After great success that I had last year with the classic Hydra 6.0, this year I bought the Hydra Pro 5.0. I actually have it for couple of months, but first there was not enough wind and then the covid lock down. This week I finally got to try it 2 times on the Hookipa 370 bottom 400 top mast, SB 122 board and SuperCruiser foil.
I weigh 65kg and for me Hydra 6.0 is optimal on 12-18 knots, but with some effort works on 10-20. So far the lowest I could take off with Hydra Pro 5.0 is about 15 knots, but with 1-2 more knots it's much easier. The strongest wind I had was 20 knots and it was perfect on med setting. Comparing the sails directly, 6.0 on max is slightly more powerful than 5.0 on med, so the overlap is pretty big, but I like it this way. Makes choosing a sail much easier. It's definitely possible to get away with 1.5 m difference and there still should be some overlap.
The main difference I see between the sails is an improvement in stability when overpowered. I was only overpowered on 5.0 when there was 20 knots and I was on min setting, so I don't know yet is it across the range, but the sail was extremely easy to handle. On the old sail with the min setting there is almost a spinnaker effect where the belly is really big and soft and when it catches wind it goes ****. The new sail still has a big belly but it's somehow stiffer and it holds more shape even without wind. The old sale was extremely stable, but there is a noticeable improvement.
One thing that I don't like about Pro is the monofilm window. It's niece to see where you're going when down winding, but I foil in difficult conditions where I damage my gear a lot so it was niece to have a bombproof sail. Now it has a weak spot.
I definitely recommend using hydras with the NS ratchet extension, this way you can take advantage of the extreme range the sails offer without leaving the water. It's like taking 2 sails with you.
2020 Hydra Pro 5.0 on mid setting:
Big difference between the Pro and the 2019 model Hydra is the addition of the 5th batten in all sizes 6.0 and below (7.0 had a 5th in 2019). That is what contributed the most to the greater stability over the 2019 version. I would have to think that 5 battens in a 5.0 sail makes a big difference in stability.
