Windsurf MagazineGA SAILS PHANTOM 7.8 2022 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT

Light in handling and with easy, accessible performance, the Phantom is not cheap, yet provides an electric exciting ride over an impressive wind range.

OVERVIEW

The Phantom sits alongside the Vapor in GA Sails’ lineup, said to offer “top racing performance without demanding too much from the rider”. It differs from the brand’s full race engine by having a narrower luff sleeve and just two race cambers, complimented with one ‘small camber inducer’ on batten four. For this season the brand’s focus has been on improving controllability, with a redesigned batten configuration (whilst retaining their ‘cross batten concept’), and a slightly lowered clew position. Its luff curve has been refined, said to enhance forward pull for acceleration initially whilst getting going and also out of transition. In addition the luff panels are now continuous to assist the sail’s load distribution, efficiency and longevity they say. Rigged here on a 100 SDM, it sets with a moderate to high amount of luff curve, the leech falling away significantly in the mid and upper panels. There’s a reasonable amount of depth to the Phantom’s profile at rest, set back in the draft, so that the leading-edge entry is quite shallow. Using x-ply in the foot and luff panels, the rest of the sail’s panels are C-Film, said to have excellent colour retention properties, with the batten pockets integrated, so that the C-Film is visible in the upper panels, reducing weight and maximising symmetry between tacks. It is certainly a good-looking sail, with plenty of skin tension through its luff panels, a race-oriented outline and aggressive upward oriented batten geometry, indicating the locked in sailing style it is targeted towards. Time to get it on the water!

BRAND CLAIM

“Reaching top racing performance without demanding too much from the rider – the Phantom is ready to compete with pure slalom sails. Sharing most characteristics with the Vapor reflects in the Phantom’s performance, while a narrower mast sleeve and the 2 + 1 camber setup makes it easier to handle and use.”

PERFORMANCE

Light and composed in the hands at rest, the Phantom feels positive and active as soon as a gust hits and pressure builds. It accelerates willingly and reaches a high natural cruising speed with very little input or technical skill required from the rider. It’s instantly got that addictive slippery feel of a high-performance sail, which makes us wonder whether the gap between this Phantom and the race-oriented Vapor has narrowed further still? This Phantom certainly has race winning potential, especially at national level. There may be a compromise in out-and-out performance, yet what the Phantom loses in this respect it undoubtedly makes up for in light handling and practicality. Used on a freerace or slalom board, the power generated by the Phantom seems to bypass the rider and simply push the board to greater speeds. Fast on all points of sail, its race heritage and intended use is clearer than ever, with adjustable outhaul cringles in the clew. As a result, it has excellent natural range on one setting (dropping to the lower clew cringle in overpowered conditions), using the adjustment available to optimise its power delivery during a session. We also reduced the downhaul tension to tighten the mid-leech and try the Phantom for wind foiling, its light handling and higher aspect making it viable as a crossover. During the gybe, the Phantom’s handling is again its trump card, entering at speed and encouraging the rider to throw it around assertively for a fast dynamic exit, the three cams rotating smoothly as if on autopilot.