LOFTSAILS PURELIP 5.7M
2020 TEST REVIEW
THE VERDICT
Large in outline but feeling small and perfectly formed in the hands, the Purelip is a sail that will have your back, no matter how extreme the wind or environment.
OVERVIEW
The Purelip is Loftsails’ signature ‘hardcore wave’ sail, its roots dating back to 1999 and the original Lipwave design. Available in two distinct green or orange colourways, the range stems from 3.0 to 6.2, with all bar the two smallest sizes featuring a five batten configuration. Tested on a Team Edition RDM (yet still applicable with an SDM), the mast is easy to sheath up the brand’s durable IYU250 4-part luff sleeve, the tack fairing fully opening up along an extended Velcro edge to provide full access to the roller pulley. And with the pulley oriented for maximum efficiency, it was easy to apply the moderate downhaul tension required, loosening the leech to the trim marker in the upper panel. There is plenty of skin tension throughout the sail’s panels, the leech falling away along its length whilst the two lower battens sit clear of the mast at rest. Build quality is excellent, as we have come to expect from Loftsails, with all their trademark concepts in place. From their Integrated Panel System (IPS – providing triple-layered radials at the sail’s main tension-junctions) for durability, to the use of their exclusive ‘Standing Battens’ for stability and response, and even the double Dacron head panel for roll-up longevity, the Purelip continues to exude its flagship status for all of Loftsails’
pioneering features.
BRAND CLAIM
“Tarifa’s famous nuclear winds and 18 years developing curves produced the Purelip design concept… easy animation for hardcore conditions!” – Monty Spindler.
PERFORMANCE
With the same luff length as last year’s Purelip, it remains easily the tallest sail in this test group, towering above some by more than 20 cm. Rigged according to the marker provided, it sets very flat at rest, particularly above the boom, with plenty of twist along the trailing edge. In marginal winds the Purelip can be retuned with less tension, which combined with the use of the upper clew eyelet will help to reconnect the mid-leech and provide some extra feedback through the back hand. Bottom end power is subtle and measured, rather than bold and grunty, yet the breathability in the luff sleeve and the extra leverage provided by the extended luff length make the sail receptive to an efficient pumping technique. Once going the Purelip’s efficiency is tangible, accelerating quickly and feeling incredibly balanced and easy in the hands. In variable conditions, it doesn’t really pull with low-down torque through the lulls, but serenely glides through them instead, in the hunt for connecting with the next gust. The drive comes from low and forwards in the sail, helping to pin the board down and provide a real sense of control at all times. Which leads us onto the Purelip’s true forté: powered and over-powered conditions. When handling and control are the order of the day, we found ourselves fighting for the use of the Purelip! Fully tensioned and with the use of the lower clew-eyelet, the sail has such stability and integrity, that it can be called upon when others are properly powered on sails a metre smaller in size. It charges through rough seas and violent gusts as if impervious and lets the rider focus purely on their own performance, rather than having any handling issues. Power delivery is soft and progressive, and in transition the Purelip’s on-off nature makes it easy to reposition at time-critical moments.
VITAL STATS
Size: 5.7m
Luff: 452 cm
Boom: 180 cm
Battens: 5
Ideal Mast: Team Edition 430 cm RDM/SDM
Available Sizes: 3.0,3.4,3.7,4.0,4.2,4.5,4.7, 5.0,5.2,5.4,5.7,6.2
Price: £665
Other sails in this test:
THE LINE UP