Windsurf UK have just reviewed the 5.3 2009 Blade and S1. Here are the transcripts of the reviews - may give some people who are undecided about which sail to go for some ideas.
Windsurf UK, October 2008
SEVERNE BLADE 5.3
TARGET : I Intermediate to Pro
With superb design and build quality, the Blade offers a fantastic mix of smooth power and effortless handling over a big range of conditions and a broad spectrum of abilities, whether for use in waves, freestyle or freeride.
AT A GLANCE
• 5 battens
• 2 mini leech battens
• Alternating battens on either side of the sail
• 100%x-ply durable design
• Dacron luff panel to allow the sail to 'stretch' into shape
• Aramid Radial Clew' for strength, at the clew
• Measured increments on the luff cut out for boom height positioning
• Reinforcement inside the luff tube
• Double stitched seams for further strength and durability
RIGGING AND SET
The Blade rigs easily on an RDM (with an adjustable head cap), the manufacturer's instructions clear and accurate. The sail sets with a small amount of preshape and has a progressively loose leech.
PERFORMANCE
The Blade develops power smoothly and reliably, the Dacron panel in the luff stretching the sail into shape as the wind fills it. Getting the rider up and planing quickly, the Severne is fantastic for getting away from the beach at an onshore location. The sail comes up to speed quickly, feel ing good and balanced in the hands .The drive is efficient and constant while never feeling over-bearing or grunty, instead it gives the sailor confidence to blast, go for jumps or speed into manoeuvres. The Blade's drive comes from central to slightly forwards of the rider and chest high , bringing you into a manoeuvre oriented position .When overpowered , or on very choppy water, the sail feels composed and offers steady, smooth power to the sailor, demonstrating a very good natural range. When very overpowered the sail gets a bit backhanded and this signifies the need to retune slightly, displaying a fantastic tunable range. In transition the sail can be depowered easily and is light and balanced with a short boom length for repositioning, whether tack, gybe, freestyle, or in waves. In more drawn out gybes and bottom turns, the sail offers useable drive to the sailor mid-transition, and is still easy to re-position when needed. Upon exiting a turn, power comes on smoothly and reliably again to make sailing away clean and controlled .
(+) A superbly built and designed sail from Severne that offers fantastic handling over a big wind range and for a wide range of users, whether for waves, freestyle or freeride.
(-) Not much to fault, a great sail and one of the testers' favourites!
Windsurf UK, October 2008
SEVERNE S-1 5.3
TARGET : Advanced to Expert/Pro
A well-designed sail with a good tune-able range with superb handling and performance for a good range of users for wave and freestyle application.
AT A GLANCE
• 5 battens
• 2 mini leech battens
• Alternating batten system
• 2 main mono film panels
• X-ply strengthening throughout the rest of the sail
• Effective reinforcement for strength and durability at the clew, leech, foot, head and inside the luff tube.
RIGGING AND SET
The S-1 rigs easily on an ROM, with clear and accurate rigging instructions , it sets pretty flat [less pre-shape than it s 'Blade' counterpart] with a fairly loose leech in the top 2 panels and a relatively tight mid-leech at the minimum downhaul setting, although when downhauled more th is mid-leech opens up.
PERFORMANCE
The S-1 offers good power to the rider that feels smooth and useable for sailing in waves or going for some freestyle. Quite sensitive to tuning to get the best results, on the minimum downhaul setting the S-1 offers goo bottom end an drives a board up onto the plane quickly and effectively, but tuned as so the sail is not that happy when it becomes overpowered. When a greate amount of downhaul is applied, the bottom end of the S-1 is not as early [but by no means disappointing1] and the top end of the sail is far more effective The drive is central to the rider and chest to shoulder high, enticing you into a very manoeuvre oriented position. The foil feels smooth and efficient, the drive direct and sharp, and the sail balanced and light in hands - ideal for manoeuvre-style sailing. When overpowered and/or in heavy chop, the sail does start to get a bit backhanded with the tight mid-leech starting to bellow, and needs re-tuning, the natural range not as good as its counterpart, the Blade. Once re-tuned however, the tight mid leech opens up and the sail becomes smooth and balanced in feel again, demon starting great tuning capacity. In transitions, the sail depowers quickly and easily and is weight less in the hands: great for turns, riding waves and freestyle. With its short boom length and light feel the sail is super easy to re-position, and when the sailor sheet S in again, the power comes on easily and unobtrusively for controlled exits.
[+]
A very userfriendly, all-round performing sail that offers superb handling and easily useable power for a wide range of users and wide selection of disciplines, whether wave, freestyle or freeride.
[-]
The natural wind range of the sail is not that good, as it depends on being tuned correctly for the conditions at hand.
