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Tricera 5.0 first look (Simmer Style)

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Created by jh2703 > 9 months ago, 28 Dec 2016
jh2703
NSW, 1222 posts
28 Dec 2016 6:32PM
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Just got this today from Simmer Style and thought I'd give you a quick look. It was shipped on December the 20th and arrived in Australia today the 28th...That's 8 days from Sweden to Australia over Xmas. I'm a big fan of the 3 batten wave sails for DTL so I can't wait to get this wet very soon, I'll give an update when I give it a go. Here's what Simmer has to say about the Tricera.....

"THREE BATTEN SURF STYLE WAVE

The 2017 Tricera is designed to feel extremely light in your hands. It is optimized for maximum freedom and maneuverability. It is the closest feeling you can get to surfing with a sail in your hands. Tricera features the most precise control levels for the steepest and most critical sections of the wave, the sail profile provides no limitations in how you want to position yourself on the wave face. This is the sail to maximize your ability to express yourself on the wave in any angle of wind. The Tricera is best suited for the advanced wave sailor who wants to push their wave riding to the next level and expand their repertoire into the futuristic contortions that the new style of windsurfing consists of. Very well suited with the smallest sizes in your quiver. Tricera is all about the freedom to get out there and do what before, you could have only imagined."

Thanks to the local importer "The Windsurfing shop" for organizing the fast delivery direct to my door.



















masse
41 posts
2 Feb 2017 9:54PM
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I have the same sail in the same size.

After my first outings, only managed three sessions on it before proper winter arrived here in Sweden, I must say that I really like it. I have also used the previous Tricera (4.7) a few times, and feel that this is a fairly big improvement.

It has quite a bit more shape in the bottom of the sail, has more power and remains stable for a three-batten design. There clearly is more tension in the foil, which I think is a good thing for the sail to maintain its shape better. If there was one area where I felt that the previous Tricera could do better, then it was power and this is now improved. It does not offer the same top-end control as the BlackTip, but better than expected.

I have also used the "bench mark" three batten sail, HSM KS3, a few times and they are actually quite different. The KS3 offers more continuous power and just pulls like a train, still very good on a wave as you'd expect. I'd also say that the KS3 is more stable in the upper range. The Tricera requires a bit more work, but on the other hand I think that it feels lighter and more neutral when sailing. I also prefer the feedback and feel of the Tricera, even if the KS3 remains a sail that I remain very impressed by in how it combines power with manoeuvrability.

I think that this is a very good float-n-ride sail and as a result I am yet to use my new BlackTip 5.3... Oh, and the Tricera 5.0 sits very nicely above the BlackTip 4.7, even if they are close in size.

Would be nice to read more about what you think of the Tricera and if you've tried different settings. I rig mine on the RDM 10 mast.

A couple of pictures of my Tricera in yellow (very yellow...).


nerdycross
296 posts
3 Feb 2017 2:49AM
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Nice looking sails, think I.

jh2703
NSW, 1222 posts
3 Feb 2017 9:46AM
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The Tricera is a very different sail from the BlackTip...Very different from any other 3 batten sail I've used also. While blasting out or cruising around out the back it feels nice and very stable, The power is strong but smooth in delivery so very predictable and nice to sail...On the wave is where everything becomes a little different from anything I've ever used before.
Wave sailor often talk about wanting their sail to go neutral on the wave...Well the Tricera goes completely neutral...I mean no power anywhere in the bottom or top turn. It's a funny feeling, It pulls nicely onto the wave then it's purely up to the rider to do the rest, If your a power wave sailor this is not going to suit you but for the guys and gals that are purists and want to purely surf the wave then the Tricera is it. It requires a lot of thinking when you first start to use it as you find yourself bouncing out of bottom turns and flying out the back on your top turn...You really need to surf your board, You can't rely on the power of your sail to give you mast foot pressure or to drive you out of your top turn.
This is definitely a sail for the pros but if you are the person who surfs mast high DTL then this would be an awesome sail but for real world the BlackTip is the sail you want.

Don't get me wrong I am a fan and I'm slowly adapting to the Tricera but it has required me to change how I sail. It's not something most would be willing to do but I'm starting to see the rewards. When I get it right the feeling is amazing, It simply feels like nothing in your hands when you are surfing DTL.

It it will take some time and patience...Are you willing to do the work is all it come down to.

????

masse
41 posts
3 Feb 2017 3:48PM
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Yes, I agree that the Tricera very much is a waveriding sail. It is a very neutral sail on the wave, but my experience is that it does give drive in the bottom turn and have not felt that I've had to adapt my technique much at all.

However, I think that it actually is very easy to use on the wave and would not label it as a "pro only" sail, but certainly not one for general blasting or all-round performance (where, as you write, the BlackTip or the Icon are better choices in the Simmer range). I could actually see people who want to improve their waveriding skills benefit quite a lot from this kind of sail, even in not-perfect conditions. But they need to be aware of what to expect from this kind of sail.



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"Tricera 5.0 first look (Simmer Style)" started by jh2703