Windsurf MagazineGA SAILS MATRIX 7.2 2021 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT

Big, bold and powerful, the Matrix is a master at making the most of light variable winds, providing constant useable feedback through the back hand for accessible performance. And as the wind increases, the tuning range is there to help maintain balance and control.

OVERVIEW

The Matrix is the high performance no-cam freeride sail from GA Sails, sitting between the crossover Hybrid (tested last month) and twin-cam Cosmic in their lineup. Completely revised for the 2020 season, there have reportedly been some additional updates for this year, including a slight increase in luff curve for improved tension and stability, a concentration of the sail’s profile further forward to reduce backhand pressure, and a change in the foot outline to make it more race oriented. Available in two distinct colourways, using 5-mil coloured monofilm in its upper panels, it was tested here on a 100 SDM and sets with a moderate to high amount of luff curve, the three lowest battens retaining plenty of rotation around the mast at rest. There are two luff panels – an outer x-ply panel extending the length of the sail and an inner tapered one, made of what GA are calling Elite Dacron, said to be “ultra flexible, keeping the draft forward”. There are no visual tuning gauges provided, yet there’s plenty of tuning range to play with, the leech falling away progressively to batten five yet remaining relatively tight in the panel above the clew.

BRAND CLAIM

“Reaching pure performance without any cambers – the Matrix combines a locked-in racing feeling with ease of use.”

PERFORMANCE

Comparing the Matrix to others in the group, it boasts some of the largest dimensions here, and is a quality that becomes clear as soon as you take it to the water. Set for marginal winds, the Matrix generates plenty of bottom end grunt, feeling solid and powerful through the back hand and transferring its energy efficiently to the board. It accelerates smoothly and feels useful throughout, pulling through the lulls and providing an extra gear in the gusts. It is certainly one of the top performers of the group in these conditions, helping to ignite the board and get it flying efficiently on its fin on all points of sail.

The centre of effort is focussed low down and around the rider, the pull feeling constant yet balanced in both hands. As the wind increases the Matrix can be re-tuned with more tension, helping the upper panels to twist off evenly and keep the draft locked forward. Using the lower clew eyelet, there is no getting away from the Matrix’s size, feeling big in the hands and becoming even more noticeable in transition. In these conditions, it may lose out in the high-end slippery stakes to others, yet its stability is impressive, remaining manageable and balanced long after we envisaged it becoming a handful. And in choppy, turbulent seas, the movement and softness through the Dacron luff panel became a real asset, allowing the rider to maintain a locked-in, committed stance as the sail moved around them.