POINT-7 SPY 5.0 2021 TEST REVIEW
VERDICT:
A well put together all-rounder that would work well on a wide range of boards from freestyle wave to dedicated wave board. Plenty of power and speed for heavier riders with a great top end for when conditions get more challenging.
THE LOWDOWN:
The SPY is released as Point-7’s 5 batten offering, but also is described in their range as a freestyle wave sail, sitting alongside the 4 batten fully wave orientated Salt.
The sail is released in two colourways, but these are also slightly different in construction. The 832_Black Code is finished with the top part of the sail in a 2.5 mil X-ply, whilst the 7548_Yellow Code has 4 mil X-ply in the top panels. The thinner X-ply is designed to give a lighter more forgiving feel, whereas the thicker X-ply is meant to have a more reactive and crisp feeling.
The Spy has been developed as a non-technical wave sail to give ease of use to the maximum number of sailors. Point-7 point out that it is not just a 5 batten Salt, but an entirely different sail altogether. Coming in 8 sizes, all have 5 battens and are designed around an RDM mast, although the larger two sizes, 5.9 and 6.4, are SDM compatible.
The Spy features two well-spaced clew eyelets, the bottom focussed on a wave sailing position, and the top for more power and bump and jump. Both versions of the sail use a variety of materials to give the rig maximum durability and shape; the foot panel features 5 mil anti-UV X-ply for maximum strength. The clear central 5 mil X-ply window is then surrounded by anti-UV X-ply to offer increased durability, but without obstructing the vision of the sailor.
BRAND CLAIM: If you’re looking for power, but power which can plane in the lightest conditions and at the same time challenge even the toughest situations, this sail is for you.
PERFORMANCE:
Once rigged on the Point-7 K97 mast, there is a fair amount of positive rotation in the bottom 2 battens, and even some in the batten above the boom. The leech falls away and we found that you could dramatically increase the leach looseness through downhaul tuning without losing much of the depth of draft or rotation in the bottom of the sail. The foot is cut high, as is the clew, with a marked difference in the position of the two clew eyelets.
On the water the pull of the SPY is high and forward pulling you easily onto the plane. The power delivery is smooth rather than soft, with the profile of the sail changing little through gusts and delivering continued dependable power. This steady drive and quite ‘locked’ feel mean it is easy to build up good speed on the SPY and you can see how it would make a great sail on bump and jump as well as wavey days.
In transitions and on the wave the shape of the SPY is always maintained. With the positive rotation in the sail and the relatively fixed draft the sail never really goes neutral in the hands. Instead, continuingly drawing you through turns and transitions with continuous drive. Its stable nature however means that this does little to upset the sailor and certainly helps when making turns in less than perfect conditions. When fully downhauled the SPY has an impressive top end maintaining position of pull and shape throughout its wind range. A sail that gives you confidence through the gusts as it helps keep the board settled on the water.
VITAL STATS:
Size: 5.0
Luff: 413 cm.
Boom: 166 cm
Battens: 5
Ideal mast: Point-7 K97/K87 400 RDM.
Sizes: 4.0, 4.2, 4.5, 4.7, 5.0, 5.4, 5.9, 6.4.
PRICE: €559 EUROS
POINT-7 SPY 5.0 2021 TEST REVIEW
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