Not so much a review as a question...
I used my new Blade 5.7 for the first time today and found myself running much more outhaul than recommended. Is this common?
It felt as though sticking to the recommended 176cms would have almost resulted in a touch of negative outhaul.
its because you were using an old school board , have you thought about getting a new board ??
I remember reading in an interview with Boujmaa a while back him saying he always has his sail really baggy to the point where it touches the boom.
I guess it really comes down to what feels right for you.
I see the numbers they print on the sails more as a guide.
Thats pretty much what I found Simon, I almost considered flattening to out further to 180.
Even at 178 it felt like the sail was touching the boom, something i'm not used to after riding fairly flat rigging sails for a long time.
Have you actually measured the boom unrigged, and what mast are you using?
I've measured different booms and cm graduations can be way out from actual dimensions! Also, the rec boom length assumes using the 'ideal' Severne mast. Other masts with a slightly different bend curve will likely have a different boom measurement for same amount of outhaul and fullness in sail.
Good questions, I am using a Severne Red Line boom and a Severne Gorilla mast.
Yes I measured the boom and at the 176 setting the boom measures exactly 176 from inside of the boom clamp to the rear end. I would guess that after you take into account potential slight variance due to boom height, and the slight loss at the rear due to the slight space between the rear end and the clew of the sail, maybe the 178 setting is actually 176.
Interestingly I just lined my Severne boom up with my Chinook and found that the Chinook is quite a bit wider. This could answer why the sail is touching the boom. I may well have had my sails just as full before, however still had space between the sail and boom.
I must say, the Severne gear is awesome!!! It gets me up and going earlier than I did before and is so light and easy to control. On a wave it just felt effortless, which turned into being able to get to the critical part of the wave so much easier. Now I can't wait to use the smaller sizes.
The numbers on my chinook boom don't agree with my blade either I've had to make it 2cm longer. yet the numbers on my naish force and boom match 
The sail should be just touching the boom near the back of the arm under wind load
Ben has been quoted as saying that when you have to pull the sail off the boom then its probably time to be on the next size down
That assumes you are running the Severne boom profiles - which you are.
