With a noticeably lower weight, shorter boom and softer profile, designer Renato Morlotti wants to have noticeably improved the handling and neutrality of the Seal. However, you don't have to do without the usual GUNSAILS features such as the Fred trim aid. The Seal offers very moderate trim forces on the luff, you trim independently of the wind up to the mark, the adjustment to the wind range is then primarily done via the boom trim. The Seal feels damped and comfortable, but never feels spongy even in the hands of heavy surfers (>85 kilos), even on the 370 mast. The sail stabilises immediately in the planing phase, is well-balanced in the hand and develops above-average planing power. Fortunately, the 2021 model turns out to be noticeably more manageable than in the past, both on the straight and in manoeuvres. The Seal also convinced us on the wave, as it still offers enough drive to reach the lip of the wave with enough power even in sluggish conditions, but now also more neutrality and lightness in flat trim, which noticeably expands the range of use for side-offshore waves and freestyle tricks.

surf conclusion: Planing performance, control, handling - the GUNSAILS wave sail now plays in the top group all over the place! Balanced like this, it turns out to be a loyal companion for strong wind freeriders, trick surfers and wave surfers alike.

+ Handling, Control, Comfort
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Everything is high level, except the price

DESIGN: The Seal will be back at GunSails in 2021 after some significant changes. Its silhouette is now more stretched due to a longer luff (397 cm) and a shorter boom (165 cm). The profile is still held by four battens. The Seal's construction and reinforcements are still of the same high Gunsails standard, but the percentage of Square Ply fabric has increased significantly and the weight on the scales has decreased (3.15 kg). Gunsails even reports the lightest sail ever distributed by their brand.

ON THE WATER: On the water, the Seal offers comfortable power to accelerate from the start. The power can be adjusted according to the tension of the clew and is expressed by a smooth pull on the boom. The Seal offers good maneuverability at the spot while maintaining a soft and gentle feel. It also offers good handling characteristics. Stability in strong winds is also excellent and provides a wide range of use for this sail. In the waves, this Gunsails has power available to throttle up and accelerate on the more powerless sections when needed, but the draft stops quite easily when you open the back hand. Handling doesn't suffer compared to most of its competitors, and we notice some progress in the OFF and freedom of movement. With the Seal you don't feel limited in your ability to combine turns in the deepest part of the wave with power or finesse and execute big tricks. Only the reactivity was rated less direct on this point by the most demanding riders on our team. But it is also the opposite of the smoothness that others appreciated.

VERDICT: Gunsails already took a step forward last year with the Seal, and the new version of the most radical wave sail in the mail-order specialist's range continues to move in the right direction. The Seal 2021 keeps its wide range of use, but gains in lightness and freedom of movement in the hands, as well as neutrality. The price/performance ratio is even better.