Anyone used the 6.2 on waves - give any feedback?

Im thinking the 5.3 and 5.7 (0.4m) spacing might be too tight for my sailing
(in the past ive hads 5.8 and 5.2m, and now run 5.9 and 5.3)

But i noticed that the 6.2 boom is the same as my Icon 5.9 (although 10cm taller)...so maybe wont notice too much "clunkiness"??

Cheers,
Northy1

love mine- it has redefined what a big wave sail is - i truly believe that for me and my style -the 6.2 has as much performance as my 5.3. In fact i reckon my 90 litre wave board goes best with the 6.2 on it.


The 6.2 is actually my favourite sail in my quiver - because waves are super clean when its 6.2 weather - and a lot of crew are usually on the beach waiting for 5.3 weather

Its such an efficient design that it flies upwind - which is often a weak area for large wave sails. It seriously fangs upwind !

Rigging range is huge - from extreme Baggy (Ben hates it when i do this) to high wind manage ability

I am lucky enough to be able to set my 6.2 up with a redline mast and enigma (proto for testing ) boom - along with the RDM carbon wave grenade extension my rig probably weighs (probably quite a lot less actually) less than the average 5.3 out there - and it feels great.

At the same time i am confident that i also have a bullet proof set up - the sail /rig combo just keeps coming up from wipeouts

Flat water spin loops , big fwds (big for me) , backies / pushies all feel controlled and easily land able.

I had so many awesome sessions on this combo in the NW desert last easter

I beleive the 6.2 wave sail segment- when done right will be the next big growth area in wave sails - i know Severne OZ are planning on bringing in a lot more 6.2s this year than last season.

I used the 6.7 quite a few times last summer -and it felt good too-totally doable on a 90 litre board - but thats another story..

Not really a direct experience but i'll give my thoughts on the topic :P I have a 5.9 S1 ('12 model) which I use in the waves (although mostly use it for lighter wind freestyle) and to be honest I think I actually prefer a 5.3, however, I only weigh 70kg so it's all relative. I just find that at my weight when it's light, despite how light the rig is (the 5.9 S1 weighs less than a lot of 4.7's let alone 5.3s) I just find that the projected sail area is a bit too big when it's light...feels draggy and harder to throw around when the apparent wind is so far forward, as it is when it's that light. Note: I'm talking about sub planing conditions here...where whether you're on a 5.9 or a 5.3 will make no difference to whether you can plane. In those marginal planing conditions where the 5.9 will get you going it's definitely better.

Like I said though it's all relative, me using a 5.9 would be like Reflex using a 6.7. Definitely a place for larger wave sails for bigger guys, as some good floaty wave board design become available, but I think when it's sub planing you're better off with slightly less sail area; my personal preference anyway.

I'll let you know in a few months time as I've pre ordered a blade 5.3 and 6.2 I thought this would be a good combo for my 80kg's

I"M EXITED !!!!!! WAITING WAITING WAITING

Thanks for the responses both

I was also wondering with the trend for big multi fins means you can go bigger with sails

So reflex - what sail sizes do you go under 6.2?
Jump to 5.3?

I know what you are saying CJW. If there is no wind to plane - then board vol is more important than sail size - i sometimes have this scenario where going out you are not going to plane be it 5.3 or 5.9 - so choose a sail to be ideal on the wave coming in regardless ie 5.3.

Im not heavy -say 84kg....but do live in a place where the wind is light and gusty. Put it like this - i think the kites have more tow than me...and i often seem to be pumping my 5.9 sail than not. id say 60% of my sailing is done on 5.9, 30% on 5.3 and 10% on 4.7m

Select to expand quote

CJW said...
I just find that the projected sail area is a bit too big when it's light...feels draggy and harder to throw around when the apparent wind is so far forward, as it is when it's that light. Note: I'm talking about sub planing conditions here...

I found the same goes for NP Atlas. 6.2 vs 5.8 vs 5.4 ... yes 6.2 gets planing a touch earlier than a 5.8 / 5.4 but the additional drag and boom length make for a cumbersome experience once you get on a wave. These days with a floaty board I'm rather an a slightly smaller sail that has better handling once you get on a wave. While while is an issue to consider I think the additional boom length makes the biggest difference.

funnily enough i reckon its the longer boom on my 6.2 that gives the balanced match up with larger boards

The longer boom somehow lets me get more over the sweet spot on my 90 litre boards rail

clewing out set you up for a wicked top turn - and the flick / top turn spring wind up just seems to get bigger with longer booms (to a point)

Up north the board and rig would go square off the bottom and then throw me straight out the top of the lip - and eventually out the front - something i am not particularly good at - and i struggle to do this on my smaller sails.

It might just be that my Chopper 90 and Blade 6.2 rig just somehow hit each other's sweet spots

no worries at all to jump from 6.2 to 5.3 - the top end on the 6.2 easily covers the gap.

Up north i am still getting waves and having fun when most kites cant hold their ground - maybe the guys are a bit shy of larger kites up there? i dont know

but they end up drifting downwind- so the 6.2 is definitely giving me something there -

personally i dont really buy into the "use a smaller sail for handling" concept - i want to be fanging for jumps - and any excess power that is there on the ride is simply to be used for going squarer / getting floatier airs or throwing bigger spray. Until i get commpletely blitzed - but at that point even the jumps would be out of control - so its time to change down

i get bored quickly if jumps fall out of the equation - but thats just me.

Hi North1,
I have been using 6.2 blades for about 5 years now and am 90+kgs. I had 5.7 as my biggest before that but now have 6.2 then 5.3 for the same reason in your post. The 6.2 was a huge benefit to me and found It great for pumping onto the wave. The 2008 had a longer boom than the current shape which made it a bit trickier on the wave but it had heaps of grunt. I think the bigger sail really helps you inprove your sail handling on the wave because if you don't you will get belted when the surf is bigger.
The 2011 I am using now is way lighter and has a much shorter boom so easier to manage on a wave. I am using all severne rig( enigma boom,redline430 mast).
Last nationals at gerroa Ben Severne( thanks Ben) gave me some rigging tips as it was all his and brand new so there was no reason for the sail not to rig perfect. It did require more downhaul and outhaul than the recommended.
For east coast sailing it is great but also fun at places like margs when it is super light. I use it with a Nude 120 chopper when really light and is great fun when most people are having a hard time.
It also depends on how good your technique is too, I know a few guys my weight that can get away with smaller gear just due to there excellent techniques but for everyone else, get the 6.2

It is interesting to note that a lot more big gear seem to sell in the supposedly windy state of WA

Ironically small boards and sails (75 litre boards and 5.3 and down) seem to be more common as a largest size combo on the east coast - where it is supposedly less windy. it is a very curious situation.

Perhaps more east coast riders are going for exclusively super cross off locations ?

And WA might be mostly slightly side off to side on conditions - with jumps a big part of the action. (Esperance and Margs being the VERY big exception here - )

So it would seem that there are almost 2 different styles of sailing - west coast and east coast - with a mix up of the 2 in SA and VIC.

nah people on the east all their small gear has been eaten by moths in the garage.

I also use a 6.2 Blade in the surf and love it. I'm 95kg and have found even in overpowering gusts it has perfect balance and control. I'm no master wave sailer but feel it works well on my 92l Quad. Powered up enough to jump but still comfortable for throwing around on the wave. I'd highly recommend one.

This is a good discussion.
It's a little uncanny thinking how much I learnt on a bigger blade (5.7) several years back - forwards, backloops, vulcans/spocks, onshore waveriding. Virtually all the moves I can do now with smaller sails were learnt on a 5.7 blade when conditions were more easy and controllable for an intermediate to try moves. Having power and speed (when 16-19knots) was the key to perfecting moves and progressing; I don't remember learning much when girgling on a smaller sail in these conditions. Practising sail control was good on a small sail but pulling off a move properly that catches the attention of someone on the beach requires power and speed, height and spray.

i am ready to make a sail this year and am considering the Severne Blade. i have sailed Ezzys for a long time changing sails every year, then went to Simmer Icon but am now looking at Severne. i am thinking of the 6.2, 5.3 and 4.7 or 4.5.
i have 2 boards a fanatic FW95 which handles the bigger sails well and is really fun in these conditions - they are my favourite conditions as it is usually in the morning and i am the only one out. i use a Simmer quad in the smaller sizes.
Why Severne? i see him around and he is passionate and i am supporting a WA product.

Any views on this sail? how does it compare to my old style sails - power wave or should i consider the S1.

Any comments Reflex or Ben?

The Blades have a lower centre of effrt relative to the S1s

The S1s have a more engaged (perhaps tighter) leech - which makes them respond to freestyle esque moves out of the lip more instantly.

the easiest way to relate is

do i sail (or want to sail) like Scott Mckercher - classic wavesailing style with rail pressure and big hacks - Thats a blade

Do i see myself doing takas and Goitres like Ben and Jaeger do - thats an S1

Statistically most crew will never be advanced enough in their skill set / water time to really suit the S1 - so what you see worldwide is a bigger bias towards Blades as a true match to sailor styles. Your average rider just riding out - doing the odd fwd / backy and trying to catch waves and hit the lip will porbably be best suited to Blades

Also consider - the Blade has a shorter boom and more tune able wind range - from baggy to flattened off - wheres the S1 has a more static setting and just a touch less useable wind range (doesnt seem to stop Ben sailing rings around people though)

Ben - if you read this you can possibly pull me up on where i may have gone wrong- as the situation is probably not quite as simple as i have painted it.

Many thanks Reflex very helpful

Going to order a Blade or two when they hit the UK in Sept (hope you guys dont mind a pommy..well a Welshy....invading your forum?!)