Wave sail 2025: Lots of power, little wind range - the S2Maui Dragon in the test
Surf Testteam
· 12.02.2025
The S2Maui Dragon creates a wow effect as soon as it is unpacked for the first time - the grid materials look absolutely high-quality and light. When rigging, the tightly sewn mast sleeve is noticeable, so the sail only draws a little profile in the front area. On the other hand, the boom is a few centimetres longer than the group average and the centre of effort is noticeably further back with this concept. For the S2Maui to work, it needs to be rigged with only a little loose leech. In light winds, you should also make sure that the sail is only slightly tensioned on the boom so as not to stall the profile.
Trim, equipment, features - find out all about the S2Maui Dragon in the video
When starting off, the Dragon balances itself quite well with the aforementioned trim and immediately offers the desired light traction on the rear hand to easily cross the planing threshold. The profile absorbs impacts well, but still seems firm enough. In the ideal wind range, the Dragon offers a great mix of propulsion and light handling, which you would expect or hope for based on the measured weight.
Great handling, tricky trim
We found the wind range problematic, as we found it quite difficult to find a trim on the S2Maui Dragon that combined both planing power in light winds and sufficient control in stronger gusts. Overall, the sail develops a noticeable pull on the back hand in gusts, the centre of effort just doesn't feel quite as nailed down as with other concepts. This is even more unfortunate because the great handling is then somewhat lost. If you pull on the downhaul rope and outhaul rope, the pressure point stability improves, but the profile quickly becomes a little lifeless when planing because it is too flat.
On the wave, on the other hand, the Dragon convinces with consistently good drive, it always offers a noticeable ground pull on the back hand, which helps to bring the speed through the bottom turn and up to the wave lip, especially in side onshore conditions. It is also wonderfully easy to lay down for the bottom turn, then the profile flattens out at the push of a button and offers neutral handling. During rotations - regardless of whether you are jibing it or whirling it through a push or front loop - it seems a little slower due to the long boom dimensions, but in this test group this is complaining on a high level.
surf's summary of the S2Maui Dragon 4.6
The Dragon scores particularly well in constant conditions from light to medium winds with good drive and appealing handling. The wind range is not ideal for gusty conditions and as a strong wind sail in flat water.
Glide, drive & neutrality
Protector
Wind range
Technical data S2Maui Dragon 4.6
- Sail weight: 2.95 kg
- Mast weight: 1.39 kg
- Sleeve opening: 103-155 cm
- Mast used: S2Maui Northshore 370 RDM (100 % carbon)
- Price: 864 Euro
- Info under s2maui.com
*surf measurement
