|
Goya
One 85 - Boards Magazine Freestyle Wave Test 2007
Successor to
the Goya Freewave, the "One, Aqua Series 85" is the middle
size in a three board range that's billed as delivering early planing,
good riding, freestyle and powerful blasting.
On
the water:
The One 85 is very much a moderate waveboard design, with a fairly
wide nose suggesting a slight leaning towards smaller waves and
freestyle. The tail is easily the narrowest on test, the length
at 231.5cm easily the shortest, and the max planing width easily
the narrowest. The planing flat is also the shortest with a 141.2cm
point but the tail rocker is relatively moderate at only 4mm.
Not suprisingly then, it was clearly a strong favourite in the waves,
and just as clearly the slowest to get planing in marginal 5.7m
weather. Much less predictable was the really balanced feel and
sensible volume distribution that made it feel much more comfortable
and less twitchy orspecialised than 'big waveboards' can often be
guilty of.
It sits quite low in the water and has a secure, manageable nature
rather than feeling fast and flighty, but it blasts and rides chop
comfortably. It's happy enough in flat water and keen to perform
stronger wind freestyle but comes into its own in swell - or, better
still, waves. It's a great jumping and riding board, agile, easy,
predictable and controllable.
Range:
It will take up to a 5.8m, but its ideal sail range is 4.7-5.5m
and its ideal water state is coastal so there is clear overlap with
smaller waveboards. It can handle almost any (stronger) windstrength
or water conditions if required.
Fittings:
A very sensibly sized and decently performing MFC 25cm fin. The
deck is nicely padded and domed. Straps are comfy and easy to adjust,
but don't easily go either very big or very small and the top velcro
strap is lightweight.
Popularity:
One of the top three performers for nearly all the guest testers,
and very popular with the testers too. Although this is partly attributable
to th fairly windy test conditions which so suited to its nature,
it's also clearly merited.
Overall:
A board that can fulfil many roles, but its strengths are definitely
biased towards coastal conditions or high wind freestyle, and towards
reasonably well-powered sailing. Accessible enough to be considered
a 'high wind baord' for late intermediate to advanced sailors, yet
it can equally be considered as an ideal lighter wind (but very
much wave-oriented) complement to a small waveboard for advanced
to expert sailors. A very classy feel and highly recommendable.

|