LOFTSAILS WAVESCAPE 5M

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LOFTSAILS WAVESCAPE 5M

LOFTSAILS WAVESCAPE 5M (Catch up test)

The Verdict

The Loftsails Wavescape offers a welcome balance of power and agility. The Wavescape consistently delivers stable and usable power, which helps the rider to perform at the pace of the wave. Its ability to find power makes it easy for us mere mortals to use, while still flattering the more experienced wave sailor.

The Lowdown

The Wavescape, in true Loftsails style brings a welcome flash of vibrant colour to the beach, available in two colours: a fuchsia pink or bold green, which we were treated to for the test. Rigged to its recommended settings, guided by the trim diamond on the top panel, the Wavescape’s 4-batten outline displays a typical amount of leech fallaway for a 5m wave sail of this outline. The Wavescape does rig a little flatter, but its draft and belly are held discretely as there is plenty of room and flex in the luff tube, which will readily fill with wind once given the opportunity. Loftsails has always prided themselves on their “trim reactivity”, which has been embedded in their sails since the birth of the company. This “trim reactivity” remains in the Wavescape, allowing you to softly trim by raising the centre of effort for light winds, or trim a little harder by lowering the centre of effort in stronger winds, which allows you to make the most of conditions. Branded as their “down-the-line” sail, the Wavescape’s makeup, technology and materials are vast. Completely covered in X-ply for added durability, longevity, and stability, the foot and tack are reinforced, ready to cope with whatever you throw at it. The Wavescape comes with two clew eyelets, which allow you to increase both its range and control to maximise the conditions without having to constantly change up or down. Radiating out from the clew, two tendons assist with stabilising the profile, while the Wavescape features a high-visibility window, which extends above the main panel and will assist you with spotting the sections you want to hit. The Wavescape also boasts Loftsails’ IPS (Integrated Panel Concept) technology, which sees 3-layer head, tack and clew radials extend into the entire X-Ply body for the ultimate resistance in heavy surf. Made for the waves, the Wavescape seems to have a personality that will help you dominate the conditions – no matter what you are faced with.

Brand Claim

“Designed for ultimate down-the-line wave expression, the Wavescape combines power on demand with agile handling. Whether you’re riding perfect waves or facing gusty winds, this sail is optimised to perform in any conditions.”

Performance

Up on the board and with the rig upright, you will instantly notice the Wavescape’s natural ability to hold and deliver power – even when the breeze is lacking some substance. The Wavescape always offers you something to work with as you navigate your way through confused waters, whitewater, or simply trying to waddle out to the wind line in cross-off conditions. Supplied with a little extra power from a gust, the Wavescape immediately gets to work, not wasting an ounce of energy as it pulls you onto the plane with relative ease. Planing out as you pick the path of least resistance, the Wavescape is stable and continues to deliver firm, but usable power, while its natural ability to hold and maintain power when the wind drops a tad, still allows you to power through lulls. Meanwhile, in the gusts, the Wavescape doesn’t pull you off balance or feel big; it remains poised and stable as it naturally flexes and transforms extra power into additional speed, allowing you to remain focused on the water ahead of you as you eye up the next ramp to send you flying into the air. All-important transitions are made comfortable and timely with its natural pulling power upfront keeping exits of both tacks and gybes efficient and dynamic. In contrast to that, once dialled into the Wavescape, it goes neutral beautifully mid-tack and through certain manoeuvres while riding. Sitting on the crest of a wave, the Wavescape keeps you at the pace of the wave easily with some targeted power control from the rider as you time your drop down the face. The Wavescape maintains a lovely manoeuvrability while riding, especially at speed, moving through the hands nicely. Its power encourages a firm riding style, without being overly aggressive, while its upfront power will help pull you back down the face after a slashy top turn – forgiving a potentially untimely smack of the lip for those less experienced. Always remaining firm, but friendly with its power, the Wavescape is a wave sail that not only shows good character in down-the-line conditions, but also in the less glamorous cross-onshore conditions we so often experience.

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