5.8 ezzy Zeta

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

Just my thoughts after 2 sessions on this one. Its every thing that Ezzy sails are about. Build quality, attention to detail and cool looking. This is not an rebuilt Tiger. Its a bit more like an Elite but with a larger tuning range.
So, guys out on 7.5 Cheetah's going 90% of the time. I set it full just to see if I could make it go. It looked much different set that way compared to my 5.8 Tiger. Much deeper and not much head twist. I would not have thought that a sail set that soft would work well. I got it going with ease on my 96 liter board
and was surprise how stable it felt. It wasn't perfect set that way, being it touched the boom alot but I'm talking very lite winds. lots of soft power so a pump or two and I was off. When the wind did pick up a bit, the 7.5 guys where on the beach rigging 6.0's. I added a bit of down haul (set a medium) and the corresponding amount of out haul and the sail came alive. Lite, stable and fun. I wanted to test it against the guys 6.0's but by the time they rigged the wind backed off. If you get one, you must view the rigging and tuning video on the Ezzy site to get the most out of this new sail. Been riding Cheetah's and wanted to add a sail that i could do a few more tricks on. For me this really fits the bill.

combs · Joined: 01 Apr 1997 Posts: 130

Thanks for the interesting comments.

I ride cheetahs 5.5 and above and elites 5.0 and below.

I need to replace my 5-0 elite and was wondering if I should try a zeta.

Does anyone have feedback between those two sails in that size range?

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

I ride the smaller Elites 4.7 and down. At this size there is no reason to go to the 5 batten Zeta. Until I got the 5.8 Zeta, I used a 6.5 and 5.5 Cheetah down to a 4.7 and 4.2 Elite. At 615 lbs. the set up work for everything I do windsurfing. Well that a 3 boards. The Cheetah is the best for blasting back and forth on the lake. I replaced the 6.5 and 5.5 Cheetah with the 5.8 Zeta for my local lake. Wanted to simplify the gear a bit and do a few more sail tricks. That and I just wanted easy to use gear. So far so good.

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

I for got my answer. Maybe the 5.2 and above go Zeta. Smaller and the Elite fits the bill...

windward1 · Joined: 18 Jun 2000 Posts: 1400

Hi NOVAAN,

At 615 pounds, what volume size board do you use?

Brian.bigfella@gmail.com · Joined: 11 Jun 2012 Posts: 127

windward1 · Joined: 18 Jun 2000 Posts: 1400

Too FUNNY!!!

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

Typo But you guys are funny

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Novaan, you just discovered the trick to tuning ANY sail.
For light winds, use less downahaul and less outhaul.
For high winds, use more downhaul and more outhaul.
Like gears in a car, the sail can be tuned for different wind speeds.
In my quiver of 17 sails are sails from at least 7 different sailmakers. ALL can be tuned for the winds, all are very good, and all last about the same. Included are 4 Ezzy's of different sizes. There is not ONE superior sail.

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

Been windsurfing since 1982. I didn't just discover how to rig and tune a sail. I never said that one sail brand is superior to any other. I don't need 17 sails
in my quiver to enjoy a day on the water. I think it best to stay with one sail builder not have 7 different one's. Not all sails are good. All sails do not last the same amount of time. Just my opinion. I got a new design sail from a highly respected sailmaker. I thought some people might be interest in some input.