The SFWA is pleased to provide you with the first installment of our 2005 Gear Guide. Today, we’re going to take a look at NeilPryde’s 2005 sail lineup.

NeilPryde splits their sails into three basic categories: Wave, Crossover and Flatwater. Pryde also offers a dedicated race sail, the RS4 (RS5 for 2005), as well as their kiddy / training sail, nicknamed ‘Experience.’

Wave Sails:
NeilPryde’s wave linup consists of the Search and Zone – two sails that have been in their linup for several years — as well as the re-introduction of their classic wave sail, the Combat.

The 5 batten Search is what they call their ‘power’ wave sail. Its designed to be a gutty, powerful sail able to pull you on to a plane in an instant. The sail features x-ply framing and a monofilm center section up to the4th batten when this framing gives way to full xply in the head. The Search is available in 3.9 – 6.2 sq.M sizing.

The Zone is a softer 5 batten wave sail that’s built to offer more maneuverability than the Search. Pryde suggests this softer feel allows the sail to flatten out in turns and de-power instantly — critical when carving a bottom turn at jaws I imagine. The Zone is available in 3.3 – 5.7 sq.M sizing.

The Combat brings the return of a NP classic wave sail. With 5 battens, tons of kevlar reinforcements and full xply construction — this puppy looks bomb-proof! The Combat is available in 3.3 – 5.8 sq.M sizing.

Crossover Sails
NeilPryde’s Crossover line of sails includes their freestyle Expression, the Super-X influenced Saber, and a new full xply sail, the Excess.

Used by Ricardo Campello, the reigning PWA Freestyle champ, the Expression is a high-aspect sail bred for bump-jump and tricks. The short boom lengths on this sail were created to allow the rider to effortlessly move the sail across the wind in completing the most difficult moves. It’s got a relatively deep draft which enables the rider to get back up on a plane almost instantaneously. The Expression is available in 4.2 – 6.9 sq.M sizing.

The Saber is NeilPryde’s Super-X influenced sail. This super-speedy no-cam sail was bred to move yet the sail retains enough maneuverability so as to allow for looping, duck gybes and the occasional vulcan. I had a chance to sail the Saber 5.7 during a trip to Margarita, and let me tell you, this sail rocks. Very meaty and full for a no-cam sail in my opinion. The Saber is available in 4.7 – 8.2 sq.M sizing.

New to the Crossover linup this year is NP’s Excess. This 5 batten, full xply sail is built for abuse and extreme bump-jump conditions. What we have is a typical freeride outline done in bomb-proof xply. I think this is Pryde’s answer to possibly lower marketshare as more and more sailors move to Ezzy’s, Aerotech’s and Sailwork’s 100% grid construction. I saw one of these sails rigged up at Water-Play — it looks nice and I think its good that NP is starting to offer sails in a more sturdy and abuse tolerant construction. In the real-world, nobody is able to treat their sail like a tea-cup at the end of a long day — xply goes a long way in prologing the life of a sail. The Excess is available in 4.9 – 7.4 sq.M sizing.

Flatwater Sails
Maybe of most significane to South Florida’s windsurfers is NeilPryde’s Flatwater range. This year features two new entries, the Solo and V6, as well as a generational standout, the V8.

NP’s new entry level freeride sail, the Solo, replaces the SuperNova. This 5 batten, no-cam sail has a slightly different shape than the SuperNova however and includes a full xply panel below the first batten — typically the area most prone to wear and tear. The Solo is available in 4.0 – 7.5 sq.M sizing.

2005 marks the return of one of Pryde’s all time bestsellers, the V6. This 2-cam, 6 batten sail has been engineered from the ground up for freeride cruising. The V6 replaces the Spirit a sail I own and have grown to love for its gutty planing ability and relatively wide wind range. About 75% of the sail includes an xply frame and the area below the first batten is constructed with 100% xply. I’m psyched to try out the V6 sometime soon! The V6 is available in 6.0 – 8.5 sq.M sizing.

NP’s flatwater speed machine is the veritible V8. 7 battens. 2 cams. This puppy is bred for blasting. Many of NP’s race sail characteristics are brought down to the V8, although the V8 continues to have a standard luff sleeve as opposed to the RS4′s double luff. The V8 is available in 6.0 – 10.6 sq.M sizing.

To learn more about NeilPryde’s 2005 sail lineup, head on over the the np website at:
www.neilpryde.com