92 SPOTLIGHT
Progressive performer
Loftsails Oxygen 7.3m HD 2018 sail
Buy from: https://4boards.co.uk/product/windsurf/windsurf-sails/loftsails-oxygen-hd-blue-2018/
Specs: www.loftsails.com/windsurf-gear/sails/oxygen Price: £689 for 2018 and 2019 for HD version. Standard orange version £629
WORDS: WINDSURFING UK PICS: JAMES JAGGER
HAVING USED A NUMBER OF MONTY SPINDLER’S WINDSURF SAIL
DESIGNS THERE’S A GLARINGLY OBVIOUS TRAIT RUNNING THROUGH
ALL. EVERY DESIGN HAS TWO FACES – THE OXYGEN 7.3M BEING NO
DIFFERENT. ONCE SHEATHED TO ITS IDEAL MAST THE MINIMUM
SETTING DISPLAYS AN IMPRESSIVELY BELLIED OUT MAIN SECTION
THAT’S SHAPED FOR PURE POWER AND LOW END PLANING. WHACK
THE DOWNHAUL AND OUTHAUL ON AND SUDDENLY YOU END UP WITH A
MUCH MORE TRIMMED LOOKING HIGH WIND PERFORMER. BUT LOOKS
ARE ONLY SKIN DEEP. HOW WOULD IT PERFORM ON THE WATER?
In marginal conditions Loft’s Oxygen
7.3m does indeed provide an immense
amount of down low grunt that’ll have
riders up and planing in the bare
minimum of breeze. Feeling quite
freeride orientated in this setting it’s a
very drivey sail that pulls riders along all
manner of windsurfing lines and through
transitions – although not in
unmanageable fashion. As much as
there’s plenty of boost it’s also
comfortable.
With wind strengths increasing riders will
need to tune accordingly. The upper
limits of the Oxygen 7.3m are
impressive. We had it out when other
riders were blasting back and forth on
uk
WIND
SURFING
much smaller rigs. Yet the Oxygen
maintained its manners and simply
converted gusts into efficient forward
momentum. As such we could easily
see the 7.3m being utilised in a race
environment, even without cams.
Through transitions and the sail’s pull is
whippy. It begs sailors to commit fully
and aim for those planing exits, which
are achievable with power on tap
allowing boards to knife through even
the choppiest of conditions.
As is such here at WSUK Towers we
used the Oxygen 7.3m in foiling mode.
(Whilst on test it was also up against the
brand’s Skyscape 7m – stay tuned for
that report in next issue). With barely
any breeze puffing the Oxygen 7.3m is
an efficient boost of turbo power to pop
foils on the fly and keep them blasting
through lulls. A great sail to partner with
a high aspect foil for some fun back and
forth hovering.
Conclusion
Very much a sail of two faces Loft’s
Oxygen 7.3m is an efficient early
planing machine, that’ll surprise just
how quickly up to speed it can be. In
contrast the sail’s top end is very
akin to that of slalom engines with it
coping well when erratic gusts and
blowier conditions appear. Partner
with a freeride, freerace, slalom or
foil sled for versatile and fun
windsurfing shenanigans.