With nearly every sail loft producing a four-batten sail nowadays, it was only a matter of time before the Maui Sails team produced their own excellent version. Announced as the loft’s most progressive wave sail ever, Maui Sails state that the upper wind range issues often found with 4-batten sails are a thing of the past.

Over to sailed designer Artur Szpunar for a more detailed review…

“We are super stoked to introduce the Mutant, our newest and most progressive wave sail that goes beyond conventional thinking with its ultra-low aspect ratio and wind range previously unheard of in 4-batten sails. The Mutant is designed to combine soft, light handling and playful maneuverability together with balanced power and stability. The shaping and body tension of the sail have been carefully refined around the short outline keeping the sail composed throughout a huge range of conditions. The Mutant’s construction uses the most up-to-date materials for light weight and durability with generous use of our ultra-light and strong Technora scrim in the upper sail body, bomber 5-mil x-ply along the leech and foot as well as an oversize optical X-ply window. The name and graphic of the Mutant are inspired by the idea that the sail should feel so light and natural that it is like an evolved wing that is actually part of you.”

The new MauiSails Mutant

In development since spring of 2011, my original motivation for the first prototype was to test out the shortest possible luff length that I could make for a 4.7, in the hopes that it would help me pull off cleaner wave 360’s by both reducing rotational inertia and avoiding the dreaded “mast tip caught in the lip” scenario. As it turned out, this first prototype not only possessed the desired maneuverability and clearance, but the very compact aspect ratio and low center of effort gave it tremendous wind range. The sail was planing in the same wind as a 5.0 while remaining very balanced, light and controllable even when seriously powered. Of course it took several re-cuts and new prototypes since that first one, to get the tension and outline perfectly balanced but the result is magic. The sails have proven themselves through daily sailing sessions in anything from rough monster waves with howling, gusty winds to glassy surf with wind so light and offshore that you shouldn’t be able to sail (but you still do). Feedback has been tremendous from everyone that has tested the sails and the great thing is that not only do the light and middle weight wave rippers like it but big guys like Micah are in love with a 4-batten for the first time too.

The Mutant in action

Head over to the Maui Sails website to find out more (mauisails.com)

For 2012 Maui Sails have added a special tail piece to their 170-230 boom range amongst several other tweaks and improvements.

“This wider tail will retrofit perfectly on the wave boom arms and is also offered as a complete product in our new 170-230 Slalom boom.

The 170-230 Slalom Boom with new tail piece

All MauiSail carbon booms have several developed upgrades that are meant to improve durability. The two-pin clips for length adjustment have gone through many changes to solve an issue with corrosion that required chrome plating each pin to isolate the metal from the plastic. We redesigned the grip covering to have fewer pieces and altered the location of the joins between them. A slightly firmer durometer of the foam was chosen, and new glue was sourced. We expect these changes to further add to the value and performance of our already renowned line of carbon booms.”

Taty cruising...

Technical features:

• High Stiffness to Weight with double tapered tubes. Race booms are 40mm at the front and back, with 35mm diameter backends, and are the stiffest in the industry.
• Monocoque Construction in Pre-Preg Carbon for maximum stiffness and durability.
• Efficient energy Transfer with MauiSails designed Front End configured for Formula Race Boom performance and available on all MauiSails booms.
• Boom adjustment clip bodies modified for greater durability and strength.
• Included Adjustable Outhaul kits and Wide Tail backend with Race booms.
• Molded Precision produces perfect tolerance between the Boom Body and Rear End for smooth and easy adjustment.
• New High Performance grip surface is durable and easy on the hands.

As we highlighted in last month’s ‘power wave’ test, most brands now offer three distinct models of wave sail: power wave, all-round wave, and 4-batten. There’s little doubt that at present, allround wave sails remain the most popular choice, and that’s the focus of this test group. We asked each brand to supply us with 4.2 and 4.7 versions of their all-round wave sail together with the recommended mast, which allowed us to test the sails through a larger wind range than if we had only one size. It also allows us to check for any inconsistencies within the range. So let’s kick off the discussion by asking the brands the obvious question..

Read the full test on our sister site, Boardseeker.com

Most brands now offer three styles of wave sail. Although each loft has slight variations on the theme, nowadays they tend to be pitched along the lines of ‘power wave’, ‘all-round’ and ‘4-batten’.

The term ‘power wave’ has been around for years, and to most people it tends to imply ‘a sail for heavier riders’. Examples of this style of sail would include the Gaastra Poison, NeilPryde Atlas and North Duke. ‘All-round’ sails are 5-batten models designed for use in all conditions, and include sails such as the Gaastra Manic, NeilPryde Combat and North Ice. The 4-batten sails are generally focused towards frontside riding, such as the Naish Boxer, Simmer Black Tip and NeilPryde Fly.

So, based on this thinking, you may as well stop reading if you weigh less than 85kg, as these power wave sails are not for you. But is this really the case? Are they really just for heavier riders? Let’s see what some of the brands have to say…

Read the full test at our sister site, Boardseeker.com

The exciting Ghost-XT range has expanded to include sizes from 4.7 to 6.7. Evolved from Legend development, the Ghost-XT incorporates similar shaping adapted to the extensive use of ultra-light and strong Technora™ scrim. The Ghost-XT offers the best in high-tech, light weight performance that you can’t imagine until you sail one.

More sail info at mauisails.com/​sail.php?id=82