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WINDWING CATALYST WAVE 4.0, 4.2, 4.7
The Catalyst Wave is a new design for 2000, with a higher aspect ratio thanks to the D2T and a foot that's cut higher for today's more radical maneuvers, including "extended flight." Windwing's R&D sailor, Tony Barbieri, a.k.a. "Sargeant Loop," had a lot to do with that. Bomb-proof construction (It's intended to be the strongest sail ever made," says Hansen) includes a full X-ply body; glued, double-stitched and laminated seams; load-bearing foot and window straps; and a PVC window. The stainless 6:1 downhaul pulley, a rare feature on wave sai
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CATALYST WAVE 4.2
Mast: 430/21 Boom: 153
Battens: 5 Cams: NONE
Weight: 7.5/3.4kg Speed: 4.10 Power: 4.13 Stability: 3.75 Range: 3.75 Wtrstart: 4.25 Overall: 3.98 Price: $509
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ls, is one example of Windwing's uncompromising use of the best materials. The pulleys also make rigging much easier for women.
CATALYST WAVE 4.0
Hansen pulled this sail out of his truck when the wind demanded it, mostly so Jackie Butzen could keep flying off the waves instead of being blown to the Big Island. She sailed it on two big-winds days in a row, and gave it 4's and 5's with a 3 in Stability, because, when she was overpowered, "It was difficult to control," she said. "In the strongest gusts I was getting tugged and back-handed. But when the wind backed off I had a ball."
But it was rigged on a 400/21 Windwing mast, taken from one of Hansen's personal rigs, when the sail calls for a 370/17. The fact that it was only difficult and not impossible to control may actually be high praise.
CATALYST WAVE 4.2
SCORE: (8 ratings)
Speed 4.0 Power 4.13 Stability 3.75 Range 3.75 Waterstart 4.25 Overall 3.98
COMMENTS:
With the 4.2, Jackie echoed her feelings on the 4.0. "Powerful, and performs well in marginal conditions, but difficult to control when overpowered. It tugged at me." She tried to correct it with outhaul adjustment, but couldn't dial it in. This sail was rigged on the correct mast, a 370/17.
In a very windy session, Tim Quarles never said the Windwing was difficult, but he found the Sailworks 4.0 Revo "a bit better in the gusts." Of course, it was also a bit smaller.
CATALYST WAVE 4.7
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CATALYST WAVE 4.7
Mast: 430/25 Boom: 171
Battens: 5 Cams: NONE
Weight: 8.5/3.9kg Speed: 4.00 Power: 4.15 Stability: 4.15 Range: 4.31 Wtrstart: 4.23 Overall: 4.17 Price: $549
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SCORE: (12 ratings)
Speed 3.75 Power 4.0 Stability 4.17 Range 4.08 Waterstart 4.17 Overall 4.00
COMMENTS:
"I sailed this both underpowered and overpowered, and had a great time throughout," said Gerry Sollner.
"Very well built with lots of range," said Steve Gottleib.
"It seemed twitchy," said Ralph Ruffolo, a dealer who describes himself as a "perpetual intermediate." He noted that he was underpowered. Twitchiness is not something that usually appears in those conditions. "I would have preferred the locked-in feeling of my trusty Pryde MPR's," he added, not surprisingly, as he sells them.
"Unstable going upwind," said Jackie Butzen, still obviously struggling to come to grips with the Windwing waves.
"So-so," said Randy Johnson, another dealer who doesn't sell them. But he gave it all 4's and one 5, which is actually four Goods and one Excellent, and equals an individual average of 4.25.
STAFF:
"Power, lots of power, along with incredible stability make this a great wave sail for those who like to know they have wind in their sail without any control problems." But "power, lots of power" was still only worth a 4 to him in that category. Same for Speed, the rest 5's.
Maybe as with the Hot Sails Maui wave sails, it might simply get down to a compatibility of sailing styles and sail feel. Preference.
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