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SAILWORKS
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RETRO 5.5
Mast: 430/21.5 Boom:
Battens: Cams: NONE
Weight: 8/3.6kg Speed: 4.50 Power: 4.75 Stability: 4.50 Range: 4.50 Wtrstart: 4.50 Overall: 4.55 Price: $526
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RETRO 5.5, 6.0, 7.0
The sails are named Retro because their objective is to make sailing easy, simple and fun, like it used to be. The plus is that now, because of expanded sail-building knowledge, it can also be fast and powerful.
Sailworks is clearly in the progressive shaping corner. The shape of the sail fills in as the wind load increases, which moves the draft forward for a stable, springy, rheostat-like delivery and release of power. A firm leech, with three light anti-flutter battens, is intended to provide low-end power, while allowing the sail to be highly responsive to pumping. It also makes over-downhauling counterproductive, as control in gusts comes more from twist built into the shape, not tuning—Peterson was a pioneer in the exploration of head twist, more than a decade ago.
The foil has been deepened in 2000 Retros. An enormously simple and rewarding feature is the three small hashmarks in the panel below the top batten; you downhaul until the crease touches the first, second or third, for low, medium and high wind. There’s a stainless triple pulley at the bottom of the sleeve, as well as built-in padding. The tube battens are tightened with an allen wrench that can be carried neatly in a pocket at the foot. Retros of 6.0 meters and up have six battens, 5.5 and down have five—each with four battens above the boom. Finally, the monofilm is stepped—thinner above for balance, thicker below for strength.
RETRO 5.5
SCORE: (4 ratings)
Speed4.5 Power 4.75 Stability 4.5 Range 4.5 Waterstart 4.5 Overall 4.55
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RETRO 6.0
Mast: 430/21.5 Boom: 182
Battens: 6 Cams: NONE
Weight: 9/4kg Speed: 4.25 Power: 4.25
Stability: 4.25 Range: 4.13 Wtrstart: 4.13 Overall: 4.20 Price: $538
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COMMENTS:
This sail, the best-selling Retro, came late to the test, which explains the low number of ratings. With such sky-high scores, it’s unfortunate there wasn’t any elaboration.
STAFF: Speed 4.5, Power 4.5, Stability 4.0, Range 4.0, Waterstart 4.0
Nevin Sayre said, “Impressive all-around, even though I was sailing it on a wave board [RRD 258] and in chest-high waves.”
RETRO 6.0
SCORE: (8 ratings)
Speed 4.25 Power 4.25 Stability 4.25 Range 4.13 Waterstart 4.13 Overall 4.20
COMMENTS:
“I sailed it overpowered, and although it didn’t feel overpowered, I had a difficult time oversheeting in a jibe. It seemed to have a rearward center of effort,” said Tony Cicale. Peterson, a major Indy car racing fan, and Cicale, engineer for Mario Andretti, Jacques Villeneuve and now Paul Tracy, had a lot to talk about. Naturally, Bruce told him it was all in the tuning.
“Where has this sail been all my life? I sailed it way overpowered, until the fin just couldn’t take the pressure any more. Never once twitched or jerked. It lets you know you have wind in your sail, but allows you to control it. Wide, smooth power band.”
“Jesus Christ, this thing is fast!” (overheard, not commited to paper)
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RETRO 7.0
Mast: 460/25 Boom: 201
Battens: 6 Cams: NONE
Weight: 9.5/4.3kg Speed: 4.00
Power: 4.20 Stability: 3.60 Range: 3.60
Wtrstart: 3.60 Overall: 3.80 Price: $568
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STAFF: Speed 4.33, Power 4.33, Stability 4.0, Range 3.67, Jibe 3.67, Overall 4.0
Said Mark Archer, explaining his 3’s in Stability and Range, “Sailing overpowered, for the best part this sail was a real joy, having good balance, speed and control. Except when the big gusts came the sail began to lift me.”
RETRO 7.0
SCORE: (5 ratings)
Speed 4.0 Power 4.2 Stability 3.6 Range 3.6 Waterstart 3.6 Overall 3.8
COMMENTS:
“Definitely speedy, and real grunty,” said dealer Jim De Silva, “but it had a heavy feel. Very sensitive to outhaul setting (as all of these no-cam sails are). Easy rotation, which really makes windsurfing more enjoyable.”
STAFF: Mark Archer gave it 4’s in Speed, Power and Stability, a 3 in Range and 2 in Waterstart. He said, “The main feature I noticed on this sail was the softness of the ride, along with its power and stability.” No explanation for the 2 in Waterstart.
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