Best wave sail yet - Neil Pryde Combat Fuse.

Neil Pryde Combat is a legendary wave sail that has been on the market for many years. A very good wave sail for all types of conditions. Now that the sail comes in the new Fuse construction, German surf does not hold back in its test results. It is the best sail so far. Read the test below (google translated from German to English). If you want to read the test in the original language, click on this link

 

For decades, the Neilpryde Combat has enjoyed a very large fan base and is one of the most successful waves sails on the market. With the Combat Pro Fuse this year, in addition to the Combat Pro and the Combat Pro HD, a new high-tech version has been added.

So much in sight, the new Combat HD Pro Fuse is the best Neilpryde sail that we have ever driven and inspired by an incredibly low weight and superior performance.

Technology and first impression:
If you unpack the new Combat Pro Fuse, you can find out the first big surprise. Subjectively, the sail is so light that one wonders whether the slats, or something similar have been forgotten. Why explains when comparing the weight with last year's model Combat Pro HD. The weight was reduced, for example, at 4.7 square meters by as much as 700 g, and thus almost 25%. This is a real house brand. It is also immediately clear, as Neilpryde usually says that it is a premium product. The processing is top and includes completely new technical solutions. In the Unterliek and the canton, high-strength aramid yarns are fused between two extremely thin films - creating a completely seamless, very lightweight and at the same time durable panel. Lite-Skin Aramid also forms a high-strength outer layer.

The main part of the sail is made up of Ultra Scrim, a technology with variable density. Only at the edges of the panels are seams needed, the forces are distributed by internal threads. Ultra-Scrim is only 2mil strong, extremely light, but at the same time very resistant to scouring and tearing. Visually, the new Combat Pro Fuse is a real eye-catcher. The bright purple tones look very extraordinary, and it is also a color variation that has not been seen at any manufacturer yet.

On the water:
With the new Combat Pro Fuse, more than ever, those who have never had a combat in their hands experience an aha moment right away at the first meters. The sails - we have tested the sizes 3.7, 4.2 and 4.7 square meters - are so light in their hands that you ask yourself at the first moment how possible this is. Over half a kilo of weight savings are actually another world. The Combat delivers neat power, glides quickly and effortlessly and correspondingly easily pulls through shorebreak and white water. With the size 4.7 square meters on the new JP Ultimate 2024, we were already sliding at wind measurements of 16 to 18 knots.

The sizes 3.7 and 4.2 square meters also deliver the best sliding properties. The sails behave very neutrally and relaxed and feel - one has to emphasize this again - incredibly light and perfectly tuned. This is due to the gentle power development, which is primarily achieved by two design elements. The slightly wider top in combination with a slightly shorter fork and a perfectly matched leading curve ensure fine tuning and an exactly defined Twist behavior. This is noticeable by the already mentioned handling and a larger wind insert area.

Sailing fluttering in the top with a lot of wind and increased flow voltage are a thing of the past. Compared to other purebred wave sails, which are primarily controlled by the rear hand, the pressure point is still ahead. The sail feels very balanced at any time. Like the other Combat models, the Combat Pro Fuse can be adapted to varying wind conditions via the tension on the Chothorn. If the wind noticeably adjusts, it is enough to increase the sucn tension by a centimeter. So you can avoid one or the other sail changing to a smaller size of the sail. The same applies, of course, the other way around.

The large wind area is particularly appreciated in areas with gusty winds, so almost everywhere. The 4.7 square meter Combat Pro Fuse works with less sucn horn voltage as I said at well below 20 knots - with slightly increased voltage, it can be easily controlled even at over 30 knots. At our test spot Cabezo in Tenerife we ​​were always very grateful for the power in the Inside.

However, the retrim is actually only necessary in extreme cases. With a standard trim with very little Loose Leech and medium cart horn spans, the sail works brilliantly. This provides the Combat Pro Fuse with constant drive and can be easily directed on the shaft. With a single setting, the sail covers an impressively large wind area. Of course, the low weight of the sail is also responsible for easy handling on the shaft.

The new Combat Pro Fuse 2024 sets a new benchmark with its technical solutions, low weight and precise tuning. The driving performance inspires in all areas. It is the perfect wave sail for windsurfers who surf regularly in the wave and have a soft spot for technically thought-out and visually exceptional products.

Photos:Lars Niggemeyer, Neilpryde/Philip Machenbrock