Review on Gator Severne vs. Ezzy Cheetah

acalhounguy · Joined: 25 May 2013 Posts: 57

that's hyperbole right? The Legacy is a well-made and lightweight sail for sure. I don't think an extra pound of weight (which is arguably a lot for two sails of the same size) is going to cause any back problems for your average in-shape windsurfer. I think the extra weight is mostly at the bottom of the sail where it matters less. The sleeve is so narrow on the lion that the water weight can be effectively ignored as well. I'm sure the legacy is lighter feeling though as it seems to have less draft, as well as being actually physically lighter.

SupSURFmachines3716 · Joined: 11 Apr 2016 Posts: 17

acalhounguy · Joined: 25 May 2013 Posts: 57

The legacy is obviously cheaper as well - do you feel the legacy is just as powerful at the low-end in the 7.5 size?

To the OP - Lion 9.5 is a great sail for light-wind planing on bigger boards. I have used it with my 120L gecko, 145L X-cite ride, and Starboard Ultrasonic (147). It pairs best with the bigger ultrasonic in appropriate conditions. Unfortunately, because of our conditions in the Midwest, it is my most used sail. I have had it for 3-4 years now and it has really increased my time on the water and helped me become a better windsurfer.

Sailboarder · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 656

I also love my 9.5 Lion. Bigger guy like me need bigger sails. But I also find large sails can have stability problems. This doesn't happen with the Lion. I use it on my Kona One when I know I'll be planing and want a smoother ride than the ride provided with the 9.0 Kona sail. In more wind, I switch down to a 7.5 Ezzy freeride.

People say that cammed sails are hard to jibe. I'm not yet a good jiber but let me tell you that I managed my first fully planing jibe with a cammed RS:X sail. So don't fear cammed sails if your are looking for stability.

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435

justall · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 442

SupSURFmachines3716 · Joined: 11 Apr 2016 Posts: 17

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435

I sailed my 8.0 Cheetah today on my old Formula board.

When I started, it was slogging conditions - wind around 12 -13. I have a Neil Pryde V8 8.5 which has a really good low end; that sail would not have gotten me planing in those conditions.

But then, for around a half hour, the wind came up to around 15 - 16. The Cheetah had my flying. I weigh 205.

When slogging, the Cheetah was lighter in the hands than the Retro 8.5 that I sailed earlier in the year. When planing the Cheetah felt way lighter than the Retro, and really nicely balanced. I had the sail set on the medium setting. By the way, when sitting on the beach, you can see a really nice foil in the Cheetah.

My initial reaction is that the Zephyr feels like it might have more low end - but maybe that is just a "heavier" feel. David Ezzy says that the Cheetah 8.0 has more low end than the Zephyr. The Cheetah feels a bit lighter, and once planing it feels slipperier. It would be really fun to sail the Zephyr and Cheetah 8.0 head to head; the Zephyr might have more drive up wind? Don't know.

I do know that for me, Cheetah 8.0 makes my Lion 7.5 redundant. The Lion would have more range, but when the Cheetah 8.0 becomes too much sail, I will want to be on my Cheetah 6.5, which is my favorite, and a 125 lt board.

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435

Edit:

Sailed the Cheetah 8.0 with a Tabou Rocket 125 (the newest, wider one) today. Wind blowing 14 - 17 gusting to just 20. Lovely combo. Nice, light, easy. In just a bit less wind, the Cheetah would also partner with my Firemove 122. Or one size bigger Firemove or Rocket Wide (128?) in the same conditions that I was using it yesterday on the old Formula board.