Gaastra Manic HD all X-ply wave sail

Gaastra Manic HD (heavy duty)
Interview with Gaastra sail designer Dan Kaseler
What brought about the Manic HD's development, and why opt for a no-monofilm sail now?

With Gaastra we have been super successful with the Manic. It's proved to be great sail, whether ripping in Hawaii, Hatteras, or the Gorge. For the new season we originally focused on re-working the Manic, adding more tension and stability to the 5.3 and 5.7, while redesigning the Gorge sizes around a 4 batten frame to free them up. During the same time we had started thinking more seriously about offering a fully x-ply version to really push the durability. With the Manic HD I think we really stepped the evolution forward a notch as compared to our competition in the full x-ply market. Many brands are still missing the basic design features and details that can be even more important than selecting x-ply for the basic skin material. The Manic HD is built around a tri-radial concept, where we keep all the primary seams radiating out from the corners. I can almost guarantee that you cannot pull a tack or a clew off these sails. Additionally we've continued to set new standards with 100% fold-back tack patching, and low body and sock seam protection, particularly important since 90% of the world is riding on Cobra boards with decks like sandpaper. The bottom line, I wanted a sail I could really punish on the Oregon Coast. The Manic HD is that sail.
Versus a traditional Manic, how much extra weight is incurred with the no-mononfilm layout. How about price – same as a Manic? More?

The weight goes up a little bit. It's not a huge difference, but the extra mark cloth, and the x-ply window add a bit. We keep the shape low and forward in the sails, and we work hard on the rig elasticity. With these design targets, we manage to keep a very light and crisp feel, despite the increase in laminate weight. Our custom x-ply definitely adds to our x-factory pricing as compared to monofilm. We are still looking to enter the market with a reasonable and competitive price for sure.
How does the sail compare in feel? Did you have to reapproach the Manic's design to compensate for the material change at all?

There's a little bit of tweaking to the HD, but basically the same setup. The increase in x-ply gives a slightly rubbery feel. This is true across all brands. It's nothing like adding a heavy PVC window that feels like a worn out rubber band, but it's there if you test back to back and concentrate on the feel between your hands. The other small sacrifice is visibility through the window area. The glue inside the x-ply gives you a slightly cloudier view no doubt. As the sail ages, however, the raised x's in the laminates actually keep the surrounding films from getting as scratched up, so after a couple of seasons, the visibility might actually be better than a sail with a straight up film window. Either way you go, Manic, or Manic HD, I'm pretty sure you'll be stoked!