Sailworks Hucker 6.6
Interview with designer Bruce Peterson in 2007
Bruce, not too long ago, the Hucker’s largest sizing was a 4.8 built for extreme winds and airtime. Now you’ve got the Sailworks 6.6 Hucker. What’s changed?
What started as sail design concept targeted to aggressive sailors riding in high winds, i.e. more seam shape and more rig tension, has proven to be very effective in when set more moderately for low end range.
The Huckers are created, by design, so far up the loading plateau that even when set a low downhaul and outhaul settings they have stable rig tension. This allows the sail to be set for maximum low end without becoming sloppy and unstable. The range of the Hucker has proven to be quite amazing at both ends of the spectrum.
This Hucker 6.6 looks (and feels) different than a model we tested last Fall. Why? And what’s been gained? The ‘07 version of the Hucker 6.6 is quite refined from the first release. We’ve tweaked the graphics into a giant arrow design that is simpler and bolder than the initial explosion graphic. Within the seams there are also significant changes. The broadseaming offsets in this sail is greater (per square meter) than any sail we’ve ever made. Last fall we made a series of 6.6 prototypes to explore and better define how far we could push this concept. The new 6.6 is juicier and has wider range of settings. It’s much more like the 4.8 and 5.6 sizes in terms of its power and stability.
You formula race. You use jumbo 10-plus meter sails. Has the Hucker’s success got you thinking smaller? Is a Hucker 8.5 out of the question? There’s no question that shaping and tensioning concepts that define the Hucker are applicable to larger sails. Not, of course for high wind jumping sails, but for making power packed light sails. This is a development project for us this spring and summer.
What are you most proud of about this sail? Why do you think users will embrace it? First of all, I love the Huckers because they suit my sailing style. They’re powerful, stable, lifty, extremely adjustable and exhilarating to ride. That seems to be popular with a lot of other windsurfers too.
Do you feel the sail has any shortcomings? As you look toward a ‘08 model, what will you focus on improving? The Hucker is a powerful sail, it rotates with a lot of force and has a higher than average center of effort. It is not optimized for down-the-line wave riding, or for freestyle spin tricks, where a softer less powerful sail is better suited. We’re going to keep pushing the envelope wit the shape and tension and see where this goes. It’s going to be a ton of fun to work on.
Given the choice between drag racing with the Hucker 6.6 or your tried-and-true Retro 6.5, which would you take?
The new Hucker 6.6 is easily comparable to the Retro 7.0 in performance. All things being equal I’d take the Hucker as there is just more wind range. Period.
Courtesy of Windsurfing Magazine
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