The S-1 2009 is the best wave riding sail ever!!!!
Let me qualifiy that statement.
With the wave riding feel as the point of consideration, no other sail ever has felt as good. I am not talking about other factors as there may be stronger sails, more longer lasting, more powerful, but for lightweight - effortless, almost non existent in feel nothing can compare.
The sail goes absolutely neutral at the top turn and the bottom turn when you don't want the sail to drag you around. It really is so light that it is the sail that isn't there! The power returns as soon as you sheet in but can be removed instantly. It feels at times that you only have the boom and mast in the hands as the sail is not in the way at all.
Where another sail will pull in the bottom turn when over powered and not allow for a comfortable, clean turn, the S-1 dissappears allowing concentration on the carve of the board instead. If you have oversheeted too much a simple flick of the sail returns it to the right spot to clear the lip. Then sheet in for instant drive down the face.
I have tried older s-1's before but never in the right environment to make a real value judgement, and have heard others talk the sail up. But I have always felt that many other sails I have used were very very good - so how much better can the S-1 be? Well when set up on the right mast to make it perform at its best it is unbelievablely good. I am amazed at how impressed I am by this sail.
Some of my favourite sails over the years have included, '96 Nr, '99 zone, '98 rave, '01 style, '05 rock,'07 session, '08 and '09 blades and while some are better in other areas - none can match the S-1 for wave riding performance. The 07 session was very close but not quite as neutral although very light and I am sure that the new zones are very good. The S-1 just feels a step ahead.
This is the best tool for the job.
Do yourself a favour and demo one if you can.
NO need to flame me as this is just a personal impression.
The S-1 is a nice sail in the right conditions, but it has a few faults. Primarily that the weightless feel is achieved by making it gutless - power wise. I have a 5.7, and compared to other sails, it feels like a 5.2-5.3. It also has a annoyingly long main batten which sticks out past the mast even under the heaviest down/outhaul. It makes it a pig to rig - the sail creases up and jams on the mast until it's fully downhauled, and it means you have to pump the sail hard to pop the batten and rotate the sail after a gybe, so you often exit the gybe with a not rotated sail, killing the power on the new tack - not something you want when caught inside on a light day. Keep it powered (or overpowered), and yes, it's a great sail. In a variable or light day, not so good.
Personally, I'd say S-1 is a BMW, and The Rock is a V8 Commodore. The S-1 is fancy, and great on the right tarmac, but you wouldn't take it on a dirt road. The Rock is perhaps less subtle and refined, but a fantastic reliable all rounder with no obvious flaws and much better in less than perfect conditions.
Sounds like you have it on the wrong mast . I've never had any of the problems you're describing.
it sounds like your off your head iwas on my 5.6 s1 yesterday powering along while people were bobing around on 5.3
Definately the wrong mast for the S1 to be rigged like that, on the correct mast they rig flat with nice skin tension and rotate easy, the first choice for freestyle and light weight guys.
Are you sure it is an S1 as they don't come in a 5.7 only 5.6??? Blades come in a 5.7 and rig fuller on the bottom and second batten..
