Windsurf MagazineGUNSAILS RAPID 7.2 2023 TEST REVIEW

GUNSAILS RAPID 7.2 2023 TEST REVIEW

The Verdict

With its very tuneable range, the Rapid will have you covered for all conditions. The Rapid is extremely user-friendly, but by no means slow; its pace is easy to handle and constantly inspires confidence in its rider.

The Lowdown

At first glance, the Rapid looks like a sleek slalom sail, with its 7-batten slalom outline and integrated Kevlar lines. It features a 7/7 cross batten concept, with all battens made of tube battens. One of the standout features of the Rapid is its 9 cm offset clew eyelets that allow for easy changes to the leech profile. This allows you to exploit the maximum trim range fully. The sail is built using a combination of X-ply, square-ply and multidirectional X-ply, all with the goal of safeguarding the sail’s durability and performance. New to the 2023 model is a slightly narrower mast sleeve below the boom and a modified profile of the battens below the boom in an effort to bring the draft point of the sail backwards slightly. Finished well with abrasion patches in vulnerable areas, the Rapid can be rigged on both SDM and RDM masts. Setting with a reasonable amount of luff curve, the Rapid’s draft sits fairly shallow at rest.

Brand Claim

“What happens when a sporty slalom outline meets camberless freeride lightness? Exactly, the No Cam Freerace sail RAPID. It combines the best of both: performance and top speed with effortless freeriding. For you, it means early planing, incredible acceleration, and blistering speed.”

Performance

As soon as you get on the water with the Rapid, you’ll notice how the Dacron panel works to gradually build the pressure in the sail, deepening the depth of the draft of the sail. Locked in and steady, the sail feels fast from all angles, inspiring confidence in the rider to push even more. This makes positioning the rig a breeze, allowing you to focus on your technique and get the most out of your speed.

But it’s not just straight-line speed that the Rapid excels in. The sail’s gybing ability is nothing short of exceptional, providing a smooth feel in the hands that makes gybing an absolute pleasure. You’ll feel confident and in control as you glide effortlessly through each turn, all thanks to the Rapid’s expertly designed shape, feeling compact and forgiving.

Speaking of design, the Rapid is packed full of features that make it a dream to tune. The clew eyelets on the sail have a significant impact on the rig’s behaviour, allowing you to quickly and easily adjust the sail’s twist to suit the conditions. Simply drop the clew eyelet when the breeze picks up, and the leech falls away, drastically improving the handling of the sail. We found this was enough to give the sail the range it needed, but if you do feel the need to play with the downhaul settings, the “Fred” system is a great gauge to help ensure the leech profile is set well. With these tools at your disposal, you can fine-tune the Rapid to perfection.