Duotone Duke 2024

Our most successful 5-batten sail ever came back with a bang in 2023. and for 2024 we’ve given it a facelift!

The DUKE combines our LIGHT DONE RIGHT design with all the other design concepts we’ve developed over the last decade to set a new benchmark for wind-range handling sails.

The development of the DUKE was a 1.5 year project. with the end user. always at the center. As a starting point. we involved "real" end users who regularly use this type of sail. and our surf centers to define a bucket list for the reincarnation of the DUKE. here is the result and how it came about:

Maximum wind range. especially in variable and/or very gusty conditions.

This is the most important factor and the biggest advantage of choosing a sail with 5 battens. A simple rule says that more battens means more control and a wider wind range. Normally. this has a negative effect on low-end performance because more battens make it harder for the wind to pump up the sail and it is less efficient to pump. That’s why we adopted the BATTEN FREE CENTER concept from the SUPER_HERO. Instead of the usual even batten distribution. the DUKE has a larger distance between the foot batten and the batten above the boom. This makes the boom area easier to inflate and increases stability in the top (due to the increased batten density in this area). The second disadvantage is that each batten increases the weight of the sail. This is the reason why in recent years there has been a trend towards fewer battens in wave sails.

Super light feeling in the hands. but without falling apart after 1-2 seasons.

The lighter weight of 4 batten sails was the main reason for the disappearance of 5 batten sails in the last decade. Fortunately. we have made some major design improvements in the last 10 years. The result of this development was the LIGHT DONE RIGHT CONSTRUCTION. which was introduced in 2022. By replacing the usual multi-layer reinforcements with a single layer of high quality fabric and also introducing the ONE PIECE SLEEVE. the one-piece mast bag. we were able to reduce the overall weight by 300g. We are the only brand where these serious weight savings have been achieved without reducing the thickness of the film and XPly panels. This is the only way we can continue to guarantee our unmatched 5-year warranty. Another problem with reducing the thickness of the foil is that the sail becomes spongy as the energy dissipates due to the increased stretch. This causes the sail to feel heavier in the hands. Therefore. our sails are not only lighter on the scale. but most importantly. they feel extremely light on the water when you use them. Because that is the point that really counts!Early

Glide performance even without excessive pumping

For maximum planing performance. the DUKE features a high pressure point distribution combined with a deep profile that gets the board planing early.

Super neutral during maneuvers

To make tricks and turns as easy as possible. the sail should be completely neutral in the hand during maneuvers. That’s why the DUKE is equipped with a more forward pressure point position. The forward pull turns off the power and goes completely into neutral as soon as you open or shift the sail. This leads to a much higher success rate.

Good lift and control when jumping

The higher pressure point position also increases your airtime as it creates lift. while the more forward pressure point helps you stay in control at all times.

Maximum range of use

One of the biggest advantages of the DUKE is its versatility. In bump & jump conditions. the Duke delivers pure exhilaration on your freewave board or in a smaller size for shooting around on your freeride board. The front and top pressure point also makes it very suitable for classic and even new school freestyle tricks. Last but not least. it is a great sail for medium wave and/or jump conditions. especially in gusty or difficult wind conditions. So the new DUKE is a true all-round high performance sail that will challenge any handling oriented sail.

Quick to rig

With all the features. markings and cues we’ve developed over the last 40 years. it’s safe to say that no other sail can be rigged faster or more precisely than a DUOTONE sail. Even if you are not a professional who sets up and trims your sail every day. you will still achieve the same correct trim. Because only with the right trim you can get 100% of the sail’s performance.

Similar feel to the larger freeride/performance sails.

Another important factor is that all sails in your quiver should have a similar feel or ride. This is true even for pros. because even they usually need a whole day to get used to a sail that feels completely different.

to get used to a sail that feels completely different. The main reason why sails feel different is the position of the pressure point in the sail. Fortunately. the DUKE has a very similar pressure point here as well. like most modern freeride sails.

So you see. we’ve put all of our know-how and experience to work to create the most sophisticated Jump N’ Ride high performance sail ever.

Finally. the new DUKE comes in 2 optional constructions

+ The regular DUKE has a 50% monofilm construction with all high stress areas (luff. clew. top. luff) reinforced with XPly.

+ The DUKE HD. on the other hand. is made entirely of XPly. for extra protection in the sail window.

Features

DRAFT FORWARDForward pressure point for maximum neutrality in maneuvers >> leads to a much higher success rate

BATTEN FREE CENTERLarger gap between the foot batten and the batten above the boom >> better charging (= planing power) in the boom area and improvedstability in the upper sail area

LIGHT DONE RIGHT CONSTRUCTIONWeight reduction by a noticeable 200 to 300 g without reduction of the film thickness. while maintaining the well-known durability and longevity!

VTS TAIL outhaul specsEach sail carries individually defined visual specifications for proper outhaul tension (requires VTS TAIL boom).

iROCKET 2.0Factory torque calibrated individual batten tensions

AVAILABLE IN HDAlso available as monofilm-free HD version