The last bags are packed and on their way to the airport, and we say goodbye to Tobago! The last days of testing were once again very intensive - many topics still had to be finalised, last pictures had to be taken and articles had to be prepared at the same time.
After a day's forced break due to the tide - which was filled with plenty of photo shoots on land - we were able to send the 7.8 sails out onto the water for a few test runs. During a comparison run, an explosive shot suddenly reverberated across the water; the bang could even be heard on land. A mast had come off completely out of the blue, suddenly bursting out of nowhere as we were planing. After a lengthy swim, a towing operation and an escort by the station's safety boat over the last few metres, people and (remaining) equipment were back on land, fortunately there were still replacements and the journey could soon continue.
For the last action pictures, it was a case of "grit your teeth" - or "shut up and keep quiet". While the station guests were already busy with their 5 to 6-metre sails, we had to make the 7.8-metre sails as photogenic as possible. This was sometimes impossible, at least in the gusts, and it was only later that the wind gave us short breaks in which we were able to sail in a reasonably controlled manner. "I've always dreamed of being a surf tester, but when I saw you guys this morning, I was glad I didn't have to go out there," commented a Surf & Action crew member on our clipping exercises on the big lobes.
As always, Tobago and the spot at Pigeon Point almost always offered us wind and good conditions, only on two days we couldn't get on the water. A huge thank you goes to Radical Sports Tobago with Brett and his crew, who are a perfect base for us and where there is always a cold beer after work in the evening. We will be presenting our test results to you one by one in the coming issues - stay tuned, there are lots of exciting products to discover!
Part 4: Less wind now, please - the surf test enters the home straight
How, are the three weeks almost up already? The surf test on Tobago is entering the home straight, there's been a lot going on in the last few days. With the wind continuing to be strong, another test group is "in the bag" and after lots of comparison rides and manoeuvres, the freeride boards have been fully tested. When the spot at Pigeon Point was still empty in the morning, there were always quick photo shoots with the various sails and boards, and the smaller tests of surf shoes, harnesses and headgear have also been completed.
"Since when does a tandem sail around here?" (Station guest wonders about the sails sticking close together during our comparison trips)
Now we are hoping for less wind, for which almost every other windsurfer will shake their head and call us crazy (sorry!). Because the 7.8 race sails that we started with still have to be ridden against each other. However, the "big lobes" would have been almost impossible to ride in the past few days, even the 6.7 comparison sails were almost impossible to hold. And a test beyond the pain threshold is not only difficult to communicate to the health insurance company in the end, but also hardly meaningful.
Unforgettable bioluminescence tour with the SUP
A highlight of the week took place away from the testing: Station manager Brett from Radical Sports Tobago had invited the surf team on a bioluminescence tour. The lagoon, about two kilometres upwind from the spot at Pigeon Point, is home to billions of tiny plankton particles that glow in the dark when touched. The principle is similar to that of fireflies, but in the water. After dark, we took to the water on the SUP - paddling in the dark under a starry sky is an experience in itself. In the lagoon, at the edge next to the mangroves hanging into the water, the water begins to glow with every paddle stroke, each movement creating a glittering trail. In between, we jump into the water ourselves and can see the glow down to our feet as we swim - unforgettable. On the way back, Brett leads us past places where turtles and rays are swimming curiously around us. Above the water, 30 cm tall bats hunt jumping fish with their claws - only the four baby sharks living there are nowhere to be seen. Perhaps that's for the best...
Rum punch party and familiar faces
In the meantime, the participants of the Learnivals from Surf & Action arrived in Tobago. They can watch us testing and ask us questions - many are initially amazed at the mountain of brand new material in our warehouse. The infamous rum punch party at the station was also a highlight as always - the stuff tastes like fruit juice, the effect of the rum is delayed with a "punch" that should not be underestimated...
A familiar face has also been out on the water for a few days now: Heiner Gerstenschläger, EWe introduced you to the surfing world some time ago in a big surf interviewis travelling to Tobago for the fourth time in total to escape the winter at home. The man is 88 years old and is a cut above many younger riders - respect!
Part 3: La Niña, involuntary dives and the first completed tests
At the halfway point of the 2025 surf test on Tobago, we can already tick off the first test group: Some strong wind days were perfect for the 6.0 freemoving sails, which we tested as usual in single rounds and in comparison rides. In contrast to last year, where it was a little weaker but consistent, this year the wind reached 25 knots and more in places, but was gusty and less predictable. Locals suspect that this is due to the La Niña phenomenon, which can currently be observed and which in recent days has occasionally pushed smaller storms with heavy rainfall over Tobago.
Anyway, the conditions are great for us, the freemoving sails are ready - you can read the test in surf 4/2025! In windless phases, we have already shot the majority of the onshore images with the details of the boards and sails. The action shots are also almost complete: we try to get as many different perspectives as possible with the drone, from a ladder, with the GoPro or from land. We are always overwhelmed by the breathtaking water colours at Pigeon Point. From bright turquoise to deep blue to the dark reef stripes, the background changes every few metres and sometimes a turtle or a ray swims past.
Fin gone, fin back!
Tester Tobi was allowed to take a closer look at the fascinating underwater world: Low water levels and a sudden reef edge in combination with a (foreign) fin screw that was too short resulted first in a capital spinout, then in an extensive snorkelling session. In the end, the fin resurfaced almost undamaged among the shells and colourful fish - lucky. So if you don't like diving or are travelling to deeper spots, you should always use the right screws! However, one of our base plates has disappeared - we suspect the station dogs might have thought Powerjoint was an exciting toy...
In the next few days, the focus will once again be on large 7.8 sails and freeride boards - stay tuned!
Part 2: These groups are taking part in the surf test 2025
Rarely has a product in the test attracted so much attention on the beach: whenever we take out the North Sails Freerace, other surfers come up to us and want to touch, feel and look. In the Caribbean atmosphere, the sail quickly earned the nickname "Black Pearl", even if the "captains" on the board are not nearly as hard-drinking as Jack Sparrow.
In addition to the "big black one", this time we have three large and several smaller test groups:
- Freerace sail 7.8m2 with 2-3 camber
- Freemoving sail around 6.0 m2
- Freerideboards 130
- Surf shoes for the summer
- Headgear
- and a few trapezes
The 7.8s are the order of the day for the first few days, and what sometimes annoys the surf holidaymakers at the Radical Sports station is perfect for us: depending on whether a rain cloud is passing through (yes, there are clouds here too), the wind fluctuates between barely perceptible, ideal and mercilessly overpowered. Sometimes we can try out the characteristics in all wind ranges on a long ride through the bay. Two testers ride identical boards for comparative rides with planing, planing through and speed evaluation, two ride the sails separately in manoeuvre rounds for handling, control and manoeuvring characteristics.
Ladder lapse instead of drone drama
Do you remember our Drone drama from last year? Instead of a drone, we almost sank Stephan and his camera this time. The ladder on which our photographer was standing on the sandbank in the water was a little too unstable to lean on. In any case, the thing simply tipped over and Stephan was only able to prevent his camera from sinking into the Caribbean water with a courageous jump into the water. The camera did get a few splashes, but it still works perfectly.
Despite this scary moment, the first action pictures of boards and sails are in the can, and the drone also survived the first film and photo sessions unscathed. We have also already checked off the sail views and detailed pictures on a windless morning - it's working!
None of us are sad that the wind will soon pick up and we can swap the large 7.8s for the handy 6.0 Freemove sails. Because the editorial deadline is breathing down our necks, we put in extra shifts so that we can ride all nine sails extensively.
Part 1: Hello, Tobago!
15 large bags with boards, sails, masts, booms and lots of small items tumble out of baggage reclaim at Tobago airport undamaged. First relief for Stephan, who has already experienced nasty surprises in countless years of testing. This time everything has arrived in Tobago intact and complete - thank you Condor! While Stephan counts, the rest of us drag our test equipment through the waiting area to the outside, where Brett from Radical Sports Tobago and his lorry are already waiting for us.
After a flight of almost ten hours, Tobago welcomed us just as we remembered it from last year: 29 degrees, palm trees swaying in the wind and turquoise water. Our German friends and colleagues, who are somehow trying to get through February at home in single-digit temperatures, have recently made no effort to hide their envy. Jeans are quickly swapped for shorts and trainers for flip-flops, we move into our accommodation and open the first welcome beer.
Perfect conditions for the first test runs
Thanks to jet lag - Tobago is five hours behind German time - the next day starts early, as we have 15 bags to unpack. In between, old acquaintances and new guests from Radical Sports Tobago come by again and again, the spot and the centre have a large fan base and we meet many familiar faces from previous years. Before the first contact with the water, the boards and sails are weighed, stickers are stuck on, harness lines and straps are attached. Everything there? Everything is there, so get wet first!
Fittingly, the wind picks up in the late morning and we heat up over the fantastic water. The wind direction is slightly more northerly than usual at Pigeon Point, so we can fly out over turquoise water right up to the reef - in board shorts! After a few rounds of manoeuvres and the first comparison rides, the wind dies down again and we can fortify ourselves with our first pizza. What a day!
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We will reveal which test groups we are testing this year and which boards and sails we have brought with us here in the next few days - stay tuned!
