The 95L wave board has come a long way in the last 5 years. There is currently more variety of shape and style, fin count and thickness than there has ever been.
This test was originally published in the November/December 2014 issue.
As with the 4.7 sails tested last month, where there were “no lemons”, it really is the case with these boards too. Despite the variety, making a decision what to try and what to buy is not as complicated as you might think. All of the boards featured in this category are from just one of each manufacturers range, as most have “side shore” or “real world” billings to separate them. That’s enough to narrow down any initial search; but I’ll come back to that a bit later. Our reliable venue of El Medano in Tenerife, like most of the Canary Islands, didn’t have its usual relentlessly windy summer. We did however get on the water on 10 days out of 14 and mostly with 5.3 and 95L combinations; very ‘Real World’ conditions and enough to provide a very clear picture of what worked best and excited the riders the most.
The Line Up The group included some thrusters (Fanatic, Quatro), some quads (Goya, RRD and Starboard) and some five box offerings (Tabou, Simmer and JP). Of these, the Tabou was the only board to come complete with 5 fins to get you going in both thruster and quad set-ups. The Simmer comes as a quad so you merely need to add a center fin, and the JP as a thruster requiring a rear quad pair. If adaptability and experimentation is your thing you will find plenty to keep you busy with these. But if its plug’n’play and instant gratification as top of your list then the dedicated quads (Goya, Starboard) and thrusters (Quatro and Fanatic) have the least adjustment of all. Breaking these boards out onto the ocean for the first time the test team makes a conscious effort to not think about any of the boards configurations at all. The questions we ask are: Does it require a lot of rider effort? How comfortable over chop is it? Any idiosyncrasies? Does it feel big or small? As previously mentioned, you cannot judge a sail by batten count alone and you cannot judge a board by fin count or volume either. Calling them a “big” wave board is wrong also as there are dozens of larger specialist boards available up to 120L that can be just the thing if you top 100kg. So the role of the 95 has changed to become more of an average size sailors go to board for conditions from float and ride through to gusty, squally strong winds and water conditions from little ankle snappers to double mast monsters. They find themselves really carrying a wider range of sail sizes than most other boards. Fifteen years ago the choice in boards like this was miniscule. Now we have the ultimate Christmas selection box to choose from, and you can be safe in the knowledge that all of the boards in this set are capable enough to deal with more challenges than most of us are ever likely to give them.
Conclusions Are they any fun? Oh Yes with a capital Y, every board here has slightly different attributes and is the result of differing approaches to similar design briefs but we will detail the broad results we found below. The earliest planing in order were the Tabou Pocket 94L, Fanatic Tri Wave 95L and JP Thruster Quad 93L. Most comfortable for heavier riders – JP, Fanatic, Tabou. Most comfortable ride – Simmer Style, JP, Tabou. Smallest feeling boards, Starboard Quad, Goya Custom Quad, Quatro Sphere (slightly longer but narrower so feels like a smaller board).
Of course there are lots more to each of these boards as you will discover over the coming pages. Returning to the labels, side shore and onshore, we can only comment on the side-onshore performance because that’s what we had. The Boards getting the most out of a little were the Tabou, Simmer, JP and Fanatic. The RRD Cult Quad also proved itself as a capable all-rounder too. Boards that just needed a bit more power from the rig or the conditions were the Quatro, Starboard, and Goya. This was interesting as we know the Goya Quad well and it can be one of the most invisible feeling boards to ride. A clear favorite from last year’s test and our benchmark standard bearer here. This showed how lighter the conditions were for this year’s test as just 3 or 4 knots more and every board here would be right in their power band. This group really does prove that the best time ever to be a windsurfer is now. Make the most of it, go out and demo some at the very least. This size has become so versatile that it could easily be your most used board. Enjoy. JDV
OVERVIEW Goya’s flagship Banzai has an enviable trophy cabinet being a PWA World Wave Champion and Aloha Classic winning sail and has been gently evolving since its introduction to the lineup in 2012. The latest incarnation has some modifications (slightly tighter boom lengths from 4.2 to 5.7 and some seam changes) and the addition of 6.0 and 6.3 sizes. Last year’s Banzai was a real favorite for its direct yet refined power delivery and fingertip control, so we were expecting great things from this new beauty and it did not disappoint. One of the major areas of improvement targeted was the increased upper end performance which we certainly noticed but due to the marginal conditions experienced on test were not able to explore fully.
BRAND CLAIM The new Banzai is a world-wide performance wave sail. This new generation is lighter, more flexible and has a draft forward feeling in the hands, along with better high wind control in all sizes.
PERFORMANCE For on-shore “puffy “ conditions the set is moderately full which provides plenty of power to drive you up to speed swiftly but without any unsettling brutality if you need to make a few pumps to help. Its profile stays well balanced and manageable with a mid-height and moderately forward pull which won’t sap your energy. Goya recommend a flatter setting utilizing the lower clew cringle for the side shore use and top end control. Once you have tuned your outhaul setting to find the sweet spot, the smooth ride and rotation is set regardless of the water conditions. That calm, balanced ride in the acceleration phase continues on the wave and depowering is instinctive and easy to achieve. The Banzai’s calmness is a well noted feature and it certainly ranked as one of the most stable on test with the ability to actually forget about it almost completely. These are handling characteristics shared with the Goya Custom Quads, initially you don’t find anything striking or particularly stand out, then an hour later you realise you have completely forgotten about your board and rig and have just been absorbed by your windsurfing experience not your kit. While some of our heavyweight testers found the Banzai more challenging to use the overall feel was one of control and a high degree of manoeuvrability. Construction standard is extremely high and combined with its almost stealth like ability to make you forget about the sail in use means the Banzai retains its position from last year as one of our favourites on test.
THE VERDICT Well refined, stunning detail, materials and look for this premium go anywhere and do anything sail. Tuning required for the 100kg + or heavy handed riders but for the rest of us, it’s performance plug and play. Great connection to the board and superb when matched with multi- fin shapes. All-round ability still keeps it an easy choice.
THE LOW-DOWN As part of a 7 board range the 94 comes with a MFC 4 fin set up that will suit almost all conditions perfectly. The thrusters are mounted in mini tuttle boxes and short US boxes allow little movement of the centre pair.
BRAND CLAIM It’s a very compact board with a fast progressive rocker that keeps you driving forward at all times. Since it’s so compact we suggest you pick one size bigger than your normal choice as the new Custom feels very small, and a higher volume will allow you to go with a smaller sail, making it that much more enjoyable. “I feel so much more connected to the whole board, it’s fast and intuitive to the point that I wonder if I even need footstraps. I have never experienced the similarities to surfing as I have with these shapes.” Francisco Goya
PERFORMANCE Plug and play is the nature of the Custom. Straps set at full spread works for most heights, mast track in the middle and go. With this set up and a 5.3 rig connected we were off. The Goya has a very friendly demeanor that flatters our sometimes clumsy footwork. The small nose does mean you can easily stay in the straps whilst not planing but as with the Fanatic, this is a board that will dive if you get too far forward. The more power you put into it, the more it responds. In the very marginal conditions on test the board did not feel as lively as others but this is more a reflection of the composed nature and balanced ride. Truth is that this is such a low energy board to ride that in slack conditions a bigger rig or possibly an experiment with a twin fin set up (as used by Marcilio Browne in Klitmoller) will give the freer lively feel synonymous with stronger conditions. In the super marginal conditions on test it was out planed by a number of boards but once powered its fast and easy to get where you want and just feels like a small board that will do as it is asked and not end up taking you for a ride. Last year we commented on the speed and turning ability in onshore conditions particularly given it’s down the line prowess. It is pretty fast and effortless to sail upwind and in and around the break. The Custom has more challengers this year but it remains just about the most all-round and straightforward natured board that allows you to focus entirely on where you are and where you want to go. It takes some beating for ease of use and all round ability.
THE VERDICT Last year’s test and PWA wave winner continues to define the parameters of a modern wave board. The forgettable nature of the board provides the most invisible feeling that you “wear” rather than ride. It really is a board for anyone and anywhere. This 94 is a genuine one board quiver that would work brilliantly in all but hurricane conditions. Well recommended!
THE LOW-DOWN The Custom 84 comes with a MFC 4 fin set up that will suit almost all conditions perfectly. The thrusters are mounted in mini tuttle boxes and centre fins in short US boxes.
BRAND CLAIM THE DEFINITION OF A MODERN WAVE BOARD Everything starts in the beginning. The front. The nose. On the Custom it’s narrow, just as on surfboards, allowing you to get closer into the wave and its curves. It’s a very compact board with a fast progressive rocker that keeps you driving forward at all times. Since it’s so compact we suggest you pick one size bigger than your normal choice as the new Custom feels very small, and a higher volume will allow you to go with a smaller sail, making it that much more enjoyable.
PERFORMANCE The all-conquering Goya Custom was a worthy test winner in this category last year and its crown hasn’t slipped yet. It is quite remarkable how similar the 84 and 94L models feel and we reckon that if it were possible to conduct a completely blind test in 25knts we would struggle to tell the difference bar the float. As an all-round package the Custom was the first board we had ridden to give such an invisible feel, and it does still top the group in that respect. We also still like the minimal adjustment options for the fins and straps. If you don’t want the hassle of experimentation and tuning this is definitely one for you. Goya have done the work already and nailed their colours to the mast so you don’t have to. It also doesn’t require a specific body shape and size, diminutive or the size of Lampie (rather tall Dutch gent) the Custom won’t cramp your style.
The Custom’s turn of speed and variable carving ability continue to bring a smile, along with jumping prowess that is confidence inspiring and definitely aided by the compact dimensions. The Custom was one of the shortest and smallest overall size boards on test.
The competition would appear to have learned a few lessons from the Custom, and thus it has some close performing rivals here, but for straight-forward simplicity of use, the Goya Custom is hard to beat. Get on it go out and make a splash, you deserve it!
THE VERDICT The Goya Custom took top honors in both tests last year and it’s still the complete package now. Some boards may do some things a little differently but the Custom is the sum of all its performance characteristics and as such, still at the top of its game.
The 85L waveboard has become the staple of many wavesailors due to its large sail carrying capacity; being comfortable with 5.7 to 3.7 in the modern shorter, wider, multi fin form. It’s a board size that is commonly used both at Ho’okipa and in competition on the PWA circuit where riders utilise the extra volume for float in lulls and ensure they are not under gunned in heats if the wind dies. As a result, 85L shapes are some of the most heavily researched and developed in a brand’s range which has great benefits for us as the end consumer.
This test was originally published in the January/February 2015 issue.
FINDINGS What is becoming increasingly apparent, especially in this category, is the massive influence of width and rockerline for planing ease and stability, volume alone just doesn’t tell you enough though is still an important indicator. This is borne out by the two earliest planers in this group being the biggest (RRD Hardcore Wave V5 @ 88L) and the smallest (Fanatic Triwave @ 81L) with nothing to choose between them. The RRD is thicker with a more beveled deck shape and even volume distribution whereas the Fanatic is thin top to bottom but still with an even flow throughout. Both boards are exactly the same length, 228cm, with the RRD just 0.5cm wider at its maximum. Conversely the two boards requiring the most power or technique to get going just happened to be the narrowest, most highly rockered, groundswell hungry boards here; the JP Radical Quad and Quatro Sphere but these still out plane most older boards and once powered offer a more front foot driven surfing sensation. Of course this is only a basic comparison and the real detail only comes from analysis of our in water testing reports
Realistically most of us with an 85L do have a bigger board to turn to if it’s just not blowing properly, which means that not having enough power to drive the little shredders is actually rarely a problem. According to the sales figures most people are choosing either 105/95l freestyle wave boards or bigger wave boards, 95L+ for float and ride conditions depending where they sail most. Though as you will discover from the individual board reports, quite a few boards of this size wouldn’t leave you sat on the beach procrastinating whilst your mates blast around on their 95L or more boards.
These 85L beauties had the same set of conditions for evaluation as their larger 95L siblings which were not “epic” but representative of ‘real world’ conditions. Despite this when it did blow consistently, the 85’s came out. Mostly used with the 5.3m rigs we still had an immense amount of fun on them and 85L waveboards still remain the go to board size for most wave sailors, professionally or recreationally and with good reason.
SUMMARY All of these modern 85’s are capable of fulfilling the one board quiver for the 75-90 kg pilot, with fin tuning options a plenty to provide extra light wind drive or top end control. Our main test team consisted of 80, 85 and 95kg pilots supplemented with some lighter riders input for balance.
Within our main test team group, our favorites vying for top honors in the marginal conditions were the Fanatic TriWave 81 and RRD Hardcore wave 88 for their ability to get going, keep going and still turn easy and keep speed. For its all-round plug and play ability the Goya Custom 84 will satisfy you without the need for tinkering. If you get to sail in groundswell conditions then the JP radical wave 83 is the fastest turning board we have set foot on and definitely sets pulses racing. Whether it is a one board do it all or quiver addition you are after, read on for our thoughts on what made each board tick and what may be the right shredder for you.
Tucked away down a narrow country lane between Rock and Padstow, Daymer Bay is without doubt one of the most gorgeous stretches of coastline in Cornwall. It is a fantastic all round location, offering anything from flat water blasting, to jump and jump, right through to hard core waves. With Stepper Point to one side and Trebetherick point on the other guarding the Camel Estuary , you would assume that this sheltered area of outstanding natural beauty is a safe haven from the big winter storms, but catch it on the right day and Daymer can be a devil in disguise and serve up some extremely brutal conditions.
Catching Daymer firing, is all about knowing how this place works, with tides, wind and swell directions absolutely critical. The Motley Crew are not normally ones to shy away from the brunt of any big storm but once in a while, when every other beach is off the hook, the natural amphitheatre of wind and waves at Daymer becomes an serious option.
Words & Photos JOHN CARTER
(This feature originally appeared in the March 2015 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)
Storm Chasing
MISSION ONE
Rewind way back to early January when the weather was at its wildest with the latest in a rapid series of sub 950 low pressures unleashing its fury on the UK. Myself, Timo Mullen, Ross Williams, Chris Murray and Andy King had all pretty much overdosed on Christmas and were gagging to get out there and challenge the elements. With wild winds and massive swell set to pound the Cornish coast, we decided it was time to hit Daymer Bay, hoping for a nice wrapping swell with groomed lines held up by the storm force winds. ‘Hoping’ was the key word here; when the weather is off the scale like this with unprecedented conditions, the illusion that you can just waltz around to the nearest sheltered headland and score wave sailing utopia is exactly that. After driving four hours down to the West Country our convoy of wagons finally rolled into the car park at Daymer with high expectations but on arrival high tide with a massive surge made it unsailable for the time being. A quick walk around the headland in the blustery 40 knot plus winds to check the waves rolling into Polzeath was enough to keep us hanging on. Huge sets were smashing into the headland, feathered by the cross off winds. Strangely enough, it was almost flat on the inside at Daymer, so we waited for the tide to race out and that it did. With such a huge surge racing into the Estuary all that water at some point had to go back out on the ebbing tide and sure enough within an hour or so as the water dropped out, the swells started to jack up right across the bay. Huge sets were breaking across the notorious Doom Bar while the inside beach break was forming up nicely. But the massive surge heading out combined with all the chop, swell and churned up water was making for a horrific sea state which was far from the image we had been hoping for.
Committed to Daymer the crew bravely rigged and headed out into the warzone in the extreme conditions. Survival it was, fair play to all the crew who battled the wild chop, gusty wind, driving rain and extremely dangerous outgoing tide. The ridiculous rip and huge close out sets marching through the mouth of the bay made it pretty much impossible to sail on the Doom Bar, with the sea state out of control and far too dangerous to risk any sort of crash or broken kit in the thick of the waves. After two hours of hard-core sailing in the icy winds the crew were ‘over it’ and rather than the usual state of euphoria after a decent session, everyone who had been on the water were dejected by the horrific conditions. Nobody was even up for a pint of Doom Bar (My favourite brew) so without further ado the mission was aborted and we headed home with the feeling that maybe we had been in the wrong place for this huge storm.
“ When every other beach is off the hook, the natural amphitheatre of wind and waves at Daymer becomes a serious option ’’ JC
MISSION TWO After hitting Daymer at high tide, which was definitely the wrong call, I was determined to head back to score this place without such chaos on the water. The lesson had been learned, outgoing tide on an 8m swell with force eight plus southwest winds was a no go! With the wild winter continuing to deliver these absurd storms, it did not take long until the next opportunity came my way, February the 1stto be precise. Another sub 950 low, over 8m swell predicted and storm force winds but crucially this time it would be low tide coming in. The return to Daymer did not quite have the same level of takers as the first mission for some strange reason. Maybe the others had already learned their lesson. Despite being one of the most user friendly beaches in Cornwall in normal conditions, perhaps when its off the Richter scale this place gets too hot to handle. This time round Muzza and Adam Lewis were the only crew available with the desire to chase down another storm surge at Daymer.
So another freezing winters day beckoned. I had to take the train down the night before and stay in Adam Lewis’s family home in Taunton. We were right in the middle of that whole nasty spell of floods and storm damage and one of my main hopes was simply not to get stuck in all the travel chaos. En route stories of disruption were all the news on the radio but somehow we made it through the winding lanes to Daymer without any major hitches. On arrival, we turned up pretty much bang on low tide with a strong cross off shore wind blowing across the channel. It kind of looked like game on but Adam reckoned we should hang on a bit for the tide to push over the sweet spot where it would hit the Doom Bar.
Another gloomy day ensued with bracing winds, hail showers and the Atlantic raging with all its power. With the incoming tide the option to sail the Doom Bar was viable although out off Stepper Point huge waves were crashing onto the rock sending up massive explosions of white water. Solid logo to mast high sets were running down the headland with side off winds tempting both Adam and Chris to venture across the bay. As the tide raced in, this ‘sweet spot’ lasted about an hour before, the whole set up changed as the bay filled with water and the inside beach break started to turn on. Sailing these gnarly conditions in the midst of winter you should play it safe although Adam seemed to be ignoring the dangers of these perilous seas and racing out towards the steepest ramps in the thick of the impact zone and launching into some massive back loops. When Adam was learning to wave sail, Daymer Bay and Polzeath were his two favourite breaks and at least I had the peace of mind that he knows these waters and how hard to push it. Not to be outdone, Muzza was taking no prisoners on the Bar and hitting some chunky sections and launching into some huge floaty aerials.
Towards the end of the session the sky became engulfed by a huge thick blanket of grey cloud combined with 40 knots gusts and driving rain. By this time, even I was over it; the Doom Bar was calling, and not the one out in the middle of the Estuary! OK, Adam and Chris both survived the challenge of raging seas but that was nothing compared to my battle with National Rail to make it back to Portsmouth before the last boat. After being rerouted to some weird and wonderful stations dotted around the West Country I finally made it back home before midnight bedraggled and beaten by the UK railway system. Such was my horrific treatment by some of the station guards I even penned a letter of complaint and posted it off the very next morning, grrrr!
ANDY KING’S INSIDE INFO
Daymer has always been what I class as a fun spot. Only very occasionally full on classic as in down the line perfection but regularly delivering solid wave sailing conditions with great jumping and riding but be warned these conditions can change dramatically with the tide. Best conditions are in a NW wind with mid to high tide and moderate to big westerly swell. You then get cross shore wave sailing on both sides of the estuary. Smaller Starboard tack jumping on the car park side and bigger port tack riding across on the far side. West wind can also be good and although the car park side is far more onshore the far side is much cleaner for riding if a little gusty for jumping. With wind from the north and big swell it is the car park side that turns on but avoid high tide as there is a large wind shadow. The car park side can also be very good in a south westerly and moderate swell for cross on jumping with an incoming mid tide. Plus points – offers great variety of conditions and great place for beginners and intermediates to get out into the waves, offers great jumping for even the advanced wave sailor. Negatives – tide greatly effects conditions with spring tide to be avoided and best practise to catch tide against wind if possible. Car park charges, attendant will fleece an additional charge of 1.50 for each sailor / kiter on top of the standard parking charge….be warned!
“ Daymer Bay is without doubt one of the most gorgeous stretches of coastline in Cornwall ’’JC
ADAM LEWIS When I saw the forecast I was really excited, I hadn’t had a chance to get a good session at Daymer for years. It’s a place that is kind of special to me, back in the Team Airborn days George’s family had an unreal cottage overlooking the bay and we used to sail there a lot. We even used to get abandoned there on windy weekends, sail all day and then walk to Padstow for fish and chips. Over the years we’ve had some awesome sessions. I just guess I have a lot of fond memories of the place and it’s not often it disappoints. I tend to look for a W/SW wind with a slightly larger swell. Actually it works a lot and its usually a bit windier than anywhere else. The only thing you need to be careful of is the tide, if its on the way out there is a lot of water moving out to sea and if there is a big swell it can be really, really choppy almost un-sailable.
The day we sailed it I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d scored a session in Polzeath the day before but the wind was pretty sketchy and the waves were a bit funky, then as Muzza arrived the wind dropped and the waves went. All that was left was a pretty strong tide surge up the beach; actually I only got off the beach in my car just in time! Then the next day, it didn’t look so windy when we woke up. I was pretty worried but after picking up JC it seemed to pick up on the way. As we arrived we ran round the head land to check it out. My heart soared; it looked mental, mega waves out back and a sailable section at Doom Bar on the inside. We rigged as quick as possible and got out, I only had a 4.2 as my smallest so it made the decision pretty easy. I don’t think I had factored how windy it was until Muzza and I ran to the water. A squall came though and we could hardly walk with the gear.
At that minute I think we both realised what we were in for! With the low tide we sailed on the other side of the bay, it was mental out back, big lumps of ocean breaking and really gusty but if you timed it right you could get a solid wave, I saw Muzza get a pretty good smack! There were some sick ramps too and if you got a gust you could score some epic jumping, I was pretty worried though as you could easily land into a massive wall of whitewash, there was a lot of water moving around and you really didn’t want to be separated from your gear. When its like that its cool to have your buddy around just to keep an eye on each other, we were definitely a team out there that morning. As the tide came in we left Doom Bar and started to sail the beach break by the car park, it was pretty good fun, a bit of a relief after the first session. It was still super windy still but there was some more playful waves. All in all it was a pretty awesome day, a pretty mental first session and then heaps of fun in the afternoon. I was pretty sore in the evening!
PARKING
There is a decent sized car park with toilets and a shop.
GETTIING THERE
Take the A39 to Wadebridge or the A389 from Bodmin. Both these roads meet at a roundabout just NE of Wadebridge. From here you take the small road towards the town centre and after 100 metres you turn right onto the B3314 towards Rock. After a couple of miles there is a small crossroads where you turn left towards Pityme and Rock. At the T junction in Pityme turn left towards Rock and after 50 metres turn left towards Polzeath. About 1.5 miles later you will arrive in Trebetherick, head uphill and at the top take a sharp left down a narrow lane straight down into Daymer Bay. It is a bit of a fiddly place to find but this jewel of British windsurfing is well worth the effort.
WIND DIRECTIONS North Perfect for blasting and waves on the Doom Bar. NW Side shore starboard tack, it can be very dangerous on the outgoing tide. W Cross on from the right. SW Cross shore from the left, cross off on the far side of the bay. S Not the best due to wind shadow from Brea Hill. SE/ E/ NE Gusty winds, not recommended, better for surfing!
EDITORS NOTE
Daymer is in an estuary so watch out for outgoing tides which are best avoided if possible. I witnessed an experienced sailor get airlifted out of the Doom Bar after getting caught out on a outgoing tide and dropping wind. There is a decent sized car park with toilets and a shop.
DOOM BAR
The Doom Bar is the sandbar at the mouth of the estuary of the River Camel, composed mainly of marine sand that is continually being carried up from the seabed. According to tradition, the Doom Bar formed in the reign of Henry VIII, damaging the prosperity of the port of Padstow a mile up the estuary. A Cornish folklore legend however relates that a mermaid created the bar as a dying curse on the harbour after she was shot by a local man. Many ships have been wrecked on the Doom Bar and in 1848 Padstow Harbour Association cut down a small piece of Stepper Point to give ships extra “fair wind” into the harbour. Modern dredging techniques have widened the channel to reduce the hazard to Navigation but accidents have still occurred as recently as 1997. Nowadays its name is most famous as the flagship ale from Sharp’s Brewery just outside Rock. From surf dudes and city slickers to royalty and semi alcoholic windsurfing photographers, this mild 4% bitter has become the bestselling cask ale in the UK.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
The hidden gems on the Cornish Coast and a wonderful place to take the family in the summer. Maybe not quite so nice in a force 9 SW gale in the middle of January! The walk round to Polzeath is stunning and the beach at Daymer has beautiful white sand that stretches for miles. In the summer the traffic can be pretty hectic in and out of the narrow lane and without many passing points can be a bit of a nightmare. Polzeath nearby is a popular surf beach with one of the biggest surf shops in the UK and a well known hangout for holidaying celebrities – David Cameron normally hits the waves there every summer !
OVERVIEW The 5.7 is the third largest in the Eclipse line-up – the powerhouse of the Goya sail range. Rigged on a 430cm RDM, it is easy to rig correctly thanks to the tuning indicator in the top panel. Now, we know that these have been around for eons but we thought it worthy to mention that the sphere on this Eclipse is visually very clear and easy to determine … on the colour of our test sail at least! Other details on the sail are noticeable, such as the extended wear patch on the head and padded tack fairing, adding to the quality feel of the product.
BRAND CLAIM “The new Eclipse has great low end power, sports easy handling and massive high wind range plus an unlimited speed potential. Five battens make the Eclipse a very stable sail with super easy handling when very powered up. All wave and wave style sailing conditions are possible with the Eclipse, from down the line and onshore to freestyle-wave sailing. The Eclipse gives stability and range, along with durable construction details. Well suited to both multi and single fin boards.”
PERFORMANCE The Eclipse sets with plenty of defined profile positioned forward in the draft and a progressive amount of twist in the leech. It has an excellent natural range on this set, although by experimenting in marginal winds we did think there was a slight improvement to the elasticity for pumping by releasing the downhaul tension slightly. That said, bottom end power is still impressive leaving the set as recommended, the power delivery coming from quite high and channelling well into the board. It is a very solid foil, helped by the x-ply luff panel that doesn’t stretch or breathe itself at all. Instead, it helps to lock in this super dependable wing-like structure that generates direct-feeling power with a tempered ease of the play in the luff sleeve. It all makes for a very impressive performance – absolute, dependable power across a fantastic wind range, with solid balanced handling throughout. In fact, because the foil structure is so assured, the style of the power delivery can be refined using the double clew-eyelets better than we’ve felt in many sails past. Use the bottom eyelet for a more locked in stance to reach new speeds, or the top eyelet for a more upright manoeuvre-oriented sensation. It won’t go neutral like other specialist manoeuvre-sails, but it has real power on tap to drive through and make the stunt more expressive.
THE VERDICT A super stable, direct-feeling sail whose power can be refined and tempered incredibly precisely for each individual. Equally happy blasting in a straight-line or mixing it up in a cross-on break, the Eclipse has reached new heights for 2015.
THE LOW-DOWN True to its namesake, this freewave range is available in only ‘one’ technology, classed as ‘carbon’ by Goya. The same design as in 2014, its bright livery remains eye catching indeed, yet for 2015 it comes supplied in a thruster set-up, with a 2cm smaller centre fin and 9cm mini-tuttle side fins. The one board to do all, Jack of all trades… will it be the master of some?
BRAND CLAIM The One Thruster is an all-around board, but it couldn’t be further from lacking unique character since it’s loaded to the nines with dynamic shaping freebies. The One has increased range of not only conditions but also styles, especially when switching between Thruster fin set ups. These boards will feel at home anywhere as long as it’s water you put them into. “Imagine turning and sliding with all new angles and speed. This is the magic of the One. These shapes turn average onshore conditions into paradises.” Francisco Goya.
PERFORMANCE The widest yet shortest in the test group, the One can carry rigs well and is one of the earliest here to release from the water. It accelerates smoothly and has a low-planing threshold, retaining a long wetted area, which in turn imparts a fantastic amount of control. This control translates to a real ease of use and practicality, and helps the board to handle severe sea states despite its wide outline. An experienced sailor often equates a “secure, easy ride” to mean a dull ‘passenger- like’ sensation … and in many instances this is true. However, it is certainly not with the One 95, which exhibits more than enough ability to retain the interest of (and even endear it to) the most demanding of pilots. Instead, the control gives you the confidence to push, and when you do so you’re rewarded with a positive and engaging response. Load the rails and the One bites and holds its edge well. It is not nervous or sharp, but rather keeps its smooth, gliding character. In the air it felt light and compact underfoot, possessing the virtues of a smaller board when the conditions got challenging and the chips were down. It is a very dependable and capable board in any sea state or discipline, making it one of the most versatile platforms on the market today.
THE VERDICT With a distinct combination of ease and ability, this is one of the most complete all-round boards we’ve used in a long time and as such is a firm favourite amongst the team. With a fantastic useable range in both wind strength and application, it comes well recommended.
Ross Willams is no stranger to podiums but even by his high standards – lying second in the PWA slalom rankings is quite an achievement – f
resh back in the UK after scoring 2ND place in Costa Brava, Windsurf managed to catch up with Ross Williams for the low down on his incredible start to the PWA race season:
WS: You had a podium moment – explain !!
“On the stage at the prize giving, I drunk this traditional Spanish wine, ‘down in one’, I just had to! I noticed none of the winners over the past few years had finished the wine and last time I was on the podium I did it. So I said to myself, ‘I am going to do this’ it was a sweet wine, not very nice but I had to show the boys how it is done! I was in the moment, Williams can do it! I was stoked!
WS: Did you expect to do so well ?
”I knew I was in the running, I had arrived early and lined up with quite a few guys. My feeling was good. In Korea I had raced on 7.9 in a few heats, my 8.6 was good and my 9.5 was also fast. I knew I was top five for speed. I always have a solid technique to plane in lighter winds and some of the wind we raced in was straight seven knots. If you get covered by a sail it feels more like 4 knots! It is quite tactical but all part of the game. It is good to have racing in light winds as well as the stronger stuff. It gives other racers a chance to shine through. It was harsh conditions but it was contestable.
One aspect is to be fast, but it is just as important to have power. I went for the power and sacrificed some of my top end speed. Some guys just think they have to go as fast as they can but they get to the mark and they have no power. I went with a rig I knew would plane when I started pumping. In the first final I went for it on the start. I knew if I could make the first mark in the lead I would probably win the race. I blew it and went over early but I was in the final so that was the important thing. My two main strategies were to race consistent and race with powerful equipment and they paid off.
I was super stoked to take second. Over the course of Korea and Costa Brava I felt I deserved to have a podium, after making all the finals. I was the only one who has done that, not even Albeau can match me there! I am happy with this start to the season; it is my most consistent start for a while. I feel a bit like Albeau must do, I know I am fast so I don’t have to push it on the line and I can start out of the way of trouble and make it up round the rest of the course. Fuerteventura will be stronger winds but I have been top five over there, I am one of the quickest I am sure. I think Albeau is beatable this year, he makes mistakes, it happens. I think the Pryde guys will be fast in the stronger winds for sure. Pierre Mortefon is also fast, he is a danger, the next two events will be more drag racing we will see.
My goal is to be on the podium for the year in slalom. I would like to come back and do a solid year of waves as well as the racing. I would like to go for all three again, Formula, slalom and wave! I just want to do waves, I miss it and it is fun. I am more on a mission this year. I am in the game, I am second overall in the rankings and although it is still quite a long year and lots will happen, at least I am in the running. The past few seasons I have started badly and I was chasing, now I am the one in the driving seat and I can train harder with more motivation to stay there. A few people have made mistakes, but there are still a lot of dangerous sailors to contend with. If you can make top five at every event this year then you can be on the podium at the end of the season. It is a great start at least and I have a building block to work on, maybe this year will be my year!”
Summer brings us plentiful sea breezes, warm water and, hopefully, sunny weather – perfect for a blast or cruise on a fine and bright day.
With the winter wave boards tucked away, for now, in the garage, it’s time to make the most of moderate thermal wind and enjoy some gybing, blasting and the occasional carving move perhaps?
We took five of the current crop of 135L freeride offerings for a spin to see which might be best for the job.
This test was originally published in the July issue.
WHO ARE THEY FOR? Perhaps you’re new to shortboarding? Working on getting in the straps and harness and attempting those first few gybes? Or maybe you’re a seasoned sailor looking for a lighter-wind fix? For sure, none of these boards will hold you back. But, are they the right pick? These ‘traditional’ freeride boards now have rivals from the up-and-coming wide-and-thin ‘freemove’ board movement. (See our test of 120L x 80-wide Freemoves in the April issue and on our website www.windsurf.co.uk)
PRINCIPAL TEST TEAM
James Randall 70 kg. Med. Height
Julian Da Vall 83 kg. 1.95 Tall. Experience national and European-level racer.
Tony Gibson 87kg 1.90 Tall
Brian McDowell 100 kg. 1.90 Tall. Thanks also to Kevin Salmon 85kg & Kevin Pijl 70kg.
VERSUS NEW SKOOL ‘WIDE-STYLE’ FREEMOVE BOARDS Freemoves offer many of the qualities of the traditional freeride hull and, in terms of rocker line, more or less, replace a Freestyle-Wave board of the same volume, but with added benefits of a larger board. (Float, early planing etc. – all with a smaller fin than a larger-volumed ‘traditional’ board of equivalent float/stability.) In discussion about freemoves, we’ve often spoken about ‘perceived volume’. That is, these shapes feel like a board 10-15L larger when off the plane – and 10-15L smaller when flying. They have plenty of stability and carve well so why would we want a traditional board? Well, as nice as the compact nature of the freemove is, entry-level riders in particular still need some degree of length to help them both on and off the plane. Plus the traditional boards are a lot less demanding of technique, namely ‘passive’ planing, whereas the freemoves often require a degree of ‘active’ technique to get them going. There are exceptions in both categories, but the length of the ‘normal’ freerider will still pay dividends when off the plane, tracking upwind, stability and early planing power. Luckily, in this selection we have some of both to achieve a good comparison, with the Fanatic Gecko – and to some extent the Starboard Carve – having the most modern freemove-style outlines in this bunch.
TRENDS – WHAT DID WE FIND? Some of these boards offer improvers a ‘Fixed radius’ gybing arc, taking natural and almost pre-set radius for added security. These fixed turning circles are also possible at pretty low speeds for added forgiveness to intermediate gybers. The Fanatic Gecko offers this more than anything else in this bunch. Some are more demanding – yet exciting – and cater to a wider range of abilities. One or two offer the best of both worlds.
THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND ABOUT THE TESTING • We’ve tested individual models, NOT ranges, so have an open mind if it’s other sizes of the products we review that you’re considering
• We mainly used these on 7.8 twin cams and 6.0 crossover sails
• All findings in these reports are relative to the selection we had on the beach at the time. So, for example, if a board isn’t listed as the best early planer or fastest, it doesn’t mean it’s a poorly performing board, just relative to the rest of the test selection in the conditions we had during the process
• A lot of these boards are in the most expensive constructions. Bear in mind the mid-range layups are only slightly heavier, arguably stronger – and most definitely better value for money. Also consider the ‘High resistance Skin’ (HRS) versions that are durable (but significantly heavier, although this isn’t a massive deal for improvers) and even better bang for your buck.
• We tried these shapes with fairly inboard straps as improvers might choose. For sure we could eek out more speed et cetera by fitting them further outboard but that would defeat the object.
WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY? Best Gybers: The RRD Firestorm, Starboard Carve, JP X-Cite Ride and the Fanatic Gecko. The RRD and Carve – and to some extent the JP – deliver a wider variety of arcs for more advanced gybers, while remaining soft and forgiving to improvers. The Gecko is best for first-time gybers but has a more set radius that might limit more advanced sailors.
Early Planing: The Starboard Carve by a country mile followed by the JPAustralia X-Cite Ride.
Fastest: Tough call. Comfort is everything, so probably the RRD, Starboard and JP followed closely by the Fanatic and Goya.
Which Ones Would We Buy? For us the benchmark is still the Carve, but the RRD is very close behind – and arguably best for more advanced sailors – with only the Starboard’s excellent early-planing ability making the difference. First-time gybers and improvers should give very careful consideration to – or go and demo – the Fanatic Gecko.
THE LOW-DOWN True to its namesake, this freewave range is available in only ‘one’ technology, classed as ‘carbon’ by Goya. The same design as in 2014, its bright livery remains eye catching indeed, yet for 2015 it comes supplied in a thruster set-up, with a 2cm smaller centre fin and 9cm mini-tuttle side fins. The one board to do all, Jack of all trades… will it be the master of some?
BRAND CLAIM The One Thruster is an all-around board, but it couldn’t be further from lacking unique character since it’s loaded to the nines with dynamic shaping freebies. The One has increased range of not only conditions but also styles, especially when switching between Thruster fin set ups. These boards will feel at home anywhere as long as it’s water you put them into. “Imagine turning and sliding with all new angles and speed. This is the magic of the One. These shapes turn average onshore conditions into paradises.” Francisco Goya.
PERFORMANCE The widest yet shortest in the test group, the One can carry rigs well and is one of the earliest here to release from the water. It accelerates smoothly and has a low-planing threshold, retaining a long wetted area, which in turn imparts a fantastic amount of control. This control translates to a real ease of use and practicality, and helps the board to handle severe sea states despite its wide outline. An experienced sailor often equates a “secure, easy ride” to mean a dull ‘passenger- like’ sensation … and in many instances this is true. However, it is certainly not with the One 95, which exhibits more than enough ability to retain the interest of (and even endear it to) the most demanding of pilots. Instead, the control gives you the confidence to push, and when you do so you’re rewarded with a positive and engaging response. Load the rails and the One bites and holds its edge well. It is not nervous or sharp, but rather keeps its smooth, gliding character. In the air it felt light and compact underfoot, possessing the virtues of a smaller board when the conditions got challenging and the chips were down. It is a very dependable and capable board in any sea state or discipline, making it one of the most versatile platforms on the market today.
THE VERDICT With a distinct combination of ease and ability, this is one of the most complete all-round boards we’ve used in a long time and as such is a firm favourite amongst the team. With a fantastic useable range in both wind strength and application, it comes well recommended.
A short film about the interaction between Goya Windsurfing and Quatro International on Maui and how they collaborate together with their riders to bring windsurfing to new levels.
Featuring Marcilio Browne, Levi Siver, Bernd Roediger, Keith Teboul, Jason Diffin and Francisco Goya.
Take Shelter Productions
Shot and Edited by Daniel Norkunas
Big changes this year with new sponsorship from Goya Windsurfing taking us to different places around the world.
Tenerife March…. Intro to Waves. We be running 5 courses over the year kicking of in March and one in the summer. A good place to start your wave sailing addiction with an amazing town and 3 different sailing spots. Le Medano has been up there for a long time as the place to windsurf with wind pretty much all year around!
Maui…. April 10th – 24th…. Its says everything in the name, wave sailing and jumping control
Sardinia….. May 15th -21st, 22nd – 28th …. With super cheap flights, flat water heaven and bump & jump. An amazing centre with lovely food. Two levels intermediate and Advanced
Lanzarote…..June 12th – 18th… Hanging out with Tonky Frans learning jumping control and a introduction to freestyle Advance
Tenerife….. July 10th – 17th… One week before the kids holidays so make sure you book soon as rooms and flights will go quickly and prices start to rise
Ireland…Sept 10th – 16th, 17th – 24th…. Demo gear from Goya and travelling the West coast of Ireland in search of the best waves for windsurfing and SUP. Based with Jamie Knox, we are excited about this trip as its such a lovely place and can offer some amazing waves. Intro to advanced waves
Croatia …..Oct 1st – 8th, 8th -15th….. Boat trip . We have manage to find a nice boat built for windsurf and surf trips along with a school to hire kit from. A good package for this amazing trip
Uk clinics… Oct 22 – 23, 29th – 30th… Will be on a forecast so please mail and we will let you know where we heading too closer to the time
Brazil Nov 26th – 4th Dec, 11th Dec 18th, Jan 7th – 15th ….. The windiest place at this time of the year and always windy always a happy vibe.
This year is booking up fast so please mail me for any more info
Your chance to try the latest kit on the market before you buy. Test the latest cutting edge boards and sails and be sure that you are choosing the best.
TEST AND EXPERIENCE – THE LATEST KIT INNOVATIONS FROM…
THE LOW-DOWN True to its namesake, this freewave range is available in only ‘one’ technology, classed as ‘carbon’ by Goya. The same design as in 2014, its bright livery remains eye catching indeed, yet for 2015 it comes supplied in a thruster set-up, with a 2cm smaller centre fin and 9cm mini-tuttle side fins. The one board to do all, Jack of all trades… will it be the master of some?
BRAND CLAIM The One Thruster is an all-around board, but it couldn’t be further from lacking unique character since it’s loaded to the nines with dynamic shaping freebies. The One has increased range of not only conditions but also styles, especially when switching between Thruster fin set ups. These boards will feel at home anywhere as long as it’s water you put them into. “Imagine turning and sliding with all new angles and speed. This is the magic of the One. These shapes turn average onshore conditions into paradises.” Francisco Goya.
PERFORMANCE The widest yet shortest in the test group, the One can carry rigs well and is one of the earliest here to release from the water. It accelerates smoothly and has a low-planing threshold, retaining a long wetted area, which in turn imparts a fantastic amount of control. This control translates to a real ease of use and practicality, and helps the board to handle severe sea states despite its wide outline. An experienced sailor often equates a “secure, easy ride” to mean a dull ‘passenger- like’ sensation … and in many instances this is true. However, it is certainly not with the One 95, which exhibits more than enough ability to retain the interest of (and even endear it to) the most demanding of pilots. Instead, the control gives you the confidence to push, and when you do so you’re rewarded with a positive and engaging response. Load the rails and the One bites and holds its edge well. It is not nervous or sharp, but rather keeps its smooth, gliding character. In the air it felt light and compact underfoot, possessing the virtues of a smaller board when the conditions got challenging and the chips were down. It is a very dependable and capable board in any sea state or discipline, making it one of the most versatile platforms on the market today.
THE VERDICT With a distinct combination of ease and ability, this is one of the most complete all-round boards we’ve used in a long time and as such is a firm favourite amongst the team. With a fantastic useable range in both wind strength and application, it comes well recommended.
