Windsurf MagazineGA SAILS HYBRID FOIL 1200 2021 TEST REVIEW

From our May 2021 issue our test team review the 2021 GA Sails Hybrid Foil 1200 2021.

THEY SAY

“The Hybrid Foil offers all-round performance and the freedom to customize the foil to your individual requirements.”

WE SAY

The GA Sails Hybrid foil lineup has been revised for 2021, with two distinct foil sets now available – one specifically targeted towards wing foiling, and the other for wind foiling. The wing foiling version comes with a 2000 cm² front wing and plate head piece; the wind foiling option tested here with a 1200 cm² front wing and Deep Tuttle head adaptor. The good news though is that both Hybrid sets are fully modular, meaning you can mix and match fixings, front wing sizes and fuselage lengths to suit your preference. There is a 900 cm² front wing for the stronger winds or lighter riders (akin to last season’s Hybrid) or topping the stats is the 2500 cm² for those light airs. Both kits are presented well in a compartmentalised canvas bag, making it an attractive and cost-effective proposition for foiling in both sports. We got on really well with the Hybrid last year, so it would be good to see how this second-generation offering faired.

The first thing to note is that as foiling matures and beds down in our sport, it’s only natural that some design parameters become more standardised. It’s not surprising therefore that the new Hybrid sports longer mast and fuselage lengths than its predecessor, its predictability and riding comfort all the better for it. Getting going smoothly, the Hybrid gathers pace progressively, feeling balanced through both feet and easy to control. It can be sailed tentatively, with a more measured, sedate riding style, capable of gliding at low speeds and continuing to generate lift without stalling – a great attribute for the novice foiler. For the more experienced rider, there is plenty of performance to explore though, the Hybrid thriving on being loaded and reaching an impressive speed on all points of sail. It drives well upwind, cutting a high angle and accelerates wonderfully off the wind, albeit requiring engagement and concentration from the pilot. Best described as a freerace foil, it has the ease and practicality to really endear itself to the recreational sailor, with the performance range and comfort to even enter into some recreational races without any hint of embarrassment.

We tried it in a number of different boards, from foil-specific to hybrid platforms and also some compact freeride options. Fixing the GA in place was relatively uncomplicated, the play in the barrel nuts of the foil’s head helping to line the screws up with a little fine-tuning and patience. And once in place the GA is as straight forward and plug-and-play as they come; there are four shims to fine-tune the ride if required … yet neutral without any shim seemed to work well for most setups. It complimented all the boards we charged it with, asking few questions and simply getting on with its task. In transition, its stability and ability to provide lift at varying speeds was once again noticeable, making it feel quite playful and dependable through the carve. Drive in hard or prescribe a more drawn-out arc, the GA will simply go with the flow and offer every chance of coming out of the turn in full flight. A real all-rounder, the new generation Hybrid builds upon the solid foundations of its predecessor, championing it with even more range, versatility and rider appeal.