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Attitude RPM 7.8m 2014 Featured

ATTITUDE RPM 7.8M 2014 TEST REVIEW

Stats Size (m2) 7.8 Luff (cm) 488 Boom (cm) 214 Battens 7 Ideal Mast Unifiber Enduro C80 460 SDM Extension Req (cm) 27.5 Price £444 (TBC)

Attitude RPM 7.8m 2014-480px

ATTITUDE RPM 7.8M 2014 TEST REVIEW

OVERVIEW
New to the market from the people behind Unifiber, Attitude sails confidently placed their RPM model into our hands prior to going live. This is a racy, 7-batten offering that sits between a 3-cam model and, from what we’ve seen so far, a comprehensive range of four other attractively priced and well-built freeride and wavesails.

A bold entry into the windsurfing bear pit, but a remarkable arrival nevertheless.

BRAND POSITIONING
‘Re-set your limits. The RPM is tailor made for the demanding recreational sailor. There is no compromise with the performance of this six and seven batten no cam engine.  It comes very close to the limits of a true slalom sail but without the cams, and the benefits of simplified rigging and handling. The sail adapts to any kind of conditions whether riding in angry chop or ironed flat.  A wide variety of trim settings provides a massive wind range. Of course you don’t have to ride RPM stacked to the max all the time, but we’re sure you’ll find yourself searching out the punchiest gusts and pushing the red-line.’ (Sic.)

PERFORMANCE
Although not the lightest out of the bag, the clearly ‘built’ RPM offers instant power on hitting the water. The profile is super stable, smooth and settled and, bar a slight element of being ‘involved’ or ‘physical’ to sail, is immediately easy to show who’s boss. The low-end is beefy alright, we assumed because it looks low-aspect, but the RPM was actually the longest-luffed in the selection, although it did have the longest boom here too, but with only a moderate cut-out. Profile aside, the behaviour at the top-end was also admirable, still standing steady for the whole range of tester bodyweights in up to 33 knots of unseasonal ‘dense’ desert wind. The pace is cracking and the RPM handled heavy gusts exceptionally well, with a race-sail-type venting sensation of leech spill and control. We all also found it pretty much the most impressive among the bunch upwind. All said and done, this is a hard product to ignore just because it’s new. The value for money is excellent once you calculate the cost of the ideal mast and, construction-wise, there’s definitely bang for your buck too with not only a heavy-duty layout, but also very sharp attention to detail with abrasion protection, an excellent, simple recessed mast cap system, tack fairing – and more. A remarkable new brand that’s sure to shake-up the sail loft landscape massively and keep the longer-standing players well on their toes.

THE VERDICT
A breath of fresh air sees excellence arrive in the windsurfing world out of the blue. A solid, stable product at the racier end of the no-cam scale offering superb speed and handling is sure to set the cat amongst the pigeons. This is no ‘budget’ new player. Attitude sails have launched with exactly the right approach and delivered a quality, value-for-money product straight out of the blocks. Chapeau.

www.attitude-sails.com

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