I have a 460 severne mast + a 430 blueline both SDM's.
I'm thinking of getting a 7m NCX for use in lake chop as it should be lighter and I don't have to worry about the luff tube filling with water so if I drop it I will be able to start easier.
I find I'm very cautious with my 7m overdrive.I haven't got stuck out there yet but it could easily happen!

Sue the NCX will rig fine on a SDM. It will be lighter than the Overdrive but I have a 8.6m 2016 Overdrive and find it very light, also the clew length is shorter. I leave my harness lines in the same position for my 2014 Overdrive 7.8m and my 2016 Overdrive 8.6m, and don't really notice the difference between the two sails. I haven't really had a problem with the water starting the overdrives but I have struggled with the reflex's especially if you are trying to flip the cams in the water and there is a bit of chop. The big advantage in my mind if you get out of your comfort zone in chop you can depower the NCX easier and slow down if desired. However at Budgie the overdrive would be my pick. The NCX is a good blasting sail and you will probably get a good hour and Alpha on it, but if you do a big downwind run it kind of runs out of speed and you won't be able to get upwind as easy. The only other disadvantage is that when it gets really windy I find the overdrives much more stable.

Yep, SDM's are fine I run an SDM in my 6.5 NCX working great!

Agree with Dean, the NCX in straightline speed is as fast as a Reflex on a beam reach but as soon as you go deep downwind or upwind it hasn't got enough depth at the front of the sail to keep the speed up; this is where a cammed sail (Reflex/Overdrive etc) makes a big difference. That being said an NCX is a ton more fun and easier to rig than a race sail ;-)

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SeanAUS120 said...
Yep, SDM's are fine I run an SDM in my 6.5 NCX working great!

Agree with Dean, the NCX in straightline speed is as fast as a Reflex on a beam reach but as soon as you go deep downwind or upwind it hasn't got enough depth at the front of the sail to keep the speed up; this is where a cammed sail (Reflex/Overdrive etc) makes a big difference. That being said an NCX is a ton more fun and easier to rig than a race sail ;-)

So I understand from the above that an NCX might not satisfy my need for a strong wind (20 - 25 knots) RaceBoard sail? I was considering a 7.5m to give my 61kg a reasonable chance of getting round the upwind/downwind course maybe mid-fleet (if I'm lucky)? What's my best alternative?

I'll probably end up using a NP EVO 7.8 or 8.6.

RB sails are rare second hand here in WA.

Keep posting your experience being a light weight RBer.

I have a NCX 7.5 and it's nice I also have a unit 7.5 and that is nicer a bit more stable, maybe a turbo 7m might work well for you. They have a bit of depth with a small luff pocket

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Dean 424 said..
Sue the NCX will rig fine on a SDM. It will be lighter than the Overdrive but I have a 8.6m 2016 Overdrive and find it very light, also the clew length is shorter. I leave my harness lines in the same position for my 2014 Overdrive 7.8m and my 2016 Overdrive 8.6m, and don't really notice the difference between the two sails. I haven't really had a problem with the water starting the overdrives but I have struggled with the reflex's especially if you are trying to flip the cams in the water and there is a bit of chop. The big advantage in my mind if you get out of your comfort zone in chop you can depower the NCX easier and slow down if desired. However at Budgie the overdrive would be my pick. The NCX is a good blasting sail and you will probably get a good hour and Alpha on it, but if you do a big downwind run it kind of runs out of speed and you won't be able to get upwind as easy. The only other disadvantage is that when it gets really windy I find the overdrives much more stable.

Thanks.
I have a 7m overdrive that I use for GPS but now I'm using smaller boards with it out on Lake Macquarie I want a lighter sail for the chop. I'll only be using it in 12-18kts NE seabreezes and more casual sailing on the RS2 90ltre...much more than that and I'll be at Budgy with the speed gear..

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jezcol said..
I have a NCX 7.5 and it's nice I also have a unit 7.5 and that is nicer a bit more stable, maybe a turbo 7m might work well for you. They have a bit of depth with a small luff pocket

So that"s a Severne? I will be buying 2nd hand so that will restrict my choices..