I got to try the new simmer style sails range recently so I thought I would do a quick review to compare them. One of the things I like what Simmer have done, is make a big range of sails. 4 wave sails, a free style sail and a whole bunch of flat water and racey sails. I only got to try the wave sails, but I was really impressed. The sails are all well built and finished nicely.
Mission X: This continues on from the Xflex. This is their toughest sideshore sail. It feels very light and responsive. If I was always sailing at margs or at geraldton when its nuking, this would be an ideal sail. Or lighter sailors in onshore conditions might also like the light feeling, and super tough design. I would love to have these sails for when it is absolutely out of control in winter fronts or a strong sea breeze in the small sizes as well.
Mission: This continues on from the old vision. It has the same cut as the Mission X but has monofilm panels in the middle. I really, really liked this sail. I tried in small sizes and up to a 5.6. Even the 5.6 still feels like a light weight wave sail. It feels light and crisp, and has everything you could really want for in a good wave sail. If I could have an endless stock of sails, this would in there. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen so instead I think most riders would go for the Mission X. The mission X feels similar, but has all the reinforcing. But even so, the Mission was a great sail, and if I was going to be careful, then this sail was ideal.
Iron: This sail has stacks of power. As much as any other wave sail I have tried. It has a huge big belly. It’s not my first choice, but I know a few sailors down at scarbs, mullaloo, pinneroo and the river that would have this sail absolutely loaded up and flying. If I was lucky enough to have spare sails, I definitely would like these for metro conditions.
Icon: This is my favorite out of the bunch. To me, it picks up almost all the best features out of the range. It has the full X ply. It has some power, more than the mission X, but not too much so that it feels locked in. The sails had an amazing rigging range. The head really twists off if you need to crank it down. It felt neutral enough for me for all the kind of conditions I will be going in. If it was purely always side shore, I would go Mission X. But I found the Icon is good enough to be in side shore, but with also enough power for the onshore days.
The finish on all the sails is top notch. I like that the heads have gone fixed again. It just makes the top of the sail feel secure and well built. The clew ring is great, being just a ring so that you can pull it flush to the boom. The mast foot pad is really thick. The very top of the sail is really solid, made out of a Dacron like material. I like this as this seems to be a weak spot in older sails, from either poking it down on the reef or rocks or just for rolling the sails up after years.
Sailed the mission x last week in a 5.3...Only sail ever to sway me away from the ezzys...Light in the hands, power when you need it and clear vision...
I hate to reply to my own thread, but I just read this and thought I would share it. Jonas Ceballos, 3rd in the world in waves chooses Mission X, and Victor Fernandez, 2nd in the world in waves chooses Icon.
www.pwaworldtour.com/index.php?id=29
