Wind Magazine : DESIGN
Nous avons choisi de varier en testant la version HD de l’Oxygen inchangée en 22. X-Ply en tête de voile, lattes tubulaires, wishbone cross batten, décro-chement et double œillet d’écoute, longue bordure sous le wishbone et outline sont donc identiques, seul les panneaux centraux adoptent un monofilm tramé.
SUR L’EAU
La vaste ouverture de la protection de pied de mât facilite l’accès à la poulie d’amure mais on regrette toujours l’absence de poignée permettant de tirer la voile vers la base de la rallonge au gréage. L’Oxygen connaît une bonne dose de tension qui génère une chute largement ramollie. Le creux n’est pas outrageux, il se réparti sur la largeur du wishbone. La prise en main montre un gréement relativement docile à manipuler. Avec d’excellents minis, le départ est tonique avec une traction dans le sens de la marche, sous forme d’aspiration. La bonne longueur de wishbone (200 cm) ne se fait pas sentir avec un bel équilibre et des pressions équitablement réparties. Les accélérations s’enchainent ensuite, on sent le travail du mât qui relance constamment au moindre impact sur le clapot. Dans les trous d’air, l’Oxygen poursuit son chemin. La Loftsails avance sans effort et soulage d’ailleurs les charges sur le flotteur qui se trouve libéré et devient vivant. La version HD ne perd rien des performances du modèle classique et possède toujours une plage de vent inégalable. Si l’Oxygen se tient loin, il est possible d’accroitre encore plus sa tenue dans le vent en passant à l’œillet du bas.
VERDICT
Cette saison encore, l’équipe de tests WIND s’est laissée séduire par l’Oxygen 6.8. Plage d’utilisation, simplicité et aisance de conduite, et performances faciles sont autant d’arguments qui placent la Loft en tête du classement coup de cœur. Ce modèle, HD ou non, plaira au freerideur pour du cruising qui dépassera ses objectifs, et satisfera le rideur en recherche de performances sans souffrance.
Windsurf Magazine UK :
THE VERDICT
Subtle and precise in power delivery, compact in feel and impeccably mannered, the Oxygen’s true quality is realised when the chips are down and the conditions are on!
OVERVIEW
The Oxygen is back for 2021, tested here in its HD construction, using x-ply and scrim of varying weights throughout its panels. With this incarnation stated as remaining current for the 2022 season too, there have been a number of updates made, reducing the boom length and maintaining the same luff length, giving the sail a higher aspect ratio. The head of the luff sleeve has been closed, replacing the ‘plug’ fitting used in previous seasons, whilst the luff curve and leech design are said to have been refined for greater tuning options and bottom end grunt. Recommended for use with the brand’s Vision range of 75% carbon masts, rather than their top end Team Edition, it is compatible with both RDM and SDM, and was tested here on an SDM.
Interestingly, the Oxygen is also the only sail in this test category to be recommended for use with a 430 cm mast. Downhauling the sail so that the looseness in the upper panel reaches the reference logo, the leech falls away uniformly down to batten four, the Oxygen adopting the shallowest profile at rest, with only the long cross batten retaining any contact with the mast. Build quality and detailing remain exemplary, as we have come to expect from this loft, with a double Dacron head panel for durability when rolling, a large easy entry moulded tacking fairing, and beading along the full length of both sides of the two bottom battens.
PERFORMANCE
Over the years we have been testing, the sails coming from Loftsails have gained a well-deserved reputation for coming into their own when the conditions get hairy. In powered to overpowered conditions, the balanced handling and manners of a Loftsails sail can be relied upon implicitly. We haven’t found an exception yet … and this Oxygen certainly isn’t one! Rigged according to its guides, it is a real weapon in high-octane drag races with your peers, feeling compact in the hands and accelerating efficiently as every gust hits. Crisp and inspiring in its power delivery, it has the handling and feel of a sail half a metre its junior and empowers the rider with the feeling that they can take on anything that’s thrown at them. The more severe the conditions, the more the Oxygen’s quality shines through, both in a straight-line and transition. Taking the Oxygen into lighter winds, you’d be well served to start playing with the settings to achieve the most from it. We found reducing the downhaul by around three or four centimetres made a significant difference to the bottom-end power and feedback the sail presented. Its profile is still relatively shallow, but there’s a little more connection to the upper panels and movement to play with when pumping. The power is still quite subtle, but with good technique the Oxygen can charge and spring a board loose from the water and onto the plane in gentle winds. Once going, its precision and efficiency shine through again, seeming to glide through lulls as if impervious to any drop in pressure. A real rider’s sail, ideal for those who are happy to play and experiment with sail settings to get the most from it; when fully lit, just hold on and let the Oxygen do its thing!
