Foiling requires a foil, then ideally a special board and then - perhaps - a special foil sail. Ideas differ widely when it comes to the special sails currently on offer. On the one hand, mostly large (7.0 and more square metres) camber sails, which are recognisably from the high-end race segment, are advertised. Usually with less loose leech, a more flared foot and a flat, hard profile. In the test, the Severne Hyper Glide 8.0 proved to be stiff as a rock, actually impossible to pump and with very moderate (camber) rotation. However, especially with the often wobbly foil jibe in light winds, you can easily do without hard tearing or kicking into the sail. The NeilPryde RS:Flight 7.8 seemed slightly more elastic, with at least some feedback when pumping. Both sails felt three times as heavy as a 6.8 freemoving sail when catching up, very light surfers reach the limits of what is possible when the mast pocket is full. Our conclusion: These sails really do deliver a lot of performance for racers who race up and down around buoys, or for hobbyists switching from a form board who see an 8.0 as a children's sail. Very wide boards and stretched, slim performance wings are a good match. The only advantage for recreational foilers: The nailed down pressure point position also stabilises the entire aircraft. However, relaxed foiling with the smallest possible rig looks different.
Naish therefore takes an extremely different approach to foiling with its lift concept. Sails between 4.7 and 6.4 are sufficient for even the weakest wind - in combination with a foil that sets off very early like the one from Naish. The sail is not suitable for "normal" windsurfing and is overwhelmed when the pressure is on. However, it convinces with minimal weight and the best passive pull and can be easily pumped onto the foil. Starboard takes a less radical approach with the "Flight". We were surprised by the planing performance of the 6.7 on our first outings, it pumps up really well and feels as early as the 8.0 camber sails, yet is light as a feather and soft in the hand. Sail designer You therefore sees the requirements for a leisure foil sail as a "power-to-weight ratio" - maximum propulsion with minimum weight and size. The sail première already seems to have achieved this.
Naish Lift 5.7
Sizes3.7/4.7/5.7/6.4 square metres
Luff: 352/382/408/430 cm
Mast length370/370/400/430 cm
Prices649/699/749/799 Euro
Info: www.naishsails.com
NeilPryde RS:Flight 7.8
Sizes5.4/6.2/7.0/7.8/8.8 square metres
Luff: 416/441/466/490/515 cm
Prices1299/1319/1349/1369/1399 Euro
Info: www.neilpryde.com
Severne Hyper Glide 8.0
Sizes8.0/9.0/10.0 square metres
Luff: 484/520/535 cm
Prices1060/1126/1166 Euro
Info: www.severnesails.com
Starboard Flight 6.7
Sizes5.6/6.7 square metres
Luff: 428/458 cm
Prices799/819 Euro
Info: www.star-board.com
