North Hero 4.5m
BACKGROUND
The Hero was new to the North range last season, fitting into their wave line-up as a four-batten power wave sail, designed to deliver maximum drive to a range of rider weights with multifin waveboard pairing in mind.
AT A GLANCE
It has a compact four batten out-line with a short boom length. The build quality and materials used in this sail are top quality, it has plenty of X-ply re-enforcement with a clear window in the middle. This sail is built to last, coming with an impressive 5-year manufacturer’s warranty. It also has all of the usual North features such as VTS (visual Trim System) and the iBumper tack pad.
RIGGING
It rigs on a 400 mast, with a 398 luff so you need to adjust the head strap to compensate. We tested it with a North Platinum RDM. When rigging, the VTS is useful to get the downhaul set right and then there’s a wide range of tuning that can be done with the outhaul. It sets best with a fair amount of downhaul and then tuned with outhaul to suit the conditions.
PERFORMANCE
It has good bottom end power with just enough grunt to get you going quickly and smoothly. It’s very well-balanced with a soft feel and pull from low down, making it easy to control through any conditions.
The draft is slightly back, which enables you to control it with the backhand and this gives you easy access to any power when you need it. Through manoeuvres it can be switched to neutral so you can forget about it on the wave and throw it around. Its wind range is good and with its looser leech, is controllable in the gusts.
THE VERDICT
The Hero is an easy sail to use and get a high level of performance out of in a wide range of conditions. It has a soft feel and delivers a good combination of low-down grunt with top end control in windy conditions. Suitable for all levels of rider who are looking for a reliable power source for a multifin wave board. Particularly well-suited to heavier or powerful riders.
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