EZZY WAVE 5.0 2021 TEST REVIEW
VERDICT:
A precision piece of engineering with good range, the Wave is highly controllable and light in the hands, as well as having a bombproof construction. A wave sail that won’t limit any area of performance.
THE LOWDOWN:
The Ezzy Wave was first introduced to replace the Elite as their four-batten wave sail and this edition on test is an all-new design following on from the original Ezzy Wave we reviewed last year. Of their new ‘Wave’ design, Graham Ezzy says that, “The new Ezzy Wave is a lot less locked-in than Ezzy sails of previous years, providing a neutral feeling while going through the wind.”
The focus for Ezzy when releasing the Wave was to reduce the physical weight of the sail without compromising the brand’s reputation for exceptional strength and build quality. And as with last year’s sail, you don’t see the vinyl window found in most Ezzy sails, but Spectra reinforced X-ply across the entire sail. You can’t help being impressed by the build quality and attention to detail on the Ezzy sails. Many established features are also on the Wave, like integrated battens, as well as a tack roller that is functional and industrial and the roller is extended and easy to access through the tack fairing. At the luff top, there is a large plastic head piece for easy location and there is tape in the top panel to help with rolling. There is no getting away from the fact this is a quality made product. As with all 4 batten sails on test, the Ezzy features mini battens, however the Ezzy battens were amongst the largest, progressing well into the sail’s main profile. The attention to detail continues when you rig the Wave, with a cunningly designed tuning system on the tack of the sail, allowing you to line up your downhaul amount with what setting you want the sail on. It is worth noting that all Ezzy sails are checked and rigged before leaving their Sri Lankan loft.
BRAND CLAIM: “Refined with a flatter profile above the boom, and noticeably lighter in the hands, the new Ezzy Wave offers better high-end control and jumping performance, while retaining the stability and wave manoeuvrability for which the Ezzy Wave is known.”
Ezzy Wave: an Introduction from Ezzy Sails on Vimeo.
PERFORMANCE:
We rigged the Wave on the Ezzy Ho’okipa 400 mast, and it was the easiest sail to downhaul with very little luff curve. Looking at the Wave, almost all the shape comes from the seams cut into the sail, rather than being set by the mast, and so once rigged, it’s very easy to see what the shape of the rig will look like on the water. The intuitive rigging aids make it hard to tune incorrectly before hitting the water.
The sail feels incredibly compact on the water with very little pressure in the back hand and a short boom. The drive of the Ezzy is high and forwards, and whilst the Wave sets with a deep draft, this shape changes very little in gusts, giving an incredible feeling of control.
On the way out the compact feel and stable nature of the Wave make it great for jumps and rotations. Feeling light enough in the hands that’s it’s easy to throw across the body, it feels smaller than its quoted size. On the wave this compact feel and consistent drive make it a joy in the bottom turn and the clew is very easy to control, even in the most onshore conditions. As you transition into the top turn, the light handling nature of the sail and feeling of control give you plenty of confidence to throw yourself into any section, and the power on tap allows you to recover from positions where you have overcooked it.
The Ezzy Wave’s power never goes completely dead, but the sail’s precision of pull and handling more than make up for this. Whilst there is plenty of tuning range through adjustment of the downhaul, it was easy to tweak the Wave afloat with ample tuning available through the outhaul for those quick fixes.
VITAL STATS:
Size: 5.0
Luff: 409 – 413 cm.
Boom: 157 – 167 cm.
Battens: 4
Ideal mast: Ezzy 400 RDM
Sizes: 3.0, 3.4, 3.7, 4.0, 4.2, 4.5, 4.7, 5.0, 5.2, 5.5, 5.8, 6.3.
PRICE: £685
EZZY WAVE 5.0 2021 TEST REVIEW
Other sails in this test: