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Goya Guru G4 4.2 2014

GOYA GURU G4 4.2M 2014 TEST REVIEW

Stats Size (m2) 4.2 Luff (cm) 395 Boom (cm) 153 Battens 4 Ideal Mast 370 Goya Direct Drive Extension Req (cm) 9 Price £615

GOYA GURU G4 4.2M 2014 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT
A soft and relaxed-feeling sail with good acceleration and an easy-to-control behaviour in stronger wind situations.

BEST FOR
Those looking to stay in control and maximise performance in hectic environments – such as howling onshore setups where frontside turning can often be a challenge. Sometimes ‘soft’ sails are pitched mainly at lighter riders, but we think the Guru’s nature is more tough-conditions-oriented, with more than ample power for heavyweights too.

RECOMMENDATION
Setting with more downhaul tension delivers a springier sensation and loosening it brings a smoother power delivery and more neutral feel.

BRAND CLAIM
“The Guru lends itself to be used in all wave and wave style sailing conditions, from down the line waves to onshore waves and free wave style sailing. The PVC window provides life long clarity. The Guru G4’s softer power engagement means that the sail feels forgiving in gusts, and less fatiguing because of the smoother ride. Sailors of smaller stature, both female and male tend to like this, as well as sailors of any size who sail in rough conditions where comfort and control in strong winds, and the ability to throw some aggressive airtime is the focus of their session.

OVERVIEW
As we mentioned earlier with the Banzai, due to some shipping and customs delays, the Goya sails arrived late to the test and our priority was to get them out on the water as soon as possible before we had to hand them back! This meant they missed the comprehensive inspections and evaluations we make of build quality and features. However, the news is good as the Guru boasts twin angled clew positions, a really ‘built’ looking scrim and x-ply body with Kevlar x-ply perimeter panel construction, carbon stretch-control radials and a soft and flexy PVC window.
Outline: Moderate luff curve, narrow ‘reduced’ head and scalloped/cutaway leech.

PERFORMANCE
The Guru surprised us from the off with, considering the soft and flexy nature, the level of speed it could create. With that in mind we thought the acceleration was positive, translating gusts into its top-end segment quite rapidly, which was a plus for jumping close to the shore. It doesn’t feel super powerful though, especially for jumping where you might find other models that deliver more ‘boost’, but we noticed that we were well in control at the higher end of the range compared to the others in the group, while in the air it felt light and manoeuvrable. In general the handling is nice and easy – pulling from quite high and forward – and this 4.2 is forgiving and easy to gybe and pilot around the break. In turns it was quite neutral and light-feeling. The ‘power-off’ mode is a touch stiff without offering much backhand pressure in the bottom turn – but not everyone wants rear-hand feedback, especially in raging 4.2 weather, so this might well be to both  ‘traditionalists’ taste as well as those looking to stay relaxed in hard-core storm conditions.

www.goyawindsurfing.com

 

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