Windsurfing Equipment Tests - American Windsurfer

Sails: Gaastra @ Aruba

Novice Control Speed Race Explore Balance

Gaastra Total Flow Freeslalom

We enjoyed the sheer power this sail had to offer. It's a pumping machine that offers as much power as many sails a half meter bigger and tremendous feedback at the low end. At the same time it has good stability and speed - not quite as much as it’s race sail sibling, the Total Flow F1 1.1, but more than most freeride sails. It works best with quite a bit of downhaul tension, but the shaping of the sail is such that an enormous amount of downhaul doesn’t yield better range. The leech loosens in the top of the sail but the looseness doesn’t extend downward toward the clew very far. This is what gives the sail such power and pumpability. While this sail is almost race-sail fast and rangy, it’s also on the heavy side, and much of the weight is located up high in the tip and fittings that attach the tip to the mast. This combined with the wide luff sleeve makes it hard to waterstart. Still, for the strong sailor who wants power and range, the Freeslalom delivers.

Size tested 7.0
Mast 430–30
Boom 7’3”
Weight 11.8
Durability C
Downhaul Ease 7
Rig Ease 4.0
Speed 7.5
Power 8.5
Stability 8.5
Waterstart 7.5
Rotation 7.0
Luffability 6.0
Price $590

American Windsurfer Magazine
http://www.americanwindsurfer.com/

Editorial: (603) 293-2721 Subscriptions: (800) 292-2772
FAX: (603) 293-2723 E-mail: info@americanwindsurfer.com
Web Site comments: web@americanwindsurfer.com