Jason Polakow and Robby Swift took a trip to Soth America in 2017 to sail the infamous waves of Chile!
@Jason Polakow
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A real all-rounder, the 123 is a blasting marvel, seamlessly traversing the impossible tightrope between truly accessible performance and impeccable control. With enough life and response to satisfy even the most demanding pilot, it is also both capable and versatile in foiling mode. An ode to just what can be expected of the modern hybrid machine.
The Rocket Plus was introduced to the Tabou fold in 2019, fulfilling the role of both the Rocket Wide and freerace Speedster of year’s past, whilst also being ‘foil ready’ in the three larger sizes. The designs in the range remain the same for 2020, but the construction options see an update, with a new ‘Carbon Flex’ technology coming in as the premium choice to compliment the more price-pointed LTD version. Both come supplied with Tabou’s familiar Freeride wet-layup high performance fin. Looking at the 123’s shape in more detail, it echoes many of Fabien Vollenweider’s trademark features, with pronounced double concaves in the front of the hull, becoming mono-concave under the rider’s feet, before finishing in a complex tail design with intricate cutouts. The rails have a hard edge along their length and the deckpads under the straps are some of the thinnest around, giving some hint and indication of the Rocket Plus’s riding character. With plenty of inboard and outboard strap options to choose from and Tabou’s excellent Velcro straps supplied, it was time to get it on the water, to see if the 123 would do justice to its heritage.
A maximum in speed and performance has never been as accessible as it is now. The Rocket Plus brings the best in performance freeriding and convertible windfoiling into one board, which accelerates your windsurfing session.
We tested the Rocket Plus 113 in last year’s test and were impressed with its high performance, both with a fin and a foil. And we’re pleased to report this 123 comes from a similar mould. Feeling relatively small and compact underfoot at rest, it responds quickly and enthusiastically to a proactive riding style, accelerating crisply as it is turned off the wind. Using the fin supplied and the footstraps in their outboard positions, the Rocket Plus is a stunning board to use; fast on all points of sail and achieving just the right balance of loose response and control. Speed comes easy and it’s a captivating board to be on, soaking up all the power generated by an efficient sail and showing real willingness to keep accelerating. It’s looseness and liveliness might intimidate the novice rider, yet use the inboard straps in partner with a more forward mast foot position and the ride can be tempered. But we feel the 123 will find particular favour with more active or experienced riders, flying high on its fin yet remaining planted and stable on the mono-concave between the straps, bestowing the confidence in the rider to keep pushing. The bottom shape also plays a part in the Tabou’s gybing prowess, the thin rails gripping supremely well, their traction allowing the rider to vary the turn’s radius at will mid-transition. We tried the 123 with a high performance fin, which furthered its straight line speed and control marginally, yet actually highlighted that the supplied fin worked extremely well. Swapping it for a foil though and the Rocket Plus yet again exhibits the credentials of a true hybrid board. The plugs of the back straps run parallel with the fin box and provide a clear method of tuning the board according to the foil used. The outboard straps are particularly outboard, so if you’re struggling to access them, opt for the inboard plugs, to help your back heel remain connected with the deck. Tried with both low and high aspect foils, it works admirably with all the foils we tried, demonstrating the scope and true versatility of the modern blasting platform.
Length: 237 cm
Width: 77 cm
1ft off: 50.8 cm
Bottom shape: Vee with double concave in the nose, the concaves becoming incredibly pronounced by the shoulders and taking over completely by the front straps. With mono concave between the straps, and vee past the finbox.
Weight (‘Naked’): 7.49 kg
Fins: Tabou Freeride 42 cm (Deep Tuttle)
Sail Size: 6.5-9.0m
Sizes Available: 103, 113, 123, 133
THE LINE UP
STARBOARD FUTURA FLAX BALSA 117
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A compact contemporary board with bags of performance across a staggering wind range, belied by a real sense of comfort, connection and ease.
Having tested the 107 litre Futura last season, it’s the turn of one of the larger siblings for 2020. Well liked by all that tried it, the 107’s performance confirmed what was visually already apparent: despite adopting some key features (such as a sunken deck around its shortened mast track and thin deckpads), the Futuras’ development had evolved in a different direction to the brand’s highly-decorated iSonic slalom program. There was now a clear choice between the two, rather than the Futura simply being a de-tuned slalom board. In appearance the Futura 117 carries on in the same vain. It is short and wide, the wide point itself moved forward of the board’s centre point, creating a wide rounded nose, whilst its rail outline remains relatively curved, allowing for a quick taper to a narrow tail. The rails themselves are rounded and thin, going some way to explaining the Futura’s low quoted volume, despite it being one of the widest in the test group. With the only stated change for 2020 (other than a graphic update) being a beef-up in its construction, the 117 boasts the same pronounced vee in its hull as the 107, and similarly is foil compatible thanks to a reinforced Deep Tuttle box. Tested here in the brand’s eco-conscious Flax Balsa construction, it is also available in a dearer carbon layup, exclusive to the Futura range. It comes supplied with Drake “Slick” straps (manufactured from a plant based Yulex foam), with Starboard being advocates of the Eco Board Project, embracing initiatives to address the most serious sustainable and carbon-neutral issues of today.
The Futuras enter their second year, maintaining proven test-winning shapes. Wide, thin and compact, with admired performances for long distance races: Futura’s refinements allow you to save energy, maintain a high average speed for miles and turn the smoothest gybes.
With its short length and hollowed out nose, the Futura feels small and compact underfoot at rest, yet its width provides the stability to carry an 8.0m easily. When power is delivered, it responds purposefully once turned off the wind, accelerating smoothly, its narrower tail resulting in the straps being more inset and easier to locate. The volume and dome in the tail provides real rider comfort, whilst the thin deckpads convey response and connection between board and rider. There really isn’t a hint of back leg burn or stress through the legs, the Futura trimming itself intuitively as it sits high above the water’s surface in all but the planted tail. Efficient and engaging, it feels much smaller than its quoted dimensions and is easy to use for long periods, its sense of feel and control giving it a wide user ability appeal. The fin supplied with the 117 is a quality Drake Ready to Race blade and it compliments the board well, imparting the drive and feedback to be fast on all points of sail and through varying wind strengths. It is particularly impressive upwind, compensating for the board’s reduced tail width so that no potency is lost when trying to hold a course close to the wind. We also tested it with a performance F-Hot RWS3, which highlighted just how capable the Futura is off the wind too, making it one of the fastest in the group, especially in tricky sea states. As the wind increases, the board really begins to show its control credentials, the deep vee cutting and cushioning the path through any heavy chop as the tail retains contact with the water at all times. And at the end of each reach, there’s the gybe to look forward to – another of the Futura’s real strengths. Enter the corner at speed, and it’s as if the board sits down on its tail, offering control and tactility through the most challenging seas and moments. From there the rider can drive through both feet and use the whole rail of the board to tighten up the turn and project themselves smoothly out of the corner. If the power and impetus is lost, the narrow tail does mean it has a tendency to lose speed and stall sooner than others, thereby encouraging the good habits of carving at speed and with power in the sail at the turn. The tail width also lends the Futura for use with lower aspect foils such as Starboard’s ‘Super Cruiser’, providing the lift early and user-friendliness to extend the board’s light wind scope
Length: 228 cm
Width: 77.5 cm
1ft off: 48.0 cm
Bottom shape: Pronounced vee with slight double concave throughout, finishing with flat vee in the tail.
Weight (‘Naked’): 8.05 kg
Fins: Drake Slalom DW 42 (Deep Tuttle)
Sail Range (Quoted): 5.5-8.5m
Sizes Available: 97, 107, 117, 127, 137
THE LINE UP
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A high octane blasting machine that comes to life the more challenging the conditions become. If the sea state looked intimidating, it was the board we all gravitated to.
This is the third season we have had the pleasure of testing the Fox in this category, using it as somewhat of a benchmark for accessible performance when the conditions turn on. The overriding feature of its design, which defines its character, is the pronounced vee that runs along the centre of the board like a backbone or spine, enhancing control and gybing capabilities when fully powered. And despite its comparative quoted volume, it is easily the longest and narrowest here, accentuating its stretched outline with a thin nose profile and relatively flat deck. To counter this and improve ride comfort, the deckpads are domed themselves, raising the toes of both the rider’s feet. The complex bottom shape of the Fox is complimented with a hard rail edge throughout, although it displays a good deal of tuck early on, leading into bevels in the nose. And the story is softened in the tail with extended single tier cutouts that zig-zag to the rail just before the 1 foot off mark. Severne continue with their unique Hex4 tool for 2020 – a single tool that is capable of every task in tuning and rigging, from fixing the straps and fin in place, to tightening Severne sail battens. It also comes supplied with the same accurately machined black-G10 F-Series fin, tailored to the requirements of the board size. These remain Powerbox fins, for ease and efficiency, albeit precluding any use of the Fox with a foil. And whilst the designs of the Foxes haven’t changed, the brand are keen to report that the 2020 Foxes are witness to a greater manufacturing accuracy, as a result of refinements to their compression moulding process.
“Designed to take freeride to the next level, the Fox allows you to blast full speed through the choppiest water you can find. Continuous rocker, reduced tail width and extreme vee provide unique levels of control.”
Fox from Severne Sails on Vimeo.
The Fox has had a ‘Mach-blue’ graphic update for 2020, but otherwise remains unaltered for this season. Used in light airs, it gets going early but doesn’t really release or feel as alive as some in the group, its narrower outline and thinner tail profile resulting in it sitting lower in the water, allowing for less drive and feedback through the fin. This is certainly noticeable in marginal fluky winds, when others in the group seem to glide through the extended lulls more efficiently. As the wind increases and you can load the power, the Fox turns on, beginning to exhibit its potential. And as we found in years past, it really comes into its own when the conditions become volatile, its deep vee hull making light work of the harshest sea states, smoothing out the ride and enabling the rider to keep the hammer down. Partnered with an efficient sail, it’s simply in a class of its own, making charging around in coastal conditions a real delight, when the ride on a slalom board would be a bone-shuddering mental-strength challenge. The thick contoured deckpads also help in this instance, providing extra comfort and helping to trim the board without stressing the rider’s stance, or requiring any extra effort. In the gybe, the Fox’s comparatively thin and tucked rail outline comes into effect, biting and gripping smoothly and helping the rider to push with confidence through the turn. Since the Fox has a Powerbox, the opportunity for foiling compatibility is not there. Instead, this is a purist machine, for those that like to sail powered at all times and are looking for a board to back them as they contend with variable seas states.
Length: 244 cm
Width: 70.0 cm
1ft off: 47.8 cm
Bottom shape: Vee with double concave and bevels in the nose and shoulders, the vee becoming incredibly pronounced in the mid-section, whilst the double disappears by the front straps, leading to rounded vee in the tail with single tier cutouts.
Weight (‘Naked’): 7.45 kg
Fins: Severne G10 40 cm (Power)
Sail Range (Quoted): 6.5-8.5m
Sizes Available: 95, 105, 120, 140
THE LINE UP
STARBOARD FUTURA FLAX BALSA 117
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The Firemove has evolved to play to its strengths, being super practical and most of all fun, particularly in transition. A fast-tracking vehicle for the progressing rider, it will find real favour with those that simply want a board that flatters and provides a feel-good factor. And the honest ability to tutor into foiling is an extra bonus.
The Firemove is an integral part of RRD’s Free Line, sandwiched between the Freestyle Wave and Firestorm. It is a line with a great deal of heritage, being one of the avant-garde designs credited with exposing the ‘wide and thin’ concept that gripped the freeride discipline in the recent past. Along with its smaller siblings, this 120 was introduced last year, with the 135 and 155 added to the range for 2020 and all dressed in familiar white-black-orange graphics to celebrate the brand’s 25th anniversary. On test here is the LTE version – the middle construction option for the series (using a full wood laminate wrap), with the premium LTD and price-pointed E-Tech versions either side. It comes supplied with thick dual density deckpads, sitting under RRD’s standard Velcro straps produced by Da Kine, (which can be positioned either well inboard or outboard), and a G10 MFC Liquid Pro fin that slots into the foil-ready Deep Tuttle box. One of the shortest and certainly the widest in this test group, the Firemove has a relatively thin profile, with a subtle dome that tapers to thin rails, particularly in the tail. The other really noticeable feature in the rear is the distinct wingers, significantly reducing the width of the rounded tail. And like the Freestyle Wave tested last issue, the Firemove seems to have an extended rocker flat, before a bit of last-minute nose kick to finish.
“The Firemove is known for its plug and play and superior feel from the first time you try it; early planing, acceleration, manoeuvrability and a lightweight feel over the water. Once you step on it you’ll instantly feel confident and will never get tired of this magic board.”
On the water, the Firemove has a different nature to many of the other boards on test here. Stable and easy at rest, it likes to be turned off the wind as power is delivered, but after that it really does the rest for the rider! Acceleration is smooth and progressive so as to not perturb the nervous pilot, whilst the wide and relatively flat deck provides the time and pragmatic patience as they move rearwards. The straps are easy to locate, even in their outboard positions, and the board feels balanced and comfortable for long easy cruising sessions. There is nothing tiring about the Firemove – it’s a pleasure to cover distance on, gliding through lulls and asking few questions or misbehaving, even through volatile gusts – a real plug-and-play master. The fin supplied works well and compliments the board, squeezing out a respectable straight-line speed if pushed. It is certainly freemove more than freerace, and gained little when tried with a precise high performance fin. Instead, the Firemove is designed for maximum return for minimal input – a fun and playful platform rather than a fire-snorting drag-racer. Which leads us onto the most enjoyable quality of the Firemove – its cornering. Whether you are a veteran rider, or new to the world of planing, you can’t help but get on with the Firemove through the gybe. Even if you lean back and kill the power in the sail (be it through bad technique or mistiming through a lull), the Firemove simply keeps cruising through the arc. It really is a wonder, providing a sense of connection and traction through the tail rather than demanding a full-blooded driving style through the rails. The clear difference between inboard and outboard strap positions changes the character of the board and allows it to adapt to rider requirements and abilities. Foiling is also well catered for, particularly the newcomer to flying, the inboard straps working particularly well with a low aspect foil.
Length: 234 cm
Width: 79 cm
1ft off: 51.6 cm
Bottom shape: Vee with subtle double concave throughout, finishing in flat vee in the tail.
Weight (Naked): 8.08 kg
Fins: MFC Liquid Pro 40 cm (Deep Tuttle)
Sail Range (Quoted): 6.4-8.0m
Sizes Available: 100, 110, 120, 135, 155
THE LINE UP
STARBOARD FUTURA FLAX BALSA 117
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Plug and play blasting pleasure doesn’t come better packaged than the Magic Ride! For those that want to simply get out there and maximise their enjoyment on the water, whether it be blasting in comfort, carving the water up in transition or cruising, hassle-free on a low aspect foil.
This is the third generation of Magic Ride – a board range targeted since its inception to provide “a magic combination of ease, stability and good performance.” Whilst still focussing on the principles of the wide/thin freeride movement, the new designs have seen their outlines stretched slightly with a narrower overall width and longer length, intended for easier planing, upwind potential and directional stability. The volume is distributed evenly throughout, with wider shoulders to help stability and weight carrying off the plane. The board then retains plenty of width in the rear as well, before finishing in a large diamond tail. It is certainly a thin board in profile compared to others in the group, with a shallow dome to the deck (said to provide easy access to the footstraps, whatever their position), before tapering to its thin rails. The straps themselves are JP’s new design with incorporated size indicators, and sit on top of the brand’s tactile diamond grooved dual density pads. Available in three constructions to suit every budget, there is the added bonus of a foil-ready Powerbox in the PRO model tested here, which is a unique feature to JP and certainly worth considering to dramatically increase its wind range and scope.
“The true freerider: What is astonishing about the new board line is its ease and smoothness. You’ll step on it and everything will happen naturally and predictably. The feel is “familiar” – like putting on an old pair of shoes: it just fits!”
With the introduction of the Super Ride in the JP range, it has enabled Werner Gnigler to evolve the Magic Ride brief and create greater distinction between the brand’s offerings. This new Magic Ride has in essence become the true ‘plug and play’ performer in the series. Longer and narrower than most here, it is balanced and easy in the water at rest, and accelerates smoothly underfoot as a gust hits. It requires little to no input from the rider, rising up as if on autopilot and feeling very directionally stable. The straps are easy to locate, combining with the dual density pads to provide a secure and comfortable connection with the board. The fin supplied has a large surface area and is in part responsible for just how dependable the board feels. It provides plenty of low down drive and masses of traction to push against for cruising confidently on all points of sail, albeit keeping the board planted and grounded through its tail. Comfortably cruising for long periods through turbulent waters, its actually only when we compared the Magic Ride’s speed with others in the group that we realised its straight line performance is actually very respectable as well. Such is its ease and relaxed temperament that it belies its innate velocity. And if this raised our eyebrows – more was to come, as in transition the Magic Ride is a wonder to use for a board of this size. A fantastic tutor for the progressing rider, its thin rails bite effortlessly as the board is banked into the turn, holding it into the arc and retaining a consistent speed. It indulges the rider with the confidence to push harder, and even in choppy seas the rails grip and hold in a fashion that a board 20 litres its junior would be proud of. It seamlessly opens the door to the world of classic carving manoeuvres, and what is more, has JP’s unique foil specific Powerbox incorporated for the new world of low aspect freeride foiling too.
Length: 241 cm
Width: 74 cm
1ft off: 49.8 cm
Bottom shape: Vee with subtle double concave throughout, the vee pronounced in the shoulders and mid-section, before finishing with rounded vee behind the fin.
Weight (‘Naked’): 7.72 kg
Fins: JP Australia Ride 38 cm G10 (Power)
Sail Range (Quoted): 5.0-8.0m
Sizes Available: 99, 109, 119, 129, 139, 149, 159
THE LINE UP
STARBOARD FUTURA FLAX BALSA 117
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As close to slalom performance as you’ll get, with the added bonus of a fin, extra durability and strap adjustability, plus genuine foil compatibility. And all at a reduced price tag, mean the Jag should rightly be a bit of no-brainer for most recreational sailors looking to enter the realms of real world slalom sailing.
The Fanatic Jag in its new guise, is in its second season in the Fanatic lineup. It’s a model name first used back in the early nineties, when slalom board design was very focussed on straight-line speed and performance, giving little room or interest for user-friendliness. And the original Jag was spearheaded this path of progression, synonymous with the dedicated journey. Jump ahead twenty seven years (!) and the new Jag has a very different remit, designed to provide accessible performance with the added bonus of being compatible with foiling. Available solely in LTD construction using a biax fibre and PVC sandwich layup, it is said to perform with all rig types, from rotational to fully cammed, and comes supplied with diamond-grooved deckpads, the brand’s premium straps and a ‘Black Pearl’ carbon fin from Choco. It retains ‘committed slalom’
features such as a recessed deck around the mastfoot area, yet has smaller two-tier cutouts compared to its Falcon slalom sibling, and inset footstrap options on its wide, chunky and heavily domed tail. Clean and uncomplicated in both hull design and overall appearance, it is available in four sizes, from 94 to 135 litres, with all bar the smallest size being compatible with a Deep Tuttle headed foil.
“Essentially a slalom board you can live with, the Jag is designed to blast over distance in total control, and will excel with any style of sail.”
Buoyant and balanced underfoot, as soon as power is delivered, the Jag actively releases and accelerates, feeling alive and purposeful from the off. Whilst there are the inboard strap positions available, the outboard straps are easy to locate and lock the rider’s feet in the ideal position to push against the rail, the thin deckpads ensuring a real sense of connection with the board and fin. The ride is involving, the board feeling flighty and thriving on rider input to keep the pressure on the fin, and the hull skimming cleanly over the water. Which leads us to one of the more noticeable aspects of the Jag – it is undoubtedly the board in this test group most influenced by the fin it is partnered with. The Choco fin supplied works fine, providing the drive and feedback to keep the rider involved. Change it to a high-performance blade though and the Jag’s virtues can really be enhanced, particularly in top end control when conditions become challenging. We used an F-Hot Fins RWS3 and the Jag’s full potential was instantly realised, continuously accelerating in the gusts without a hint of tail walking or misbehaving. It’s not that the supplied carbon fin is poor, far from it, it’s just that the Jag responds more than most when you charge it with a precise blade. In the gybe the Jag’s wide plump tail is noticeable and demands a commanding riding style to keep driving through the turn, particularly when entering at full speed or in choppy waters. The addition of inset strap positions is a real bonus for the ambitious progressing sailor, or those looking to partner the Jag with a foil and enter the realms of flying. We used the board with a variety of foils and have to say it was impressive, the wider tail and various strap positions complimenting its application in the sport’s latest discipline. And if you’re new to foiling, the Jag’s natural early planing capabilities undoubtedly help the learning stages too.
FANATIC JAG LTD 125 2020 TEST REVIEW
Volume (Quoted): 125 L.
Length: 235 cm
Width: 75 cm
1ft off: 52.0 cm
Bottom shape: Vee with subtle double concave throughout, finishing in flat vee in the tail.
Weight (‘Naked’): 7.81 kg
Fins: Choco Fins Carbon Black 42 cm (Deep Tuttle)
Sail Range (Quoted): <9.2m
Sizes Available: 94, 108, 125, 135
THE LINE UP
STARBOARD FUTURA FLAX BALSA 117
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This test was originally published in the March 2020 issue!
The arms race to uncompromisingly search for ever faster speeds has been tempered by the understanding that control is also key to achieve results, even on the highest podiums such as the PWA World Tour. What’s interesting is to see how this change in awareness has filtered down into the large commercial disciplines, namely the freeride sector. Read the marketing scripts of most brands and the focus is undoubtedly there for boards to become easier and more practical to use, without compromising performance. The short, wide and thin movement of the recent past has certainly hit home and many brands have followed. Yet there’s also the argument on the ground (and we hear it fairly often in the centre) that it has gone too far for some, making the boards hard to get going, too twitchy in a straight line … and ultimately slow!
Directional stability and the ease at which the sail’s power can be converted to straight-line speed is ultimately the winning formula for early planing and user-friendliness. And the easiest way to achieve this is by increasing a board’s waterline – its length. Looking at the boards in the line-up today, there’s a 50-50 split between short/wide and those returning to a slightly longer length, using 240 cm as the median length. And by reducing width (particularly in the tail) the straps are closer to the centreline, making them easier to locate and get into, no longer requiring a big step out onto the rail.
The motif of the freerace board for a long time was that of a “detuned slalom board”, but in that lies a very human problem. By marketing a category ‘detuned’, there is always going to be a small voice in many heads that freerace is compromised; that a greater speed could have been achieved if they just plucked up the courage and opted for the ‘bells-and-whistles’ slalom option. Well, there is some truth in that argument, as slalom boards are also becoming far easier to use as each season goes by too. However, the breakthrough has been achieved in marketing freerace boards (some call them fast freeride) for what they are actually good at: and that is going fast, comfortably, over a greater distance and longer period. Plus being easy to turn when you come to the end of a run. Think of the freerace board as a Super G board – the kind you’d like to use for extended races such as the Defi Wind, where energy conservation is the key to success. Real performance for less rider input. I’ll give you a personal example where the freerace board came into its own. On a couple of occasions now I have been fortunate enough to have the friends and rescue support to partake in a bit of a downwind adventure, be it from Portland to Kimmeridge or vice versa. On both occasions I opted to use a freerace board and enjoyed every minute of the challenge. And on both occasions I was joined by friends on full slalom setups. They compete on the national tour, are very accomplished sailors (in the pro fleet) and would consider themselves windsurf fit. And yet, to say they were hanging at the end of the voyage is a bit of an understatement! On a freerace platform, there’s the ability to power it with something other than a fully cammed race sail (on both occasions I used a no-cam freerace sail), whereas slalom boards crave power to retain control, and need to be sailed with a committed stance at all times. It’s a simple analogy, but hopefully one that will resonate with some. Freerace is best defined as a fast board with comfort and practicality at its core, and as such is best placed for long sessions in real world conditions.
One extra thing to add is regarding the fin. Slalom boards are sold without fins as standard, as most customers in the market for a slalom board already own their own fin quiver. All the boards on test here are supplied with fins, yet in some (but not all…) instances their performance can undoubtedly be enhanced with the use of a high performance blade. We used a quiver of F-Hot RWS-3 fins during this test – a UK manufacturing company that creates some of the most precise and wonderfully crafted carbon fins you’ll ever see. You can read whether they made a difference in each individual report.
The last thing to consider is to do with foiling. Windfoiling is rightly front and centre in the sport’s spotlights for 2020 (especially considering the recent Olympic decision for 2024), so it’s no surprise to see that all bar one of these boards are foil compatible. It seems the landscape and understanding in foiling is becoming richer in the sport with every passing month, with user-friendly low aspect foils emerging and mast/fuselage lengths for rapid progression becoming more standardised. The RYA have developed one of the first and best teaching models in the world, and the rewards for learning to foil are high. And what is more, without exception, the foiling capabilities of these boards are excellent. More than just sporting a ‘foil ready’ sticker, this new breed of board is truly a hybrid in every sense of the word, working equally well with both fin and foil. So, if you want a board to go foiling with as well, and increase your time on the water, these boards won’t let you down. Just be mindful of the foil you choose to partner them with…
We’ll start with the Severne Fox — a design that has remained the same for the past three seasons, and for good reason. It has set the benchmark for performance and comfort possible in challenging environments, and continues to do so. It needs to be lit … and is not one for a foil, but if you want a board that backs you when you’re blasting into the unknown, look no further. The Goya Bolt is the new kid on the block. A real all-rounder, whose ease and relaxed manner belies the potential it has. Performance comes easy and it never comes unstuck. The Fanatic Jag is much more involving to ride, accelerating in a snap and keeps the rider thinking as they charge about the bay. It is also undoubtedly the most fin sensitive, the board’s real potential being realised when partnered with the F-Hot blade. The RRD is at the other end of the freeride spectrum. Short and incredibly wide, it is a manoeuvre-focussed platform, where a rider just needs to weight the tail and wait for the magic to happen! The new Magic Ride from JP also tackles the same design brief but comes from a different approach. Long, narrow yet remaining thin, it has a more traditional and familiar feel, with an auto-pilot gear that can be engaged for effortless plug and play joy. Push hard into the gybe and the full rail can be used. Want a go at foiling and JP have an exclusive foil-compatible Powerbox in their Pro models to house the Neil Pryde foil. The Rocket+ from Tabou is an amazing all-rounder itself, which found particular favour with the more experienced pilot. Lively, alert and captivating to sail, its high performance is accessible ‘out of the box’, the fin supplied providing a surprisingly impressive level of return. Which leaves the Futura from Starboard, a board helping to define the new breed of freerace platforms. Fun and engaging to sail in a massive wind range, it is just so comfortable for long periods of use, yet has enough crispness and response for the rider to enjoy, whatever their ability. And to cap it all, there is then the added bonus of true foiling capabilities for those lighter wind days too!
STARBOARD FUTURA FLAX BALSA 117
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From easy, accessible performance, to a dramatically improved foiling capacity, the Bolt has been brought right up to date for 2020, establishing itself as a fantastic all-rounder in this freeride/blasting class. And at £1699.00 it represents excellent value for money.
Described by the brand as their “user-friendly race board” the Bolt Pro range has been completely revised for 2020, encompassing five sizes from 97 to 137 litres. All are produced in the brand’s Pro construction, boasting a full carbon deck and what Goya are calling a Hyper Skin HD – a full covering of a high density sandwich around the fused cell core, said to be a third stronger, stiffer and lighter than the foam used in conventional boards. It comes supplied with thick diamond-grooved deckpads, MFC straps and a quality MFC H1 fin. Looking at the 127 in detail, its outline is full bodied, its rounded nose and tail disguising the fact that the tail and shoulders retain a good deal of width, making the board’s rails decidedly parallel. The deck shape is scooped out around the track and into the nose, intended to plant the sail’s power low and forward, whilst the footstrap plug placements for the front strap are spaced wider to account for varying stances. On the underside there’s a hard edge running along the length of the Bolt’s rails, which exhibit relatively little tuck compared to others in the group, and finish in two tier cutouts, which themselves creep up along the rail and beyond the 1ft off mark. Dressed in bold and eye-catching graphics, with neon yellow markings set against a blue and dark charcoal base colour, this 127 is one of the three larger size Bolts that are also compatible with a foil, thanks to their reinforced Deep Tuttle boxes.
“With its 10 mm of V, it naturally softens the ride over chop on rougher seas. As in our dedicated race board, the Bolt Pro comes with tail cut-outs in combination with a light tail release that helps reduce the wetted surface, providing you with sensational acceleration.”
Goya Windsurfing 2020 Bolt from Forward Maui LLC on Vimeo.
This is the first opportunity we’ve had to try the new Bolt, and we have to say, what an upgrade this new version represents! At a quoted volume of 127 litres it feels big and stable underfoot, capable of carrying large sails. As the wind fills and power is applied, it gathers pace smoothly and progressively, allowing the rider time to move towards the tail at their pace. The wide voluminous tail feels corky and provides plenty of buoyancy and stability, sitting high on the water’s surface and keeping the rider’s heels high and dry. But the Bolt’s true talents are realised when you compare your speed to your peers. The ride feels easy and comfortable, as if the board is cruising well within its capacity, yet when in a drag race, you realise you’re also travelling at an impressive speed. Requiring little technical rider input, it is incredibly well mannered, flattering the rider and letting them enjoy the ride. This sense that the board is championing your success is carried into transition as well, with plenty of volume and support through the tack, whilst in the gybe the rails bite easily, holding a smooth tactile radius, that can be adjusted and tightened at will. The MFC fin supplied is excellent and compliments the Bolt well; we did try it with a high performance carbon fin also, yet the gains were marginal. Used with a foil, the new Bolt has also improved immeasurably, providing true hybrid performance, rather than simply being ‘foil-readied’. The strap position and deck shape has been optimised, so that there is plenty of connection through the back foot, enabling the Bolt to be compatible with everything from low to high aspect foils. It was one of the stand out foiling boards in this group – a real boost from past generation Bolts. Back in fin mode, when properly powered the 127 sits high and clear of any violent chop, without ever presenting any control issues or becoming flighty on the fin. Fast on all points of sail, there is plenty of traction through the tail, with an emphasis on easy trim and control at all times.
Length: 239.8 cm
Width: 74.8 cm
1ft off: 51.2 cm
Bottom shape: Pronounced vee in the nose and mid-section, washed with subtle double concave, both fading out towards the rear, becoming subtle flat vee in the tail.
Weight (‘Naked’): 7.40kg
Fins: MFC H1 42 cm (Deep Tuttle)
Sail Range (Quoted): 6.0-9.0m
Sizes Available: 97, 107, 117, 127, 137
THE LINE UP
STARBOARD FUTURA FLAX BALSA 117
Return to test overview page..
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Looking back to the 2013 Red Bull Storm Chase held in Brandon Bay Ireland! Probably the windiest storm of them all!
via Red Bull
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It is another PWA throwback week, this time looking back to 2005 which includes Matt Pritchard winning in Guincho, Hawaii waves, super X in Costa Brava, Sylt and lots of cool black and white interviews!
Via PWA
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The amateur section is a lot broader, as the entrants can send clip, pictures, I will include art / music / action water sports showcasing beach culture. I will post these on Facebook on Brian Talma.
The judging format will be combination of likes, activity, created on social media, voting and a judging panel. As with COVID-19 virus things are changing constantly. As I started this project when the world was going into full lock down, now we can slowly get back into the water. And different places have different situations. I think in the new world, event/organization have to be able to change quickly depending on the situation.
As I’ve always said, to be part of the BCWT Championship on the pro side, you have to be an up and coming pro, a past or present world champion of your water sport or a legend.
I saw all the sporting events in the world cancelling. Although things were extremely bad financially and I was very concerned for the health of my family and everybody, I realized it was an opportunity to create a format to help save and continue events. Then in late March I started promoting the BCWT Virtual Game with the goal of maintaining the present of the BCWT / action water sport, athletes, destinations and create a medium for potential sponsors to sponsor events. I also believe in creating a barter system and cryptocurrency within the windsurfing world.
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