No Cam Freerac sails: NeilPryde Speedster Evo on test - successor to the throne in sight?

Dhe Speedster is the most powerful no-cam sail in the Pryde range to date. Known for its stability and speed in the left lane - but also for its somewhat bulky feel when planing. With the additional Speedster EVO for the 2026 season, designer Robert Stroj has not worked like a tailor who simply adjusts the waist and leg length of an old wetsuit, but has designed a completely new model - with the potential to set more than just a fashion trend.

Sporty look & easy to trim

The NeilPryde Speedster EVO lies completely differently at your feet on land than before. The batten above the boom does not end in front of the mast, but slides slightly to the side. Even without wind pressure, the batten only has a very slight profile at the bottom and in the front third. When rigging, the standard mast slides into the wide mast sleeve like an RDM. "The wide mast sleeve," Robert explains when asked, "makes rigging easier and we can use the so-called component mast sleeve as with our racing sails. The battens run into the mast sleeve as if it were a camber sail." The multi-part mast sleeve uses robust Dacron at the front and lightweight X-Ply material at the sides. In addition to the weight reduction, Robert promises "less stretch and a clean leading edge with the seams now on the side of the mast".

When trimming, we continue to notice the very harmonious loose leech running over the entire leech, the clew rope is loosely hooked in or only slightly tensioned. "The new sail cut allows a larger trim range and also works well with little downhaul rope tension in light winds," adds Robert. A striking new feature is the wide, three-part luff track, which merges almost seamlessly into the mast sleeve, giving the sail an impressive camber race look. The slightly longer luff and shorter boom dimensions of the EVO also come from the development of racing sails, because "a long boom gives a good feeling of power subjectively, but also makes a sail look a little heavier," explains Robert.

The NeilPryde Speedster EVO combines the stable feel of a camber sail with the advantages of lightweight no-cam sails.

Powerful & particularly stable

We were able to surf the final prototype of the 7.5 mm sail, still with hand-scrawled measurements, in the best conditions on Lake Garda. On the 100 mm SDM mast, it comes out of the water willingly and is stable in the hand when bobbing: "pleasantly light, no turning away, no fidgeting", is noted in the test report. Thanks to localised wind assessment, we are on the water with pinpoint accuracy and the Speedster can prove its light wind qualities in the first southerly breeze that blows through. It reacts elastically to pumping, slightly damped, but feels very powerful. The wide mast sleeve offers plenty of cloth for a very powerful profile in the boom area, which is as cleanly shaped in the wind as if fixed by invisible cambers. With only slight tension on the outhaul, the EVO pushes forwards powerfully, loads up early and is always very stable on the board.

Even without a direct comparison, we would mark the centre of effort slightly further forward in the sail than on the "old" Speedster. And it remains immovable even when the "Ora" fan really cranks up during the rest of the test. Throughout the wind range, you can take your hands off the "steering wheel" for longer than with assisted driving. Strong gusts are pleasantly absorbed, as are choppy waves - without compressing or creating even the slightest creases. The controllability is already very good in powerful mid-wind trim and still offers plenty of potential upwards. The stiff tube battens also rotate surprisingly well around the mast in the jibe, and the profile in the battens also turns almost imperceptibly.

Surf summary of the NeilPryde Speedster EVO

The new EVO impresses throughout the first solo test. It feels light, powerful and particularly stable and controllable.

Technical data NeilPryde Speedster EVO

Manufacturer information

• Info under neilpryde.com