FREERIDE FOIL SAIL TEST
86 JULY 2019
THEY SAY
A high performance sail based on flat
out racing designs and specifically
developed to perform on hydrofoil
and slalom boards alike. Designed
with real world racing and foiling in
mind. The sail delivers the instant and
precise response needed in foiling,
allowing the rider to adjust the powerby sheeting in or out to control the
flying height on the foil.WE SAY
This is Goya’s first foray into the world of
cammed sails, and the first opportunity for us
to try out the new Mark 2 Pro. Rigged on a
‘Hundred Pro SDM’ mast, it was straightfor-
ward to locate the cams onto the mast, applying
downhaul tension once in place so that the up-
per leech falls away to the marker dot at the end
of the top mini-batten. The Mark 2 sets withG O YA MARK 2 PRO 7.8M
WEB WWW.GOYAWINDSURFING.COM PRICE £789
VITAL STATS
Size: 7.8m Luff: 478 cm Boom: 214 cm
Battens: 6 Cams: 2 Ideal Mast: Goya 460 cm
RDM or SDM Extension Required: 18 cm
Available Sizes: 5.4,5.8,6.2,6.6,7.2,7.8,8.5,9.5masses of shape and profile to its draft, which
is locked well forward next to the sail’s leading
edge, whilst the leech falls away progressively
along its length. There is also a wealth of skin
tension radiating from the sail’s two broad x-ply
luff panels, albeit the luff sleeve around the boom
cut-out remains relatively loose, allowing for easy
application of the boom. Build quality and detail
are excellent, with plenty of Goya trademark fea-
tures, such as the carbon stretch control tendons
extending from the titanium clew ring, and high
density scrim in the foot panel, leading to the
tack-strap underneath the moulded tack fairing.
Set for light airs, the Mark 2 does feel its
size in the hands, the deep forced profile feeling
poised and ready to act upon any gust that hits.
Even in this setting, it retains more luff curve
than any other sail here, loading the luff panels
and providing real structure to its form. As such,
it responds best to a powerful assertive pump-
ing style, using more of a deep forceful scooping
action and rewarding real input with response.
Once going though, the Mark 2 really shows its
potential. It accelerates instantly in the hands
as soon as a gust hits, transferring the energy
quickly to the board. Locked in and balanced,
it is incredibly stable and actually becomes light-
er and lighter in feel and response the faster it
goes. For wind foiling the Mark 2 is a freeracing
dream, helping to load a high aspect foil and tear
around in comfort. If the wind increases, the sail
can then be eased out, without the worry of any
control issues, such is its structure and integri-
ty. Used with a slalom board, we applied more
tension through the downhaul, increasing the
looseness beyond the indicator in the top pan-
el. We found this increased the sail’s slippery
nature through the air, the mini-battens (that
extend all the way down to the clew) mitigat-
ing any resultant flutter. When gybing, the Mark
2’s stability, focussed power and light handling
encourage the rider to enter
at speed, and if maintained
through the corner, rewards
by projecting them out with
interest. If the turn is entered
in a more hesitant manner and
the board slows, the Mark 2
soon reminds the rider of its
true size. A solid dependable
freerace master, with masses of
natural and tuning range, it is
a very welcome addition to the
eminent Goya Sails range.