The Loft Sails 2005 Full Tests
 Wind tests 05
Tested: THE LOFT O2 Freerace | Size 8.4
THE ART OF THE DESIGN IN A FREERIDE SAIL!
PRESENTATION
For this test we present to you the 8.4 m2 Freerace Concept of the range O2 Freerace Concept 2005, which presents real profile/design freeride performance. The finish is very neat, just as the quality of assembly. The materials are quite selected, like special Dacron of the sleeve and X-Plys. One threads the 490 without problem, but it is nevertheless necessary better to make the accordion to arrive until 514 cm of the mast! The top plug is useful, but needs a check to fit. Maximum tension is needed to make the sail leech free, but fortunately the tension is not so difficult to apply; the 3-roller tack pulley facilitating things well. The design is very clean, perfect definition of profile. One almost comes to regret having had another color, this yellow-flouro not seen since years.
SAILING
Bigger and thus heavier than the average of this group, this Loft O2 8.4 offers pleasant and very rapid power in hand. One immediately appreciates the good reactivity of the sail, which is flexible and answers the smallest thrust of pumping. Powerful with low winds and immediately very easy to settle in the wind, comfortable and powerful on the level of its accelerations from standing start, this 8.4 m2 shows an exceptional stability of profile in high winds. Monty Spindler succeeded in offering control of great class in the gusts to this sail which is actually cut for light breezes: the sail shape does not move back and the top of the sail breathes perfectly. For manoevers the rotation of the profile is excellent, the battens pass gently, but it should not be forgotten that it is a 8.4 at the time of the jibe attack. |
CONCLUSION
Extraordinary sail for light wind, pure freeride with high performances on flat water and with a high wind range. Great ART, thanks a lot Mister Spindler!
+ : Homogeneous and accessible, stability piloting, design, fittings/finish.
- : Only: large for manoeuvres.
View PM Test scans:
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 Planchemag 2005 - March/April
Tested: The O2 Freeride Concept | Size 6.6
Also tested sails:
Gaastra Matrix 6.5 / Gun Flash 6.3 / Naish Evolution 7.0 / Neil Pryde Saber 6.7 / North Sails Crossover 6.6 / Severne NCX 7.0
A UNIQUE FEELING
The design
The sail freeride of Monty Spindler preserves its curved lines with 7 battens including 3 tubular of carbon. Relatively fine of profiles (light hollow on bottom), this sail has the characteristic to be trimmed on a RDM mast 4.30 m, even if it also work with a traditional diameter mast. For the level of construction, in addition to the strongest proportion of monofilm X-Ply, it is necessary to underline the excellence and the quality of the reinforcements at all the levels. Solid!
Team point of view
Equipped with a departure to planning more progressive than the average, the O2 is a very fine sail in control, which offers a peel of elasticity on the front of the profile. Once launched, one appreciates at the same time the smoothness of piloting and the degree of acceleration. Except on the level of the weight where it pays its quality of manufacture, Loft Sails positions at the top or in second position in each one of our criteria of test, which shows the O2s high degree of versatility.
Very soft for manoeuvres with the advantage of the RDM mast, it may be only slightly slower in light and irregular winds for heavy people. For the remainder, it is forgotten completely in the arms thanks to total neutrality and an excellent work of the tip (this is its secret!). For the second consecutive year, the O2 brings a fresh air in this group by its pleasantness of control and its total freedom in the hands.
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Tester point of view - Paulin
"A very pleasant sail with which one can sail on the end it so much is stable and light in control. With its high level performances and its comfort in the manoeuvres, it forms part of the very best sails of the group. A big and beautiful surprise for this sail which I did not know."
+ : Smoothness, performance of point, comfort, control, and manoeuvrability.
- : Small lack of nervousness in light winds.
View PM Test scans:
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 Planchemag 2005 - March/April
Tested: The LIP Wave Concept | Size 5.2
Also tested sails:
Aerotech Phantom 5.3 / Arrows Flight 5.4 / Gaastra Poison 5.4 / Gun Wave MC 5.3 / Naish Force 5.3 / Neil Pryde Search 5.4 / North Sails Duke 5.4 / Severne Blade 5.3 / Simmer Style Crossover 5.3
STABILITY AND SOLIDITY IN ANY TEST
The design
The Loft the brand of the big Monty Spindler (old Mister A.R.T.!) installed in Tarifa, continues to offer pure sail lines with the image of this Lip Wave. Its structure 100% X-Ply monofilm and its complete upperworks make it one, if not THE most robust of this group. This sail is very "top-of-the-range".
Team point of view
Recommended on a RDM mast of 4 m, the Lip is a powerful sail that delivers a large feeling of stability. It is based on an exemplary work of the tip that it is in the choppy, the gust wind or the famous backloop receptions. With the fine and flexible time in control, it forms part of this sails' super fast performance and very is handy in manoeuvres.
The Lip is very easy and neutral when surfing waves, and has the possibility of accelerating when one wants. Only the true reproach that one little to find to this sail, this is a weight that remains slightly over the average. It is the price to pay to obtain the best in terms of solidity for a sail which, point out it, presents an excellent quality/price ratio. Qualities which make this Loft Sails a frightening weapon in all the conditions, side or one shore. To discover urgently.
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Tester point of view - Maxime
"The Loft is a very stable and very robust sail which brings much support in on shore and the jumps. In addition to the fact that it is a little heavy, the trick which obstructed me, it is the lack of visibility in the window: one sees less well that with other sails."
+ : robustness, price, wind range, neutrality/power, flexibility
- : the whole remains heavier without being embarrassing
View PM Test scans:
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 German SURF Magazine issue 01/02/2005
Tested: The LIP Freewave Concept | Size 6.2
Also tested sails (freestyle):
Arrows 8 ball 6.0, Gaastra Echo 6.0, Gun Sails Jam 6.2, Naish Boxer 6.2, NeilPryde Expression 6.1, North Sails Disco 6.4, Severne Freek 6.4.
"LIP Freewave - a name that sounds not so much like flatwater-action in El Yaque... however Monty Spindler confidently submitted his "freemove" sail into our 05 freestyle test. And why not?... the performance requirements for wave and freestyle sails (around 6 m2) are nearly the same: early planning, soft handling and sufficient on-off functions are all needed for convincing an engaged windsurfer.
It was no surprise that this "freewave concept" design would work in tricky conditions, yet as well the LIP has a very early planning quality; in lightwind the Lip starts planning as early as the Severne.
Naturally, the strong reinforcements in the LIP make it feel slightly heavier than the super light Australian design. The LIP, when compared to the North Disco or the less reinforced GunSails Jam, has a similar feel regarding weight.
For Duck Tacks and moves that need a power-off-function where the profile becomes flat (which is appreciated by dedicated and technical tricksailors), the LIP has no leech fluttering and no nervous movements - no power-point wandering.
The Loft LIP Freewave Concept also feels soft and smooth in your hands if the wind comes up."
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Test Summary:
"In the Northern or Baltic Sea, most surfers use the same sail for waves and tricks in flatwater - and then, the LOFT is the best choice."
The Lip Freewave has, in the sum, the best marks in the following categories:
- early planning
- freestyle quality
- freeride quality
View SURF Test scans:
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2004 Test Quotes
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The Loft is windsurfing efficiency and simplicity... feel it!
