6.0M CROSSOVER SAIL TEST 2023
DO-IT-ALLS
The test team look this month at some of the most versatile sails in the windsurfing industry – crossover sails.
Test Editor: Rob York //Second Testers: Joe North, Mauirin Rottenwalter // Photos: Rob York and Tris Best // Test Locations: Weymouth Harbour, and Overcombe.
The crossover test brings in designs from a range of disciplines, including wave, freeride and freestyle. With one end of the spectrum being manoeuvre orientated and the other being blasting performance, this test sees a range of sails sitting across the spectrum. The most consistently talked about quality of these sails is their range, with some having exceptional ability to remain composed when the wind is strong and others producing the well-needed grunt at the lower end of the range.
Asking these sails to be a jack-of-all-trades, whilst also capable of managing a variety of conditions, is no small feat. Still, as you read on, you will see that the brands have come through on this task producing multiple innovative design ideas to solve our ever-growing requests. Inevitably the brands have all weighted some performance aspects more than others, but we will leave it up to you, the reader, to decide what is most likely to give you what you are looking for at your local spot of choice.
Summary
The Purelip from Loftsails is a high-wind specialist with exceptional acceleration capabilities. However, a little tuning goes a long way with this sail opening up some performance and the lower end of its range. Another sail with a keen eye for tuning is the Duotone Duke. With its increased batten spacing by the sail’s window, the Duke fills beautifully in light airs, getting even the heaviest of riders up and going early. Using the Duke’s visual tuning aids placed on the sail, it is easy to get the best out of this sail at the upper ends of its limits too. Sharp in design, the RRD Move impressed with its ability to reach speed and its easy-to-direct centre of effort that sits lower than many of the other sails on test. Light in weight and feel, the Severne Gator is an excellent choice for riders looking to step up their performance and maximise time on the water. This sail really does the work for you, whether you’re on the straights or in the turns. If light weight is what you are after, then North’s X-Over can’t be forgotten. With its innovative design, the X-Over is one of the lightest sails on the market. Producing a style of pumping that feels new but incredibly effective, this sail will get you going early. Most impressive through the gybe, the X-Over will make you feel as if you can’t put a foot wrong. Another sail that impresses through gybes is the NeilPryde Atlas, which provides consistent drive on all angles of sail. Additionally, the leech profile of the sail is a strong ally when getting going. For a sail that is playful at rest, the GA Hybrid soon locks into an incredibly stable position at speed. The combination of these two features allows the rider to work the sail and board with ease whilst getting going and lock in and relax once fully planing. Two sails with very similar qualities in the turns are the Simmer Enduro and the Goya Nexus B, both feeling incredibly light and free in the gybe, allowing the rider to position the sail at will. Where they differ is their draft positioning, with the Enduro placed high and forwards and the Nexus B feeling a little further back. The GunSails Torro is no doubt one of the easier sails on test, with a real plug-and-play feel, sure to assist any rider in progressing their windsurfing. Finally, one of the punchier and more aggressive sails on test, the Naish Force 5 is a great sail of choice for any rider looking to take their coastal sailing up a notch.
THE LINEUP
DUOTONE DUKE 6.2
GA HYBRID 6.0
GOYA NEXUS B 5.9
GUNSAILS TORRO 6.0
LOFTSAILS PURELIP 6.2
NAISH FORCE 5 6.2
NEILPRYDE ATLAS 5.8
NORTH SAILS X-OVER 6.2
RRD MOVE 5.7
SEVERNE GATOR 6.0
SIMMER ENDURO 5.9