RRD VOGUE HD 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW

RRD VOGUE HD 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT

Super tuneable, the Vogue’s feel and character can be changed dramatically according to its set, giving it real versatility to match rider weights, styles and the conditions.

OVERVIEW

Proudly stepping into its 27^th year, RRD maintain the Vogue HD in their lineup as their 4-battened ‘Control Wave’ sail. Last year the series was the focus of some significant development, with the spacing between the bottom two battens extended, aimed at allowing the sail to breath and react more in its lower panels. For the new season the refinements continue, with weight saving initiatives adopted, and a new limited Silver Edition made available, with all the same features as the HD, yet with the inclusion of a monofilm window. To account for the extended distance between the lower battens, RRD sail designer John Skye has incorporated a few key features to mitigate stretch and enhance stability. There’s a stetch control tendon that cuts through the main window, connecting the clew to the front of the main batten, and complimenting the cross-panel layout through the mid-panels of the sail, using double stitch seams extensively throughout. In addition, the Vogue’s head panels have been made wider to provide more obvious drive through the top of the sail. Focusing lower down, there’s the brand’s ‘Power-Clew’ system present, with two distinct clew positions to extend the tuneable range possible. It’s also noted in the sail’s literature that both clew positions have in fact been lowered for the new season as well, intended for increased control. Well built and presented, the Vogue has all the detailing and trimmings you’d expect from a premium sail loft, going some way to justifying its healthy price tag.

BRAND CLAIM

“The Vogue is the sail for ripping in the waves and handling the toughest high wind conditions.”

PERFORMANCE

Rigging the Vogue is straightforward, thanks to the inclusion of the brand’s Integrated Trim System (ITS), depicted by the marking in the upper panel, in front of the long mini-batten. It sets with a hint of shaping in the foot batten, before becoming relatively flat above the boom, with plenty of progressive twist through the leech. Rigged for marginal airs, using less tension and the upper clew eyelet in play, the Vogue feels light and compact in the hands, generating a good amount of useable bottom end torque as a gust hits. There’s plenty of spring and give in the main body of the sail, allowing the sail to breathe and break away as it is pumped to release the board. Once going, the Vogue settles into a comfortable upright position, the centre of effort placed high and forward in the draft. And whilst generating the appreciable power you’d expect of a 5.0m, it actually feels smaller in the hands, great for manoeuvring and making the most of less-than-ideal conditions. The delivery is smooth and balanced, the power going neutral as the sail is eased out mid-transition. As the wind increases, the Vogue can be re-tuned accordingly, with more downhaul tension to increase the luff curve and skin tension, as well as opening up the leech. In doing so the stability of the Vogue is assured, keeping the draft locked forward. There is also the option of dropping the clew to the lower eyelet, which took a little getting used to initially. With more twist in the sail and extra play at the clew, the increased area, high up in the head of the sail is more noticeable, particularly in gusty variable winds. Nevertheless, the short boom and its increased rake certainly benefit the sail’s top end control, meaning the ‘feel’ through the head is a feature worth getting used to.