Basher forum posts in last 60 days

Having seen the Severne Stone design in Cape Town earlier this year, I decided I wanted one.
It’s clearly a lovely board on a decent wave face, but it’s notably narrower and slightly longer than board designs from recent years - perhaps going back towards the optimal conventional shape.


My decision to buy one was then complicated here in the UK by my choice of board ‘size’ - because you may need a bigger volume one that you think - and also by the availability of sizes here, and the ££££cost. I was surprised to see Dieter Van Der Eyken on the 88 L Stone design in Cape Town, thinking he might normally be on the next size down. It’s a float thing, and a board width decision.

I’m still wavering between the Stone 84 and the 88 litre version myself, but the decision is now made harder, because Severne are revamping the Pyro for 2027, with these new shapes arriving in September. The new Pyro retains its speed and early planing prowess, but the claim is that a subtle change in shape and rockerline means it now turns better in the pocket of a decent wave.
I’m a Pyro fan, and currently have two of them .

Here in the UK, the Pyro has always been the perfect south coast board - where we get onshore winds and bump and jump conditions - but maybe this new version is better than the Stone design, for riding in our typical small wave conditions.

I’m late to the discussion here, but let’s start with the basics: The change to longer lines came when windsurfers started using a more upright stance - enabled with the mast foot set in the middle or the rear half of the mast track.
If you still use an old board or have an old school stance, then you won’t understand using longer lines.


With wave gear, the upright stance comes from the front footstraps being closer to the mast foot. At that point, the harness lines you can use become a function of your height and natural arm length.
As a short-arse, I’m on 32 inch lines. I tried going even longer to 34 inch but that was a step too far, and gave me back ache and tennis elbow.
but if you are six foot or thereabouts, then 34 inch should work fo you as an average.


Some coaches recommend adjustable lines to get around these decisions, but they only work for sailors using bigger rigs - where the rise and fall of the boom on a cambered 6m + sail is naturally greater. With most wave sails, up to 5.6m, fixed lines are the way to go.

The twin fin size you need relates to your weight, and not just the board. So, heavier guys may like bigger fin’s in a twin, depending on how backfooted you sail. ‘Bigger’ can mean longer, or just more area to push against.
I still have Nuevo twin fin boards and have the original Starboard- supplied Drake G10 fins , which were/are wide at the base, and so have a lot of fin area. I tend to use 14.5 cms fins for those shapes, but heavier guys might go to the Drake equivalent in 15.5cms. They are stiff fins, by modern standards.


But if you go for aftermarket twin fins, like from K4, then I use 17cms rockets, which are much narrower in profile, and they flex a lot more. The Rockets are fast, and best for jumping.
I also use more swept back K4s for wave riding, Scorchers, and mine (I’m 75 kgs) are just 16cms long. These flex even more, because of the swept back profile.
The Severne fins also work well, set in my 87 litre Pyro, when I use that as a twin.