Neptune made #stayathome easy for us this year, because the fact that we had to carry out the entire wave test in our home waters this time due to the coronavirus was certainly no disadvantage in terms of the conditions. From the end of September to mid-November, there were plenty of good test days, from Baltic Sea chop with lots of wind to logo-high North Sea lines in Denmark and wind at the planing limit. We would have loved to have introduced you to the new Simmer Blacktip in this test, but unfortunately - like the Sailloft Quad that was originally planned - it wasn't available in time. But even so, there should be something for all requirements in this test group - regardless of whether you use your wave sail primarily on flat water, in the North Sea waves or in thick ocean swells.
AN LAND
Equipment
One of the manufacturers' primary goals is to minimise the weight of the sails. This is made possible by special grid materials in which fibres made of polyester, Technora or even carbon are glued between two thin monofilm sheets. The idea: fibres incorporated in the direction of tension are intended to absorb the forces that occur, allowing the actual film to be thinner and therefore lighter. In this way, models such as the Severne Blade, S2Maui Dragon, Hot Sails Maui Firelight or the Ezzy Wave crack the 3-kilo sound barrier and Point-7, GunSails and Naish are only just above it. But the scales only tell half the story! A sail that is measured to be extremely light does not necessarily have to feel light on the water! In our test experience, the pressure point position and profile curve are ultimately even more important for the perceived "lightness" than the pure weight on the scales. Despite all the weight optimisation, the featherweights of the group also appear to be solidly dimensioned and absolutely suitable for wave riding.
A note for particularly tall or short surfers: As an additional service, we measure the height of the boom cut-out from the upper edge of the pulley block to the upper or lower end of the cut-out. So if you have already mounted the boom of your current sail completely at the upper or lower end of the cut-out, you should measure it before buying a new one, as the differences are huge: on the Severne Blade or the Hot Sails Maui Firelight the cut-outs are almost 60 centimetres long, on the Naish or Point-7 they are 15 to 18 centimetres shorter.
Masts - short or long?
The 4.7 size is often a borderline case: according to the manufacturer, some sails can be used with either a 370 or 400 mast, including Ezzy, Goya, GunSails and Sailloft. The S2Maui Dragon and the NeilPryde Combat, on the other hand, can only be ridden on a 370 mast. GA Sails Manic, Hot Sails Maui Firelight and Point-7 Salt are also recommended on a 370, but with luff dimensions of around four metres they could theoretically also be used on a 400 mast (with an adjustable extension to zero centimetres). Conversely, the Naish Force 4, RRD Compact Vogue and Severne Blade could still be ridden on a 370 mast, as long as you have a 36-centimetre extension up your sleeve.
Using the longer and therefore harder mast usually makes the sail a little more direct and controllable at the limit, especially when very heavy riders (>90kg) pull on the spar. For light riders and women, on the other hand, the shorter mast length can have noticeable advantages - the sail develops a softer profile and is often more stable and easier to surf than with a long mast. Whether the use of the longer or shorter mast makes sense in individual cases is another matter, however. Two examples: The Naish Force 4 and the Goya Banzai feel comparatively damped even on the 400 mm test mast, so very light surfers (<70 kilos) should only consider using a 370 mm mast. The opposite is true for the Point-7 Salt, for example, which is already quite stiff and direct even on the recommended 370 mast. In this case, a harder 400 mm mast would only be a sensible option for heavy chunks (>90 kilos). Ezzy takes a special approach, where mast halves of different lengths can generally be combined - an advantage if you have built a break. For testing the Ezzy Wave, we were recommended a 370 mm lower section with a 400 mm upper section.
surf tip: In the video we introduce you to all the test sails and also give trimming tips and recommendations on mast length. Simply enter the web code #2690a in the search field at www.surf-magazin.de and off you go!
ON THE WATER
The surf type recommendation
Where it says "wave" on the label, it usually means "all-rounder" - and that's a good thing. Because there is virtually no alternative to wave sails under 5.5 square metres and so flat water fans or occasional wavers inevitably end up in this sail class. Regardless of the respective characteristics - as our comparison has shown - all 12 sails in this group are 100 per cent suitable for wave sailing. However, when it comes to suitability for flat water surfers, occasional wave riders and ambitious wave freestyle fans, there are huge differences that make the difference between a top or a flop.
Therefore, categorise yourself into one of the following three types for an initial preselection, then you are protected from the worst bad purchases. Within this preselection, you can then filter out your personal "test winner" based on the individual descriptions, scores and prices:
Type 1: Strong wind heater
If you spend most of your surfing life on flat water or in the swell, you will probably use your wave sail primarily for heating up and jibing on freeride, freemove or freestyle waveboards and only sporadically in the surf. In this case, you can expect your sail to take you over the planing threshold without hesitation, be easy to ride, require few trim adjustments and be easy to control even with intermediate riding skills. Pay particular attention to the following criteria:
Sliding properties: We assess how well a sail planes passively, i.e. without pumping, in normal trim (which also offers acceptable control). If the correct angle of attack to the wind is set almost automatically and the profile loads up noticeably, this is reflected positively in the rating. If the sail seems fidgety and technical to surf, the planing score is reduced, even if experienced surfers can make up for minor limitations with skill and pumping.
Control in strong winds: Describes whether a sail in medium trim (which still offers acceptable planing performance) holds the centre of pressure. If there is an increasing pull on the sail hand in gusts and there are load changes on the hands that have to be compensated for with strength and technique, this will result in deductions.
Drive: Occasional waver usually want to get safely over the white water first and not park in the bottom turn, but arrive at the top of the wave lip with enough speed. Sails with good drive offer constant propulsion.
If you classify yourself as type 1, your hit list should include the following models (sorted alphabetically): Ezzy Wave, GunSails Seal, NeilPryde Combat Pro, Point-7 Salt, Sailloft Curve, Severne Blade.
Type 2: Omnivore
Do you take what you can get on the water? Do your surf days in flat water and trips to the North Sea and Baltic Sea waves roughly balance each other out? Have you outgrown the "wave beginner" stage, do you normally get across white water without any accidents and ride waves frontside to leeward? Are you also not generally averse to classic freestyle tricks such as carving 360, duck jibe or spock? If this is the case, the following criteria should also be decisive for you, in addition to the "glide" and "control" grades already explained:
Handling: This criterion describes how manageable a sail feels in the hand during manoeuvres (jibes, duck jibes, etc.) and other rotations. In our experience, the position of the pressure point affects the perceived weight even more than the measured sail weight. Sails with a pressure point further forwards and flat battens often rotate more quickly around the longitudinal axis. They can be put down and raised again more quickly than sails with a pressure point further back and greater stability.
How you weight the notes "drive" and "neutrality" for you, on the other hand, is more a question of taste than "good" or "bad".
Neutrality describes how well a sail releases pressure when unfurled and when initiating a turn. Sails with a pre-shaped profile and a pressure point that is far back often offer constant propulsion in the turn, while sails with flat battens and soft characteristics hide the profile when unfurling, ducking or riding waves at the push of a button - you then surf over the board rather than with sail pull.
The group of all-rounders is naturally large and includes the following models (in alphabetical order): Ezzy Wave, GA Sails Manic, Goya Banzai, GunSails Seal, Naish Force 4, NeilPryde Combat Pro, Point-7 Salt, RRD Compact Vogue, Sailloft Curve, Severne Blade.
Apart from its trim sensitivity, the Hot Sails Maui Firelight is also a decent all-rounder. The same applies to the S2 Maui Dragon, which requires advanced sailing skills to find the right angle of attack.
Type 3: Wave freestyler
You surf at a high level and at top national and international spots. Loops, frontside rides and your first wave moves are part of your repertoire, as are your first duck and power moves on the freestyle board? If so, you can narrow your focus to sails that combine easy handling with a high degree of neutrality/off. Particularly light riders (<70 kilos) andWomen should appreciate the combination of lightness and neutrality that the following sails offer in particular.
Your top choice is then (alphabetically): GA Sails Manic, S2Maui Dragon
Goya Banzai, GunSails Seal, Naish Force 4 and the RRD Compact Vogue are also good tips, with a few exceptions.
We have tested these sails:
EZZY SAILS Wave 4.7
Althoughthe fully barred Ezzy sets the standard in terms of equipment - e.g. in the form of smart trim aids and a length-adjustable protector - it cracks the 3-kilo sound barrier. With its slim top, it may look a little "old school", but if you take a closer look at its dimensions, you will notice that it is just as compact as other models. In the planing phase, the Ezzy with its short boom is a little less powerful and more agile than stable, but as soon as you cross the planing threshold, the profile stabilises very well, making the sail light and pleasantly balanced in the hand. The Ezzy absorbs gusts and chops wonderfully, it provides a lot of riding comfort and also very good control without disturbing life of its own and pressure point wandering. In manoeuvres such as jibes or duck jibes, the slightly longer travel of the battens is noticeable when changing sides, but the concept with its forward pressure point and low weight is still extremely easy to handle. And on the wave? The Ezzy offers good drive, which allows you to bring the speed up to the lip of the wave even in slack waves.surf conclusion:Balanced in the waves, light in manoeuvres, comfortable and controllable in strong winds - the Ezzy Wave covers a wide range of use from inland water to big wave. Only those looking for a sail with maximum planing power or a neutral cloth for submerged freestyle moves will find better alternatives.
GA Sails Manic 4.7
The GA all-rounder will start the new season with only marginal changes and, in our opinion, works best with moderate loose leech between the upper two battens. Adjustment to the respective conditions is then primarily made via the trim sheet tension. In medium trim, the Manic loads up well, gets even heavy chunks over the planing threshold quickly and retains a light, agile sail feel across all wind ranges. The lightly damped profile absorbs bumps and chops pleasantly and is nicely balanced in the hand. In very strong gusts, the pressure point on the GA starts to move a little earlier than on the control wonders of the group - but we are "complaining" at a very high level here. We were absolutely convinced by the handling: with butter-smooth batten rotation, what feels like a very low weight and great neutrality, the Manic can be controlled with two fingers during jibes, duck jibes and all freestyle tricks. In medium and flat trim, it can be used in waves as a flat "off-sail" and a tip for clean sideoff conditions, but when trimmed belly up, the Manic also offers enough drive for days with little wind or wave thrust.
surf conclusion:Whether as a light manoeuvring sail for strong winds, for tricks or at wave spots from Heiligenhafen to Hookipa, the Manic doesn't put on a show anywhere and convinces as an extremely successful all-rounder with a broad target group.
Goya Banzai Pro 4.7
The cheer In Japan, "Banzai" is said to bring joy and happiness for 10,000 years. The Goya sail could probably survive for almost as long due to its noble features: Incorporated carbon threads are designed to minimise stretch and the thick Kevlar padding on the top should survive even if the rig is stuck upside down in the reef. The Banzai should always be rigged with a comparatively large amount of loose leech to achieve the best combination of performance and lightness. Despite a 400 mm mast, the concept has a damped effect, it loads up wonderfully in the planing phase and offers above-average planing performance as well as a very stable ride characteristic that makes it easy to find the angle of attack immediately. If the wind picks up, the Goya needs to be re-trimmed a little earlier than other sails in the group, but control remains at a good level when pulled flat. Tip: In our opinion, the short and therefore even softer 370 mast that can theoretically be used in the Banzai 4.7 only makes sense for very light riders, over 75 kilos you should stick with the harder 400 mast. The Banzai is particularly balanced on the wave, offering a good mix of drive and neutrality, which you can actually live with at any wave spot.
surf conclusion: Good performance meets balanced wave characteristics - euro-wavers and flat water heaters will be absolutely happy. Only in gusty areas do you have to trim it down a little from time to time.
GunSails Seal 4.7
With noticeable With a lower weight, shorter boom and softer profile, designer Renato Morlotti wants to have noticeably improved the handling and neutrality of the Seal. However, you don't have to do without the usual GunSails features such as the Fred trim aid. The Seal offers very moderate trim forces on the luff, you can trim up to the mark regardless of the wind, the adjustment to the wind range is then primarily done via the fork trim. The Seal feels damped and comfortable, but never feels spongy even in the hands of heavy surfers (>85 kilos), even on the 370 mast. The sail stabilises immediately in the planing phase, is well-balanced in the hand and develops above-average planing performance. Fortunately, the 2021 model turns out to be noticeably more manageable than in the past, both in a straight line and in manoeuvres. The Seal also fully convinced us on the wave, as it still offers enough drive to reach the lip of the wave with enough steam even in slack conditions, but now also more neutrality and lightness in flat trim, which noticeably expands the range of use for both sideoffshore waves and freestyle tricks.
surf conclusion: Planing performance, control, handling - the GunSails wave sail now plays in the top group everywhere! Balanced in this way, it turns out to be a loyal companion for strong wind freeriders, trick riders and wave surfers alike.
Hot Sails Maui Firelight 4.7
With its With a wide flared foot, exposed battens and a very flat profile in the luff area, the five-flap Firelight has several unique selling points. Speaking of "light" - the sail is indeed one of the lightest sails on the scales and even breaks the 3-kilo barrier. In the lower wind range, the rather flat front profile develops a somewhat reduced planing performance, but when powered up, the sail loads up well and is stable and quite light in the hand. Too much tension on the boom kills the profile completely. In the normal wind range, a trim with comparatively much loose leech and only moderate tension on the trim sheet works best. Then the Hot Sails offers plenty of drive on the wave, which pulls you powerfully up to the wave lip even in slack wind and wave conditions, combined with good handling. If you pull the Hot Sails flat on the boom, you can transform it into a neutral sail with a fine off for clean sideoff conditions in no time at all, but then the performance suffers more than average.
surf conclusion:You have to get to grips with the trim of the Hot Sails Maui Firelight so that the sail can demonstrate its nimble manoeuvrability and good drive on the waves. Those looking for a power package will not be completely happy, ambitious freestylers might miss some elasticity for power moves.
Naish Force 4 4.7
The Force 4 is almost a classic. Thanks to a larger window, you now have noticeably more visibility than on the previous model. Despite a 400 mm mast and comparatively high trim forces, the Naish is quite damped, the Force 4 can be pumped well in the planing phase and loads up noticeably. To ensure that the acceleration is right and there are no disruptive lateral forces, we recommend applying plenty of luff and only moderate trim sheet tension and using a 400 mast, as the sail feels a little spongy on a 370. The Force 4 is balanced and stable in the hand and the pressure point remains stable for a long time even with little tension on the trim sheet. The manoeuvre handling is at a very high level as a result of the low dead weight and buttery smooth batten rotation. The Naish proved to be extremely versatile on the wave: In normal trim, it is absolutely suitable for the North Sea and pulls powerfully through the bottom turn. With a little more tension on the trim sheet, the sail can be tuned noticeably towards off and neutral.
surf conclusion: The concept seems suitable for all wave conditions from onshore to sideoff and also as a damped sail for occasional freestyle tricks. For tall and heavy riders (>1.90 metres; >90 kilos) who also want to accelerate on wide freeride or freemove boards, the characteristics with a low boom cut-out are less suitable.
NeilPryde Combat Pro 4.7
Outline and profile progression has been largely retained by designer Robert Stroj, but the arrangement of the panels has been revised to save weight in the upper section. The trim forces are comparatively low, but in the middle and upper wind range the Combat needs to be brought into shape with plenty of tension on both the luff and the boom. The concept stabilises immediately in the planing phase and is nicely balanced in the hand, certainly also because the boom is a little longer and the pressure point is a little further back than with some other sails. A controlled pull on the sail hand makes it easy to immediately put pressure on the fins and cross the planing threshold at an above-average speed. The handling is first class both in a straight line and in manoeuvres: The holding forces are very low in the normal wind range, and the Combat is also playfully easy to put down in manoeuvres or bottom turns and shifts as smooth as butter. Only at the upper wind limit does the Pryde reach the control limit a little earlier, where a 400 mast could even be helpful. In any case, the wave characteristics are suitable for the masses, as the Combat offers a perfect combination of drive in the turn, lightness and the necessary neutrality to master even clean side-offshore waves with flying colours.
surf conclusion: Easy to ride, glides smoothly and feels light as a feather - the Combat convinces a large target group from wave to flat water.
Point-7 Salt Pro 4.7
The Salt requires a visible loose leech, which in this concept runs further down towards the clew than in other wave sails. Visually, the Salt looks like a small slalom sail designed by Andrea Cucchi. If you take the acceleration as a yardstick, this impression is even correct: the agile Point-7 stabilises immediately after crossing the planing threshold, then lies beautifully stable in the hand and sprints off as if the green flag was going to go up on the starting line at any moment. It retains its light handling across all wind ranges, and you can confidently save yourself annoying re-trimming, because the Salt keeps the centre of pressure stable in the middle trim over a large wind range - consequently, it takes the win in the control rating. Surprisingly, the concept also feels quite firm on the short 370 mast - even when heavy riders (>85 kilos) pull on the bar - it feels comfortably damped but never spongy. The handling in manoeuvres and on the wave is, as the Italians would say, "molto bene" - agile, easy to put down and with smooth rotation, the Point-7 leaves nothing to be desired here either.surf conclusion: As a strong wind sail for flat water and bump & jump, the fast, light and extremely controllable Salt is a force to be reckoned with and is also extremely well-balanced in the waves! Only for ambitious freestylers practising duck moves is the concept with lots of loose leech and a slightly pre-shaped profile not quite ideal.
RRD Compact Vogue 4.6
RRD sets The Compact Vogue has compact packing dimensions. The battens can be split in seconds and the sail folded lengthways on a Dacron track. In combination with the available Compact Rigg Pack with a mast that can be split several times and a divisible carbon fork, a complete rig can be stowed in a large rucksack. But the Compact Vogue has more to offer than just small packing dimensions: with its fairly flat profile at the front, it is not one of the steam hammers in the group, but once the planing threshold is exceeded, the profile stabilises well. It feels neutral in the hand, offers desirable damping in rough conditions and shines with very good pressure point stability. In direct comparison, the RRD seems a tad heavier in manoeuvres and when riding waves, but the bar is also extremely high in this group. We liked the Compact Vogue on the wave in that it is extremely balanced: Although it tends to have more off than drive, it always offers some grounding on the sail hand, which helps to get the speed up to the wave lip.
surf conclusion: With compact packing dimensions and good all-round suitability, the Compact Vogue has enough arguments in its favour, it is suitable for all wave sailing areas, but also as a flat freestyle sail and as a strong wind freeride motor. Only fans of maximally light or extremely powerful sails will find more suitable alternatives.
S2Maui Dragon 4.6
2.8 kilos - With such fabulous weights, only the Severne Blade can keep up in this group. Nevertheless, the S2Maui is by no means undersized. Apart from the somewhat spartan protector, the material mix looks absolutely high quality. The Dragon feels light as a feather in the hand right from the start, but also seems a little nervous. Because the profile has been designed very flat, it needs to be set at the right angle with technique. Trimming tip: moderate slack between the top two battens only increases the riding stability slightly! When powered up, however, it stabilises noticeably without losing its wonderfully light feel and offers pleasant damping in the chop. The Dragon is the measure of all things in manoeuvres, standing out from an extremely strong field with barely noticeable batten rotation and absolute lightness. This also applies 1:1 to initiating the bottom turn, where the motor switches off at the touch of a button and ensures extremely neutral handling, i.e. the best off. Conversely, you will want more power and propulsion, especially in flat conditions, in order to arrive at the lip of the wave with gusto.
surf conclusion: The Dragon sets the standard in terms of handling and neutrality and therefore scores particularly well with experienced wave and freestyle surfers. As an all-rounder, the concept lacks some stability and planing power to make the typical flat water or bump & jump surfer happy.
Sailloft Hamburg Curve 4.7
The five-flat curve has been complementing the Quad model in the Sailloft range as a freewave sail for years. The luff trim forces of the Curve have long been manageable, and in comparison the sail has a slightly more pre-shaped profile than other concepts in this test group. However, the fact that the Sailloft secures the planing crown is mainly due to its great riding stability and a pressure point that is a little further back. Even less experienced surfers can find their angle of attack immediately and can concentrate on the essentials on their way through the surf. Even with moderate tension on the trim sheet, the pressure point is firmly cemented and the curve minimises the need for re-trimming. The fact that the sail feels somewhat slower and heavier than other concepts in manoeuvres and when riding the waves is less due to the slightly higher dead weight than to the pressure point position and profile shape. Unsurprisingly, it scores on the wave not with neutrality but above all with a lot of drive - thanks to its good propulsion and the fact that you always feel a little pull on the sail hand, you can bring the speed up to the cutback.
surf conclusion: The Sailloft Curve convinces with a mix of above-average planing power, drive, stability and control, especially for strong wind freeriders and wave surfers who want to get up to speed easily. Small compromises have to be made in terms of handling, larger compromises in terms of off.
Severne Blade 4.7
The Blade is the lightest sail in the test group despite having five battens on the scales. Nevertheless, the material mix does not appear fluttery or even undersized. The trim concept is pleasingly uncomplicated: visible loose leech between the top two battens should always be pulled in, the rest is regulated via the fork trim. Moderate tension on the trim sheet is sufficient, then the blade loads up well and converts the sail pull into speed excellently. If the sail is still a little agile in the breeze, the profile stabilises extremely well when powered up and is then stable, comfortable and a little tighter in the hand than other concepts - certainly also a result of the harder 400 mm mast. The control is outstanding, even in the hands of heavier riders nothing is distorted, the pressure point is stable and annoying re-trimming is usually unnecessary. The battens rotate smoothly around the mast during manoeuvres and, in combination with its low weight, the Blade also leads the field in terms of handling. The very fine blade can also be used when riding waves - here the Blade does not swing out too much in any direction and offers an all-round mixture of drive and off.
surf conclusion:The Blade is convincing all round and shows no weaknesses in terms of performance, control or handling. Whether it's a strong wind area with flat water or a wave spot between Kühlungsborn and Cape Town, you can't go wrong with the Blade.
