DESIGN The Vector undergoes a cosmetic redistribution of its panels in 2022. The profile always remains stable with its 7 tube battens and 3 cams forming a distinct profile on a wide mast pocket. 2 spread eyelets offer a wide range of adjustment options. A strap on the luff allows you to accentuate the profile.

ON THE WATER The Vector is the big sister of the Exceed and has nothing to do with it in design or behaviour. The Vector has a high cloth tension (easily achieved without any torture) with a largely loose leech. The FRED marking allows a single adjustment of the luff tension without having to think much. Visually, it is more reminiscent of a race sail than a freeride sail, yet the 3-Camber Gunsails is not as physical as its looks might suggest. Right from the first planing, the 7.8 surprises with its easy handling. The take-off to planing is direct before you find yourself in a safe position of a rig that lays back and disappears from your hands. Impeccably balanced between the back and front hands, the XL profile requires no effort to achieve good acceleration with a kick and a good speed in this group. The Vector is more suited to windsurfers who prefer an aggressive sailing style without sacrificing a reasonable level of comfort. With its loose profile at the sail head, the Vector loves to go into the high speed range without changing its characteristics.

VERDICT Popular with a young audience for its accessibility and easy performance, the Vector will continue to impress us in 2022. Its unrivalled value for money allows novice racers to move up a gear without wrecking themselves. For a 3-camber sail, the Vector is one of the easiest and most affordable freerace sails in the range.

+ Power on demand, balanced, pressure point stable, performance, price
-  Lively acceleration for beginners

It bursts with energy

The Vector is a cross between a race and Freeride program with its wide mast pocket, 3 cambers and loose leech. It requires a higher tension, while the camber is very easy to place.

ON THE WATER: Compared to the Exceed, the Vector is much more edgy/electric in terms of planing (very good) and acceleration, with efficiency being more important than comfort or support: it gets more out of the rider. The pursuit of performance is its DNA; it is aimed at a more technical audience that wants to compete with harder, more technical and more powerful racing sails. The Vector simply means more physical effort in this group to close well in the wind, with a profile that pulls more (more tension) to accelerate more strongly. What does that mean for you? Superior peak performance thanks to good profile stability and strong leech work, which stabilizes the sail in the wind itself without stressing the back hand. It's just a bit more dry in acceleration and feel than most Freeride 2 Cambers: a big plus in the mid-range. In gusts, you sometimes wish for a bit more smoothness, despite the very good loose leech work. Then you switch to the lower, 8 cm further retracted eyelet to ease/reduce the pull of the back hand, soften the whole and get more into the planing. When jibing, the camber goes through well.

CONCLUSION: This easy-to-rig freerace is closer in DNA to a race sail (but lighter/maneuverable) than a freeride without camber, and generates power constantly. It's made to accelerate with stability and top speed for linear performance on all courses, from medium to maximum wind. It's worth the experience.

+ Stability, speed/acceleration, ease of rigging, range of use, price
-  More responsive in gusty winds