Severne NCX and wind strength

Hello!

I bought a 2023 NCX 6.0 and have some problems with it, especially when trying to get it planing. I've experienced that it needs very much wind before it pulls enough. It also feels like pulling me through the front door when the board is not gliding.

My question is, in what kind of wind strengths do you use your NCX sails? And how do you rig it if you want to control the sail as much as possible?

Answer for instance: 70 kg, 7.0, 8-12 m/s. or 80 kg, 6.0, 12-14 m/s etc. (Also pounds and knots ok)

I'm 87 kg and sail in very gusty conditions on Goya Carrera 118 and this NCX 6.0. I've used the sail in 10-16 m/s winds.

My experience : Thanks to this forum which is great for Severne kit advice I learnt that Severnes high tension slalom style sails need alot of downhaul, and not to fear going all the way to the guide length. It amazes me each time I put so much stress on them. I use a crank as I cant get even close by hand.

I recently bought the same 6m NCX, I had been sold it was going to be softer and less tiring than my 2 cam Turbos (which I love) so was curious to give it a go (not tried it yet) and now am a bit nervous after reading your experience - please share more, appreciate the feedback.

wind range - I am 80kg and was told to expect to sail it in 16-25 knts, with the best being the upper range. I was told this was the opposite of my Turbos which prefer their lower range. I look forward to comparing.

i was also told the NCX is less smooth than a cammed sail in gusts. Perhaps this is what you are feeling.


Email Severne direct, I have found their service excellent also.

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FinnSurfer said..
Hello, thanks for both of the answers.

I've used Turbo 8.1 and Overdrive 7.0. They are much more easier to handle than NCX, everywhere but in jibes. Perhaps I've got some kind of culture shock with NCX. It is so nervous... I'll collect a couple of experiences more and come back then!

Thank you for the rigging opinion, too. And I'm waiting for more comments...

Photo of the rigged sail?

I have a 6.5 and plane in 15-17 knots. Always downhaul to spec (thumb width between pulleys and cleat) with minimal outhaul (when I push on back third of sail, I can easily touch the boom). I've got Gators as well and the NCX def needs more downhaul. I have experimented with different downhaul settings but run into rotation issues when I back it off. They're a great sail when tuned right.

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For info here is the message to me back from Severne (replied within a day, good on them) ..


"Every Severne sail can be tuned in if needed depending on wind conditions.

The NCX is much easier to rig and tune because it doesn't have cambers.

Also thanks to being lighter (approximately 0,5kg) it will plane easier than the Turbo, especially in low end conditions.

The Turbo, however, gives you a bit more stability in stronger winds and reaches more speed.

I believe you are going to love the NCX for the simplicity of rigging and great freerace feeling on the water."

Have been using NCXs only for the last 5+ years. I keep downhaul and batten settings fixed - downhaul to the specs and batten tension - the bottom three are tensioned tight, the top three very loose and the middle one sort of in between, so the leech "flows" when fully downhauled. I don't move mast base that much either, mostly play with outhaul and boom height.

I'm 75kg and use my 7.5 sail with a 73cm wide board in 14-20 knots
6.5 sail with 73cm board in 16-22knots, same sail with 63cm wide board in 18-25 knots
I use 5.5 sail with 63cm board in 20-30 knots

Compared to my previous freeride sails NCXs tend to lack low end grunt, but they feel very stable and controllable when overpowered.

So, to answer your question: NCXs are happier when fully powered up. Always downhaul it to the specs and play with outhaul and boom height to manage power and control.

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mr love said..
I just used a 6.7 NCX in Paros.........I am not one to bag brands and everybody has different likes and dislikes but for me I did not like the sail. II felt 8it had very average bottom end for my weight and did pull from the front a lot. Retuned it numerous times but we just did not get along....

Mr love I know you're an all round windsurf design guru (I use some of your stuff)

How does the ncx compare in feel to sails you would normally use?
What's your take on how no cam freerace sails should feel?

Onto the general thread topic of forward pull / early planing:

I personally have 2020 ncxs in 6.5 /5.5.
That sudden clunky forward pull you all describe is certainly real, and is the queue for me to lean back, bare away significantly and jump in the straps. Add 1 back hand pump and Within 2 seconds I'm planing away and the pull is gone. The sail has inflated and accelerates hard while going very light. I'm planing as early as anyone.

I always assumed this to be pretty normal for a no cam with 7 battens and race geometry. It goes from flat, to inflated then it shoots forward and settles into stability as the apparent wind builds.
Same thing happens kind of in reverse in the gybes. It goes neutral back to flat really easily if you stay sheeted in. On the exit that reinflate comes just as you need the juice to stay planing.

I tried a point 7 that's also racey and the same thing happened. But I noticed a 6 batten more freeride duotone (or the bigger 6 batten severne gator) was alot more progressive. cammed sails are already pre inflated, so they don't have this problem.

I can also fully understand why that forward pull surge of power isn't a good thing, especially in gusty marginal planing conditions. But if you use it like a temporary push it can be to your advantage.

On the wind range, i still use an ncx a full meter smaller than a race sail for the same wind. Ncx is very stable, but certainly not not Race sail stable in the top end.

16-22kts for the 6.5
20-26kts for the 5.5. 77 kgs.

I can imagine that temporary forward pull would be terrible if I was 90 kgs trying to hang onto the 6.5 in 28 knots.