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Hypersonic - Still available - Great Reviews

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Created by Auswind > 9 months ago, 16 Feb 2006
Auswind
WA, 398 posts
Site Sponsor
16 Feb 2006 1:00PM
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The Hypersonic was named board of the year when it was introduced back in 2003. These boards offer INCREDIBLE performance to those that understand them. Experience has shown us Time with the unconventional hull yields amazing rewards to the windsurfer.

You can throw 10m2 - 5.0m2 on the Hypersonic range.

Hypersonics still have a CULT following today.

For those of us not blessed with a windy coastline these boards make their own wind! (read below)

They can still be purchased brand new at a great price Australia wide. See your nearest Starboard retailer

Here are some of the excellent reviews that these boards recieved

From 2004 - "no single board has created more interest the world over since their release last year; Starboard claim that they were the world's best selling board in 2003"

www.star-board.com/products/testresults/view_test.asp?Number=59

"it Is the Hypersonic's ability to be almost the fastest on every point of sail and on every sail size that has It leading the race"

"Over time we began to learn more and more about these boards and after the two weeks, we had changed our view massively. The one thing that you cannot deny the Hypersonic is practicality and speed. The concept has produced hulls that are massively quick, not just flat out, or downwind, but everywhere. Upwind, across the wind, full power or just struggling to keep planing, they are undoubtedly fast and versatile. If you have enough power to get planing, they do not stop"

" the central channel eliminates spinout at speed and their efficiency and upwind drive are just incredible"

Here is another review:

http://www.star-board.com/products/testresults/view_test.asp?Number=58

"The resultant top speed is staggering - paced against anything else, it just steadily pulls away"

"Verdict A fantastically quick board that is extremely technical, even by Hypersonic standards"



mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
16 Feb 2006 4:12PM
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I have a hypersonic 111 so will add to this for prospective buyers. The first set of review quotes are most definately all true. When I first stepped on the hyper I realised it's potential for figure 8 slalom racing, upwind blasting I have challenged formula boards on 9m & 52 fin yet they sail well across the wind.

Second set of quotes- well sort of true, they are quick in their conditions (and they have a huge range i've used 9m-5.5m and been comfortable each and every time) they are amazing but when it gets windy a full on slalom board will pull away, but then again in these conditions a bump & jump board with a race sail will be just as viable a choice. IMO the 111 is best suited to 6.5m sail at this size they are fun and at their easiest to sail.

Make their own wind... not really. The 111 is not quick to plane, the concaves suck it to the water but once you have enough power in the sail it releases and flies. There lies the secret, rig big and you wont have a problem. However this is comparing the 111 to old style 150L course boards, it is very easy to forget it is only 111L. First race I took this in was fresh water lake race, I stood on the board and was "oh dear" sinking a bit more than I would have liked with my 85-90kg and a 9m. In racing though it wasnt a problem and it propelled me to my first top 3 slalom heat finish ever (2nd out of 23? sailors- lost it on the last gybe when I failed to get good gybe position sailing through the fallen sailors). Hopefully I will soon rise to the board's ability (i havent had a chance to race since)- I believe this board will put you further up the fleet in race finishes. I believe with this board you do not need volume- enough to float sure but that is all.

Yes very technical give it time, use a little bit smaller fin than normal to get that last knot of speed. Bit of a weird sailing stance but you soon get used to it, upwind you dont really lock out like older style boards and I dont force it upwind the board tells you where it wants to point. Feels weird to sail best thing I can equate it to is driving a multi-hull boat after driving mono's for your whole life. Makes a weird sound too, dont ask me what standard boards sound like it's just this one sounds different . Gybing is good, dosent carve so much as narrower boards but you soon learn to gybe on the plane and they stay on the plane easier. They feel a little imprecise sailing through others wake etc but you soon get used to this.

Basically if you are a technical sailor and can give this board it's time GET ONE, you wont regret it. They are quite physical to sail and the first time you may not like it but you'll soon grow to love it. What other board covers such a huge range comfortably and performs well in all of them. It may not be the top in each range but in most sailing spots when are conditions ever consistant enough on any one day to not put this board above others.

Pugwash
WA, 7722 posts
16 Feb 2006 2:41PM
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I had a 105l... Can't say I liked it, can't say I didn't like it! It was an "interesting" ride, kind of like riding a washing machine. I sailed mine when the wind was between 12 and 17 knots with a 7.0 (I am 85-90kg also). Once planing it didn't stop planing. It was quick up and across the wind. However, I had trouble getting it to go off the wind, usually ended in me being flung! In chop, it was HARD on the knees. Fond memories Can't remember why I sold it. I can remember that no-one wanted it, and I lost a fist full of cash on the re-sale...

Auswind
WA, 398 posts
Site Sponsor
16 Feb 2006 3:26PM
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Running your boom at the right height - ie AT LEAST above shoulder height - and probably more - like most racers -makes the HYPER easy to sail off the wind. It does take some legs to get the most out of the off the wind angle thoug..

ka025
QLD, 181 posts
16 Feb 2006 5:54PM
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hi i am 13 years old and got my 04 111 wood hyper last year it really goes.I prefer the supplied 340cm drake fin to the 420cm.I have had it going 24 knots out of the straps with no harness and a 4.5 in 22 knots.Now i reckon i'd be getting 28 knots on it my body weight is 48 kg.Overall its a terrific board my dad has had it going 31 knots with a no cam 2002 diablo
se ya

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
16 Feb 2006 6:52PM
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I've never had a problem getting it going off the wind. Yes schlogging they want to point upwind all the time but this is kinda handy also- watch upwind point her off the wind slightly and away you go.

The fins, invest in some new ones. I've used from 34-52cm fins, they favour a narrow chord fin rather than wide i've found. The standard fins are ok nothing more, I cracked the 34 on a decent day of off the wind sailing I've since hit the cracks with a dremel and filled. It looked as if there is a manufacturing fault as there was no fibre at the crack points resin only.

I've only tried it once in trying to get max speed off the wind out of it, 30.? knots in not powered up conditions, so pretty happy considering- it is really the speed these boards carry onto all other points of sail where they really shine.

Gestalt
QLD, 14644 posts
16 Feb 2006 10:58PM
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if it is channel bottom boards that ring your bell then you should have a look at the master craftsman and designer.

http://www.manta-sailboards.com.au/products/products.htm
check out the MAXIM.

Peter Nitschke is to my knowledge the first person to adopt this concept into his boards. he has been selling channel bottom boards now for about 15 years and experimenting with them for about 25 years.

the new starboard isonic is very similar (but not the same) to his current hull that has been in production for the last 5 years. fanatic formula boards also use the step theory in the tail.

i think peter should at least get some recognition....

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
16 Feb 2006 11:21PM
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Hopefully Peter brings one down to the next race so I can compare the two, maybe you're right. It's certainly not a new thing more a return to the 80's but a combination of things that work well which was a huge departure from hard rails, long flat, shallow v in the tail of the last 10 years.

Gestalt
QLD, 14644 posts
16 Feb 2006 11:46PM
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Hey mark

he asked me today if i was going to LC on the weekend, but i think my days of chasing the leader around the course are over....

if you want to sail my 95cm version then that is not an issue. it is a prototype and will display all the attributes associated with this type of hull design.

excellent tracking.
unbelievable acceleration
planes through the lulls.

peter uses flats on the rails however. ie(my isonic comment) so they are a lot more controllable then the hypersonic shape. i would love to sail an isonic.....

i have used the designs for about 10 years now so i am a convert.
etc etc etc. i have also previously owned a 60 and 72 wide version of earlier prototypes. will look at getting a 70 version of the masxim in the future for high winds, but will ask him to reduce the volume compared to his current version. you can sail that as well when i manage to afford it. (no sponsorships here)

the original designs were about speed only. but we found that they kept planing through the lulls and allowed me to carry bigger sails than a normal board of similar length. so it was win win. didn't really start build them over 75 until formula appeared.

funny thing is most people used to crack up when we turned up to the beach with one of these designs. but they are unbelievably quick on a reach. especially when they are 60-70 wide. Also second hand they were hard to sell. people don't even blink these days thanks to starboards efforts. i gotta say, starboard have done a lot of good for the sport.

SurfConnect
QLD, 1674 posts
17 Feb 2006 11:29AM
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Hey J, I have a 105l hyper ur welcome to hav a go anytime. how about next sat at golden beach or sunday at wello? i used it with 5.7 to 10m sail, its the board to take to treasure island if u can only take one board hey. getting goin u got to work hard but once its going, theres no stopping!

Pete's NSX boards r excellent in such sense also. once its going, it goes pretty smooth, n rides upwind with ease. i hav steve (allens) formulas (3 of them too right now lol) n petes boards have a more solid feel as ur riding. bring yours round J n we can have a party with 4 picnic tables lol! funny they havent called it BFB as best BFK kites. any idea wot it stands for?

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
17 Feb 2006 12:54PM
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Got to work this weekend so wont be making the lake race , not that the forecast looks good at all. Pity I'd love to back it up and do even better this time (actually make the start line for some of the races etc ).

Gestalt
QLD, 14644 posts
17 Feb 2006 1:12PM
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the logo stands for Nitschke Extreme Sailboards, NXS...his daughter came up with the name..... pete is currently working on a 60 cm version....

would love to have a blast on the hyper....I got a 7.5 for the job. the one i got from you..... and i am very keen to go for a sail with you..

My ptl form (permission to leave) is approved for next week. maybe we could meet up at vic point and go exploring around the islands? i sent drjukka some satelite photos of the area and there are some tasty sandbars if you want speed.....

i'll be up at caloundra prob tues..... will either go out the bar or mooloolaba....

i use mine for a dining room table has enough grip that the plates don't fall off when the kiddies are eating..

when i first bought it i drove back to brissie in fear that the roof racks would be ripped off. the board i wider than the top of my car...

thursday is looking good 20-25 knots forecast. plus high tide is early arvo at the mo so that is good....

CJW
NSW, 1726 posts
17 Feb 2006 2:13PM
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I've had a Hyper 105 for a few years now and it truly is a unique board. I've used it from 5.3 - 8.5, but I’ve found it's a bit uncomfortable with anything less than a 5.8. I use a prolimit 34 fin with the 5.8 after snapping the stock 34 ( I believe there was a recall on them, the replaced ones are grey) and the 42 with the 8.5m.

I still talk to a lot of people who absolutely hate them, it's true they are very different to sail than most other boards but when you get used to them they reward you; so fast on every angle of sailing. Sure there are faster boards on specific angles but overall the hyper is impressive. As people say once you get them planing it's hard to stop them, even with a massive decrease in wind speed.

One of the truly unique boards, I love it :)

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
17 Feb 2006 1:36PM
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Gestalt, I'll be up for a thursday sail. You dont want to sail with Pat, if you do just use him as a gybe marker

Gestalt
QLD, 14644 posts
17 Feb 2006 1:53PM
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excellent....

vic point?

i'll bring the flouro orange vest so we can all have a go at being gybe marks...... you will probably be better for the job because of your name...

if its real windy then B&J for me... but it is a pretty flat spot. otherwise maxim, maxim, maxim.....

can you do any freestyle stuff?.... i am trying to learn. am wanting to try a grubby or 2 or 3

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
17 Feb 2006 2:12PM
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Freestyle not at the moment, trying that is it. Got one of Steve's slalom boards so keen to give that a try, will take hyper down too.

Let me know time and place closer to thurs. Maybe Pat can drag himself away from teabagging to come down.

SurfConnect
QLD, 1674 posts
18 Feb 2006 12:32AM
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Thursday sound good too! I actually have all of my 3 kites in the market right now - no MK, me not givin up tea baggin, but u heard a new generation of bag is out? one kite replaces ALL! revolution!!!!! i'll bring it so u can hav a go hey? but b warned, its pretty addictive :P

watch it, i can jump over ya :P

Gestalt
QLD, 14644 posts
19 Feb 2006 3:23PM
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hey padi,

does the new gen kite come with shark repellant......

read the shark thread on the kite forum....

i read it.... thinking about buying even bigger gear and giving up trying to learn freestyle...

SurfConnect
QLD, 1674 posts
20 Feb 2006 12:04AM
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sure mate, dont tell me ur beginning to worry now rofl. we stil on for thursday?

Gestalt
QLD, 14644 posts
20 Feb 2006 1:20AM
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thursday is all go... hopefully will have some new toys...



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"Hypersonic - Still available - Great Reviews" started by Auswind