Sailloft Hamburg is an established brand in the windsurfing business. Now the North German company has also launched its first wing model. We have done a UFO sighting and can tell you whether the model is convincing in the test.
On land:
The Sailloft UFO Wing is available in a total of six sizes. The colour varies between red, blue and green depending on the size selected. The scope of delivery includes a leash with long and comfortable Velcro and a bag. The Wing is inflated via two standard valves on the front tube and centre tube. It is therefore necessary to re-inflate once, but the wing can be deflated very quickly. The UFO model has a larger than average window, which opens up a large corridor to leeward.
For the grip system, Sailloft relies on two rigid mini booms, which are comfortable to grip thanks to the thin spar diameter and a non-slip coating. The rear grip has been extended far forwards so that you can grip at the pressure point and also ride the wing one-handed. This turns out to be a good idea that sets the Wing apart from other models with mini booms. (e.g. Duotone Unit) is different! Overall, the Wing is one of the heavier models, weighing in at 3.08 kilos. It has thicker than average tubes, solid reinforcements on the seams and offers high cloth tension in the front area. A firm and very wide handle has been attached to the leading edge, making it easy to grip even with large hands or gloves.
Here we also present this wing in detail. Take a look!
On the water:
The Sailloft UFO Wing is extremely powerful right from the start. It conveys a lot of power and can be lifted off early even without pumping, the Wing looks for the angle of attack to the wind almost automatically even without a high level of riding ability. Overall, the wing is stiff, but also takes pumping pulls efficiently, making it one of the most powerful wings in light winds. Pleasing: Due to the strongly bent wingtips, the wing hardly drags in the water when pumping.
In a straight line, the UFO is very balanced and stable in the hand. The hands can be moved with millimetre precision on the minibooms so that you are always perfectly on the move with the same distribution of pull on the arms. In manoeuvres, the Wing feels a little more sluggish throughout, it needs to be steered with more force and probably rotates a little more slowly due to its higher weight. When riding downwind from waves, the Sailloft UFO leveled out nicely, although the trailing edge of the wing drops a little faster than the most manageable wings on the market due to its higher weight and a rather long centre chute.
Sailloft UFO Wing - the conclusion:
The Sailloft UFO Wing is particularly impressive as a powerful wing for typical light wind areas. If you want to get up to speed as early as possible and are looking for an easy-to-ride wing for cruising, freeriding and standard manoeuvres, the UFO is the perfect choice. This makes the wing suitable for both thick cruiser foils and fast high-aspect wings. If tricks and freestyle rotations are primarily on the agenda or if you are looking for a maximally playful wing for riding swell or surf waves, you should explore the market for lighter alternatives.
Power, flight stability, control
Weight
