| | • Develop a powerful, fast, easy handling and manoeuvrable free-ride sail. • The sail must be suited to flatwater blasting, jumping and basic freestyle moves. • The EXCESS should have a wide wind range, good low-end characteristics, speed and acceleration. • Given the EXCESS'S versatility, it must be suitable for use in small surf, and be built strong enough to handle regular jumping - and crashes. • To optimise time on the water, the sail must be easy to rig and de-rig. For 2009: • Reduce boat boom length for improved manoeuvrability. • Enhance manoeuvrability while maintaining the early planing ability of the sail. • Reduce sailing weight, especially during manoeuvres. | • The outline and shaping reflect the design objective of versatility; a stable, forward oriented profile provides power with control while a relatively open head spills excessive power. • A slight increase in the foot area (relative to wave and pure freestyle sails) enhances low-end power and helps stability. This makes the EXCESS the fastest of the 5 battened crossover sails - without compromising manoeuvrability. • A full X-Ply body gives the EXCESS superb durability in addition to a soft, forgiving on the water sailing 'feel' that is unique to 100% X-ply sails. For 2009: • The 2009 EXCESS features a compact clew. This allowed the designer to shorten the boom length without increasing the aspect ratio. This resulted in a more manoeuvrable sail where, especially in transitions the shorter boom helps. • A reduction in luff curve and downhaul reduces body tension, which in turn reduces the sailing weight and results in a softer 'feel' in the sail. • Load specific reinforcement ensures strength in the most critical load areas while keeping the weight at minimum. | |