POINT-7 SALT 4.8M 2016 TEST REVIEW
POINT-7 SALT 4.8M 2016 TEST REVIEW
OVERVIEW
The Salt has been in the Point-7 line-up as the brand’s ‘pure wave’ sail for some time now, but has had a new lease of life since being adopted by the sport’s own hell-raiser – Ricardo Campello. Whilst available as his own signature model with its Venezuelan livery, the standard model is tested here, complete with some extra details and options such as multiple clew eyelets. Rigged on an 80% RDM 370cm mast, it requires plenty of downhaul tension, the luff increment stated proving to be accurate. With the two lowest battens protruding beyond the leading edge of the mast, there is lots of shape low down in the profile of the sail, and plenty of breathability to boot! The clew eyelets are also placed significantly higher than others in this test group, whilst the leech has only slight looseness throughout its length.
BRAND CLAIM
“The Salt is the Point-7 all-out performance orientated four batten wave sail. Comprising high skin tension and a tight leech, Point-7 has created a very manoeuvre and reactive oriented ride, maintaining a slightly flat batten profile over the boom. The Salt is fast riding on the waves, quick to respond in new school wave sailing and ultra-light in your hands.”
PERFORMANCE
On the water, the Salt delivered a fantastic combination of direct useable power and easy, balanced handling that made it a hit with all who used it. Although set on a 370cm mast, it generates plenty of bottom end drive, the power coming from low and forward in the draft to help pin the board down. Travelling over rolling sea states it feels solid and dependable in the hands, yet its low centre of effort is countered by the high clew position to provide a real sense of connection with the sail’s power, enabling more instantaneous response in manoeuvres. It is quite a unique sensation and stance, going some way to explaining why it was so captivating to use. As the wind increased and the conditions became more severe, the Salt’s stability remained, its low aspect outline making it feel compact, whilst the movement in the Dacron luff panel helped to iron out any impacts with hard chop. In cross-onshore conditions, the Salt’s constant drive instils confidence and can be used to punch out of trouble on the inside, or drop into waves and provide the power to push hard and make tight sections. And despite only moderate looseness in its leech, it has excellent natural range on one setting, seeming to twist smoothly and retain control in gusts – no doubt a positive attribute of setting on the softer mast.
THE VERDICT
A real eye opener in the group, proving a 4.7m can perform magically on a 370cm mast. Compact yet punchy, the Salt was universally liked, providing constant useable power and crisp direct handling. It comes well recommended.
Other sails in this test: