NeilPryde Windsurfing

DESIGN OBJECTIVE

• 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 2008:
• Improve profile stability and wind range, particularly in the top end.

ACHIEVED BY:

• 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 crossover sails – without compromising manoeuvrability.
• A full X-Ply body gives the EXCESS superb durability in addition to a soft, forgiving sailing ‘feel' that is unique to 100% X-ply sails.
  
  For 2008:
• A reduction, and re-distribution of luff-curve, allows for better release in the head. This will help improve the EXCESS’s top end ability.
• A ‘hollow’ leech improves twist in the upper part of the sail and prevents the mid-leech from loading up and “blowing out”, improving the stability and control.

"I know from experience that most sailing locations vary a bit – sometimes quite a lot – from one day to the next. A great way of dealing with this is to have a sail that can adapt to the different conditions you get so you can always have fun. If you want to sail fast, or jump, maybe do some freestyle or ride some waves the EXCESS can do it all. And you can be sure that since the sail is made of X-Ply it’s really tough."

Kevin Mevissen / H79