ROCK 4.7m

 


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