Quick review of the Goya Banzai 2014 in 5.0 & 2016 in 4.7. Same ezzy mast.
2014:
- on off
- need strong downhaul otherwise heavy
- not super stable
- light in transitions
- feels a bit bigger power wise
- average durability
- average looks
- pretty good on a wave
2016:
- Looks a touch more durable
- softer feel
- strong upwind productivity
- fast
- stable
- nice looking
- not as throw about
- early planing
- endurance
- could feel a bit difficult when overpowered
For sure reviews will always be subjective, relative to the local environment + rider!
Ezzy masts are somewhat flex top. Goya a touch more and Neil pryde even more so. Still Ezzy worked great for me even on Neil pryde.
You can find mast curve specs per year here: www.unifiber.net/masts-selector
Select to expand quoteManuel7 said..
For sure reviews will always be subjective, relative to the local environment + rider!
Ezzy masts are somewhat flex top. Goya a touch more and Neil pryde even more so. Still Ezzy worked great for me even on Neil pryde.
You can find mast curve specs per year here: www.unifiber.net/masts-selector
Yeah it's not really a fair review without the correct mast ... but I guess if you are going to review an old 2016 sail...
And a quick update playing with different things. Using the bottom clew eyelet does bring some tugging relief in gusty winds. At the same time I released some tension down low to retain pumping effectiveness and get more power from above as opposed to the back hand. Seems to work better.
Now the bottom eyelet does lower the boom height by quite a bit and the boom angle feels a bit more awkward even raising the front head to compensate. Maybe I can add some mast extension length to level the boom more 
Select to expand quoteManuel7 said..
There is some great info here, I agree 100% with all of that he says:
Looks like Marcilio isn't using the right mast either.
Select to expand quoteManuel7 said..
And a quick update playing with different things. Using the bottom clew eyelet does bring some tugging relief in gusty winds. At the same time I released some tension down low to retain pumping effectiveness and get more power from above as opposed to the back hand. Seems to work better.
Now the bottom eyelet does lower the boom height by quite a bit and the boom angle feels a bit more awkward even raising the front head to compensate. Maybe I can add some mast extension length to level the boom more
A sponsored sailor told me he always used lower eyelet. He had Goya masts and full quiver.
I had a fairly recent Banzai 5.3m.
I also recently got given some of Severne S1 sails, which have a single clew ring.
I did feel that the Banzai wasn't as powerful as the brand claims and was quite heavy compared to the Severnes. I put the Banzai on top of the S1 to see the difference, the S1 clew lines up right in the middle of the Banzai's two clew rings.
I was rigging the Banzai using the upper clew ring and not using as much as the recommended downhaul is it seemed to loose and gutless when rigged to their specs. This also meant that two of the three carbon stress lines that radiate out of the clew weren't in theory being used, one which goes from the lower clew ring up the sail towards the second batten down and one which radiates towards the foot. I swapped to using both clew rings which meant that all carbon radial lines were loading up when under tension, this not only levelled the boom to the same level as the Severne but also made the sail more powerful and seem a lot more stable.
This might help ???
Have a 2022 Goya Banzai X 5.7 and 2018 6.3 Banzai X. Had a 2015 6.0, but was retired when I bought the 5.7. Love them all and use all on an Ezzy 430. I had a Hot Sails Nuevo that was more flex top than the Ezzy and I think it might have been more like the Goya bend curve. With the Nuevo, you could downhaul to the dot on the Banzai, which is what your supposed to do, and then adjust only the outhaul to suit the conditions. With the Ezzy, the leach is loose slightly above the dot, but sail still feels fine and rigs nicely. Not worth it to me to get a Goya mast as my other sails are Ezzy or otherwise CC sails and I can mix and match masts.
I find the Banzais have a huge range and plenty of power. I almost always use the top clew, but have moved down when getting towards the bottom end of the range, overpowered, and don't want to rig another sail. Also, with the single dot indicator, they are super easy to rig. I loved my 2015 6.0, was my first Goya. The 2018 is ok, but don't love the cut as much as the 2015 or 2022. Would have gotten the Eclipse in that size if it was produced then. The 2022 5.7 is my favorite and most used.
Also bought a 6.4 Nexus B this year for flat days. Also using the Ezzy mast for that and have used an older North Xcellerator SDM, too. Sail rigs fine and is super powerful.
I have had a mongrel quiver for many years all on Ezzy masts until the last season when I made my own quiver being a sail designer and sail maker. My favourites were without doubt the Goya Banzai and hence I used them as my main source of inspiration. The 2015 was very different to the 2016. 2016 much more grunt but I preferred the 2015 when over powered. We used the top and bottom clews depending on conditions. The main focus was on wave riding in cross on to cross off conditions at Coronation and Gnaraloo.
Did you try Neilpryde's too?
My last two sessions were nicely powered at times and I used a tight outhaul.
Reminded a lot of the Neilpryde TheFly in 4.8. The TheFly was a touch faster more direct yet lighter in the hands (more depower).
Feels like the Banzai is a more stable, and hopefully more durable!
Lucky to score some sessions during our low/no wind season. I went back to using the upper eyelet, I like the boom angle better that way and the more direct feel.
I do feel like the sail is a bit heavy (riding and carrying, wet or dry!). It's a 407 luff length so it would work with a 370 bottom with a 400 top. Anybody using that combo on 4.7 or 4.5?
After watching Ben's rigging video, I decided to tweak the battens tension. Either the placebo worked well but definitely felt increased stability and retained power in the lulls. I went for more shape.
