Nexus 6.1 at £275 Under the Spotlight   
You could spend over £400 and get less performance...

“We liked the ‘reassuring’ feel of its construction.”

How it feels on the water:
The Nexus delivers instant power. It’s fairly stiff and works well even though slightly heavier than the others in the group due to its highly stable construction. This is one of the best sails for going fast in light/medium winds. It’s also a sail which is a little more difficult to handle but delivers the drive for sailing back in the straps. In handling terms, it’s a little behind the other sails because of its weight and size. The Nexus is a freeride sail for jumping. Very fast and stable, it’s suited more for medium/heavy weights. Well-suited for raking back onto the deck of the board and cuts through the air with ease. Finally, we liked its ‘reassuring’ construction and very wide wind range.
A sail which sits on the edge of this group, falling more into a freeride than freewave category, the Nexus is intended for riders looking for a more solidly built sail than a classic freeride.

The design:
Newly introduced in 2007, the Nexus joins the Target in a crossover program oriented toward performance and versatility. Bigger than its rivals in surface area, it has been designed with a long boom in mind. Constructed out of 100% X-ply, it stands out as one of the most robust in the group with extremely good reinforcements in vulnerable areas: edges, leech, head etc. The draft shape is moderate.

Tester’s opinion:
Alex/1.82m/83kg
“This isn’t a sail that I would take in the waves in 6.0m2 conditions. It’s more for blasting. Despite its weight, I really like this sail because it goes fast, allowing you to sail where you want on the water, even when the conditions are unreliable.”
 

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Test report of Wind 2007

Nexus 6.1 at £275 Under the Spotlight   
You could spend over £400 and get less performance...

The newest addition to the Gun Sails range, sitting between the freemove and freeride categories, the Nexus, according to Gun, is designed for the entire family. It’s the heaviest sail on the scales (4.85kg) and also the most reinforced. Indeed, the Nexus is built around a six batten profile and constructed entirely out of X-ply. The introduction of a triple tack pulley by Gun extends to all its models and the most recent addition to the family is no exception. It is also noticeable for an adjustable head strap for maximum adaptability, and a recommended preference for RDM 430 masts. In fact, the Nexus was the sail with the softest feel in the hands. It’s less responsive to pumping than others, but it’s a very comfortable sail. With less power, it doesn’t come in at the top of the group for early planing. It’s true that it’s a sail with slightly less surface area, which may explain its superior control in strong winds. Whatever the reason, we were pleasantly surprised by its performance and acceleration. It isn’t very low cut, so it’s not the best sail for raking down onto the deck, however it had far and away the best handling. The Nexus allows you to attempt a few freestyle moves without worry or even venture into the waves. This makes it a versatile sail which is easy to use and will appeal to light and medium weights, with great potential for graduating to your first bump & jump runs or simply freeriding on calm seas.

+ Price, versatility, high wind control, soft handling, comfort, reinforcements.
- Average power, weight, elastic tack strap too short.

 

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