SIMMER IRON 5.3 2013 TEST REVIEW
SIMMER IRON 5.3 2013 TEST REVIEW
Background
The Iron is described as Simmers ‘hybrid power wave sail’. Designed for speed, power and control, the concept is in-line with recent trends to use a smaller (about half a square metre less) but gruntier, more throwabout rig. For 2013, the Irons have shed weight and the shape has also been tweaked with a slightly longer luff and shorter boom.
At-a-Glance
A compact, low-aspect, five-battened shape with a deep, draughty profile. Bar the window and lighter materials in the head, it’s a beefy, full x-ply frame and certainly looks built to last.
Rigging
Using the appropriate 400 Simmer RDM 10 we found the Iron easy to rig and tune, setting, as you’d expect, with some belly in the foil. The tuning range is very wide and it can be set for either light-wind pull or high-wind comfort through adjusting both the down and outhaul.
Performance
The Iron feels perfectly balanced, stable and light-in-the-hands. It has a solid forward drive and the bottom-end grunt is plentiful and the top-end ability is incredible, totally fulfilling the promise of huge range. As one of the faster sails on test, it’s naturally strong in the jumping department as speed translates into height, with the stable frame and compact shape also very easy to manage in the air. On the wave the torque and forward pull really drive down into the board to generate maximum speed in all wave conditions. The sharp handling is also useful in manoeuvres, making for a reliable sail to inspire confidence in any environment.
The Verdict
The Iron is a versatile hybrid wave sail that’s suitable for medium to heavyweight riders on either wave or freestyle wave gear. It has a massive wind range, with great bottom-end muscle combined with superb top-end control that’s handy for tackling any type of conditions.
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