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Some comments on the Severne UNIT sail
Background
I’m 61yo, 182cm tall and my weight is 68kg
I have windsurfed since 1975 and enjoy open ocean “slalom” sailing and wave sailing
I have tried the UNIT in the following sizes: 5.5 - 6.0 - 6.5 and 7.5
Paul, who works with Severne sails, asked me to write a note for this forum
Summary
I love the UNIT !
Why?
1.?Excellent stability and control while sailing
I think because the centre of effort is low and “locked-in”
2.?Easy to jibe and water start
It is extremely light weight with a relatively short boom
3.?Huge wind-range
Responds well to change in outhaul tension
The UNIT has truly re-ignited my love for slalom sailing. The UNIT makes it a great pleasure to just experience the ocean - so easy, so much fun!
If at all possible, try a UNIT !
And: Do NOT be scared of the cam - I think it is part of the key to the stability
•?It is easy to rig
•?It rotates effortlessly when gybing
•?It actually makes it easier to water start
- if the cam is rotated towards the water - just push it around with your hand first - it will help release the sail from the water and allow the wind to lift the sail
DETAIL
Warning! - I will go on a bit here…
•?All sizes feel very “light in the hand”
•?If in trouble, it is easy to grab the thin RDM mast
•?The “centre of effort” stays low even when over-powered. I feel “in-control” - the opposite to feeling that I may be “flung over the handlebars” at any moment – as I tend to experience with multi cam race sails
Light wind => under-powered
•?The UNIT responds very well to “pumping” and it is my experience that it is easier to get on the plane with a UNIT than with any other sail of the same size (that I have tried…)
High wind => over-powered
•?The UNIT has a very good “high end” as well. It is my experience that I can stay in control, with a UNIT, in higher wind than with any other sail of the same size (that I have tried…)
Mast/Downhaul
I have only tried the UNIT with reduced diameter RDM masts:
Gorilla 4.00m or 3.70m for the UNIT 5.5
Gorilla 4.30m for the UNIT 6.0 and 6.5
Severne RDM90 4.60m “blue” for the UNIT 7.5
Generally I tend to look at how far the crease between the top two battens move towards the mast when down-hauling. Always to halfway and to ?rd of the way if I expect to be fully powered up.
The thin RDM masts make it much easier to grab the mast for tacking, recovery or simply getting a big rig to the water
Boom/Outhaul
The UNIT responds well to variable outhaul:
•?When the outhaul is increased - The centre of effort stays very low and moves further forward - the top of the sail flattens and the leech opens to “feather” off the wind
•?When the outhaul is reduced the sail is more powerful, to get going in light wind - and you can go much lower “off-the-wind”
bjorn hage WA-888
Sounds like your happy ..might have a look myself ..I'm in the hunt for a good 6.5 ...I usually go no cam ..but one cam sound interesting.
Im defiantly ..a slalom sailor now ..but enjoy a light feeling sail like you've explained.
What is the speed of the sail like ..?
anyone have any comments/experience on the 7.0 unit in regards to rigging it on a 430 RDM?
Bjorn. Is this the production version of the 1 cam sail you were sailing in last years slalom weekender in safety bay?
If so it seemed it was quite competitive compared to the more race bred sails you were competing against?
Hi Stu,
yes that is the sail - first had a 6.0 without any printing
then 6.5
later the 7.5 (unfortunately not until after LOC 2015) - also with no printing - you may have seen both? both just the "Severne orange" all around - I think Ben must have got a good deal on a BIG roll of that colour at some stage - a sea of orange at the wave comps out here in the west...
this summer also got a 5.5 - kit is complete!
The production sails feel the same, are also super light!
Hi Tardy,
I think the speed of the 6.5 is very good
it feels light, slippery, efficient...
it responds really well to adjusting the outhaul
- let it out - a lot - and you can go lower than a fully cammed race sail
- pull it tight and the sail entry goes very sharp (RDM) and flat but still feathers off nicely - the deep belly stays below the boom giving low and forward centre of effort and stability.
dont be afraid of cranking on quite a bit of downhaul on the 6.5
take the crease between the two top battens even past the 2/3rds of the way to the mast - particularly on the 6.5 - and if you think you may be well powered or want a long session
Having said all that
- Im sure a fixed wing will be faster
- in the right hands...
- it says something, me thinks, that nobody has set a speed record with a fixed fibreglass wing..
- you need some "movement" to get "handling"
- also helps - a lot - to get going in light wind
- but overall - around a course - you will do better the more you are in control - can concentrate on pushing the board forward and staying on the downhill side of any chop or swell - keep the sail upright - give a pump here and there - fine tune the outhaul ...
Hi KJ,
I have NOT tried the 7.0 but have no reason to believe that it would NOT work well
I will see if I can try one...
the 5.5 is a super sweet downwinder sail for those fully filled sea breezes 25knts+ and I have had a couple of such runs with it on the very soft Gorilla 370 +34cm Severne mast extension - nice one to have in the van - much better control, off-the-the-wind-ability, speed than resorting to a wave sail
I have always preferred masts softer than spec - better control - twist - wind release in gusts?
6.0 and 6.5 works real well on the Gorilla RDM430 "yellow" but have also tried on the Severne RDM430 "red" 100% carbon - works equally well - I'd say the main advantage is saving some grams - perhaps getting a "springier" feel when pumping - so perhaps mainly an advantage at the low end of the sails wind range...?
for the 7.5 I have a Severne RDM460 "blue" 90% carbon have only used it on that (do not have a 460 Gorilla - may be softer?)
perhaps the same is true for the 7.0? get a lighter, springier mast if you can afford it - and are really concerned about weight and low end up and go?
- my guess: - the difference is marginal! - also the Gorillas are so light and springy compared with the fibreglass stuff I grew up with...
finally, all the other sizes are spot on when it comes to the recommended luff length - so Im sure the 7.0 will be also - i.e. try on a 430 +~33cm
if you feel overpowered / "back-handed" in strong gusts - try giving it more downhaul
I often go past the 2/3rds of the way to the mast mark - that I have for the crease between the two top battens - more so on the 6.5 than when using the 6.0 - may have to do with the size in relation to a relatively soft mast??
and - if you get a chance to try the UNIT 7.0 - Please let us know how she goes....!!
bjorn
may need some more shim under the cam and/or more batten tension
ask Ben - but make sure the cam rests against the mast when the sail is filled
a set of cam shims are included with the sail
& best of all - a beer opener!
Hi - thanks for the reviews 
Am I correct in thinking the the pictures show the sail rigged with a wave profile boom? I only have a 200 enigma wave boom atm, and would make it a bit more manageable to expand the quiver with a 6.5 or 7.0 if it "only" takes a new mast.
I used the Enigma 200 Wave boom on my 6.5 Unit the other day and it was perfect, rigged to spec. Nice sail! I totally agree with bjorns review.
How is rotation? Do you notice the camber at all - or does it behave exactly as an RAF? Would you be able to do backwind/rotation tricks with this sail?
An old aerotech rapide fire I had once had a single cam down low. I never noticed it while sailing. I think it's doutfull one cam would give any rotation problems. It IS an interesting concept and the Units look good on the water.
I rigged my Unit 7.0 on a Gorilla 430 + 32 cm. I worked like a charm. Rotation of cam is good. Sailed with it on a SB AtomiQ 100. Wonderful combination.
Severne Unit....Not sure where this sail fit in the range, what's the difference between Unit vs Turbo twin cam. Perhaps too many options
I've heard that for 2017, the Unit and the Turbo are put together in one sail line.
Does anyone have more information, or when the new 2017er Freeride sails are presented on the Severne Page?
