TUSHINGHAM ROCK 5.2 2013 TEST REVIEW
TUSHINGHAM ROCK 5.2 2013 TEST REVIEW
Background
The Tushingham Rock has been fully revamped for 2013. With new materials and an all-new, colourful appearance, it’s designed to be crisper and more direct. There are two constructions to choose from, either the full X-ply, heavy duty cloth or the lightweight version, with high-tech laminate in the upper section, as tested here.
At-a-Glance
A five-batten, compact outline structure with a slightly stepped leech offering the benefits of a shorter boom. There’s plenty of X-ply reinforcement throughout the sail and a large clear window in the middle, with the lightweight laminate in the top half of the sail.
Rigging
Tushingham supplied us with the favoured 400 RD100 mast. The 5.2 Rock set with a bit of shape to the foil and has a very good tuning range with two outhaul options at the clew. We found it to be very much a ‘plug and play’ sail that isn’t too critical of constant fine- tuning.
Performance
The Rock is well-balanced and light in the hands, with a low and forward pull that’s easily controlled. It has a fairly soft feel, so lovers of the previous models will still love it, but there’s now more backhand feedback, resulting in much sharper handling. Like its smaller 4.7 sibling, tested in the October issue, the power feeds in smoothly and the draught makes for good early-planing, bottom-end power. This is a very user-friendly sail in all conditions for all levels of sailor, with neutral on/off handling that works superbly for either wave or freestyle sailing.
The Verdict
The new Rock is a fantastic all-round wave sail that’s taken great strides to build on a long-standing, popular product. The balance and feel will suit riders of all abilities and fans of the ‘old’ Rock will not be disappointed with the wide wind range, build quality and sharper handling value.
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