I want to clarify why we went for the 28 wide race
The 11 and 12,6 sport is good for a basic cruiser muck around board stable and fun.
But is just a steep above the ride series and reAly just a pulled in nose to make the difference
We wanted a board for stability and fast cruising
With out being a full on race board but more a entry race board that is suitable for cruising as well something that is the best of both worlds
We wanted the 30 wide race but these are unavailable now the 30 wide is fantastic and would of been perfect
Fast stable and race able and perfect for distance cruising
So only choice was the 28 wide race
This board is still suitable but not as much as the 30 wide would of been.
In calm conditions a learner will love the 28 wide race smooth fast and stable , in chop still easily doable and stable
But you maybe limited until more hours on the paddle
Our choice was also based on my wife's weight 68kg
The 12,6 sport was very much a load of fun but felt it was a big board for a light weight
The 11 sport we never demoed so can't comment but as mentioned before it seems to be a odd size
One thing to add is don't under estimate your partner or your self and settle on the sport just because you only go out once a month the race is not all that different to the sport in stability
Yes it's more unstable but not world's apart
I would like to see red take the sport versions out completely and just have the 3 race boards
The 12 and 14 elite for full on racing
And the 12 race back to 30 wide and call that the sport.
Makes more sence to me
I'm sure red consider the 2016 12,6 race a race/ tourer board still
Or I'm confused as to why you would put bunny cords on it
Select to expand quoteFoam said..
I have used the 12,6 sport and this was a great board very stable but won't track anywhere as straight as the race.
Number one, get rid of the horrible stock fin. The dolphin style I got is useless and although the touring style looks better, but it's missing the most important ingredient for tracking, base length. Regardless, a proper race fin makes a huge difference. Unfortunately, that new 2016 super short box is going to be a huge problem.
Get forward. It's hard to find the sweet spot on iSups at this length because the sweet spot is so big. It's also pretty impossible to tell anything from the tail / nose wash, so keep moving forward, you'll figure it out.
My wife and I bought Reds in January, the new lighter 2016 models.
Me, the Red Race 12'6 and my wife the popular 10'6
I love the 12'6 race and took a few trips to feel comfortable with the 28' width, especially in some chop. I weigh 70kg and inflate to about 20psi which takes well under 10 mins with the double barrel Titan pump and a nice warm up. With the RSS battens it's stiff as and I'm more than happy to challenge the hard boards!
the 10'6 has been great for my 60kg wife who lacked confidence but with the 32' width is now carving it up. Inflates also well under 10 mins and also stiff. But be careful, like a previous post said, go wider and it affects the paddle entry and can actually work against you.
We mainly paddle Sydney Harbour and Pittwater in Sydney.
I don't see my inflatable as a compromise, I see it as a bonus, great for travelling and storage and less concerns with them in the boot when travelling home or there to and stopping for a meal.
Cheap and nasty models that inflate to about 10psi are inferior. You get what you pay for.
With the Reds you're top of the line quality from a company who only specialise in inflatables.
No regrets here. Just depends on your usage But I can vouch for the 12'6 race
Select to expand quoteMJG said..
My wife and I bought Reds in January, the new lighter 2016 models.
Me, the Red Race 12'6 and my wife the popular 10'6
I love the 12'6 race and took a few trips to feel comfortable with the 28' width, especially in some chop. I weigh 70kg and inflate to about 20psi which takes well under 10 mins with the double barrel Titan pump and a nice warm up. With the RSS battens it's stiff as and I'm more than happy to challenge the hard boards!
the 10'6 has been great for my 60kg wife who lacked confidence but with the 32' width is now carving it up. Inflates also well under 10 mins and also stiff. But be careful, like a previous post said, go wider and it affects the paddle entry and can actually work against you.
We mainly paddle Sydney Harbour and Pittwater in Sydney.
I don't see my inflatable as a compromise, I see it as a bonus, great for travelling and storage and less concerns with them in the boot when travelling home or there to and stopping for a meal.
Cheap and nasty models that inflate to about 10psi are inferior. You get what you pay for.
With the Reds you're top of the line quality from a company who only specialise in inflatables.
No regrets here. Just depends on your usage But I can vouch for the 12'6 race
Have you found the 28" width to be a problem? I'm 73 kg and am considering the 12'6 Race, but I'm wondering what the learning curve is on handling the slightly narrower board.
My wife has to decide between the sport 11 and the race
We went with the race due to the fact it's more purposefull vs the sport the sport is great for having a paddle but would not want to take it long distance .
So got the 28 wide race tracks well good speed
Is it a board for general paddling cruising as well as a intended race board..
I guess so but light weights have a limited choice .
The elites would be great for a light weight but very much elite racing only I don't think they would be very comfortable as board to take out on a general paddle.
The sport 12,6 is the old version race board and rather big vs the new race why.. not sure
To answear your question on stability no problem you will be fine .
My wife has done 2 hours on a red 34 wide the a host on a 12.6 sport.
No issues on them, so went to the 28 race as a more general purpose performance paddler
Still no issues even in a bit of chop and wind
So easily doable
I could be wrong but I feel the race 28 is a good general paddler not just for racing.
Red market there range very oddly and I am still trying to force the truth from them as there is so many people that are confused .
As I explained to red not every paddler wants a crab watcher but prefer race shape but to be used for 90 percent general paddling.
They point you towards the sport...
Why ....
The 11 sport is a basic crab watcher in my opinion
The 12.6 sport is big and just the olfer race board at 30 wide
To big for most in the 65 to 70kg range
This leaves the 28 race seems to be the only choice for sub 90 kg as a general performance board that is also a race board
So in my opinion the 28 race .. good for your general paddler for cruising and part time racing as well
Just because they say it's a race board I am sure it maybe a great general cruiser for light weights under 90kg
And let's not forget it has cargo nets so what does this tell you
@spirit4earth I had only been paddling for less than 3 months, and on BIC hard board loaners when I ordered the 12'6 Race. When I tested, it was a dead calm day on Narabeen Lakes and I went like a rocket and the reduced width, 28in, wasn't an issue. I had gone to the demo dead certain of buying an 11' Sport! I was sold on the 12'6' and bought one straight away and the wife the 10'6' ride. Both were the first shipment of the 2016 versions, which are considerably (nearly 2kg?) lighter than the 2015 versions.
However, when they arrived we went down to Balmoral on a rather choppy day. After a couple of falls I thought "what have I done", but seriously, didn't take long to get used to a narrower body and to be honest I was still a beginner.
The 12'6 Race is not meant for surf and you'd have to have some skill to stay on anything larger than very small swell.
But that doesn't mean you can't get beyond the break and still paddle. That said, apart from the swell through the heads on Sydney harbour, I haven't tested it yet.
You soon find your centre of balance and I do enjoy the pace I can reach (though if your partner gets something slower you might be like me having to wait every once in a while for them to catch up).
Similar to you I'm around 70kg and the board sits well in the water with a large balance sweet spot where you can vary your positioning dependent on the conditions. I've found I can move forward or back by 6-12in to increase perceived balance and glide.
Anything above 15psi is hard enough, especially at our weight. I usually go to about 20. I suspect you'd only go up to 25psi if you were over 90kg
I can totally recommend the 2016 12'6' Race
And for the record, I don't race and have no intentions to. Just social weekend paddlers, getting out there with my wife and loving everything SUP!
The Reds are sexy too, there's plenty of board envy going on from other paddlers that's for sure! 
Perfect review mate, I agree the race is a great board just for general paddling it's not just a race board at all in fact as several have mentioned it's been purchased as there one board for general fitness rather than the slow basic crab watcher of the 11 sport
