Being very inspired by the design philosophy behind Chris Lockwoods brilliant Carbon Art speed boards I decided to design a board and have it built by Peter Ross at OES. I would really like to thank Chris for taking the time to reveiw my CAD files through a few different design iterations and provide valuable feedback ( he talked me out of concaves!!)
Athough similar in philosophy to Chris's boards this is actually quite different in the detailed execution. The rocker is different especially in the front half, the outline has a slightly narrower nose, the wide point further back and it,s more parrallel from the mast track to the wingers. Of course there are the wingers themselves and the hollowed out deck.
It,s 237 long, 43 wide and the computer assures me it,s a shade over 62 litres.
So why the wingers? Two reasons really . The first and most important reason was my desire to have a really narrow, low wetted area pintail but I was also concerned about getting my 90 kilo's planning fairly easily. The wingers allowed a board that is quite wide from 600 to 430 ( where the wingers are ),but super small in the tail.
The second reason is to prevent drag from water adhesion to the curved rear section of leeward rail. They provide a really clean release point.
Peter Ross has done a fabulous job building this board. The finish is highly professional ( the board looks so sinister in the flesh) , it,s extremely accurate to my design and super light at 4.5 Kilo,s with pads. Thanks heaps Peter!!
So does it work? Yesterday was it,s first outing and I am really pleased. The conditions were quite challenging at Sandy Point with the wind too West or even North West for proper speed runs. It was way too square for long runs. Also the wind was really gusty and squally meaning I was either way overpowerd or underpowered with a 5 meter sail. The board felt really comfy and fast the whole time though. I was super impressed how easy it was, I felt like I had been riding it for ages, really comfortable.
Did it go fast. Well on my very first run which was way square ,overpowered( my outhaul rope slipped right out as I took off) and very short had a 41.5 knot peak. A bit later I rode a crazy rain squall, couldn't sheet in ,couldn't see but still managed a PB 2 second peak of 44.22 knots. I think it works!!!
So I am very happy and can't wait to get some more "normal" speed conditions at the pit to see what this baby will really do.
Looks like a rebadged Ford
very nice looking board i really like the idea of the wingers,could you have gone deeper with the wingers to narrow the tail more? and did Peter use a CAD shaping machine to make it or did he do by hand?
Hi Choco, I agree that the wingers could have been deeper. I actually did that on my slalom board.
Pete built this one of drawings printed from my CAD file.I am very impressed about the accuracy. He spends half the year in Maui building boards and when he is there he has access to a CNC but not when back in Port Lincoln.
Not expecting to get one myself but is it possible of OES to make similar boards based on your design? I've decided if I get new windsurfing gear I'll try and get stuff made in Australia wherever possible.
Congratulations, Martin! Amazing peaks! Hope you will soon have the opportunity to use it in perfect conditions.
What fin-/sailsize combinations do you recommend for this board?
that you have came up with a board that hit 41.22 on its very first run and in conditions that weren't great, you know not many people can get everything right on there first attempt, and im sure you will come up with a few changes that will only improve it, and credit must go to peter for getting that board down to 4.2 considering, the shaped blank, finbox, and pluggs would weigh no less than 1.2kgs so that leaves 3kgs for divinicell, glass.resin,and bogg, thats a great effort and a true tradesman ,great effort peter
Hi Fredstyles, I reckon it will handle 4.5 to 6.5 OK for speed sailing. I would rarely use a 4.5 ( but could have used one for that rain squall ), so my standard sail range will be Koncepts 5.0,5.8 and 6.6 and I think the 5.8 will be the 80% use sail.
As far as fins go I can only comment on the KA speed fins as I have not used anything else. The 23 Assy felt fine in it although for powered up 5.0 meter sailing I think a 21.5 for my weight would definitely be faster( I only have a 23 at the moment.) If it was really windy a 20 would most likely work as well. Obviously the best fin lengths will vary with other brand fins.
I see myself running the 23 with the 5.8 and 6.6 and a 21.5 ( when I get one) with the 5.0 but I really need to do some trialling with them. (AMAC, I need a new fin!!!
)
Regards Martin
that's brilliant stuff martin and peter.
well done. 
2 sec peak of 44 knots is very very impresive. i agree with keef to get a proto hitting those speeds .... wow!
How embarrasment, pretty lame! You could see how overdone I was just couldn,t sheet in and get locked with my upper body out. Harness lines too short as well. As soon as I passed the dunes the wind went really square and I felt like I was going straight downwind so pulled up. Amazed it was anywhere near that fast, 41.452 2 second and 39.5 10 second.
Hi Martin, Man you guys are so so lucky with the wind.
Over here in the furthest "Eastern State" there is the never ending "Doldrums" that keeps going & going, month after month turning into years now.
Great to see your design worked in those conditions.
Hi Michael, I initially messed around with a single concave with V side panels and a second design with fairly standard double concave into Flat panel V. Chris really reinforced to me about keeping it simple, especially as it was to be hand built. Make the bottom shape complex and it will be too difficult to get it accurate.
It,s flat panel V right through.
Reasonable day for me on the board at the Pit yesterday. 43.1 2 second and 40.7 5X10.
I rigged too big and stuffed around with a 20 cm fin thinking it would be faster. Had to re rig after my first run,wasting the best wind ( while everybody else was ripping). Did a few runs on a 5.0 before I came to the conclusion that the fin was too small for the board, not unsticking it. I changed to a 23 and instantly went 1.5 knots quicker, but then the wind backed off so really wasted the best part of the day. Bugger
A KA 21.5 will really be the sweet spot for the 5.0 metre.
The board has loads of potential. just accelerating up to 41-42 knots effortlessly. I really just need to get the trim (and my aging, unfit body) sorted out to push it past 45.
great stuff martin i was wondering how your board went the other day, im building another board for green island next month thats if i have it ready in time
