// KEY FEATURES

// Powerful wave sail ideal for wave and freewave boards.
// Fully coated sail for maximum resistance and intensive use.
// Strong to moderate power depending on the mast used, while keeping a perfect balance between the front and back hands.
// Sail that remains easy and forgiving even in the most muscular conditions.
// A sail with a low luff curve that requires little tension on the tack.

// SPECS

// Fully wefted
//Mast pannel kevlar & Kevlar reinforcement

// Kevlar tape to block the shape of the sail

// Tying strap

// PVC protection on headboard
// PVC protection on batten tips

// Protection PVC anti abrasive
// Velcro fastener for easy access to the tack eyelet
// Watch puller in the sleeve

// Thermoformed mast protection

My Favourite Auckland Set Up

I think we are blessed with Auckland’s range of sailing spots and conditions. We have waves, bump & jump and flat water and a good dose of wind each year. Finding the right gear is a challenge, but I reckon I have found the perfect set-up. I love my Exocet X-Waves and XO Sharks. 
The X-Wave has an amazing mix of speed, strength, hull design and fin set up. Legendary shaper Peter Thommen once said that no one raves about going slowly and this is where the X-wave scores: it’s really quick for a super controllable board and is rarely beaten by rival designs. This brings me onto hull design. Exocet’s shaper Jean Marie Guiriec really nailed it with this shape, there is a lot going on with the hull, with various areas for different purposes. There’s rocker, a good dose of V under the mast track, a flattish section at the tail for speed and just enough tail rocker. I'm no design expert, but it is clearly a versatile shape. It turns beautifully on any size wave, and gybing is super easily in choppy conditions. The thruster fin setup helps with its awesome turning capability, but also enables great upwind tracking. The carbon glass construction is also reassuringly strong yet light and the clever heel pockets mean that the deck is not interrupted by ridges of footpads. It’s hard to put into words how good this board is, except to say that everyone I know who has one, always has a great sail and is usually the master of the conditions. 
To complement the board I use an XO shark. Exocet’s sail division have created a gem of a sail and with the X-Wave, it seems to suit Auckland’s gusty winds. It has balanced characteristics; low down power to thrash out through Owera mush, yet neutral pull when overpowered. When mega-overpowered it gets a bit heavy, but is still useable. I’ve used them at Meola on the flat, Shakespear for Bump & Jump, freestyle at Manly and in the waves at Orewa. Finally, I love the full X-ply construction and the quality finish. 
I guess what makes this set-up extra sweet is that it is also light on the wallet, which means more money for sausages.

Dave Law

Wellington Shark

Test of  XO-Sails Shark 4.0 and 4.5 2014
Date: 17-18/03/2015
Condition: 25-35kts, logo to mast high waves, Cross/On-Shore
Spot: Lyall Bay.
Board: JP 82l Twinser Quad 2013
 
I started with the 4.0 and the 17th as it was gusting over 40 knots. Very easy to rig, I put the recommended tension on downhaul (rigged on 370 XO mast RDM 80%), put 2cm extra at the outhaul (probably because I sail with a high boom) on the upper position.
The sail looks great and very well made, and has a light feeling to it.
 
In the water, it delivers a very decent amount of power, and incredibly stable profile. I am very pleased with the way it handles the big gusts, and it is easy to control in jumps. It is also good on the wave, where I it was really easy to depower to surf. There was quite a few monster waves on this day (thanks to PAM), and I got properly trashed a couple times. The all rig stayed perfectly intact, so I feel confident that it is very solid!
 
The next day, slightly less wind so I went out with the 4.5, and it had very similar feel. Downhaul tension as recommended and +2cm at the outhaul as well (rigged on 400 XO mast RDM 80%).  It is definitely a great onshore sail, with loads of power and an incredibly stable profile for a wave sail. I tried the lower position for outhaul when wind picked up a bit, but I came back to the upper one, as the sail felt more balanced this way. I am impressed how easy it has been to get the sail trimmed properly, as I always with my old sails had to try different outhaul/downhaul combination to get a sail to a state where I was satisfied. For this sail, it’s been bang on right away. It feels light yet powerful, as it should.
It is definitely on of the best sails I've sailed with!

Yoann Ladroit