Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has used or uses Severne S1 for foiling. If so what did or do you think ? How did or do you find it ?
Curious about this myself. I wouldn't mind having an S1 to use for both foiling and for when the wind is higher, as they supposedly have more bottom end than Blades, which is what we need here in FL.
I like the Freek for foiling, and have used the Blades some, but never S1s. My Blades, even when rigged with less downhaul to tighten the leech quite a bit do not have the same pull as the Freeks, and I've experimented with putting them higher up by making the extension taller. I've only tried 2cm so far but maybe another 4cm of extension would help? Would really like to know what others think as I think eventually moving to S1s in the quiver would be great for foil and fin use...
Freeks are lovely for both fin and freeride foiling but that big monofilm window looks totally vulnerable to shorebreak. I would risk it in sideshore conditions but not heavy onshore stuff. I'm glad I haven't doofused my way into busting them but they are definitely less sturdy looking than the wave sails. I just like that pull that they have.
Curious about this myself. I wouldn't mind having an S1 to use for both foiling and for when the wind is higher, as they supposedly have more bottom end than Blades, which is what we need here in FL.
I like the Freek for foiling, and have used the Blades some, but never S1s. My Blades, even when rigged with less downhaul to tighten the leech quite a bit do not have the same pull as the Freeks, and I've experimented with putting them higher up by making the extension taller. I've only tried 2cm so far but maybe another 4cm of extension would help? Would really like to know what others think as I think eventually moving to S1s in the quiver would be great for foil and fin use...
Freeks are lovely for both fin and freeride foiling but that big monofilm window looks totally vulnerable to shorebreak. I would risk it in sideshore conditions but not heavy onshore stuff. I'm glad I haven't doofused my way into busting them but they are definitely less sturdy looking than the wave sails. I just like that pull that they have.
Have you tried a stiffer mast, or just a stiffer mast top? If you're using a 6.7 Blade you could try it on a 460 mast or 430base/460top rather than an extended 430, and so forth. Don't know about Severne but the strategy works well on Sailworks stuff - pull is higher and further forward
Curious about this myself. I wouldn't mind having an S1 to use for both foiling and for when the wind is higher, as they supposedly have more bottom end than Blades, which is what we need here in FL.
I like the Freek for foiling, and have used the Blades some, but never S1s. My Blades, even when rigged with less downhaul to tighten the leech quite a bit do not have the same pull as the Freeks, and I've experimented with putting them higher up by making the extension taller. I've only tried 2cm so far but maybe another 4cm of extension would help? Would really like to know what others think as I think eventually moving to S1s in the quiver would be great for foil and fin use...
Freeks are lovely for both fin and freeride foiling but that big monofilm window looks totally vulnerable to shorebreak. I would risk it in sideshore conditions but not heavy onshore stuff. I'm glad I haven't doofused my way into busting them but they are definitely less sturdy looking than the wave sails. I just like that pull that they have.
Have you tried a stiffer mast, or just a stiffer mast top? If you're using a 6.7 Blade you could try it on a 460 mast or 430base/460top rather than an extended 430, and so forth. Don't know about Severne but the strategy works well on Sailworks stuff - pull is higher and further forward
I've been using it with a 460 hookipa. Stock it's for 460 with 2cm extension.
I thought this was the S-1?
Think that's the foil freek? Looks like they are both 4 batten but I thought the s1 is built with stronger stuff than the freek or especially the foil freek but I could be wrong.
The FF is new, and I could be wrong, but I thought the FF used a different color palette. No matter.
I've exclusively used S1s for foiling. They work great, light in hands, soft feel and pump well. I have I think '21 models in 4.8, 4.0, 3.3pro, which covers me from about 10-12kts (depending on gusts) up to 25kts+ at my 80kg. Very conveniently they all work with 4cm extension setting so one less thing to fiddle with.
I had a blade early days, but I dislike how they tend to feel quite heavy in the hands in comparison. Would like to try foilfreeks etc, but at the time and probably even now they are special order with long lead times.
I've exclusively used S1s for foiling. They work great, light in hands, soft feel and pump well. I have I think '21 models in 4.8, 4.0, 3.3pro, which covers me from about 10-12kts (depending on gusts) up to 25kts+ at my 80kg. Very conveniently they all work with 4cm extension setting so one less thing to fiddle with.
I had a blade early days, but I dislike how they tend to feel quite heavy in the hands in comparison. Would like to try foilfreeks etc, but at the time and probably even now they are special order with long lead times.
Yeah right. Thx.
I used a mix of S-1s and Freeks for foiling.
S-1s are ok, because let's face it - any sail works ok for foiling, but the Freek is noticeably better. My main dislike of the S-1 is the narrow wind range. It's annoying to sail the S-1 if the wind picks and you get overpowered. The Freek has better low and top end than the S-1 in my opinion.
I use an old S1 5.0 for foiling. I always use an adjustable outhaul with every sail I own. This extends the range a lot. The S1 works well.
Curious about this myself. I wouldn't mind having an S1 to use for both foiling and for when the wind is higher, as they supposedly have more bottom end than Blades, which is what we need here in FL.
I like the Freek for foiling, and have used the Blades some, but never S1s. My Blades, even when rigged with less downhaul to tighten the leech quite a bit do not have the same pull as the Freeks, and I've experimented with putting them higher up by making the extension taller. I've only tried 2cm so far but maybe another 4cm of extension would help? Would really like to know what others think as I think eventually moving to S1s in the quiver would be great for foil and fin use...
Freeks are lovely for both fin and freeride foiling but that big monofilm window looks totally vulnerable to shorebreak. I would risk it in sideshore conditions but not heavy onshore stuff. I'm glad I haven't doofused my way into busting them but they are definitely less sturdy looking than the wave sails. I just like that pull that they have.
Have you tried a stiffer mast, or just a stiffer mast top? If you're using a 6.7 Blade you could try it on a 460 mast or 430base/460top rather than an extended 430, and so forth. Don't know about Severne but the strategy works well on Sailworks stuff - pull is higher and further forward
I've been using it with a 460 hookipa. Stock it's for 460 with 2cm extension.
FYI...the Ezzy mast will be more Flextop than the Severne. This will keep the power lower in the sail - good for high wind control but maybe not so good for Foiling...
Curious about this myself. I wouldn't mind having an S1 to use for both foiling and for when the wind is higher, as they supposedly have more bottom end than Blades, which is what we need here in FL.
I like the Freek for foiling, and have used the Blades some, but never S1s. My Blades, even when rigged with less downhaul to tighten the leech quite a bit do not have the same pull as the Freeks, and I've experimented with putting them higher up by making the extension taller. I've only tried 2cm so far but maybe another 4cm of extension would help? Would really like to know what others think as I think eventually moving to S1s in the quiver would be great for foil and fin use...
Freeks are lovely for both fin and freeride foiling but that big monofilm window looks totally vulnerable to shorebreak. I would risk it in sideshore conditions but not heavy onshore stuff. I'm glad I haven't doofused my way into busting them but they are definitely less sturdy looking than the wave sails. I just like that pull that they have.
Have you tried a stiffer mast, or just a stiffer mast top? If you're using a 6.7 Blade you could try it on a 460 mast or 430base/460top rather than an extended 430, and so forth. Don't know about Severne but the strategy works well on Sailworks stuff - pull is higher and further forward
I've been using it with a 460 hookipa. Stock it's for 460 with 2cm extension.
FYI...the Ezzy mast will be more Flextop than the Severne. This will keep the power lower in the sail - good for high wind control but maybe not so good for Foiling...
Ahh. I think that makes sense. I do notice how loose the leech will get on the Severne sails with those masts and I do play around with downhaul a bit. The Ezzy's have a tighter leech even at higher downhaul settings per Ezzy's instructions.
So far I've run a few Severnes with Ezzy curve masts. (my 430rdm GT and my 460 ezzy hookipa):
5.6 Freek (430)
6.3 Freek (430)
6.7 Blade (460)
7.5 Gator (460)
The Blade and Gator both feel good in fin mode but not as good as the Freeks, even with Ezzy curve masts, when foiling. For that matter I'm not crazy about my Cheetahs for foiling but those are also quite large (8.0/9.5) and if I'm going that big I'm usually using foil specific sails now.
I do have matched Severne masts for the 4.4 Freek and 5.0 Blade that I have, and I think it does feel improved over Ezzy masts but the Blade does feel quite a bit different. Not what I want for wind on the lighter end of the range. For high wind though, I have had a good time with the 5.0 Blade when pretty strongly overpowered. And the Freeks respond well with lowered downhaul. I can tweak the sail while attached to the board with the Cyclops and I can feel the power shift higher up with less downhaul. I'm not highly sensitive (I notice big changes but not sure I would notice minor tweaks like an expert would) but it would probably be easier and more obvious with an adjustable downhaul, just haven't bothered yet.
Minor comments for the curious.
I've spent time both fin/foil on the 5.0 blade with the blue severne mast (90%). I would say that the blade does feel noticeably different/better on the severne mast and the leech looks cleaner, as well as the luff, than on the ezzy masts.
Wast out getting overpowered in the gusts on the 5.0 and it seemed to respond well. I still think that even with appropriate masts the freek does have better foil feel. I just haven't had as much time with the 4.4 freek with appropriate severne mast.
You can rig the Blade to have a bit more lift by running the extension 5 to 10 cm higher than printed on the sail and only downhaul enough to clear the battens but still keeping the Leech stiff. This works when using the recommended mast. Mileage may vary if for other mast brands.
BTW, I go this tip from Ben Severne. The idea is to increase the lift of the sail and move the lift point (probably the wrong term) further away from the mast base. This works particularly well on the bottom end of the range. I have tried it on a normal wave board and it has a similar effect making the board feel a bit less planted at the bottom end.
You can rig the Blade to have a bit more lift by running the extension 5 to 10 cm higher than printed on the sail and only downhaul enough to clear the battens but still keeping the Leech stiff. This works when using the recommended mast. Mileage may vary if for other mast brands.
BTW, I go this tip from Ben Severne. The idea is to increase the lift of the sail and move the lift point (probably the wrong term) further away from the mast base. This works particularly well on the bottom end of the range. I have tried it on a normal wave board and it has a similar effect making the board feel a bit less planted at the bottom end.
Thank you! I was adding a few more than the printed one but from the sounds of it I can add even more. It's worth trying next time I need that size.
I use 5.6 s1 all the time and I just change the wing to suit the wind, it's a great alround sail and biggest you can rig on 400 mast . Easy to pump. Wouldn't mind trying a freek though based on comments in this thread