Windsurf MagazineGOYA MARK 2 8.5 2023 TEST REVIEW

GOYA MARK 2 8.5 2023 TEST REVIEW

The Verdict

The Goya Mark 2, with its balanced freeride personality, offers plentiful low-end power while remaining manageable and allowing the sail to do most of the work. Its standout feature is its transition handling, with a high foot shape and short boom length enabling effortless rotation and carving, especially within its natural wind range.

The Lowdown

In our examination of the 2022/23 Goya Mark 2, we couldn’t help but admire its aesthetically pleasing appearance, vibrantly adorned in Goya’s classic combination of fluoro yellow and pink. A versatile sail, it has been designed to serve ‘real world’ racing needs while accommodating foiling pursuits.

Notably, Goya’s engineers have prioritised lighter handling and increased control in high winds through the refined implementation of luff curves and seam shapes.

The Mark 2’s forward-facing profile is deep, largely down to the luff sleeve, which remains one of the most slender among its peers. Its construction combines coloured bi-ply in the upper panels with monofilm in the window, enriched by a foot panel of scrim and x-ply in the two luff panels.

Rigging the Mark 2 was a user-friendly experience, requiring only a moderate amount of downhaul. This process was further facilitated by a guide dot on the upper panel’s double seam. The Mark 2’s exquisite finish is evident in its fine details, such as three carbon stretch tendons extending from the single clew eyelet and dual seams surrounding the window. This sail is topped off with a tack strap, boosting shape and skin tension through the foot panels.

Brand Claim

“The Mark 2 offers white knuckle cam sail speed and cam sail stability without needing to rig “oversized”. You can enjoy the blistering speed and range of the sail without feeling like you are wrestling a dinosaur.”

Performance

With its relaxed, freeride nature, the Goya Mark 2 enters the scene with a beautifully balanced and poised attitude, allowing you to harness the energy of every gust effortlessly. Even though the sail offers a bountiful low-end power and drive, it remains remarkably manageable.

What sets the Mark 2 apart is its somewhat passive quality. Once in stance, the centre of effort positioned forward in the draft allows you to let the sail do most of the work, channelling its power smoothly to the board. However, as you venture into stronger winds, expect a shift in the Mark 2’s demeanour. A simple change of the harness lines to a more rearward position allows the rider to push this sail in more extreme conditions. The Mark 2 thrives when sailed within its natural wind range.

Where the Goya Mark 2 truly shines though is in its transition handling. Thanks to its relatively high foot shape and short boom length, the sail is a breeze to rotate, even mid-transition. It provides ample clearance, making it a desirable companion for those enthusiastic about seamless carving.