NORTH FREERACE 7.7M TEST REVIEW 2024

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NORTH FREERACE 7.7M TEST REVIEW 2024

The Verdict

The North Freerace pushes the limits of what a cambered Freerace sail should or can be capable of. The Freerace morphs together rapid acceleration, top-end speed and adaptability with smooth, effortless handing, together with sensational gybing that is all delivered into one top-tier package that will elevate your sailing.

The Lowdown

As expected from North, the Freerace is exceptionally light – constructed using North’s moulded 3Di technology for ultimate lightness, durability, and stability. The Freerace exudes a serious demeanour that will always attract attention. Rigging is quite similar to any other cambered sail, except the Freerace features North’s Aircam design, which enhances airflow and profile while reducing weight. The Aircam also eliminates the need to adjust the outhaul and downhaul to position the cambers; simply rig it with full downhaul, set the boom, and then pump up the Aircam to the recommended PSI, and watch the Freerace’s profile deepen and the luff tube become taut. Featuring one of the larger luff tubes and deeper profiles in its category, the Freerace looks sporty. However, with 6 battens across its entire range, it should offer easily accessible power, and user-friendly usability, while remaining stable thanks to the 3Di technology that adds substance and rigidity to assist in this aspect. Another standout feature is the integrated batten pockets with splitting battens. These pockets are fully integrated into the sail with a seamless and continuous fibre layout, so they smoothly transition from a single piece in the body into two pieces on either side of the air cam, which maximises efficiency and flow. With only one clew position, decision-making is eliminated, making the Freerace increasingly user-friendly with a plug-and-play feel. With minimal amounts of leech fall away, the Freerace sits proudly at rest on the beach – forming an efficient wing shape.

Brand Claim

“The sail offers high speed, but with slightly less effort than a dedicated slalom sail, allowing you to focus on control and trimming your board. The lightweight feel combined with an incredible wind range makes this sail ideal for freeriding around your local spot.”

Performance

Satisfyingly light and easy to manoeuvre, the Freerace feels weightless. It does initially feel like you are handling a stiff wing as the Freerace holds its efficient shape. However, once you get some wind in it you are pulled onto the plane and rapidly accelerated up to top speed. The Freerace remains light the entire time as you move faster and faster with the efficient winged profile of the Freerace standing tall and proud as long as you keep the sail locked down and back. If your commitment wavers even for a moment, you will instantly feel the Freerace demanding you to sheet in and take control. The Freerace feels insanely smooth and fast when you’re locked in, while lulls mean nothing to the Freerace as you glide right through them. Meanwhile, gusts require a little bit of spotting and commitment to allow the Freerace to deliver extra speed. In its upper wind range, the Freerace benefits from a little more downhaul to allow you to pin it down, while we did find that adjusting the outhaul greatly increased both the top and bottom end range. Gybing the Freerace was mind-blowing with its lightness and stiffness allowing for precise rig movement and motion. The Freerace reacts favourably to positive input, which is again made easy by its lightness, and that lightness makes it almost effortless to exit gybes with speed – especially as the Aircam rotates with an unexpected softness not typically associated with cambered sails. The Freerace will require the rider to have a decent skill set to make the most of everything it has to offer, however, that being said, the Freerace exploits everything you could ever desire in a cambered rig with a sprinkle of North engineering – namely: acceleration, speed, stability, and exceptional handling.