TUSHINGHAM CONCEPT 6.5M 2013 TEST REVIEW
TUSHINGHAM CONCEPT 6.5M 2013 TEST REVIEW
BEST FOR
Lighter riders and those requiring some low-end drive for modern, wider boards or heavier intermediate hulls.
RECOMMENDATION
If building or fitting into a quiver, bear in mind that the emphasis is at the lighter end of the wind range so choose your step-down size wisely.
BRAND POSITIONING
Tush offer the Concept as a ‘Light Freeride’ sail that has enough lift to power larger transitional stage boards. The Concept sits alongside the renowned Storm and T4 freeride sails.
OVERVIEW
Outline: Being intended for big boards you’d expect a compact outline but the Concept is still pretty tall and narrow. The 6.5 has a straight foot and quite a ‘roachy’ leech.
Build Quality: Being minimalist and with light weight and budget in mind the Concepts are not ultra hard-wearing but are specified with rental fleet use in mind and therefore have all the key abrasion-prone areas covered. (X-ply leech, foot protection etc.)
Rigging and Tuning: Newcomers will have no problems with rigging and the forgiving settings. The leech is best pretty tight so there’s no difficulty with downhauling and just a little tweak with the outhaul generally required.
PERFORMANCE
Low End & Acceleration: The key strength is lower end power, especially for lighter sailors. The battens have a soft profile so the sail fills early but is not overly powerful.
Top End: Being a forgiving and intermediate focused product the top-end is limited and, as expected, it wasn’t just heavier testers that struggled a little bit with stability and control at the higher end of the wind range. (The 6.5 is probably good for up to 20 knots for most rider weights.)
Gybing & Manoeuvres: The featherweight nature makes for easy gybing and boom-to-boom movements.
Handling: Although quite tall there is a compact feel to the Concept and the light weight is pleasing in the hands with a soft sensation in the power delivery. The modern, higher pull will aid those mastering planing skills to develop an upright stance for the new breed of wave, freestyle and freeride boards and rigs.
THE VERDICT
An excellent, soft, forgiving and superb value pick for entry-level users to progress with.
READ THE OTHER REPORTS – to be released over the coming weeks!
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