Buying a six-metre sail is not as straightforward as it may initially seem. Sifting through the models available on the market, you soon realise that this size encompasses a massive cross-section of sail styles, from a fully cammed no-compromise race sail through to the softest most dedicated down-the-line wave sail. It comes as no surprise therefore, that it is undoubtedly one of the most popular sail sizes bought, with most windsurfers having one in their quiver.
Like the board test this month, we have divided this six-metre sail review into two, with half going in this month,s issue, and half due to go in the March issue. The eight contenders here are the more manoeuvre-specialist sails, many of which hail from the wave or freestylecamp. Differing greatly in set and style, they all aim to fulfil the role of offering response and
handling across as wide a range as possible. Next month, the seven sails put through their paces come from a more freemove/freeride background, generally providing more straightline ease and performance.
So what can you expect from the eight sails reviewed over the next couple of pages? Well,lets look at the criteria required of a sail to make it appropriate for each discipline. A wave sail should provide the handling and instantaneous response to ride waves, supplying the energy to power shorter, less efficient hulls. In their larger sizes (6.0m is pretty much the largest size you would want a wave sail in), they should feel light easy and breathable,capable of handling the most confused sea states. Their downside is that they wont possess the top end efficiency or pointing prowess to feel comfortable on larger freeride boards, often feeling like they’re holding the hull back. Freestyle sails on the other hand
have gone through a dramatic transformation over the last few years, from being very
specialist with little range, to become some of the most versatile sails around. Designed for use predominantly on flat-water, their strengths are getting the board up and on the plane
as quickly as possible, before feeling supremely light, balanced and compact in the hands,going neutral for the most technical transitions. Their shortfall tends to be their straight-line
comfort, feeling ill at ease as they gather speed due to their high power bands and inability to be locked down.
These are of course big generalisations, as many of these sails have evolved to become excellent all-round sails, providing the range and performance irrespective of the discipline they are used in, or the board they are partnered with. As such, there is not a sail that we can single out and say is ‘the best in test’, as the best one for you very much depends on your requirements – your weight, ability, sailing style and board choice. Our job therefore is to describe the behaviour of each sail and try to classify where its market lies; by reading the tests in full and viewing their ‘suitability charts’, hopefully you’ll gain a good understanding of each sail and be able to choose the right one for you.
