Test report of Surf March 2007
Flash 6.8 at £265 Under the Spotlight   
You could spend over £400 and get less performance...

• Early planing good
• Keeps power good
• Handling in strong wind Very good
• Speed in low wind Very good
• Top speed Very good
• Maneuvers handling Very good
• Stability good

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Flash 6.8 at £265 Under the Spotlight   
You could spend over £400 and get less performance...

“A dynamic ride”

How it feels on the water:
Stiffer than the average, the Flash generates good power and is very responsive. This is a performance sail which rakes back naturally onto the deck with a well-balanced profile. There’s power in reserve in light winds and a little bit of backhand to accelerate. In terms of handling, it doesn’t feel bulky, but a little stiffer and more reactive than the others in test and is therefore more suited to a dynamic style of riding. The Flash is a lively sail which requires more physical input: it’s closer to a Naish or a Pryde in spirit. It sails fast into gybes and generates exciting speed. There’s just a little less backhand in gusts, it breathes not quite as well as the rest. It’s better suited to low and medium winds. A sail with very good performance, it’s a little bit more physical and dynamic than the average and is particularly effective in light to medium winds.

The design:
With its lightly preformed shape, the Flash is a sail with a longer boom length than its rivals. Built around six battens (three tubular), it’s reinforced in 2007 by the use of X-ply around the contour and notably in the top panel. We also noted the introduction of a triple downhaul pulley and cutaways in the leech between the battens. The build quality and finish are excellent.

Tester’s opinion:
Alex/1.82m/83kg
“I liked this sail a lot, because it’s very dynamic and generates a strong feeling of speed and acceleration. It’s in my Top 3 for the balance between performance/comfort/excitement. This is a sail that will suit all sizes of rider and is more aimed at freeride performance.”

 

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Test report of Wind 2007

Flash 6.8 at £265 Under the Spotlight   
You could spend over £400 and get less performance...

Very close to the Tempo in terms of its outline, the Gun Flash 6.8 does not have any cambers and its profile is flatter than its big brother. We found the same use of materials and similar distribution of reinforcements. A triple downhaul pulley also makes its first appearance on the Flash in 2007, together with other little details such as a small net for an integrated key in the moulded mast foot protector. As on all the sails in its range, Gun recommends a single downhaul setting for all conditions and prefers to recommend adjusting the sail’s power through the outhaul. On the water, the sail feels very pleasant. Light in the hands, you feel straight away that the Flash is a sail with a profile that breathes. The balance is excellent, the distribution of pull between the arms is even and you can feel a lot of softness in this sail, allied with an average amount of power. However, the profile is solid and doesn’t destabilize the rider during gusts, as was the case with certain competitors. Even so, it’s not the most stable sail in the test in high winds. It accelerates sharply and its good overall performance is maintained over the widest range of conditions. In short, the Flash is a high-performing, versatile, balanced and user-friendly freeride sail which will please those wanting to sail without getting too technical; all at an affordable price. This was a sail that was liked by the entire Wind team.

+ performance, user-friendliness, versatility, overall balance, price.
- average power.

 

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