Length: 232 cm /7'7"
Width: 55 cm /21.7"
Volume: 84 liters
Weight ?6% 5.0 kg/11.0 lbs
I've been given one these to try out and have now ridden it a couple of times getting a bit feel of it.
With my weight @ 88kgs this board for me is a sinker aimed at the high wind end of town, unfortunately to date the wind hasn't been to forth coming so I've been sailing at the upper end of it's sail (6.7m) and fin (32cm) recommendations, that said I've been having some fun with this board.
First impressions of the board: light, comfortable footpads, decent
foot straps and a nice finish. It's also very small 232cm (7'7"), the narrow tail and sits quite nicely on the water.
One thing about the Pro series is that they are using Kevlar in the boards now, I've had a couple of boards modified with Kevlar and they end up a lot more robust than straight carbon.
On the water.
For me I needed 14-15 knots(min) with 6.7, below that was hard work (the joys of sinkers) but given the breeze this board runs nicely and gets on the plane quite easily, the foot straps are well positioned and easy to find.
I was definitely surprised with how easily it dealt with chop, we have been doing 2-3km runs across the Mandurah Estuary in 30-40cm chop with either being able to easily steer around the chop or just blast over it.
The best thing I've found is the acceleration of it. This board feels like it's got a very low water friction.
You go fanging along and see a gust coming, just lean back into the harness point the board where you want it to go and woosh it's off.
I relate the feeling to watching the sports cars on Top Gear sitting behind the camera car dropping it back a cog and then belting on past.
I'd been pacing with Hardie a couple of times on one session and it was really noticeable the difference in acceleration
(sorry Bud)
Still happy getting 30's in sub 20knots of wind on a small board.
I was also very happy to be able to gybe this board fairly easily, although you do have to carry a bit of speed through it to come out planing (my technique problems
)
Still haven't had the conditions to be able to go out on it using any less than a 6.2m. Still I got to improve my Nm PB going across the estuary.
Hopefully this week will deliver the goods the forecast is predicting, hanging to give it a blast down Hardies run.
Full site link:http://www.jp-australia.com/2007/index.php?id=44
Alby
Had a coupla go's on this board. If I had the money, it would be sitting in my garage right now.
For speed in the 18 to 25 knot range it is the sweetest and fastest board I have ever sailed. I want one!!!! It has a great feeling underfoot, seems to ride comfotably over small tighly spaced chop, and has incredible accelaration in the gusts.
Any of you GPS sailors who want a board for flat water estuaries, in that 18 to 25 knot range, then this board won't disappoint, will easily get you over 30 knots without trying, and will do the mid 30's much easier and without the effort required of my two fast older custom boards.
I hate the fact that I work hard, yet still don't have the money to buy such a beautiful toy
Just had to take this board back, which is a shame as I'd finally sussed it out.
My first impressions were that I liked the board and was just looking for the right conditions to fully utilize it's capabilities.
We did end up with one session where the wind was playing the game, the session started out well, first run 30, then 32 then 34, then whilst adjusting the sail the wind picks it up and stands it on the head of the mast damaging the sail, 2 sail changes later, finally get a sail working rightish, but struggled with some major cavitation problems from set up and chop. It was a frustrating session through stuff ups which in hind sight would have improved more than a few PB's a couple of weeks ago.
With this in mind on my last session, I thought I'd change the foot straps a bit to take a bit of weight of the fin.
WOW!!!!!! and I thought the board was good before,
First run I cruised down the run feeling like it wasn't going quickly, check the GPS got 32.7knots first up without trying.
The transformation was unbelievable! the board trimmed absolutely sweetly and handled everything which came it's way.
The biggest disappointment was that the wind yet again didn't deliver so 34 knots was the best I could achieve in the 16-20knots of wind.
If looking at this board I'd recommend getting a good fin to go with it and really enjoy the full potential
Full GPS data can be found
www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&val=15186&uid=376
Alby
ok ive been makeing boards since the late 80's with carbon and kevlar,explain why kevlar would make the board perform better,ive found that kevlar in the foot straps is great but as far as any where elese i cant see why it would make it would make the board perform
so can you explain why it would improve the board
i can see how it would improve a sail but a board
G'day Kieth
I tend to be rather brutal on gear, Kevlar has a higher impact resistance than carbon fibre making the board robust and a bit more Elmo resistant. Whenever I do a nose on one of my boards it's straight to the Kevlar, making it a lot tougher thereafter.
It's the same reason why you use it under your footpads for strength, this is just all over.
Thats my opinion anyway.
Alby
