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