Windsurfing conditions for 3.7 are actually always extreme and, unfortunately, exceptional conditions also make the bad characteristics stand out particularly clearly, as if under a magnifying glass. Which - as the test proves - also applies to wave sails. Gales of 30 knots and more rarely come as evenly as from the wind machine, and the situation is exacerbated by gusts of two to three knots more than the basic wind.- so maybe between 27 and 30 knots- have a much greater effect than the same three knots of wind fluctuations between 15 and 18 knots. The reason for this lies in pure physics: the wind pressure increases with the square of the wind speed and this simply has a greater effect with large numbers. Unfortunately, nature cannot be outwitted, so sail designers are faced with the difficult task of breathing as much dynamism and life as possible into a sail with a short mast and boom and little surface area so that it can "breathe" calmly in difficult conditions. NeilPryde designer Robert Stroj also sees this as a particular challenge: "It is definitely more difficult to design a 3.7 because the luff length is very short. Nevertheless, the boom height remains the same, so that it is particularly high in relative terms with a small sail on the mast. This leaves a much shorter section of the mast above the boom free for flexing. This makes it difficult to maintain sufficient damping and compliance in the design. Another option would be to keep the luff as long as possible for small sizes. But that would result in a very short boom, which usually leads to a very 'fidgety' sail - exactly the opposite of what you want in the usually very gusty and demanding conditions when the very small sails are used."
A sail like the 3.0 Combat is also one of the most demanding sizes for the experienced designer, alongside the wave sails at the upper limit of the range: "Large sizes such as a Combat 5.7 on a 400 mast or an Atlas 6.2 on a 430 are particularly sensitive to the right bending curve and stiffness, because a lot of surface area has to be supported and stabilised above the boom. On the other hand, sizes under 4.0 are also very sensitive, because just a little too much rigidity in the mast is enough - and the sail becomes as stiff as a board."
Geometry
While geometry plays a lesser role with any size of sail, it is not entirely irrelevant with what is probably the smallest sail in the bag. The luff lengths of the sails tested are between 3.53 metres and 3.67 metres. However, in our test experience, the handling characteristics on the different masts cannot be so easily deduced from the technical data. First and foremost, the luff length only indicates how much of the mast protrudes more or less from the top of the sail. Even on the "long" 370 mast, a Goya Guru appears more damped and elastic than the Severne Blade on the 340 - with otherwise identical luff lengths of the two sails. Laboratory measurements prove this: If the mast sticks out 30 centimetres at the top, the hardness of the mast remaining in the sail changes as if the mast were several IMCS numbers stiffer and towards the hard top. The 370, which is already too hard, appears even harder in the sail, and the numbers build up alarmingly. The result is often sobering, says surf tester Manuel Vogel: "I've actually always had bad experiences with masts that are too long in small sails. Sometimes it also helps to shorten the bottom of a 370 so that it just fits the next larger sail." (We have compiled important tips on this in the mast workshop from page 54).
All are handy
In the 3.6 or 3.7 size, you don't have to worry about handling at all. What counts here is how well the sail absorbs gusts and whether it remains reasonably stable on flat water. However, the wrong choice of mast can also noticeably worsen the "off", i.e. the neutrality on the wave. You are always on the safe side with the shorter mast. We found the lowest holding forces in this group with the Ezzy sail, which again appears particularly light. At the other end of the scale, only the Goya Guru feels a little more stable in the hand - although it is far from heavy and some surfers find this slightly more "stable" feel more pleasant. The Simmer Blacktip and NeilPryde Combat are also light, but particularly stable in relative terms - you can't set the bar for the 4.7 sail group here - and thus lead the small selection of our flat water recommendations. The Ezzy seems the most nervous here and favours surfing in the waves. Robert Stroj reveals a few tricks from his designer toolbox as to which "tools" are used for the small sails: "Firstly, for example, we make the masts in 340 and 370 softer in the top. The 340 is much softer overall. With the small sails, I try to keep the tension in the sail at the lower end of the range. To do this, the luff curve must be cut in such a way that the sail can be trimmed with relatively low forces on the luff. To compensate for this, the moderately increased clew tension keeps this area of the sail under control and prevents the centre of pressure from moving backwards."
Soft masts in short lengths? Surf tester Frank Lewisch also recommends this and suspects a similarity between the masts from Ezzy and NoLimitz, which in his experience are very similar and above all a good bit softer than many other brands. This is perhaps also the reason for the good suitability of the 370 mast in our Ezzy test sail. His conclusion: "The heavy surfer can live well with a very soft mast in small sizes, but the light surfer is usually not at all happy with the harder (longer) mast." The Severne Blade felt really tight - the gusty test conditions were also a real hurdle. On flat water, with a more constant wind, the Blade could also become a little more well-behaved and the control with the five battens is then very good again in a steady wind. The number of battens could be used to make each sail softer, but that sounds easier than it is for the designer, which is why the number of battens usually remains constant within a waveline. "We stop with our 5-batten sail at size 4.2", explains Robert Stroj, "4 battens are a good compromise for me. It's also easy to make a good 3-batten sail in smaller sizes. But that requires a completely new sail design. I could well imagine that for small sizes of the Zone."
Our recommendations
For dedicated wave surfers in radical sideshore areas, a good "off" and easy handling are the most important aspects. The Ezzy Wave is a good choice here, light as a feather but also somewhat more demanding. The NeilPryde Combat offers very good wave performance on both masts with a high "easy surfing factor" at the same time. The GA IQ and the Simmer Blacktip are also really good wave sails - but only on the short 340 mast. The Goya Guru - with plenty of power - should appeal to surfers over 75kg, especially in the waves.
On flat water, the NeilPryde Combat and Goya Guru are blessed with the best riding stability and therefore also impress when storm riding on the Ammersee. The Severne Blade prevents any pressure point migration in constant wind on the 340, but is still more nervous in gusts. The Simmer Blacktip with both masts offers decent flat water performance for bump & jump conditions. The Ezzy shines on flat water - alongside the Blade - as the tail light, simply because it is the most hyperactive sail for waves in this group. The extremely short distance with the sail hand between "on" and "off" is fascinating for experienced surfers on the wave, but less desirable for heating on flat water.
Whichever sail you use: 3.7s are usually the hardest days - but with these tips and the right mast, they may also be the best days.
We have tested these masts:
Ezzy Wave 3.7
The "recommendation" The 340 base plus 370 top is on the sail - this results in a strongly profiled sail with almost no loose leech, which fidgets very nervously and with little holding power, with an independent "on-off" even on the straight. On the complete 340 mast, the sail no longer looks like an untrained dog, but is noticeably better behaved in the hand. The profile now dampens more, but overall it remains a particularly agile wave sail with the best "off" for advanced riding ability and good sailing sense. It was at its most versatile on the 370 mast: the transition between "on" and "off" is less abrupt when furling and furling tightly, there is always a bit of sail power to hold on to. Nevertheless, it is one of the extreme "off" sails that belong more in big waves and less in flat water.
ConclusionVery radical wave sail, best on the 370.
GA Sails IQ 3.6
Like day and night the two masts differ. On the 370, the sail already looks like a board with pre-curved battens on land. On the water, the angle has to be constantly corrected, and the sail tears abruptly at the arms in strong gusts. The situation is completely different on the 340 mast: here it is reminiscent of the very well-tested 4.2 Manic: when trimming, about one centimetre more is pulled on the boom, on the water the high holding forces of the 370 combo are blown away: trimmed both flat and bulbous, the entire sail suddenly "works" efficiently, appears more damped and is much more stable and at the same time lighter in the hand. The mixture of propulsion and control with very easy handling - and more "off" than "drive" on the wave - makes it a well-functioning, agile wave sail.
ConclusionForget the variant on the 370 mast. The sail works very well with the 340.
Goya Guru X Pro 3.7
The favour of choice is what the Goya set-up offers. On both masts, the Guru is a rather powerful "drive" sail - but always with good controllability. It offers more pressure than the Combat, but also less "off". Heavy surfers can reach for the 370 without hesitation and enjoy the sail as a powerful wave sail with a little belly. Trimmed completely flat, it becomes a little more nervous. Our lighter testers under 75 kilos still preferred the slightly softer set-up on the 340, but would also get on well with the 370. Even with a short mast, it retains the rather powerful characteristics with more punch than the GA IQ, but also a little less "off" on the wave. In any case, a good sail for flat water to really good wave conditions, with plenty of propulsion even for the North Sea.
ConclusionWith a fairly long 3.67 metre luff, the Goya works similarly well on both masts.
Neilpryde Combat Pro HD 3.7
On the 340 the Combat convinces as a well-damped, moderately agile wave sail that can also generate a lot of propulsion depending on the trim. It can also be trimmed for the best handling with very good "off" - the 3.7 is never "bitchy" even when pulled flat. It is always a little more playful in the hand than on the long mast and sets itself to "off" more quickly when furling. The longer mast also works well. The Combat feels tighter on it, but not "dead", it offers more drive, is even more stable in the hand, without pressure point migration and with very good controllability. It always provides secure holding power, is easy to set up and you can easily surf through the surf or across the lake.
ConclusionBoth masts work well - the 340 should mainly be used by dedicated wave riders, but the 370 also offers good wave characteristics in addition to good flat water suitability.
Severne Blade 3.7
In larger sizesthe Blade regularly impresses as a very controllable and agile wave sail with a wide range of use, but in size 3.7 the "blade" seems to be double-hardened - five battens are a bit much of a good thing here. The trim forces are high, especially on the 370 mast the sail already shows a lot of shape in the battens on land and causes a lot of batten pressure when shifting, the sail always feels very hard. A similar characteristic can be found on the 340, only in a slightly softer form. On the water, the perceived holding forces and a rather nervous ride predominate. In the waves, you could live with this on the short mast if necessary, but in gusty conditions the necessary stability for really relaxed surfing is missing.
ConclusionThe size 3.7 is only partially convincing on the 340, the 370 mast is not recommended. The S1 is our clear recommendation in this size.
Simmer Style Blacktip 3.7
Clear recommendations we can give the same advice for the Simmer: Light to medium surfers who surf a lot of waves go for the 340 and heavy surfers who surf a lot of flat water go for the 370. The differences are similar to NeilPryde, but somewhat more pronounced. Both masts work well to properly in the sails. On the 370, the sail needs visibly more loose leech to twist. It offers good performance, plenty of drive in the turn and pull into the jibe, but with sufficient "off", even if not like the Ezzy. The firm ride feel is transformed into a comfortably damped feeling on the 340. With only slightly increased holding forces, the sail is calmer on the board and accelerates more moderately and less rough in gusts. The speed feeling is somewhat lacking, but the handling is softer.
ConclusionBoth masts work and offer a good range of use from flat water to waves.
