Windsurf MagazineGA SAILS MATRIX 7.2 2022 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT

With its smooth power delivery and adaptable nature, the Matrix has gone through some considerable refinements for 2022, giving it a much broader appeal, from freeride cruising to giant slalom through challenging seas.

OVERVIEW

The Matrix is GA’s no-cam freeride sail, said to offer more straight-line performance than its stablemate the Hybrid, and sitting next to the twin-cam Cosmic in the brand’s lineup. Available in two colourways for the 2022 season, it has been refined in a number of ways to reduce weight whilst improving control and performance. Sporting a compact window design, the reduced window panel dispenses with any unnecessary seams and increases the use of the brand’s reputed C-Film, with its long-lasting colour pigment. The luff panels are now continuous from head to foot, the x-ply panel improving load distribution, whilst the internal Dacron panel tempers the power delivery. Downhauling the Matrix on its C100 SDM, it set with a moderate amount of skin tension, the lower three battens retaining plenty of rotation around the mast, whilst the leech falls away progressively along its length. There are two clew eyelets to choose from, both said to be placed lower than that of their predecessor, in order to enhance control. With G5 Pro 4mil x-ply in the foot and clew panels, there’s plenty of attention to detail in the Matrix, from abrasion pads and seamless foot panels, to integrated battens for symmetry between tacks and improved stability.

BRAND CLAIM

“There is no need for cambers, when you’re aiming for pure performance and maximum speed – the Matrix combines a locked-in racing feeling with ease of use.”

PERFORMANCE

Last year’s Matrix was a big and bold sail, providing an immense amount of bottom end grunt and feeling its size as the wind increased. This year’s Matrix is certainly more refined in its nature, powering smoothly and remaining balanced as the wind strengthens. It still feels big in the hands in light marginal conditions, and has plenty of feel and drive, yet as the board releases onto the plane and accelerates, this year’s Matrix begins to feel lighter and more compact. The power delivery is progressive and dependable, tempered by the movement in the luff sleeve and natural stretch of the inner Dacron luff panel. Locked in and comfortable, the Matrix’s centre of effort is low and forward in the draft, allowing the sail to accelerate in the hands as a gust hits, and pinning the board down to assist with control. The overwhelming feel of the Matrix is one of balance and a willingness to fit around the desires of the rider, whether it be drag racing peers, or cruising over great distances. This becomes all the more apparent as you use the Matrix in increasingly challenging seas, the softness and ease in its character helping it to move around the rider, so that their stance doesn’t get pulled out of shape. It’s more adaptable than its predecessor, more forgiving and willing to sail at half pace, and much more balanced through the back hand. In severe conditions there is also plenty of tuning range to experiment with, which coupled with the dropped clew eyelet, gives the Matrix some useful tuning range to compliment its already impressive natural range on one setting. In transition the Matrix drives into the corner smoothly, the power disappearing as the sail is eased out mid-turn. Dependable and manageable if not the lightest in manoeuvre, its battens rotate round the mast effortlessly, the power returning progressively as it is sheeted in on the new side.