SEVERNE SWAT 4.2M 2014 TEST REVIEW
SEVERNE SWAT 4.2M 2014 TEST REVIEW
THE VERDICT
A super-light compact with excellent top-end wind range. With the S.W.A.T. Severne are offering amazing value for money with a quality, high-performance and lightweight product.
BEST FOR
Those that like to sail powered-up and pull powerful turns and have a good level of force to push through the board.
RECOMMENDATION
Even in stronger wind be sure to keep some good belly shape in the sail to keep it stable and drivey.
BRAND POSITIONING
‘For riders who want simplicity, durability and performance without the high price tag’.
OVERVIEW
Outline: Not particularly squat compared to some in the group. Slight dropped leech above clew.
Build Quality: A very well-specified minimalistic, clean and noticeably straight out-of-box featherweight sail that’s got all the right robustness in the right places. Kevlar head, adjustable mast cap. 2-piece luff tube with stitching internally. Taped Dacron leech and head. Kevlar patches on leech end of battens. Battens alternate port/starboard side. Mini rod leech battens. All batten pockets nice and neat and narrow. Double seams all over. Lightweight Dacron and Spiderfibre taped radial clew and cringle. Full x-ply construction, clear in window and coloured elsewhere. Silicon foot protection and no exposed seams in foot. Moulded tack fairing with neoprene stretch, no handle or uphaul hole. Stash pocket. Basic Velcro closure. 90-deg metal and plastic pulley.
PERFORMANCE
It’s true to say we got to test the upper wind range of the SWAT more than the early planing side, but the fact a 4-batten could cope so well when maxed-out is testament to the profile and control Severne have built in. It’s also only fair to admit only our lighter riders got to test the SWAT more thoroughly due to limited higher wind days on test. These riders said there’s plenty of drive, which combined with the lovely invisibly light feel really helps you feel you can attack the conditions without worrying about what’s in your hands. In terms of general sailing around it has pretty good acceleration and most of the time good stability too, pushing boards down well when they’re starting to get over lively. In general the SWAT wants to pull more powered-up arcs and force a lot of rail through turns, the backhand pressure being quite refined. With less air in the foil it’s still capable of driving tighter, more back-footy turns off just the apparent wind in slower, small slop, but still lets you feel the board well and turn off the hull too rather than just the rig. We know from previous versions and larger sizes of the SWAT that there’s a good tuning range and that heavier riders get on well with it – we certainly enjoyed the low-end for pushing out through white-water – so we’re confident heavier sailors will be happy at the lower end of the range too.
READ THE OTHER REPORTS
READ THE OTHER REPORTS
GAASTRA IQ 4.2
GOYA GURU 4.2
NORTH HERO 4.2
HOT SAILS MAUI QU4D 4.3
NEIL PRYDE COMBAT 4.2
NAISH CHOPPER M
RRD FOUR 4.2
SIMMER BLACK TIP 4.2