Windsurf MagazineRRD WIND WING Y27 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT

A quality product with lots of innovative features to talk about, the Wind Wing’s performance certainly stacks up and plays its part. With a focussed power delivery, it has real balance and poise, displaying versatility in application over a wide wind range.

THEY SAY

“Power distribution sits at the heart of the development of our new Wind Wing. Our focus was on stability, we wanted the power concentrated in the centre to reduce any unwanted pressure on the wing tips. The result is a powerful but perfectly controllable wing, with insane amounts of boost on tap when you need it.”

WE SAY

The Wind Wing has been updated for the new season, reclassified as the brand’s high-performance option for wave, freestyle and racing. Sitting alongside the Y27 Wind Wing is the Evo Wing – a lightweight wing with a simplified panel layout and profile, and large windows for visibility. Said to be suitable for all abilities from novice upwards, it is more price pointed and comes supplied in a “user-friendly cylindrical backpack”. Back to the Wind Wing and there’s instantly a sense of quality and craftsmanship with this year’s design, the backpack bag it comes supplied in being fully padded and well finished. Once unrolled, the Wind Wing is inflated via two bayonet valves, keeping the leading edge and central struts independent. It also means they can be inflated to different pressures, the LE being recommended at 8 PSI, whereas the central strut can be increased to 9, for even more stiffness. Incorporating PVC windows in the 2D Techno Force ripstop material (with written warnings on the wing that they may crack if used in temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius), the canopy displays a unique ‘diamond grid’, with each panel intersected at 45 degrees. The concept is to provide higher strength and stability through the use of seams, preventing any stretch or distortion in the material, along with improved performance longevity. In addition, the central strut has a kink in its tapered tail – a feature RRD have named the Zeta Strut Shape, the idea being to increase the depth between canopy and strut for more leverage and performance. With a medium aspect ratio outline, this year’s Wind Wing shows a much more pronounced dihedral leading edge profile than its predecessor, intended to centre the power through the middle of the wing and reduce any power instability through the wing tips. Whilst also available in a black colourway, it is tested here in the ‘Stripe’ layout, with the brand’s signature colours of black, white and orange incorporated. One last feature worth mentioning – the elasticated leash supplied has a buckled wrist strap for easy application, and a unique double fixing on the wing’s leading edge, we presume for additional security.

Light and ‘lifty’ as it is held in the start position above the head, this Y27 Wind Wing is a completely different proposition to its predecessor. When shifting from knees to feet, the wingtips of the old Wind Wing tended to catch on the water’s surface if you weren’t careful, such was its low aspect outline. No such issue with this new Y27 version, its arched leading edge helping to keep the wingtips clean and clear. Once to your feet as a gust hits, the power in the Wind Wing is very centred and precise and can easily be absorbed by the rider, without the desired effect of pushing the energy into the board. Instead, by adopting a more positive and proactive style, the balanced power can be used to pump the wing, before engaging the board and foil. Once released, the Wind Wing accelerates purposefully, its useable power and pressure building through both hands. It has a really focussed nature, with plenty of lift and drive through the front and centre of the canopy, inspiring the rider to lock it in and charge, or load it up for fast expressive tricks or manoeuvres. Light and easy to depower, it does tend to oscillate when parked due to its deep dihedral profile, although manageable and controllable through the neutral handle. The handles themselves are in exactly the right place to control this power delivery, being long in length so that the rider can adjust their hands to centre the feedback. And whilst comfortable in width and grip for long periods of use, we did find ourselves questioning the amount of looseness and play in them, wondering whether the wing would benefit from stiffer handles providing a more direct connection?