Does anybody have experiences with the largest 9.4 size of Severne Mach 2/3/4 sails with fin (Lightwind board)? How it compares with other race sails in the lowest 9-12 knots range. Especially the bottom end performance. Thanks!

I went for the 9.2 turbo gt over the m3 to go with my 8.6 overdrive. My logic was lighter and more power. Well it is lighter and does have a tiny bit more low end grunt but it's a pain to rig, really tight getting Mast in and out and cams on.

You could probably apply this to any race sail (not just Severne).

If you compare a freeride sail (NCX, Turbo etc) to a race sail (Mach X, Overdrives) you can often get a bit quicker on to the plane with some pumping on the freeride sails right at the low end. This is because they are lighter without the cams, have a bit of a softer head usually and they have a big nuckle at the front of the sail near the mast that gives you that drive forward when you pump.

Once you are planing though it's apples to oranges. Freeride sails are not very stable in the big sizes compared to race sails; less battens, no cams doesn't help you. The wide luff on the race sails is really a game changer for keeping on the plane in gusty conditions and giving you a deep shape of sail without making it too hard to handle in the gusts.

You'll find a 9.2m Turbo gets pretty backhand twitchy and uncomfortable when you get a 12-14 knot gust on a big board... a 9.4m Mach 4 is really smooth and will just accelerate in the gusts. It's quite suprising to a lot of people just how much wind you can handle on big race sails if you have a 85cm board and a good fin.

If you're sailing in a gusty place where its "light" but there's often a few good gusts.. I'd definitely choose a race sail over a freeride sail.

Bigger things that will affect your early plane are the mast and boom. If you're going +9m sail then make sure you get a 100% carbon mast. They are lighter and the reflex is fast so you get more efficient pumping. Weight makes a big difference in light winds. Also a good stiff carbon boom helps you pump and have control in the gusts (will also last you 5x longer than an alloy boom).

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SeanAUS120 said..
a 9.4m Mach 4 is really smooth and will just accelerate in the gusts. It's quite suprising to a lot of people just how much wind you can handle on big race sails if you have a 85cm board and a good fin.

Hi Sean, this is very useful insight. The Mach 9.4 needs a long 240 boom and it is clearly the lightest race sail in that size. However, an EVO 11 is higher aspect (shorter boom 232 and few cm longer luff). Do you have experience for race sails if longer boom is better for getting on plane?

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SRO-417 said..

SeanAUS120 said..
a 9.4m Mach 4 is really smooth and will just accelerate in the gusts. It's quite suprising to a lot of people just how much wind you can handle on big race sails if you have a 85cm board and a good fin.

Hi Sean, this is very useful insight. The Mach 9.4 needs a long 240 boom and it is clearly the lightest race sail in that size. However, an EVO 11 is higher aspect (shorter boom 232 and few cm longer luff). Do you have experience for race sails if longer boom is better for getting on plane?

both good bet the one that fits your mast best