DUOTONE DUKE 5.8M TEST REVIEW 2024
The Verdict
The Duke offers punchy power that sits forward and up from the rider, while it is almost impossible to rig it wrong and allows the rider to tune it appropriately for the conditions, allowing you to keep as much power as you dare, while offering Duotone’s signature plug ’n’ play approach.
The Lowdown
A true Duotone sail, both visually and with its user-friendly features, which are prevalent all over the sail. Available in two colour-ways – red and turquoise or white and violet, the latter of which we were provided with for the test, it offers a cool, distinctive and slightly retro look. Constructed from monofilm and X-ply Plus, which can be found in areas under particular stress, it delivers power and overall stability. The Duke is also available in a more costly, but more durable monofilm-free HD version. Consisting of a five-batten layout, you will notice that Duotone has a larger ‘batten-free centre’ between battens above and below the boom to increase inflation with the intention to provide extra power in the gusts. As a result, this pushes the remaining three battens further up the sail, which adds further stability to the top of the sail. Staying with the top of the sail, rigged and at rest, the Duke has a notable amount of fall away at the leech. Yet, in the lower half of the Duke, a noticeable amount of sail and batten sit proudly over the mast, ready to create great depth in the belly of the sail. With handy rigging guides all over the Duke, it doesn’t disappoint in its easy-to-use personality and it offers the rider great tuning options in each of the tuneable components.
Brand Claim
“Our most successful 5-batten sail ever is back! Combined with the light done right construction, and all the other build concepts developed over the past decade, the reincarnation of the Duke is set to be the new benchmark for wind-range-oriented handling sails.”
Performance
With a medium to high draft that sits forwards, the Duke packs plenty of oomph from the moment you step onto the board. The inflation characteristics in the front of the sail are a real asset in getting you planing and up to top speed with ease. Its power, centred around the rider, makes it easy for the sailor to move back into the footstraps. Up top, the sail is stable and holds its twist as the leech forms a nice, uniformed rotation. Matching the power of something larger, yet remaining smaller in overall size, is a welcomed characteristic, especially in marginal bump-and-jump conditions where you are always searching for that little bit of extra power. In well-powered to overpowered conditions, the Duke definitely requires some tuning to maintain its stable and controllable feel. This is easily achieved as the Duke guides the rider with all the appropriate tuning guides. Through the transitions, the Duke maintains its grunty power delivery and pulls you positively into the gybes, ensuring you use the front foot to carve and maintain a flat and fast board. On the flat, with its medium to high draft, the Duke has the ability to be sailed like a freeride sail. Drop a little outhaul off and allow yourself to really sink into it on the flat. In messy bump-and-jump or marginal waves, the Duke retains its bold power delivery, allowing you to hit sections or a ramp with power. With some added downhaul the Duke is capable of being put through its paces on a wave, in bump-and-jump or where the waves are one-hit wonders, it delivers with ease, allowing you to make the most out of the conditions with real gumption.
DUOTONE DUKE 5.8M TEST REVIEW 2024
VITAL STATS
Price: £789
Size: 5.8m
Luff: 440cm
Boom: Max 178cm
Battens: 5
Ideal Mast: Platinum RDM 430
Available Sizes: 4.2, 4.5, 4.7, 5.0, 5.4, 5.8, 6.2, 6.7
OTHER SAILS IN THIS TEST
- Goya Banzai Pro 5.7m
- Severne Gator 5.7m
- North X-Over 5.8m
- GUNSAILS Re-Torro 5.7m
- GA Boost 5.8m
- Point 7 A-CF 5.9m
- Simmer Enduro 5.9m
- Loftsails Purelip 5.7m