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Ezzy Elite Featured

EZZY ELITE 5.7M 2015 TEST REVIEW

Stats Size (m2) 5.7 Luff (cm) 438 Boom (cm) 172 - 180 Battens 4 Ideal Mast Ezzy 400 base + 430 top Extension Req (cm) 23 Price £547 (with mast £983)

EZZY ELITE 5.7M 2015 TEST REVIEW

OVERVIEW
With six sail ranges in the Ezzy line up for 2015, the Elite sits neatly as their 4-batten lightweight wave-sail. Included in this review over the traditional 5-batten Tiger (which remains unchanged for 2015), the Elite is a good benchmark to see if a 4-battened sail can compete in this crossover sail category. Rigging is made easy thanks to Ezzy’s exhaustive myriad of guides, including a new easy-to-use calibrated downhaul indicator at the tack of the sail (useable with non-Ezzy masts as well), a laminated pamphlet that comes with the sail and no less than 6 rigging videos on the Ezzy site!

BRAND CLAIM
“I’ve reached a turning point with wave sail development and I am convinced I can improve performance by minimising the number of battens in a wave sail. The 2015 4-batten Elite is our most versatile wave sail ever. It’s the perfect balance between speed, stability, handling and comfort. The Elite works beautifully sailing across flat water, bottom turning and going off the lip.”  David Ezzy.

PERFORMANCE
Rigging the Elite, it sets with Ezzy’s signature deep draft in its profile, thanks to the profiled seams in the battens. This gives rise to excellent bottom end drive, the soft elasticity in the sail making it respond well to pumping as well. In the past Ezzys always had a fantastic wind range (and this Elite is no exception), but as a result of their solid draft, some critics would attest that they felt somewhat heavy, even dull, in the hands. The Elite is the new generation. With one less batten and a refined profile, it has a lightness to its handling whilst still retaining the benefit of the stable defined draft. The power delivery is still soft and subtle rather than sharp, yet the feedback is sublimely balanced and useable. As the wind picks up the tiniest change in the downhaul does make a big difference, and outhaul can be used extensively to settle the centre-of-effort’s position. It is not really a straight-line blaster, encouraging a more upright manoeuvre-oriented stance than locked in and driving through the back foot. That said, with its lightness and manners, it can be used in any sea state comfortably and with Ezzy’s signature build quality, will provide years and years of service.

THE VERDICT
Testament that a 4-batten foil can mix it up in this category, the Elite has a massive range, soft useable power and a refined lightness to its handling that makes it a delight to use in a variety of manoeuvre-biased disciplines. A favourite amongst the team.

www.ezzy.com


Other sails in this test:

GA SAILS CROSS 5.6M

GOYA ECLIPSE 5.7M

NAISH BOXER 5.7M

NORTH VOLT 5.9M

RRD MOVE 5.7M

SEVERNE GATOR 5.7M

SIMMER APEX 5.7M

TUSHINGHAM BOLT 5.75M

 


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