GOYA NEXUS 6.4M 2015 TEST REVIEW
GOYA NEXUS 6.4M 2015 TEST REVIEW
OVERVIEW
The Nexus is Goya’s six/seven batten freeride contender, which has had a bit of a facelift for the 2015 season, incorporating more scrim in its panels and a new outline. Claimed to be equally happy flat water racing as it is recreational speed sailing or even fulfilling a bump and jump role, it can be rigged on either an RDM or SDM mast. That said, we did find it quite hard to sheath the mast up the tube initially … and we were using an RDM mast, although we’re sure it will become easier as the sail beds in. With the mast in place it was easy to downhaul the sail, the roller tack pulley working well whilst the visual aid in the top panel provides an excellent gauge of how much tension to apply. It sets with lots of looseness in the upper panels, yet retaining real depth and shape locked forward in the draft.
BRAND CLAIM
“The new Nexus delivers uncompromised Freeride performance. [It] is very light, very strong and very fast. Magnetic low end power, easy handling with massive high wind range and unlimited speed potential are the keywords that define this sail.”
PERFORMANCE
The Nexus is the only sail in this group that is recommended for use with a 460cm mast, which, with easily the tallest luff measurement here, gives a good idea of its credentials even before you hit the water. And true to form, this is one powerful sail! Its centre of effort is high and quite far forward, but super locked and this gives it a unique character. Not surprisingly it feels quite firm and direct in the hands compared to others, reacting instantly when a gust hits, the energy easily transferred to the board. It’s as close to a cambered sail as you can get without actually putting any in a sail. The extent of the power can be refined by tuning on the outhaul, which in itself is quite sensitive. You also have two clew eyelets to alter the rake of the boom and again help to manage the style of feedback from the sail. In marginal winds you can use the top eyelet and almost leave the outhaul slack to enhance the bottom end power. As the wind increases, drop to the bottom eyelet and increase the tension, so that you can pin the sail down into a more aggressive stance. And in severe conditions it does need to be dominated. It is not that the Nexus begins to misbehave – the balanced and structure never decay; it is just the firm, solid nature becomes more apparent as the wind kicks in.
THE VERDICT
A solid, direct feeling sail that provides constant dependable power over an exceptional wind range. Set the downhaul and fine tune until your heart’s content on the outhaul.
Other sails in this test: