HY-WING

THEY SAY: “An all-round wing for all skill levels with immense wind range and stability. The HY-WING is super easy to handle and still develops a high level of performance. It is the perfect choice for the absolute beginner to those who are currently expanding the horizons of this sport.”

WE SAY: The Hy-Wing is Gunsails’ first offering for wing-surfing and is available in three sizes, this 5.0m being the middle sibling. Supplied with a sturdy ruck-sack bag, pump, repair kit and elasticated webbing leash, it is inflated through a single airlock ‘bayonet’ valve, the centre strut self-inflating through a single connecting tube. The prescribed pressure is relatively high at 8 PSI, which combined with the leading-edge strut being medium to large in diameter, imparts the Hy-Wing with plenty of stability and form in its structure. There’s a defined vee to the leading edge, its planform being moderate to high aspect in relation to the rest, whilst at just 2.25kg, it is one of the lightest wings on test here. Three long, decidedly loose, handles are available along the centre strut, complimented with two extra grab handles on the underside of the leading-edge, and we have to say build quality is excellent, with plenty examples of attention to detail throughout.

Getting going on our initial outing with the Hy-Wing was very interesting, quickly exposing some of its unique features. The first detail to note are the handles – thin and incredibly loose, they are comfortable in the hands, but feel unlike anything else on the market. You have to learn to trust them and let the wing pull away from your hands, holding it as if suspended above you on lines. Light and free, it can then power up unhindered and certainly generates some good power, the stiff strut structure only impeded slightly by the loose canopy style whilst pumping. Once flying the Hy-Wing is very stable and comfortable, the large windows providing good visibility downwind, the long wrist leash offering plenty of length to switch hands easily during transition. It is also respectfully fast and powers well on all points of sail, including pointing well upwind. In transition, the dihedral geometry of the leading edge means the Hy-Wing rocks smoothly from one tack to the other mid-transition and powers up progressively so as to not upset the rider’s stance. It de-powers quickly as desired and whilst not the most balanced or stable in a parked position using the neutral handle, the centre strut handles are so loose and flexible that you can reach under and stabilise the wing by holding the foremost one. After a session, the Hy-Wing deflates slowly but surely, the air squeezing out of the boom strut through the tube from whence it came. Gunsails specify a fold position on the canopy via a graphic, so that the windows aren’t folded or compromised in the process. There’s a dump valve for quick pack down on a side strut to help roll the wing tightly, but perhaps an extra dump valve on the centre strut would help speed up the process further?

A real all-rounder, the Hy-Wing’s combination of a solid structure and loose canopy, give it the power range and stability to be suitable for all, from beginner to advanced. If we were to change one aspect of the wing, we’d tighten up the handles to provide more control and immediacy at the rider’s fingertips.

THE VERDICT : Solid dependable and powerful, the Hy-Wing’s unique handles take some getting used to, yet fail to detract from what is a very impressive first foray into winging from this long-established windsurfing brand.

PRODUCT PRESENTATION: "We have developed a versatile Wing with a very wide range of applications and great stability. The focus during development was on user-friendliness and high performance. The HY-WING combines both aspects excellently, making it an excellent choice for beginners and those who already have a certain level but want to improve."

FIRST IMPRESSION: This Wing comes in a nice backpack with room to hang the pump on the side and a pocket with 2 or 3 repair accessories on the front. What you rarely see, the leash and pump are included by the brand. It is very convenient and pleasant that everything is delivered plug & play in a bag that is also comfortable to carry. It is a 100% inflatable wing with a double action valve near the center strut (recommended inflation pressure 8 PSI) and another valve to deflate the air, which has the peculiarity of being near one of the ends of the wing. It has 3 webbing handles on the center strut and 3 more on the leading edge. There are reinforcements in the areas that can rub on the ground during set up and packing, as well as at the end of the struts. However, there is no predefined place where to put the label with your address information. Visually, it is only available in red and black.

WINGSURFERJOURNAL TEST: We received this Wing only a few days ago, but we have already ridden it in many different wind and sea conditions. Handling is very simple and quite natural, as the handles are easy to reach. Intuitively positioned, the front and rear handles are naturally used. The distance between the handle and strut and the very thin diameter of the loop make gripping a breeze. There is a third handle, in the middle, which we did not use at all. It can be used by beginners to learn how to handle the wing, taking the leading edge grip and this middle grip. This length of the handle combined with a small diameter of the strap provides flexibility and instability in strong winds. This relative instability due to the softness of the handle can be quickly corrected by a hand movement on the handle for skilled sailors. We have found these small diameter handles to be very easy to handle, but they also create a lot of friction on the fingers during long rides. The recommended pressure is 8 PSI. With this pressure, the glider is very stiff and stable. With its fairly pronounced V-shape, it provides nice forward movement and stiffness that allows you to speed up and fly. Once in the air, it's a pretty fast and stable wing, manageable, even enjoyable, in light to medium winds. Pumping is easy and the Wing is responsive to get you up in the air quickly. The cloth is well tensioned and even in strong winds it does not tend to flutter. In 5.0 we could enjoy a very wide range of use. Quite powerful at low speed, fast, only in stronger winds we found the wing a bit unsteady compared to other equivalent models. In freeride mode it is very pleasant and with its profile stability, the Wing allows to run well height to offer better downflows in the swell! The Depower grip, located on the leading edge, is very easy to reach as it is very wide and positioned in the right place. But again, it is a rather soft grip that is offered. If the handle is easy to move, it leads to a lack of responsiveness and some instability of the wing when riding the waves. We did not need to use the other 2 small handles that are attached to the leading edge. The kite remains stable in the wind and the large central handle allows you to lower the kite or, on the contrary, to raise it completely for the restart. We were even able to take advantage of the stability of the profile to make some speed runs in east wind off the beach of Almanarre, with a wing that pulls well forward and offers good performance. Some jumps also succeed well, the stiffness of the profile allows to absorb thrust and take off. Everyone will be able to progress while winging with this versatile wing.

CONCLUSION: Gunsails also starts into the wing business with a Wing, an aluminum Foil will follow. 3 sizes, 4.0 m², 5.0 m² and 6.0 m² are offered, allowing you to surf in all conditions and adjust the surface according to your body size. It is a comfortable and quite powerful wing that we could try. The brand is aimed at all surfers, but especially beginners and experienced surfers. Light, stable and comfortable, everyone will find something to suit them in this HY-WING.

ON THE BEACH

Aspect Ratio, Profile, Details: Despite the large span, the aspect ratio of the Gunsails appears rather compact, the V is rather pronounced with little profile. The construction is rather light, with no visible reinforcements except at the leading edge seams. The 2x2 spinnaker cloth is more or less tightly stretched and has 2 large PVC windows. The well segmented leading edge is very wide, as is the middle strut, to which 3 long, thin, flexible handles à la F-One are sewn, 2 are placed inside the leading edge and to the right and left of the middle strut respectively, plus 1 sewn centrally to the leading edge with a neoprene pad underneath. The valve is a bayonet type with a single wide port to inflate the whole thing to a maximum of 8 PSI in "One Pump" mode. There is also a dump valve on the inside of the Leading Edge towards one of the ends, ideal for easily folding up the wing after your session. Note that the pump is included in the delivery.

ON THE WATER

Accessibility: With its almost triangular shape and distinctive V, the Gunsails stands out a little from the other models, especially as it has a wide span. The whole thing is easy to handle, and with the long, thin handles you can quickly find your way around to get the balance right. The viewing windows are there, but not wide enough to offer maximum visibility.

Performance/responsiveness: Light in the hand, you quickly feel a good pull in your arms. Indeed, the Gunsails delivers instant power, pumping is efficient and its stable and firm profile provides the necessary liveliness to take off quickly, especially at low speed or in erratic winds, the trailing edge does not flutter. As a result, the Hy Wing is a great freerider with an excellent Upwind/speed ratio, you are well equipped and ready to go!

Comfort/balance: Appreciated the long and slim handles when we first picked it up, they become a little uncomfortable on long turns. Ideal and efficient at low speeds, the Gunsails quickly becomes physical for light riders when the wind picks up. Then it pulls well, especially on the front hand, but the whole remains well tuned.

Neutrality/manoeuvrability: Despite its wingspan, the Hy Wing is not that difficult to handle, and its good balance and lightness make it efficient and easy to handle. It flips quickly and well, and the handles are easy to find. In surf mode, this Gunsails 4.0 remains very stable thanks to its pronounced V and knows how to make itself invisible. We would only have appreciated if the leading edge handle (neutral handle) was well fixed and less flexible.

+: Performance in the lower wind range, versatility, weight.
-: More strenuous for lightweights in the upper wind range, light reinforcements.

The GUNSAILS HY-WING, which is only available in three sizes (4.0, 5.0 and 6.0), arrived in a spacious backpack in the editorial office and the equipment is unique (which is not as self-evident as one would expect)... from the matching leash to the repair kit and the special pump for inflating the wing. By the way, it is very easy to inflate the wing and reach the optimal pressure (about 8 psi) for a nice stiff wing.

The HY-WING, which seems to be well made and "robust" with reinforcements in the "right" places to protect the wing from the inevitable rubbing during assembly and transport, has three handles on the central strut and three more on the leading edge, which makes handling this wing decidedly intuitive. Before handing it over to our "flight expert", we tried it out with the SUP to see how easy it was to handle. It's also ideal for beginners, with the different handles that are quite thin and well positioned to give a good grip on both the leading and middle edges. After "playing" with the SUP, the wing, together with a board, a foil and a "dedicated" rider, went into the water in Noli, a spot that can immediately reveal the weak points of a wing. The usual gusty wind, but not "too much" like in winter, allowed us to push the HY-WING 5.0 to the max, which at this size is decidedly easy to accelerate off the water. The GUNSAILS wing is quite powerful in light winds and stable thanks to the large central handle that allows you to easily pump and raise or lower the wing. In medium wind conditions, you can appreciate the profile stability of a wing that delivers a good launch and shows that it can achieve good overall performance and sufficient speed. As the wind increases and in stronger gusts, the HY-WING becomes a little more unstable and the handles, including the depowering handle, although easily accessible, are a little too soft to counteract the wind force optimally. Our tester, who normally travels with expensive high-end wings, was aware of this.

All in all, however, his opinion of the HY-WING remained more than positive, as it is a light, stable and comfortable wing in its ideal wind range, versatile and suitable for those approaching the world of winging as well as for those who are already experts in the " subject".

Plus: Lightness, accessibility, two windows in PVC, solid construction, reinforcements at stress points, standard equipment (pump and leash)

Minus: Handles a little too soft, slight instability in strong winds.