The Icon is a classy and well built looking sail. Graphically for 2010 the Icon has received some subtle tweaks rather than a complete rework but still stands out extremely well on the water. Luff length is middle of the group, whilst boom length is the shortest in test shortest.

The foot features a nice integrated pulley block that takes the strain out of downhauling and a more durable foot protector for 2010. Other notable details include a height scale on the boom cut-out and a PVC badge to keep the luff sleeve open whilst threading the mast through the cut-out. Simmer don’t offer a visual trim system on the Icon.

When it comes to tuning, like last year, the Icon has a lot of versatility. More than any other sail in test in fact. It sets (and works!) with a tighter leach (less downhaul) and more outhaul for a gruntier power delivery or with a looser leach (more downhaul) and slightly less outhaul for smoother performance and a lighter feel in the hands.

Overall, we have found that this years sail do work with slightly less downhaul and outhaul than last years.

On Water Description

The Icon still feels one of the stiffer sails in this group but is definitely softer than last years sail. Most of our Clones still preferred this stiffer feel which holds its shape through the lulls but also maintains its shape and stability in stronger gusts.

The great thing about the Icon is that although the foil is relatively stiff, the rotation is not clunky – a negative trait that we fond on many of the other stiffer and fuller profiled sails.

In the hands, the Icon has a powerful, grunty feel. It’s not quite as light in the hands as sails like the Manic and Ice, but it is lighter than the 2009 version and offers a lot more grunt than most sails when underpowered. Overpowered the sail copes well and despite feeling powerful, the power delivery is stable and well positioned ensuring that the Icon remains comfortable. Make sure you get enough batten tension on however as not tightening the battens does have quite an effect on the stability of the sail.

As with 2009, the 2010 Icon really excels is in its untuned wind range. In UK conditions, you often find the wind gusting and lulling throughout your session and a sail that can work effectively through the gusts and lulls without needing to be re-tuned is a big advantage. The Icon remained the best in the group for this.

The only slight negative (as with last year) is that the full X-Ply construction does limit visibility through the sail, particularly when wave riding in bright conditions. A problem encountered by all full X-Ply sails.

Overall Impression

Last year, the Icon was a favorite amongst our Clones and it remains the same for 2010. The sail retains all the great traits of last years model, whilst being slightly softer in feel this year, slightly more forward pulling and lighter in the hands. On the beach, the sail offers good tunability (for different feel and conditions), but once tuned and on the water, the Icon still performs through the widest range of conditions, with a reassuringly stable and powerful feel.