HORIZON 2025

THE LOWDOWN: Keeping the same shape and outline as the 2023 range, the HORIZON remains unchanged for 2024. With its more classic graphic design, it may not immediately catch your eye, however, the HORIZON aims to impress in other ways. It features a tapestry of strategically placed materials to reduce weight, enhance performance and increase durability. The lightweight square PLY is featured at the top of the sail, while multi-directional X-PLY is placed in areas under higher stress. A large clear X-PLY window is situated in the widest part of the sail, improving visibility for the rider. The HORIZON is the only 5-batten sail in its category and therefore offers ultimate control and stability, while the 5-batten layout is maintained across all sizes ranging from 3.7m to 6.1m. Referred to as the “Chameleon of wave sails”, in sizes up to 5m the HORIZON focuses on radical wave and strong wind characteristics, while in sizes 5.3m and above, it transforms into a punchy power package more suited for bump and jump conditions. The top panel of the HORIZON displays GUNSAILS’ F.R.E.D mark, which indicates the downhaul setting for the sail, while making it as simple and friendly to use as possible. At the clew, there is a double eyelet for tuning power or control, and a concave cut on the sail just above the boom, which helps to reduce the overall boom length on the HORIZON.

PERFORMANCE: Being one of the longest luffs and having the largest boom the HORIZON naturally feels larger in the hands during transitions than others in the category. The HORIZON is noticeably forgiving with its power delivery as it builds in your hands gradually with its pull and effort being centred around the rider. Once up to speed it may not be the fastest sail, but this aids its forgiving nature, giving you time to setup for the next manoeuvre. Breathing as it fills in in the gusts, the HORIZON requires minimal input from the rider to handle the extra power, which gives you, both the time and opportunity to focus on things ahead. Sailing through the lulls, it’s easy to find the power when it’s light, as the width of the sail starts to work by finding the extra power you desire to keep you on the plane and pull you through the lulls, while if paired with a board which holds more volume in the tail, this characteristic would be further accentuated. The extra width in the sail additionally helps to develop your riding - helping to level you up from a first-time beginner wave sailor to a competent intermediate wave sailor where you are beginning to push the power into and out of the turns. This is something the HORIZON does this for you - most noticeably through top turns as it does not require you to move the sail a huge amount to elevate your riding. Instead, it simply finds the power to pull you out of some tricky situations - even with some questionable technique. It naturally wants to flatter your riding and give you that extra punch you have always dreamed of for minimal input. In faster, more critical waves the HORIZON would again flatter the rider, but you need to be more proactive with your input to shift its width between the hands to match the pace and sections that are presented before you.

THE VERDICT: Not needing to be an expert to use, the HORIZON is smooth in its power delivery and naturally wants to flatter the rider with its forgiving nature. Easy to find power in the exits, the HORIZON gives you a little nudge to drive your riding style.

Premium power and stability

This 5 battens Horizon is characterized by a deep profile in the front part of the sail, keeping the construction of different X-PLY types with more or less spacing and a Dacron mast panel.

ON THE WATER: The Horizon is the most powerful sail of this group, with a permanent belly on the front hand and slightly heavier, the Horizon is also very lively in acceleration. The heavier you are, the bulkier the board, the lighter the wind, on shore etc, the more it shines with its firm/stable pull à la XXL. You have more power to ride the wind at low speeds and get through whitecaps and other wind holes. The five battens make for a more stable ride suitable for onshore conditions and bump&jump or even heavy freeride conditions, but this comes at the expense of reactivity and the ability to neutralize in the waves. The Horizon is less forgettable in waves and becomes more physical, more limited and less accurate in fast waves. It prefers small to medium wave conditions when resources are needed to accelerate, jump higher and reposition faster. So it comes through much better than others on freewave boards and with stretched scoops. You can make it lighter and refine it by tightening it more at the clew and passing it through the bottom eyelet. It's less flexible and more stable, you shouldn't hesitate to go down a size quickly to take advantage of the bottom power of the sail.

CONCLUSION: Powerful, very firm and ultra-stable, the Horizon aims for efficiency and performance in more marginal waves by sacrificing some lightness/responsiveness/neutrality with its more locked-in handling. The Horizon is less specialized, but a versatile wave sail that can be adapted to as many different spots as possible.

+ Power, stability, range of use, liveliness, power surfing, speed and repositioning, price.
-  Less light and responsive than the 4 batten sails with still a power rest: less neutral.

A kind engine

DESIGN The Horizon range is divided into Wave/Strongwind and Freewave designs. Its profile, framed by 5 battens, is distinctly elongated. The entire body is covered with X-Ply fabric. The narrow strip of the Dacron mast panel features a vertical zone of X-Ply. 2 closely positioned clew eyelets are provided.

ON THE WATER The Gunsails 5 batten Wave is rigged to trim specifications with little tension at the mast base. The profile is only visible when the sail is inflated with wind and spreads out across the width. When the sail is facing you the pressure is evened out. This less pronounced profile is tolerant when placing the harness lines. The felt weight is more than correct. With ease and softness you get into planing without being overwhelmed. The main feature of the Horizon is its smooth ride, unimpressed by the elements. You stay harnessed in tight and can plow through your spot with comfort and stability. Wind variations have no effect on you. It is a bump & jump riding style with a very good balance in the air. In the wave, the Horizon has a surplus of kindness and traction to make short and radical turns. Rather ride down the wave slope with your back to the wave and pull long turns. Casual surfers will appreciate the reassuring full X-Ply setup and vario mast top - an argument for those who can't afford the perfect mast.

CONCLUSION You don't have to be an expert to get along with the Horizon, as it is very open to the masses. It is more of a small sail for the strong wind than a waveriding sail. Its behavior is balanced and smooth, allowing for accessible off the beaten path riding on freewave boards or waveboards for those who use these types of boards in high wind.

The Horizon is GunSails' five-batten "power wave" sail that excels in stability and versatility in all conditions.... its strong points.
A balanced and flexible wave sail, the right alternative to the more radical Seal, for European conditions, also suitable for freewave or bump&jump and the ideal choice for medium/heavy surfers. I don't want to say that at my venerable age, I was put in the medium-heavy category.... sigh... but something must have been added to the Horizon in this 2023 model year... because I immediately found a great feel with this sail!
But let's go step by step: easy and intuitive trimming, equipped with the "recommended" mast from GunSails, rdm 400/19, since in this size the vario top seems "strange". A look at the technical data of the Horizon 2023, where the small sizes 3.7, 4.0, 4.2 and 4.5 have the adjustable vario top, 4.7 and 5.0 have the fixed top, the 5.3 has the adjustable vario top, while the two large sizes 5.7 and 6.1 still have the fixed sail top.
This suggests that the 4.7 and the 5.0 are specifically designed to get the best performance with rdm 400/19 masts. And indeed, the combination immediately seemed ideal, with a well-proportioned and balanced sail that offers lightness in the arms as the first feel. The feel of the Horizon, which in the past may have seemed a bit "stiffer" than other Wave sails from the same brand as the Seal, is now pleasingly "softer", but the sail remains direct in its response. Low wind performance is generous, but not so much as to compromise stability and ride comfort in strong winds, which are the traditional strengths of this sail. The fast planing and generous acceleration allow it to perform well in the light and gusty winds that often occur.
This is where the Horizon's flexibility comes into its own, allowing any advanced surfer to ride it with great pleasure even as a freewave or bump-and-jump sail in the most challenging breezes and chop. However, when it is used in its "favorite area", namely in the wave, the "wave on shore" spirit of the Horizon becomes clear: when surfing, it guarantees sufficient thrust to pull up the bottoms at full speed, combined with a neutrality in the cut backs that allows you to focus exclusively on what you want to do with the board. A sail that is forgiving many mistakes made by those starting out in wave riding, but also a sail that is significantly more maneuverable and lighter at this size than in the past.... we are dealing with a new best seller from GunSails.

Plus: Quality/price, construction, performance, responsive, stable in the wind, maneuverable and effective in the surf, fast, smooth, can also be used as a freewave sail
Minus: Little or nothing to report