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Some of our testers have already covered thousands of kilometres in speed runs with freerace sails from different brands. But competing with a wave sail against a 2-cam freerace sail? Going into a manoeuvre session with a 7-batten sail against a five-batten sail? These were new experiences in the test with some unpredictable results. Using the NeilPryde range as an example, we tried this out extensively with five sails, all of which are theoretically available side by side in sizes 6.0 to 6.2 square metres, in order to answer the most important questions:
- Which boards does a sail type go with?
- Does a wave sail or freerace sail, for example, also require a high level of riding ability?
- How big are the differences in speed between the different types of sails?
- Which manoeuvres can still be surfed well with a certain type of sail - and where does the fun end?
Speed rating of the sails is clear
In terms of performance, the race is quickly run out, at least between the two blocks. On the one hand, the freerace sails, in this case Speedster and V8, which can clearly set themselves apart. The internal duel between the two - Camber/NoCam - is pretty close. The second block with the wave sail, the freemove sail and the freeride sail is not homogeneous, but close together, although the gap to the two performance bolters at the end of a one-kilometre run is considerable and cannot be compensated for with a slightly better riding technique. After one kilometre on identical boards, the freeracer is between 50 and 100 metres ahead of the wave surfer. If you take speed very seriously, go for a freerace sail - with or without camber.
Do you need a high level of sailing skill for this? Especially when it comes to heating, the 7-batten sails are not more demanding, but particularly easy. 180 km/h on the motorway is also more relaxed and easier to drive in a luxury saloon than in a small car - for long-distance professionals and beginners alike. Powerful sails need not be at a disadvantage in manoeuvres. Those who like fast Race Jibes If you surf with a wave sail like the Atlas Pro, you will of course get the easiest handling, but with the freerace sail the entry speed and the pull into the jibe is significantly higher. With good riding skills, the performance sail is therefore even better suited for this special manoeuvre variant.
We compared these sails with each other
- 1 Atlas Pro 6.2:Wave sail with five battens and high-tech cloth material: Specialist for all wave areas.
- 2 V8 6,2:Pure performance with seven battens and two cambers. For dedicated heaters and fast freeride and freerace boards.
- 3 Speedster 6.2:Representative of the fastest camberless sailing class with a seven-batten corset.
- 4 Fusion 6.0:Freemove all-rounder for moderate waves, bump & jump, flat water and for glide climbers.
- 5 Ryde 6.2:Freeride is the golf class of windsurfing: efficient, uncomplicated and very versatile.
Wave sails: strengths and weaknesses
The best choice for riding breaking waves, but also a real option for advanced manoeuvring surfers on flat water.
Particularly manoeuvrable and agile
Neutral in manoeuvres
Unbeatable in the wave
Not for heating
More sailing feeling required
The wave sail in the test (Atlas Pro) is handier, more neutral and more agile in manoeuvres than all the other sails. Even the Fusion freemoving sail can't quite match it. Without wind pressure, the sail pulls itself completely flat, just as you would want it to when riding real waves. For experienced surfers, however, the wave sail is not a bad choice even on flat water - if it is strapped to waveboards, freestyle boards or freemoveboards. It is ideal for all (including new school) freestyle moves that already exist - and all those that are still being invented. Experts can direct it more nimbly on flat water and in the waves and rotate it at lightning speed.
However, wave sails cannot be put down on the board for speeding on flat water. Where the famous "close the gap" between sail and board should happen, the door is wide open. This costs a few kilometres per hour in our comparisons. In addition, wave sails do not have absolute stability built in in favour of agility and react more sensitively to wind shifts, gusts and wind holes and need to be adjusted more sensitively. If you are not yet able to glide straight ahead with confidence, the freemoving sail will give you the stability you need to hold on, but experienced windsurfers can also opt for a wave sail instead of a freemoving sail for almost exclusive use on flat water. The ideal boards are all wave and freemove boards (also available as Freestylewaveboards labelled). On comfort freeride boards such as a JP Magic Ride, powerful 5-batten models such as the NeilPryde Atlas also feel reasonably comfortable, but they are not the best choice for "just" heating and jibing.
"I would also use the Atlas wave sail on a freestyle wave board." (surf tester Tobias Holzner)
Freemoving sails: strengths and weaknesses
On the one hand, a manoeuvring all-rounder for flat water, choppy water and smaller surf, plus ideal for intermediates.
Very good manoeuvring handling
Decent performance
Very broad target group
For almost all areas
No special suitability
With the Fusion, our testers felt visibly at ease on the sometimes choppy, sometimes flat water at Pigeon Point - just as it might be on Fehmarn, Lake Neusiedl or Lake Garda. The freemoving sail is a touch more stable in the hand than the wave sail. "It's even suitable for beginners," was the unanimous opinion, and then in the next round of testing, they conjured up speed loops, air jibes and spocks in front of the beach. The Fusion sets off almost as early as the Ryde freeride sail, but is much more playful and easier to handle. With the less flared foot, you simply have more legroom for manoeuvres such as 360s or carving jibes - and a little more pull than with the wave sail.
Freemove sails like the Fusion are suitable for almost all skill levels and all waters. Ideally surfed on freemove boards or freeride boards, they can be used to perform advanced freestyle manoeuvres, as well as to learn planing and water starts. Compared to the freeride sail, you lose slightly in the speed duel in strong winds, but in normal power jibes with good entry speed, we couldn't tell a big difference between a Ryde, Speedster or Fusion: All of them rotate beautifully, only the Speedster accelerates again immediately after shifting, which requires a little more precise footwork. A Fusion, on the other hand, doesn't immediately pull you overboard even if there are minor timing inconsistencies. Especially true beginners who practise in light winds will win with the Fusion in the jibe against the Speedster freerace sail. Between 5.0 and 6.5 square metres, freemoving sails are perhaps the most important sail class for windsurfers of all skill levels, as long as they don't regularly surf in real surf waves, freestyle extremely or are looking for maximum speed.
Freeride sails: strengths and weaknesses
The classics for flat water: with good performance and balanced handling. From water starts to duck jibes and 360s, these sails grow with you.
Easy to surf
Good performance
Handling in gybes
Value for money
No special suitability
With six battens and a slight profile shape in the sail - even without wind pressure - the Ryde is a classic freeride representative. According to our test impression, the sail simply belongs on a freeride board, perhaps even on an intermediate board (with centreboard). It fits perfectly with a Magic Ride, for example. Such sails combine good, passive planing (a tad better than the freemoving sail) with more top speed, better controllability and they are easy to put down on the board for performance and a sporty feel: The performance-reducing gap is closed. With slightly more holding power than the freemoving sail, it is very stable in the hands and ensures good speed across the entire wind range - without any technical refinements.
Even as a windsurfing beginner, you can use a sail like this to learn all manoeuvres from water start to power jibe and really step on the gas - the outline and sail shape are also suitable for the duck jibe or a 360. Of course, you can also try an air jibe on a freemove board, but if you own a freemove board, it's better to go straight for the right freemove sail. Because for the additional performance of the freeride sail, the faster freeride board actually belongs to the tuned motor like the wide tyres.
Freerace no-cam sails: strengths and weaknesses
The fastest sails without camber. Almost as fast as the camber sail, but a touch more versatile in manoeuvres
Very fast
Very good controllability in strong winds
Large wind range
Not quite as manoeuvrable as the freeride sail
As a representative of the Freerace No-Cam group, the Speedster was doubly convincing. The sail is super fast and is only beaten by the V8 camber sail in top speed, where it is an estimated 30 metres behind after one kilometre. It leaves the other three sails clearly (Ryde) to superior behind. But it also performs very well in planing and acceleration, scoring one point ahead of the Ryde and two ahead of the V8 according to our points system. And, here it comes, with really good jibe handling. Of course, a 360 still works quite well and even the occasional duck jibe - but with the outhaul this is no longer the intended range of use and is pretty much the end of the useful manoeuvres. In sporty, fast carving jibes, however, it pulls into the turn at top speed and with good drive - and with good foot technique and the right time to push, it pulls out of the turn at full throttle.
Of course, you have to put it down and set it up a little more courageously, but you are rewarded with a faster manoeuvre. Just as a slalom ski is certainly more strenuous to ride than a beginner's ski, but you can definitely carve better with it. The one point in top speed that the Speedster loses compared to the V8 is gained in medium winds and in wind holes. In order for the V8 to keep up overall, you would have to choose half a size bigger. Camberless freerace sails like the Speedster need at least a fast freeride board - or a freerace board like a JP Supersport, for example. And if you can glide safely in the loops and harness, you don't need to be afraid of this sailing class, which can really catapult you forwards in terms of speed. The sail is as stable as a board in a straight line.
"With the V8 I was even able to do perfect 360s because I go in so fast - and the sail rotates really well." (surf tester Frank Lewisch)
Freerace 2-Cam sails: strengths and weaknesses
Two cambers in the centre-wide mast sleeve support the profile. These sails are only one class below professional racing sails.
Very, very fast
Wide range of use in one trim
Top controllability in strong winds
Higher price
Wider mast pocket
Restrictions for certain manoeuvres
The NeilPryde V8 has two plastic clips in the wider mast pocket, which support two battens on the thin RDM mast. This ensures a permanent profile and a lot of tension in the sail. Nevertheless, the sail rotates wonderfully in the jibe and on the straight it impresses with a huge range of use in just one trim setting. From planing to top speed, it is designed for acceleration. In order to overcome the small turbo lag, it is often necessary to choose a sail half a size larger - but this is the main "disadvantage" that comes at the price of the best performance.
We would not recommend a camber sail to surfers who struggle with the water start or jibe rather timidly. When actively jibing, however, the V8 jibes just as easily as the Speedster and offers the same advantages: namely the highest entry speed, solid drive into the turn and immediate pull out again. Because it can never pull flat and be neutral, restrained jibing is even less the order of the day here. The dead centre should be passed as quickly as possible by fast planing. Only a freerace board or a fast freeride board really suits this type of sail. Of course with four loops in the outboard position, because otherwise the performance advantage of the freerace camber sail can't be teased out.
