#August 31, 2005
Planchemag test - The O2 is the heart-throb for the test team!
The Loft O2 Freerace 8.4 takes on cambered rivals as the ONLY cam-free design in Planchemag`s 2005 performance freeride test and comes away a winner. Check out the results for yourself:
THE LOFT SAILS O2 Freerace 8.4
The absolute versatility, the heart-throb for the test Team.
The only sail without cambers of this test, the Loft by Monty Spindler covers at the same time a Freeride and a Freerace program, with step less than 8 battens, of which the top one has a curve at the head. More reinforced than the other sails, it offers in particular more X-Ply at the borders and at the head. Equipped with a vario head, it profits from a very beautiful mast protection with an opening to velcro on bottom to reach the triple pulley more easily. Beautiful work. We tested it on a 75% carbon Amex mast.
SAILING
The most simple to trim and to tend, Loft presents a flat static profile, wind is necessary to form the sail profile.
Upon contact with water, the O2 is a feather, one has the feeling to have one 7,5 m2 in the arms!! The very narrow sleeve and the flat profile accentuate this effect in the phases of non-planing. Another strong point, it is very pleasant and powerful when pumping.
Once in the wind, the 8.4m2 enters in scene, with good power to get planing. Very nervous, it is at the same time easy to use and very sporty, with an acceleration and a dash speed on the level of a good sail with cambers. Even better, one is close to the performances of a race sail downwind and straight on, yet with more lightness. Thin in attack, it is controlled without forcing, it is stable in gusts by exhausting from its effective, twisting head. It is really very pleasant, one passes very well through soft holes in the wind, as well one is super stable and one can handle strong gusts. Compared to its rival with camber Severne Overdrive of 8.5m2, Loft is a little less powerful in the mini winds, a little more time is needed so that the profile is set up and one is fixed.
In pure speed, the two sails make equal play appreciably (with an advantage for Severne in downwind conditions).
More light, more dynamics, more handy, The Loft 8.4 is appropriate for light and medium weight windsuerfers and intermediates who seek the the best power/lightness ratio.
In the gusty winds, the head of the sail opens very extremely, which at the same time makes it possible to accelerate and evacuate gusts without saturating. A person with a medium/heavy weight will be able without problem to exploit it until 18/20 knots of wind. For planning, it is necessary to have between 9/10 knots for a light person with 10/11 knots for a heavy person pumping a little.
CONCLUSION
Light for a sail of 8.4m2, easy to trim and to regulate, this O2 Freerace makes it possible to navigate with force 3-4 without having this feeling of heaviness which have certain sails with cambers. Alive, it breathes very extremely and develops a really high level of performance. It is the heart-throb in this test for its extreme versatility.
Lightness: 5/5
Power: 3/5
Performance: 4/5
manouvers: 5/5
High wind control: 5/5
+ : Lightness, high wind range, accesibility, monouvers, performance, feeling.
- : NOTHING !!!
www.windsurfingsales.com.au
www.loftsails.com
