PLANCHEMAG SPECIAL TEST 2019 / GS-R 7.8 2019
Improved weight and vitality
Major changes were made to the GS-R: Outline, luff curve, mast pocket construction, XXL camber and above all one batten less. Three off-set clew eyelets to choose from, a new size distribution and 500g less on the scales.
ON THE WATER: In 2019 it has become lighter, the GUNSAILS offers a clear drag forward when planing, without having the largest cylinder capacity in the group. With the upper clew eyelet (offset by several centimeters) you get more power on the rear hand to accelerate in light and medium winds, but you are also faster at your limit when the wind suddenly increases. With the middle eyelet the ensemble is more balanced, with a slightly more direct pull on the back hand than the average. You don't feel overwhelmed by an oversupply of power, the sail glides naturally very strong on half- and downwind course with a very well working Loose Leech. The sail adjusts well, with a forward, central pull, slightly softer this year. With a stable wind it can keep up with the best, sometimes it lacks a little bit of potential when the wind is a little less.
With little wind, the support on the rear hand/leech can evaporate a bit if you try to pull tight; the connection between the lower, closed sail area and the upper, very open sail area is a bit missing. So it is better to stay planing than to try with force. The GS-R's trump card is planing in autopilot mode, well packed on the board with air currents circulating quickly through the profile and some lightness in the leech. Only in choppy water it moves a bit more. In the jibe the camber rotation is dry and very good, the start on the new side a little more smoothly and a little easier than last year.
CONCLUSION: Super placed in price, the GS-R stands out due to a relatively easy to channel performance, which is created thanks to a big work of the leech, which reduces the effects of overpower and thus generates strong acceleration. Slalom pilots will love the super planing characteristics on half wind and downwind, with more dynamics this year.
+: Price, reduced weight, easy setup, acceleration, stability, performance in half- and downwind.
-: Somewhat less easy to maintain constant power in varying winds
WIND MAG SPECIAL TEST 2019 / GS-R 7.1 2019
POWER AND CONTROL
DESIGN: The GS-R has been completely revised for 2019, all sizes work with 7 battens, a new outline and a new mast curve are introduced. The GUNSAILS has a clearly visible, deep profile with lots of volume in the lower area, 3 clew eyelets, one of which is placed very far outwards and gives more power and pull in the back hand.
ON THE WATER: From the first contact, the GS-R sets the tone, a very stable profile that deforms very little, with equal pull on front and rear hand, the GUNSAILS develops a massive power and has a lot of momentum in every range. It starts early with fast planing and acceleration throughout the ride. The pilot absorbs wind changes with this sail, it is never hesitant nor overwhelms you. It channels its momentum and power, but without changing its handling, the sail control is one of the easiest in the group. All you have to do is physically keep up with the performance of the sail and you'll have great efficiency in all wind conditions. The rig has good acceleration and jibe restart performance, but becomes more physically difficult in technically challenging choppy water, where every little chop is passed to the pilot's hand, putting his endurance to the test. In the jibe, the GUNSAILS is not the most flexible in the group and has a slight inertia in the curve, the camber rotation is not one of the softest in the test group, but the ability of this sail to launch after the jibe is incredibly effective, the performance comes back almost immediately.
CONCLUSION: Incredibly efficient in the lower and middle range, the GUNSAILS can stay out of difficult situations, which makes the difference when restarting after the jibe, when others still lack the pull, all with the usual stability. Only in strong winds and choppy water it can be exhausting to hold the sail to the end. Less trained riders will fatigue quickly. The sail manufacturer GUNSAILS again offers a sail with an exemplary price-performance ratio.
+: Lower wind range, stability, price
-: Exhausting
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