NeilPryde’s S – Shape Boom

The NeilPryde R&D team have been working over the last 18 months on their brand new S-Shape boom to achieve two objectives: more stiffness and strength.

Riders like Kauli Seadi love sailing as close as possible to their sail to get the maximum reactivity in the moves. At the same time, when pulling hard on the boom arms they want a boom that deforms as little as possible. For example, when pressure is exerted on an aluminium boom the tubes deform and stretch slightly, resulting in a shortening of the boom length by a few millimetres, which can cause the centre of effort in the sail to move back.

To resolve this problem, NeilPryde designed an aluminium boom with a new profile that’s  engineered to place riders naturally closer to the sail, firmly in control with a more intuitive body position. The boom shape also compensates for wind pressure change by dynamically assisting with a stable sail shape – when the pressure arrives the boom just deals with it, and thanks to the S-Shape technology in its tubing, the boom remains the same length, no matter what the situation.

The new Pressure Flow Forging head section explodes a few myths around traditional construction methods for aluminum booms. Using industry-first pressure flow forging, the heads are produced with seamless material integrity and unprecedented strength, rigidity and endurance for the most demanding riders.

It’s one of those things that’s better explained verbally than in text, so to see an exclusive interview with the NeilPryde team behind the boom, check out this link:

http://expressionsmedia.yellis.net/wol/videos/NewBoomNeilPryde2010.html

(It’s conducted by the guys from Planchemag, but bar the first few sentences it’s all in English.)

The S-shape is available in three versions – X3 aluminum, aluminum X6 and X9 carbon carbon.

X3 and X6
140-190 cm
160-210 cm
180-230 cm
200-250 cm
225-275 cm

New School
140-190 cm
160-210 cm

X9 Carbon
140-190 cm
160-220 cm
180-230 cm
200-260 cm
225-285 cm
260-320 cm