PATRIK GT-3 FRC 8M TEST REVIEW 2024

05.09.2024 09:25

PATRIK GT-3 FRC 8M TEST REVIEW 2024

The Verdict

The best of both worlds, the GT-3 handles like any other freeride sail, however, supply the GT3 with some input and you will access and be rewarded with all the great characteristics of a slalom sail; speed, acceleration and top end stability.

The Lowdown

Rigged on a 490 RDM mast, the GT-3 is one of the only sails in its category set up as standard with an RDM mast. Requiring a little more effort to downhaul, the GT-3 holds a bit more tension in the luff and mast than some others. PATRIK says the GT-3 combines ‘Slalom performance and Freeride handling’, and upon rigging and at first glance, its merging design and engineering seem to support this claim with its 3 cam, 6 batten outline. The GT-3’s foot extends and occupies some real estate, and the tack strap helps add a little extra depth to the GT-3. With some nice depth and profile in the body of the sail where the rider will be positioned, the GT-3 naturally twists off as you work your way up top, where pretty much the entire top panel falls away. Two clew eyelets provide some tuning ability, and for a sail of its size, the GT-3 holds a relatively short boom at 205cm – give or take a few centimetres of adjustment – which makes handling and gybing the GT-3 more manageable and user-friendly. With a well-thought-out construction inspired by PATRIK’s Racing department, 4mm to 7mm X-Ply is used throughout the GT-3 to complement stability, stiffness, durability, and lightness. Sporting a very clean look, the GT-3 isn’t overly fussy in terms of colour, or graphics, with a simple orange, white, and black colour way. Instead, the GT-3 lets the finer design details and on the water performance do the talking.

Brand Claim

“The GT3-FRC is the little sister of our competition medium-aspect slalom sail. Based on the concept and panels of our contest winning fin and foil hybrid race sails the GT3-FRC performs equally well on fin AND foil..”

Performance

Light in the hands and with a short boom, the GT-3 is easy to shift into position and handle. Its 6-batten outline makes power readily available to you. The GT-3 provides stable power, which is firm and fixed. Blasting along, the GT-3 remains light and accelerates smoothly with minimal input from the rider – you can be happily blasting along in autopilot mode. However, if you give a little extra, then the GT-3 will give you access to that extra notch of speed and acceleration. Pushed to the upper end of its wind range, the GT-3 is impressively manageable and stable, requiring minimal adjustment to the settings. In fact, the more you push the GT-3’s upper end the better and more thrilling it becomes, all while remaining in control as you truly access PATRIK’s racing pedigree. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we found that a refined technique was needed as the GT-3 doesn’t pump as naturally as others unless there is some power in it. However, rigging it with an SDM would slightly improve its low end. One of the easier and more natural to gybe, the GT-3 rotates easily, and its short boom for its size makes moving the rig throughout simple. Possessing a pleasant nature, going light and neutral in the gybe, even if you are not totally dialled in on your gybes, the GT-3 will forgive you and help you stay dry as it powers up under your command. The GT-3 hits the easy freeride handling, while it still lets you access the slalom performance as and when you want/need it. Just give it a little extra input to set it truly free.