Windsurf – July 2019

FREERIDE FOIL SAIL TEST

94 JULY 2019

THEY SAY

The 2019 2XC features vertical

shaping into the luff sleeve. The main

benefit of this is that the shape is

distributed into a larger area of the sail

when more downhaul is added, which

helps to lock the centre of effort in

the lower sail body. Vertical shaping

also increases durability by reducing

stretch in this critical area of the sail.

The 2XC comes as standard with one

extra camber, the TEKCAM Reduced,

which allows you to rig your 2XC on

an RDM as well as a SDM mast.

WE SAY

Rigged for test on a SX10 SDM mast, the 2XC

is easy to downhaul and set, the two Tekcams

popping onto the mast easily without any need

for outhaul. Dressed in its yellow-blue colour-

way and bold Simmer logo, it is certainly bright

and distinctive, with monofilm used in the main

SIMMER 2XC 7.8M

WEB WWW.SIMMERSTYLE.COM PRICE £659

VITAL STATS

Size: 7.8m Luff: 477 cm Boom: 221 cm

Battens: 6 Cams: 2 Ideal Mast: Simmer 460

cm SDM/RDM Extension Required: 17 cm

Available Sizes: 5.5,6.0,6.5,7.1,7.8,8.5

body panels, and x-ply incorporated in the luff,

foot and clew panels for added integrity and du-

rability. The battens are integrated into the sail’s

structure and clear x-ply is then used in the up-

per batten pockets to promote symmetry in the

sail’s profile between tacks. There is also a single

strand of the brand’s established Stretch Control

tendon in place forging a path across the sail

from the clew to the front of batten three. Setting

cleanly and with plenty of tuneable range availa-

ble, the sail’s moderate to deep profile is pushed

forward in the draft, the leech falling away pro-

gressively down to the tip of batten four.

Whilst the 2XC is marketed by Simmer

squarely as a ‘high performance freerace sail’,

its capacity to be used for windfoiling is imme-

diately apparent on the water. Taking it out in

marginal winds, it feels comparatively light and

balanced in nature, the seam shaping of the sail

distributing the skin tension more evenly. It

means that the 2XC uses less luff curve and is

blessed with genuine softness, which combined

with its long boom length, makes it a very easy

sail to pump for a positive response. It also makes

it less tiring to use for long sessions on the water,

the sail breathing and moving around the rider

to help trim itself intuitively and requiring little

rider input. With its low-aspect outline, the cen-

tre of effort is placed low and around the rider

• giving a very easy and sympathetic nature, even
  in gusty challenging conditions. But don’t let its
  easy, passive freeride manner fool you – once
  the wind builds, the 2XC begins to settle into a
  much more purposeful stance, accelerating pos-
  itively through every gust. Partnered with a sla-
  lom board it may not cut the loosest slipperiest
  path through the air, yet its balance and control
  make it a pleasure to use through an impressive
  wind range. In transition, the low drive and rel-
  ative softness helps the rider enter the turn ful-
  ly in control – a real plus for
  the less experienced rider. Its
  long boom length is notice-
  able, the sail taking longer to
  glide through rotation, yet the
  cams pop intuitively as soon as
  the wind fills on the new side.
  Combining real ease and us-
  er-friendliness with the stabil-
  ity and range of cams, the 2XC
  is extremely versatile, lending
  itself to a variety of roles and
  riding styles.