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rexi
Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 155
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:07 am Post subject: Gaastra sailors here? |
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I´m thinking about getting a quiver of Gaastra/GA sails due to availability up here.
I´m looking for a sail for all my sailing needs, flatwater freestyle (nothing advanced just the most basic sliding moves) to waves onshore to side off. I have been using 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 but now i will try 4.2 4.7 and 5.3. and keep my 3.5 and 4.0 as extra sails.
Those of you who have experience with the GA sails what model would you reccomend. I was thinking the manic HD. HD To keep it as strong as possible since i sail reefs, mess up regularly and there is no proper repair shop up here. -and according to the website the Manic would be the allaround wave sail in their range.
Then it´s the 4 batten IQ, will that have less power/ get me going later or possibly just a more fun/manouverable sail then the manic ?
and Poison power wave. Is that too stiff for my 78kg? (without my 6mm neoprene). |
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joethewindsufa
Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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delete
Last edited by joethewindsufa on Sat Oct 31, 2015 11:04 am; edited 1 time in total |
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manuel
Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1158
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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Funny how this is just what my quiver turned into. I'm at 67kgs and sail 15-25 knots, side-on.
I currently have a 4.5 IQ and a 5.3 Manic HD.
The IQ is feather light and extremely easy to handle (clew-first, backwind, depower), I cannot comment on top end yet, apparently it's not so good.
The Manic isn't as light feeling but has almost no limit on the top end, incredible stable and precise. It's direct with a nice safe pull. They both rig fairly flat.
For my weight I'd have a 5.0 as my biggest sail (it's nicer in the waves anyway) and possibly a 4-batten version (depending on how happy I am with the 4.5 stability in stronger gusty winds).
For your 4.2 / 4.7 / 5.3 probably makes more sense.
The Poison has a bit more grunt than the Manic which is convenient to cross critical section in lighter winds side-onshore conditions at the cost of some maneuverability. _________________ *NEW* - Manu's Windsurfing Blog, The STORE! |
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U2U2U2
Joined: 06 Jul 2001 Posts: 5467 Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 8:15 am Post subject: |
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I had older Manics, they were as described above.
My feeling is they are opposite Ezzys in feel.
One of my sailing companions uses Ezzy, rx 6.0
And Manics in smaller. He likes the more flick about feel, and going neutral.
I would check the mast curve necessary to,get the performance you seek on them. I read that they have moderated the hard top of previous years, to more a constant curve.
ANDY at Wind-NC , SELL them, and will offer straight advice.
For a production sail, the Ezzy Taka 3batten ticks all the boxes for me. _________________ K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you
http://www.k4fins.com/fins.html
http://4boards.co.uk/ |
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rigitrite
Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 520 Location: Kansas City
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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You really need a good freestyle sail, Rexi. It stinks that you're in a place that has limited availability, but I'd avoid Gaastra. It's been 15 years, but I sailed a bunch of new Gaastra sails in Costa Rica that I hated. I sail Sailworks Revolutions; you'd love a quiver of those, for sure. It'd be worth it to make a two week trip to the Gorge and come back with a quiver of Revo's. Look at the Bonaire guys and many of the other top freestylers sail and go with that. _________________ Kansas City |
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rexi
Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 155
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manuel
Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1158
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 2:20 am Post subject: |
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Forgot to talk about construction. To me Gaastra wave sails ride really well but they tend to be fragile / brittle. This is from looking at them, and also seeing my friend tearing them apart.
I've used mine on Ezzy and Fiberspar masts. Apparently they are much better on hard top masts although I'm not quite sure how different they really are on different masts? _________________ *NEW* - Manu's Windsurfing Blog, The STORE! |
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GarryW
Joined: 11 Mar 2001 Posts: 171
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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As someone who has sailed Gaastra exclusively for 20 years I would lean towards the Manic HD. I weigh 100 kilos so I'm a Poison guy but my smallest sails are Manics and I love them. I agree with regards to the mast situation. NoLimtz makes what we call a Gaastra special which is a gray bottom and sumo top. That's the mast that Matt Pritchard and the US team riders use. I have to disagree with an earlier post regarding durability. The Gorge is tough on sails and I've never had an issue with materials and construction. |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5330 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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Windsurfing for 33 years, working at shops selling equipement for 25 years.
Gaastra's are the best, last longer than NP's, similar to Norths, and Matrix's similar to Retros, very tunable, long lasting, fast as anything on the water tuned correctly.
Most freestyler's around here use them for two full seasons, easy 90 days a year.
Very similar to Maui Sails in feel. |
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rexi
Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 155
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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the input guys.
I sailed my Dads old (ca 2006/7) 4.0 manic the other day and i liked the general feel of the sail, pretty light in the hands and with a nice pull. I don´t know about the construction of the newer sails but that old sail is still in pretty good shape except the monofilm is all scratched up which is just part of the game.
I guess if the IQ would come in HD i would go for that but have a hard time deciding if i´ll go for the manic Hd or IQ. I will keep you posted about what i´ll end up with |
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