Covering all bases, the Naish No-Cam Freerace has a great blend of usability and zesty power, while it remains stable throughout. The Naish No-Cam Freerace will deliver 100% uncomplicated fun either just competing against yourself or battling it out in impromptu drag races at your local spot.
With an all-over black and blue appearance and a well-placed clear window, the Naish No-Cam Freerace is a subtle sail… so while it may not have a bold, in-your-face appearance, it still looks stylish on the beach. Rigged and at rest, working from the bottom of the sail upwards, the lower three battens have a gentle pre-bend in them, signalling that that’s where the power is going to sit or at least pull from. Working up the Freerace, it then blends smoothly into a uniform fall away at the leech and it’s worth nothing that you don’t need to add more downhaul than suggested. If you do try and stray from the recommended settings, the sail doesn’t look as it should, nor does it feel good in the hands, so it is best to stick to the recommended measurements as then it will do the hard work for you. The Freerace doesn’t set flat, nor does it set with obvious draft – the battens above and below the boom do touch, but they don’t overlap, which could possibly indicate a happy medium between good low end and good top end capabilities. Predominantly made up of monofilm to keep the weight down, there is some reinforcement in the twin luff panels and the foot of the sail, where X-Ply has been used to maintain stability and durability. Not overly engineered, the No-Cam Freerace is designed to deliver you with uncomplicated blasting fun.
“The No Cam Freerace packs the DNA of a slalom sail into a no cam package that provides ample low end power while offering excellent acceleration and top end speed. All in an easy to rig, light weight but durable package.”
Straight off the bat and out in marginal conditions, the Freerace has a nice natural low end, which offers instant pull, wanting to guide you onto the plane. The power delivery is not overly aggressive, nor is it spongy – it’s more like a firm handshake. The Freerace responds well to being pumped if you’re keen to get going as quickly as possible, but equally you can take a more leisurely approach and let it gently pull you on to the plane as you continue to sheet in and settle into the straps. Blasting along, the Freerace handles the vast majority of conditions with ease, powering you through the lulls with a slight adjustment to your stance to maintain an upright rig. In the gusts and at the top end, there is no need to add extra downhaul to the Freerace as it holds itself tall, stable, and firm, naturally breathing and turning excess power into a burst of speed. Meanwhile, prolonged gusts or riding in well-powered conditions give you the opportunity to really push your top speed as the sail really comes to life. The Freerace excels across and off the wind, so it is perfect for going flat out in a straight-line at your local spot. Through the gybes the Freerace rotates well and it likes the rider to take control and tell it where to go – particularly through long drawn-out gybes. Give yourself enough room and time and you’ll be rewarded with full speed flowing gybes, which ooze style.
NAISH NO-CAM FREERACE 7.8M TEST REVIEW 2024
Price: £1099
Size: 7.8m
Luff: 478
Boom: 200cm
Battens: 7
Ideal Mast: 460
Available sizes: 5.8, 6.4, 7.0. 7.8, 8.6
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