In the past season we have presented numerous complete rigs for children and young people in a testsome of which were also developed for real planing surfing. From Gunsails was the Model Loop but the Saarbrücken-based manufacturer also has a cheaper rig on offer in the form of the Dragon. We were able to try it out in the 2.2 square metre size.
On land
Like the "Pro Kids model" Loop there's also the Dragon as a set with all accessories in a matching bag. The boom and mast foot cup are identical to the Loop model, but instead of a carbon mast, the Dragon comes with an aluminium mast that can be assembled in different lengths (300-320 cm) using a push button. The Dragon sail is largely made of clear mono film without any reinforcements worth mentioning, but the material is quite thick and solid in the lower area. At the top, a vario top allows the mast to protrude a little more than necessary, unfortunately the uphaul rope supplied was clearly too long - either you buy a shorter one in the shop or tie a few knots in it. Depending on the size, the Dragon is stabilised by two or three battens, the most important batten above the boom ends around ten centimetres in front of the mast so that enough profile can form even in light winds. The supplied boom is very appealing, it has a thin handle diameter, a fully-fledged adjustment system and can therefore also be used for other sail sizes. Only the folding lock could have been a little larger, but the fit of the boom on the mast is absolutely impeccable. By the way: If the Dragon becomes too large or too small, the other components (mast, boom, etc) are compatible with other sail sizes (1.8/2.2/2.6/3.2/3.6 square metres). The Dragon sail can be purchased separately from 189 euros.
On the water
Our ten-year-old tester Emma was able to catch up well with the Gunsails Dragon 2.2 even in eight to 13 knots of wind, as the total weight of the set (4.28 kilos) is pleasingly low thanks to the aluminium mast and the lightweight mono film sail. Even in wind holes, the soft profile draws a deep belly - this provides the desired propulsion even in light winds and also ensures that the sail has a defined centre of effort and is pleasantly stable in the hands. Fortunately, the Dragon does not have the problem of some competitor models - which sometimes need more wind to form a visible profile. In the range up to the planing threshold, the sail works really well, it is easy to handle in manoeuvres and offers enough control to gain your first gliding experience. However, as soon as planing becomes (or should become) the norm, the sail gradually reaches its limit - mainly because the simple aluminium mast no longer allows a proper sail twist.
Gunsails Dragon - the conclusion
With the Dragon, Gunsails offers an absolutely successful and affordable set with lightweight, child-friendly components. The Dragon is ideal from light wind to moderate planing. If the kids are already travelling in planing winds and harnesses, the Loop model is the better alternative because it is of higher quality.
Price-performance, handling, propulsion in light winds
Variotopp cannot be set to "0"
Start sheet a little long
Gunsails Dragon - technical data
- Weights (own measurement): Sail n.a. kg // Mast n.a. kg // Boom 1.49 kg
- Mast: GunSails Alu 300-320cm (Aluminium)
- Boom: GunSails Pro Kid 120-160 cm
- Scope of delivery: Sail, boom, mast, mast cup, ropes, launch sheet, bag
- Price (test model/set): 319 Euro
- Info under gunsails.com
