POINT-7 AC-0 7.7M TEST REVIEW 2024
POINT-7 AC-0 7.7M TEST REVIEW 2024
POINT-7 AC-0 7.7m TEST REVIEW 2024
The Verdict
The faster you go the better the AC-0 gets. Asking for a matched commitment from the rider, the AC-0 tunes and twists away by itself, while paired with a fast and more technical Freerace or Slalom board the AC-0 will deliver blistering speeds.
The Lowdown
In classic Point-7 style, the AC-0 looks built for a mission. The main panels are black, but still remain transparent, casting a darker tone, but more importantly, it still allows you to remain aware of your surroundings. Rigged to the recommended settings, the leech falls away in the expected manner. The AC-0, boasts a significant draft in the belly, while overall, the AC-0 has quite high skin tension. The battens hold an efficient pre-cambered shape which should offer good low-end grunt and provide an efficient shape to pull you through any lulls. There is some slight batten overlap on the mast on the lower battens, however, it’s not as significant as some others in the test. Working out to the clew, where only one clew eyelet is placed for absolute ease of rigging, the AC-0 is cut in to help reduce boom length. The second batten from the foot crosses the boom to help maintain stability, while also helping to reduce wear as the sail rubs on the boom when pumping. The makeup of the AC-0 is generally aiming to achieve lightness with the vast majority of the sailing being made up of high-quality monofilm. Meanwhile, X-ply is purposely placed in the bottom panel where the tension in the tack strap is most apparent and also along the luff to maintain stability. The AC-0 is available in two colour ways, pearl black and slate grey, which we were provided with for the test. Its jet-black appearance, with substantial shades of grey and silver, along with white accents, makes for quite a powerful appearance that will lure onlookers on the beach to come over and investigate.
Brand Claim
“Designed for: Slalom speed seekers, who don’t like the hassle of cams. If cambered sails are not your cup of tea, then the sheer performance specs and looks of the AC-0 should be the one for you. Let the wind fill in the sail, and you’ll be smiling as you watch others eat your spray!”.
Performance
Walking down to the water’s edge and manoeuvring the AC-0, its boom length does make it feel big. Once up and on the board, you are immediately cast under a reduced light as the darker monofilm prevents some of the light from passing through, which makes it feel bigger than it actually is. The AC-0 likes a commanding attitude to match its appearance and its initial power delivery is punchy, asking you to drive the board up to speed and slip into the straps. Locked in and sheeted in, the wind naturally fills any looseness in the leech. The AC-0 stands tall and taut, naturally tuning and twisting to match the conditions around you. Its centre of effort is situated down alongside the rider, making it easy for you to hunker down and harness the power. The faster you go and the more you commit, the more stable the AC-0 becomes, so the more committed you are the more you will get out of it. In gusty conditions, the AC-0 pulls you through the lulls as its deeper profile down low holds a more efficient shape. Through the gusts, as long as you commit, you will be rewarded with an injection of speed, however, if you decide not to commit, the AC-0 can start to feel heavy in your hands. The AC-0’s range can be widened by playing with the outhaul tension to give you more top-end or more low-end ability. Meanwhile, the AC-0 has a natural trait of never really switching off and going neutral, so it demands maximum effort from the rider through tacks and gybes. It rotates well, delivering instant power on the exit, which you just need to anticipate. The AC-0 commands input from the rider to elevate its performance, so it can flatter the rider. The AC-0 is geared more towards the racing spectrum end of the range, so it does require a proactive rider to drive the sail as it demands.
POINT-7 AC-0 7.7M TEST REVIEW 2024
VITAL STATS
Price: £664
Size: 7.7m
Luff: 498cm
Boom: 216cm +/-2cm
Battens: 7
Ideal Mast: 460 K80 OR k100
Available sizes: 4.7, 5.4, 6.1, 6.9, 7.7, 8.6
OTHER SAILS IN THIS TEST:
BACK TO TEST OVERVIEW
The post POINT-7 AC-0 7.7M TEST REVIEW 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.