2008 Global 5.0

Mauisails Global 5.0 From PLANCHEMAG (March/April 2008 Issue):

The power with softness!

With a bit more than 50% of x-ply, the powerful wave sail of the brand offers an excellent visibility in the main panel with one of the thinnest leading edge. The battens stay behind the mast which eases the rotation. The reinforcements are important with a soft mast panel in Dacron.

Thinner than its competitors on the leading edge, the Global offers an elasticity which gives it a very comfortable stance.

Planning ability is very good with an excellent power to accelerate, go over the waves and ride back upwind in on-shore conditions or where current is important.

Thanks to a nice work on the profile, it is fast and balanced. With a good softness/power ratio, the sail does not shake its rider as others would. We can easily let go at the back hand to release the extra power and save ourselves.

This sail has a different concept: the battens are not as locked in and in the gust this is the upper half (above the boom) that twits and not only the leech. The global is part of the sails that can be sailed flat (outhaul tension) and used in auto-pilot! We can sail more upright and need less effort to accelerate compared to the powerhouse of this test.

Power can be adjusted by opening/closing the gap with the back-hand.

In the gusts we have a little more back-hand pressure though.

Tester's Feedback (1.82m - 82kg:
This Global is different. with a good boom length and fine drive. The power is well balanced in the all profil and comes progressively with a good softness. Very easy to neutralise, this is one of the lightest and fastest.

+: Comfort, softness, neutral in the surf, upwind ability, on-shore sailing
-: A little bit more back-hand.