What's not been said about the Cheetah that hasn't been covered before? It always gets rave reviews and the latest lives up to the legend. I shamelessly praise them, cause I like them, they are what they are and do what they say they do with no BS.
Ive gone 6.5 to match a smaller FSW board better, and to be used generally for ocean blasting 14-22knts.
The cheetah like all ezzy sails is just windsurf porn..its is designed and made so well, so obvious, you don't cringe at the sound of crackling creasing mono film when you unroll it, and it can handle a less than perfect rigging surface.
Rigging is stupendously easy...straight out of the bag, remove the personal 'rigged and checked by a real human and their name tag" and set with Ezzy mast as recommended, perfect , no adjustments required. One thing I did notice on this years model, quiet a large mast luff..not sure why that is as it's nearly always going to be used with an RDM. The vinyl window Ithink is smaller this year also, but its still there, perfect amount and size for resting your Sail on head when carrying.
From my limited use so far I think this ones a little more outhaul required than previous, but again use the clew rope guide and you cant go wrong.
The other thing is its quite a full powerful sail, seems fuller profile than the last model, its took me by surprise how powerful it is...I was worried coming down from the 7m I'd be under done, not a chance, , its got more pull than Brad Pit on a Hens night.
The range with tuning I think will be insane, I used it in medium setting for first outing, in medium wind range, spot on, stable fast and comfortable. The surprising extra bottom end was really welcome punching out through onshore waves also, I had no hesitation sailing in over the surf and jibing in close to shore knowing I had heaps of pull to get me out of there again.
It's a super light sail, has quality build and construction written all over it, feels easy to throw about, looks dead sexy, especially in red, sails like a dream, cant wait to test it in fully lit and high wind settings.
The day I picked it up the shop was doing repairs on another 'free ride sail' of another brand, broken tube batern, hate that ,bugger of a job to sort out also...nice moment knowing that I wouldnt be having that BS with the ezzy batterns.
Honestly if you want a quality free ride sail, easy to rig, built to last, can handle a bit of tough love, with heaps of wind range and goes like the clappers but importantly offers stability and buckets of control, I can't think of a better sail.
Can't wait to get on it again.
You forgot to say how easy and soft it is to use .the 6 batten version is great .I got Green and red .A really well balanced sail.with unbelievable top end .
well done on you new purchase .its a goodie.
I got a 2016 5.5 last month. Haven't used it yet. Most likely the next Boggy session in April. I'll post my impressions when I do :)
My feeling is its very similar to the 2012 model. I have only sailed it in strong winds so far. It is much lighter of course and lighter in the hands too. A little easier in the gybes - more maneuverable. I loved the 2012 model and this one seems to be a worthwhile incremental improvement.
I had Freerides , then morphed into the Cheetah.
Ezzy durability, build quality is tops. The best thing I found on the Cheetahs is the huge range of adjustability, being able to handle overpowered with grace.
Awesome sail
how many people use SDMs on the larger Ezzy sails ?? say > 7 or 7.5 ...
and which ones are ideal - have heard of North being used successfully
.
seems Ezzy RDM masts are always the preference
yes, I could ask David or on forum, but like user replies
hmm, I do have a 460 PX RDM mast ...
would that work with Cheetahs 7.0, 7.5 & 8.0
that would make a "migration" to Ezzy less painful (on the wallet)
.
also, the luff on the 6.5 seems to be 456 cm max
could a heavyweight like myself use a 460 mast on such a sail ??
thx in advance
joe
I've caught this discussion a few days late. I have the 2016 Cheetah 7.5 (Orange) and I run it on a NP 460
X6 (80% carbon at that length) SDM mast. I think it works fine but the mast is described as progressive flex (more bend at the top). So I rigged it on an old C30 constant curve 460 mast and I thought it had a slightly better shape but the mast is significantly more heavy I've stuck with the X6.
* So, my recommendation is, if you have the option use a constant curve mast.
* My opinion is a SDM is perfectly fine (and a flex top too)
I chose the Cheetah for no-cams, build quality and something for my best mast which is the 460 X6. This particular sail is a replacement for a no-cam Gaastra 7.0 matrix, which was a great sail too. The 7.5 Cheetah has a lot more power than the 7.0 matrix, well beyond what 7.5 vs 7.0 would indicate.
* So I'd recommend that if you are undecided between two adjacent Cheetah sizes, go down.
Last sail I did a one-on-one comparison between my RS Slalom 7.0 Mark iii and the Cheetah. In every imaginable department the Cheetah was better.
* The Cheetah is so much better than a dedicated cammed slalom sail, but I can't explain it.
I tried out my 2016 5.5 Cheetah today at Boggy Lake in about 15-20 knots, messy chop water. This sail has MUMBO !!!. Infact, I was fully lite up on it (using a 109 Supersport 249x65cm, 30cm Blackproject Freeride fin). It feels much bigger than it is. The sail feels very heavy and sluggish, but that is a good thing for speed/slalom (can hold it down easier). It's much harder to duck gybe, since it doesn't like to depower .. again, this is a good freeride/slalom/speed trait. It failed the piano-key test,.. but it could be I was feeling O/P, and needs tuning/learning how to use etc. Definately interesting sail.
15 -20 knots..sounds like you needed a 7.0.i take it your not 95 kgs.glad your happy with it .mine was set at max downhaul,here .
Cheetahs have huge top end. Yesterday we were on 5.8's and 5.4's and Shifu was still on his Cheetah 6.5 and this is often the case. He says he uses more downhaul then recommended.
Thanks Jonesy. Yep, I watched the video before I brought the sail, and watched it a dozen times now and apply all of Graham's tips. I'm running a CAAS 100% powerwave (RDM). When rigging 1st time, I didn't need to change the downhaul marker, so it looks like the mast is a close match. I'm about 70kgs and I was fully lite up on last Saturday and on the verge of being uncomfortably O/P. Boggy is one of the hardest places to sail in my opinion. So, the conditions are pretty crappy (I only go there because the crew are nice and it's close when the beach spots aren't working). I brought the sail for Stansbury and North Haven, so I'm keen to use it there. I'll report when I use it in these spots. Yes, this thing feels like a race sail, rather than a freeride sail. My comments in the first post, weren't putting the product down, only to say that this sail feels completely different (in a good way) to other freeride sails I have owned. Thanks for the tip about the outhaul setting (ie using medium and full setting).
J
They have a different 'feel' that's for sure, especially compared to full mono film type sails.
its more of a controlled constant pull with the initial power rather a twitchy on/off, this feeling often initially is mistaken as feeling slow, until you check your speeds against data.
At full speed when a gust hits its absorbed somewhat by the softer feel, you don't get pulled off onto your toes and you can control the gust, so that may feel slow if you want that extra gust to push you to 40knts.
I took my 6.0 cheetah to west Oz last november ,
i did have there a 5.8 and a 6.4 of other brands ,I sold them because i didn't need them anymore
the 6.0 covered it.and it was faster .with more control
my mates have 5,8 cam sails over there .they died in the lulls ,where i kept going
just by letting out the outhaul.love the range and feel .
even though my 6.0 is a 2015 ,it still kicks arse .the 2016 are more forgiving ,with one less
batten .the 2015 6,0 has 7 battens it s almost like a race sail.But not .
the 6,5 with a ezzy mast RDM ,is just pure bliss to use .I've had my 6.5 in 25 knots and didn't feel
out of control once . bring on the down haul.I do think the 2016 is a better sail .in the smaller sizes .
where the 8.5 has stayed with the 7 battens .I hope it stays like that ,its perfect .It is the best
big sail i have ever used .and Ive had plenty .
i might get a free sticker for this post .
great sails ,Im glad i made the switch .2 years ago .with my slalom sails.
had and still have the SE's and panthers ,
i just like to add ,I think a company that just focuses all their time to SAILS or rigs ONLY .
you will get a good product .
i reckon this ones a beauty with the extra tweaking done last year .
sailing around rocks ,a scrim sail is always going to appeal to me .as I do end up on them some times .