On the email this morning from Avanti HQ I received this
We are proud about the TEST in the famous and worlds biggest Windsurfing Magazine " PLANCHEMAG".
Our Avanti Sails Machine M-1x won the test of racing sails and got the "Coup de Couer" something like the "Heartthrob" Award.
This is all I have heard so far.
Heartthrob award! sounds interesting. I wonder what the french mean. Maybe a translation thing.
I will pass on more as it comes
Any 'good' or 'bad' result in the PlancheMag tests means lots commercially, as people tend to align with the general trend; but could mean much much less technically.
There are always been people posting on French windsurfing forums and doubting that the likes of the testers seem to be strangely reflecting the number of ad pages in the magazine. Also there is usually plenty of weird results that no one confirms by actually using the materials.
In the present case, I observe that my 'favourite brand' race sail seems to have been rigged on an older model mast; this is pretty clear by reading the description and looking the pics. Other users of the same brand will probably understand and agree ...
That said, the votes given to the M-1x are so much bold that - in my view - there must be at least something true.
It depends in how you (want) to read the test.
An other sail brand in the same test is awarded : The benchmark for slalom sails 2013 !!
I've an Avanti 8.5m M1 with mast and absolutely love the sail. As a first generation sail its only problem is rotation of the bottom camber out of gybes which has been addressed. Oh also possibly visibility is markedly reduced but I got used to looking through the small panel window and noting where other sailors are. My first impression was how freaking light the whole rig was and when derigging the absence of crinkling sounds as there is NO mono-film. My sail quiver is 8.5/7/6.3/5.6/5 so the 8.5 has good bottom end and when over-powered for me the 7m slots right in.
Again it's my most favoured sail
So the Loft Blade won on performance and Avanti on the construction?
It'd be good to know what each criterion meant against the respective rankings.
Okay think I've worked a couple out:
1. Planing performance
2. Control
7. Profile stability
8. Ease of cam rotation
Sounds like the French loved both the Loft and Avanti
You would expect Avanti to win the construction category's, depends whether all not its worth the extra money (660 euro's).
The 2013 7.8 Blade is certainly a stand out.
they only test what the brands want to deliver them.
and good translation Sausage !! I think you're ready to come over !!
Feel of the sail is an interesting thing especially in top notch race kit, what makes one guy faster on one brand over another can be is as simple as the fin in the board and its relationship with the sail tested, or the mast track position for one sail relative to another on a given board. The amount of downhaul and so on.....
At the end of the day they all fly, and it's more about picking a sail brand you want to be associated with, that will look after you if you have any problems.
Support and backup that should be a key consideration
My 2 cents
1.Planing performance
2. Control in very strong wind
3.medium wind
4. strong wing
5.weight (feeling in the arms)
6.flex (as in doesn't rip your arms out)
7. Profile stability
8. Ease of cam rotation
pardon the bad english....
But Gun sails you buy for full list price, while others can be discounted, so ...?
but I still buy both....
