Eager for power, the NCX delivers exceptional top end control, bringing the power on at a pace to suit the rider. Keep the NCX well powered and you will be rewarded with easy and flattering gybes as you take advantage of its easy to access speed in a light and easy package, which is capable of giving cambered sails a run for their money.
Revised for 2024, the NCX is still branded as their no cam crossover sail. Rigged on the recommended 460 RDM mast, the NCX has a decent amount of luff curve, requiring some strength when downhauling to its recommended settings. The leech naturally falls away in the top four panels and peters out right to the clew of the NCX. The lower three battens touch the mast, and that’s where the draft of the NCX sits with those three battens holding some shape. Looking up the NCX from here, the sail gradually flattens off and twists wonderfully, being very reminiscent of a cambered sail. The makeup of the NCX is largely composed of lightweight monofilm, however, the most visible change in sails makeup is along the luff, where three vertical layers of X-Ply sit. This is Severne’s Xtended Range (XR), designed to increase wind range and lock in a more powerful profile with added skin tension to enhance control and stability. A dropped clew with two eyelets adds a layer of simple tuning for the rider, while the NCX features Severne’s usual high build quality and features throughout, while also coming in their signature red. The NCX will do most of its talking on the water with its suggested stable and controlled ride, rather than on the beach.
“A direct descendant of the Mach race sail program, the NCX blends the design concepts that maximise speed, power, and stability with the user-friendliness of a no-cam sail.”
Light and easy in the hands, the NCX is simple to place where you need it to be most effective. Supplied with power, the leech of the NCX fills and twists wonderfully, creating an efficient machine. Not punchy or bold in its power delivery, the NCX simmers to a boil, allowing the rider both time and opportunity to work the board onto the plane and into the straps to get comfy. Sheeted in, comfortable and securely in the straps, the NCX immediately delivers easy to access speed without asking too much from the rider, which gives you the confidence to push a little bit harder, sheet in more with the back hand, and really squeeze as much as you can out of the NCX. Exceptionally stable even when faced with ferocious gusts, this is when the NCX asks a smidge more from the rider to hunker down, commit, and be rewarded with exceptional stability and impressive speeds – naturally turning gusts into additional speed. Lulls require some active input from the rider to keep going, while a slight adjustment in sailing line and stance will have you cruising through to the next gust. Displaying adequate height upwind, the NCX is then capable of absolutely flying downwind while still offering comfort to the rider. Immediately impressed when gybing the NCX for the first time, it is light in the hands and slices through the gybe with absolutely no resistance at all, so it will try and flatter any rider that enters the gybe with the easy access speed the NCX so naturally offers. On the exit, the NCX rotates beautifully, not pulling or tugging you off balance, which allows you plenty of time to ease back into the straps before simmering back up to full speed. Preferring to be holding some power, when pumping at the low end the NCX does lack some oomph in the bottom end of its wind range, however, you can’t question it’s top end ability, which is superb and consistently keeps you fast, stable and in control.
SEVERNE NCX 7.6M TEST REVIEW 2024
Price: £819
Size: 7.6m
Luff: 488cm
Boom: 203cm
Battens: 7
Ideal Mast: 460RDM RED
Available sizes: 5.0, 5.4, 5.8, 6.3, 6.7, 7.2, 7.6, 8.2
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