The new Point7 ACZ 2 cam sail

Hi everyone, in the last days, thanks to my friend Luca from Surf Trieste-Italy, I've had the opportunity to test a pre-series of the new Point7 2 cam sail ACZ. Considering that since 2010 I use the slalom sail no cam ACX I was really curious to compare the two sails and I thought sharing my impressions with you because perhaps there are others like me that love no cam sail but are tempted from the cambered sails. On the beach
The size tested is the 5.8 the same size as my ACX m.y. 2017 I've rigged it with my Point7 RDM 400 80% carbon. It could be called a Frankenstein sail: in the lower part of a cam sail, Point7 have inserted the upper part of a no cam sail. Comparing with ACX the operations for rigging and derigging are a little bit more complicated; the first time that I've rigged the sail I got a little bit nervous because I couldn't understand how to insert properly the two cams but finally, at the third attempt, I understood the right sequence to rig it; and I must admit that it needs just a couple more minutes than what is needed for the ACX. The profile under the boom is almost as deep as a racing sail (much more evident than in the ACX) but above the boom it is the same as the ACX. The right downhaul tension generates a very clean entry profile so the wind could enter in the sail without turbulences. Compared with ACX, the ACZ has the cut out for the boom more pronounced so the boom length is about 3 cm shorter The leech is very loose, like tradition of Point7, more than the ACX but while sailing it doesn't rattle.
On the water I tested the sail for a couple of hours in a no perfect windy day (too much on off wind but we are going to autumn and the termic wind is not so perfect like during the summer) but more than enough to have valid indications. The advantage to have a deeper profile is immediately clear when you sail through a lull: where with the ACX I am obliged to take off the foots from the straps, with the ACZ I can plan for more time, sure not a full plane but enough in order not to lose too much speed. When a gust hits the sail, it seems like the sail absorbs the wind and gives it back to you in form as a constant acceleration without asking the sailor to do something more than maintaining the correct body position; instead with the ACX you feel in a more physical way when the gust hits the sail and it is requested from you a more active surfing with an adjust of the body position and eventually a little re-positioning of the sail. The water start is simple as with the ACX, the deeper profile is not a problem and in the mast pocket there is the same quantity of water that you can find in mast pocket of a no cam sail. In jibe it is needed a little change in style: the ACX has a neutral position just in the moment when the sail is perpendicular to the board when you change the tack, the ACZ instead, due to the fat guaranteed from the cambers, it always pulls and you must be a little bit more energic to keep firmly the sail but after changing the tack, the sail allows you to rehook to the harness without the feeling of being pulled forward by the excessive power of the sail. In terms of pure speed I think that between ACX, ACZ or ACOne (the race sail from Point7) there are no significant differences, it is more a matter of the sailor's ability; but thanks to the two cams, the ACZ allows you to find the right position in order to do a speed run in a more simple way than the ACX, which is more sensible to the surfer's input.
In conclusion The question that I've had in my mind was if the ACZ could be a right substitute for the ACX and, for me, the answer is yes. The ACZ guarantees a more controllable power, a easier way to control over powered situations and gives you more power to go through the lulls, the jibes are just a little bit more technical than the ones with the ACX and rigging and derigging the ACZ is just a little bit more longer than ACX but not more complicated.
Cheers from Italy

I have had ACX 5.4, 5.8 and 6.5. Great sails, especially the 2019 that have a shorter booms and are simply rock solid when overpowered. I do not miss my cams very much but this, the AC-Z looks great. However, it is very disappointing that a RDM cannot be used with anything bigger than 5.8, the AC-X rigs RDM to 6.5.

Interesting review. I enjoy my AC-X's and love P7 graphics, but I smiled seeing the 'revolutionary' claim made for the ACZ, since Aerotech had something similar a year ago aerotechsails.com/rf.php