GAASTRA VAPOR 7.1M 2013 TEST REVIEW
GAASTRA VAPOR 7.1M 2013 TEST REVIEW
The low-down
The Vapor is Gaastra’s full-on race sail line, with an eight batten / four-cam profile that’s designed to maximise speed and acceleration on the racecourse. For 2013 there’s a new outline and luff curve and tweaks to the radial layout and luff tube.
At-a-glance
Eight battens with four cams and four micro leech battens
Very wide luff tube
Compact shape
Solid powerful full foil shape
Stepped leech at clew
Fitted outhaul pulleys with two height options
Padded tack fairing
Radial panel layout
Zipped boom cut-out
Rigging
Rigging on a Gaastra 100% 430 carbon mast, as you’d expect from a sail of this level of performance, it isn’t the quickest to rig but, with zips on the luff at each of the cambers, a super wide luff tube and easy accessible pulleys to help out it isn’t too much hassle. The tuning range is huge, so do experiment with down and outhaul settings to find the best for you. The bottom end is plentiful to accelerate you quickly and at the top end feels pretty much limitless. We found the Vapor handled well around the corners and, after some initial tweaks, had a firm-yet-smooth and controlled rotation.
Performance
This proven podium performer is extremely well balanced in the hands, feels extremely powerful and sharp and is no slouch at winding-up speed, always ready to go into action. The solid, stable foil locks the power in well and there’s a useful level of feedback on the backhand acting as a throttle to activate further drive and acceleration.
The Verdict
The Vapor is without doubt a serious race sail, designed to deliver the ultimate performance to high-level riders. It offers incredible levels of high speed and control in a very well built, quality package. Perhaps best suited to higher level racers but it could be enjoyed by ambitious drag racers looking to go as fast as possible.
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