North Red Line 2009

iFRONT – the fastest and most comfortable NORTH SAILS boom front piece with unique trimming and tuning opportunities.
North have known for a long time that the boom construction, and in particular the head, has a big impact on rig performance. They carried out extensive comparison tests on flatwater, on Gran Canaria and Maui, eventually proving that rigs are extremely fast when they remain steady in the rider’s hand, allowing for controlled rig steering. The two spots are so different, and so are the conditions that present individual challenges for the ideal boom. While wind and water conditions on fl atwater are mostly calm, calling for larger sails, exactly the opposite prevails on Gran Canaria. Actually, in order to achieve optimum propulsion at both spots and tireless windsurfi ng especially on Gran Canaria, one would need two heads of different stiffness or attenuation. A very rigid, direct front piece for flatwater, and an attenuated, more flexible head for harsher conditions. This is an effort that only professional regatta pilots will not shun, but which otherwise makes windsurfi ng excessively complicated. Yet who would willingly forsake the extra performance and the additional comfort? This is exactly what we focused on. The knowledge acquired by our development team helped it devise the following easily understandable formulas:
TOTAL.FLEX.CONTROL Individual flex adjustment. In recent years, the challenge has been to develop a head that unites both characteristics without having to accept any compromises. After three years of intensive development work, we’ve reached that goal! The brand-new iFRONT head is the fi rst to offer an adjustment and tuning option that changes the overall characteristics of the boom, allowing for ideal adjustment to all conditions. This is made possible by the individually adjustable FLEX.CONTROLLER in three levels (patent pending).
FLEX.CONTROLLER SOFT SETUP:
Clearly defi ned, vertical fl exibility, especially for Wave sails or for days with choppy, uneasy waters for more comfort, better rig control, higher speeds, and good shock absorption after high jumps
FLEX.CONTROLLER MEDIUM SETUP:
Medium Flex
≥ FLEX.CONTROLLER STIFF SETUP:
Maximum rigidity, especially on a calm water surface and with big sails with long booms, since the length of the tube already provides for suffi cient shock absorption
AUTO.CLOSE Revolutionary rigging. But what’s the fastest boom worth if it’s difficult and time-consuming to operate? Therefore, the new iFRONT is equipped with the NORTH SAILS AUTO.CLOSE (patent pending), in which a tappet automatically snaps and closes the hinge cap when rigging up. This helps avoid threading and trapped fingers.
LOCKED.RDM.ADAPTER 100% fit and compatibility with RDM. Additional rubber adapters for RDM masts that either stick on the mast or – in most cases – get lost, are a thing of the past thanks to the iFRONT, since the RDM adapter is now directly and fi rmly connected to the head (but can be removed anytime without any tools). This improves rigging comfort signifi cantly since, logically, the cuff no longer slips on the mast, let alone gets lost or displaced. An additional advantage: it weighs 50% less than previous adapters! Comes with Silver, Gold and Platinum 140 and 150 only.
> CONCLUSION
The new iFRONT head revolutionizes the boom. Thanks to the individual adjustment of the fl ex, the boom’s absorption can be regulated at the rider’s discretion, in order to reduce rig nervousness in choppy waters and always maintain a constant angle of attack. Or the rider can opt for uncompromising stiffness, making large sails even faster on calm waters, because in Race mode, the new iFRONT can effortlessly compete with the stiffest heads on the market – perfect for slalom or formula.
ULTRA.CLEAN.ROPE.STORAGE
Clearing up the loose ends! There is nothing more unnerving or annoying than a loose dangling piece of rope on your boom front end, and no longer is it necessary! For the fi rst time the iFront has a spot in the front end closing lever, where the rope can be stored both clean and secure, although ready to grab instantly, if required.
Low wind = calm waters = large sail, long boom = less rig movement Ideal solution: infl exible, rigid head High wind = choppy waters = small sail, short boom = nervous rig = jumps Ideal solution: easily fl exing head