THE QUEEN OF LONG DISTANCE

DESIGN: In cooperation with PWA riders Ben van der Steen and Finian Maynard and of course house designer Renato Morlotti, the GS-R 2018 is developing towards more depth in profile. The main work was to revise the luff curve and the batten arrangement.

ON THE WATER: The GUNSAILS remains in the same line as in previous years: the easiest to rig and adjust sail thanks to the perfectly positioned FRED trim mark, which makes initial adjustments easier. The first impression is surprisingly simple and light and this is also confirmed on the water. It starts planing quickly without overstraining the rider and even in the lower wind range it offers a lot of stability with a forward facing, increasing pull. Pump fanatics will probably be disappointed, because the sail starts and accelerates by itself, the profile does the work automatically. To maintain this efficiency, whether in early planing or light winds, it is enough to just let the sail do the job. With increasing wind the same image is obtained, the sail accelerates quickly without bumps or overpressure and reaches a speed that makes it one of the fastest of the group, whether downwind or upwind. Whether the wind is strong or weak, the profile remains very stable, the stability of the sailing is really amazing and allows you to concentrate on other aspects of surfing while always keeping everything under control. In the jibe, the GUNSAILS has also improved, with a perfect camber rotation and a smooth and efficient re start after the jibe.

CONCLUSION: The 2018 GS-R is very powerful, from the lower wind range to the top speed, without ever being exhausting or exaggerated. It is the most easily accessible sail in the group, whether in terms of settings, sailing or price. Our slalom testers, regardless of their level or technical equipment, have appreciated this sail especially for its general performance and simplicity.

+: Simplicity and performance
-: Nothing

EXUBERANT ENERGY

The loose leech of the GS-R is pronounced and goes down to the bottom, where there is a deep profile. The outline has been reworked and a new material has been added to the top, you still have the choice between three clew eyelets.

ON THE WATER: It is a little heavier when not gliding, but with stable wind it pulls and accelerates strongly forward, with a lot of dynamics in profile. It feels very direct, you accelerate with every gust of wind, with a permanent propulsion. If you pull a little bit on the outhaul and also use the lower eyelet, it will be a bit easier to hold (for the lightweights).
The GS-R delivers a great performance in the middle wind range with stable wind on reach, downwind or upwind. When you release tension on the clew, the power increases, the board lifts and you perform even more in low wind. This is best when there is enough wind and flat water on a reach course, with strong acceleration thanks to the good valve work of the leech. It seems that the sail has become even better in the lower wind range. But it is not as comfortable in choppy water as the softer sails, so you can't always close 100% the sail on long tracks. It is full of energy, which is sometimes difficult to channel, so it fatigues you faster. As a bonus you have a great performance if you master this power pack, e.g. at constant wind. In the jibe it is a bit heavy but with correct camber rotation.

CONCLUSION: Well reinforced and with a hammer price this GS-R brings an increased speed and can keep up with the best on slalom and reach courses. It delivers its power very dynamically and explosively and shows very lively reactions, which we like especially on flat water.

+: Construction, price, power/planing ratio, acceleration, easily accessible performance, dynamics
-: A little more nervous with chops and gusts, you fatigue faster than with the average