Rode the Starboard 14' x 28" Race AST Coastrunner yesterday on a choppy ocean downwinder form Moffat's beach to Mooloolaba yesterday. There were small runners and the wind from S - SE at 10 -12 with 15kt gusts. The board is 283L and weighs in about 15.5 kg in the glass epoxy build.
First off I was blown away at the this board's stability, at 28" wide it just smoothed the chop and unlike wave piercing noses, the big bulbous nose is not affected and it's very easy to track straight with. Fitted with a JM fin, I felt it wanted to track and head off downwind more than if the standard fin was fitted , but only when paddling out when the wind was from abeam.
Given you are standing maybe a few cm at most above the waterline, waves do slop over onto the deck, but within a few seconds the deck is just dry again with the huge drains. Getting onto runners was easy, then stepping back to where the textured deck grip ends, allowed the board to accelerate and keep the nose from entering the wave ahead and slowing the board. I was measuring speed with a Speed Puck GPS, cruising along about 9 Kmph, getting 12+ on the runners and the best was 16 Kmph when i linked up a few good runners. The nose when paddling normally splashes a lot, but when the board accelerates it's strangely quiet.
It's very strong and well built, possibly too much as the weight on this AST construction came in at 15.5 kg whilst the carbon is meant to 12.7 kg. Handles for carrying are well placed and for once the board is balanced with a fin fitted. I did find the deck grip a bit hard the first day I paddled it. Given this board is exactly what it's name says, a coast runner it has three attachment points forward of the deck grip to allow one to lash down gear. 
Would I buy one, YES but I'd want the carbon construction to have the lighter weight to make catching runners that bit easier. It's certainly the nicest mannered 14' I've used in the ocean so far.
Thanks to Johnno from Sunshine Coast Kitesurfing and SUP who let me demo the board. Disclaimer: no affiliation etc with any brand - I pay for my stuff...
Great stuff JT and thanks for the review, i'd like to give this board a go sometime - when the conditions get too rough for my 14' x 25" Ace.
have you tried the naish glide 14'? I'm looking to buy my first race board, and seeking some feedback on these 2 boards.
thanks
sorry no, only the first 14' glide which was very different compared to the more recent models, even the new ones look different again. As always try as many boards as you can, what works for one does not suit another unless you're a top paddlers and can ride anything and make it look good.
Found this video, probably been shown before and not sure which models these are either, but it shows what downwinding is all about....
Great review JT
The coast runner is a great board. I have the carbon version, which is definitely worth the extra dollars as it is extremely responsive. Quite a few of the fast downwind guys over here have got one. It is just as fast on the flat (it was disappointing that the coast runner didn't appear in the 14' test held in Vic) as it is on the ocean. If there is such a thing as an all round modern race board then this would be right up there - fast, stable and responsive flat and downwind.
Interesting what you say about the fin. Are you saying you preferred the standard fin over the JM for tracking? I find the standard fin is good in the ocean and I swap it out for a race fin on the river.
The board came with that fin fitted. The standard fin should be just right for the board in any conditions as I'm finding with my Ace.
