^ They look even better in person. Bill (like most shapers with 40+ years experience) has mad skills.

The race was a blast. Wind started out good (22mph or so), but let up significantly with 3 miles to go. There were glides, but you had to work very hard to sprint into them. It was tough at the end. Good fun though, neat to see all the people. Almost 200 racers.

Dave Kalama had a rudder failure. I heard he finished, but side-tracked the timer.

I saw him carrying his board to his truck, the rudder was a very unique shape to what I normally see on a downwind board. I've seen them advertised for windsurfers. Really long and straight, angled back slightly. Like a big square knife blade. Had to be 14 inches long.

John the first lot of Naish 14's should be here in a few weeks.. I'm not sure if they're sold yet or not.. I do know one has my name on it..

It will be interesting to see how it goes compared to the Starboard Point and C4 Vortice.

DJ

Can you tell me what part is challenging with that shape? I'm still trying to sort out what makes these boards hard or easy to ride.

I'm smart enough to know how little I know about downwind boards. In my opinion, the only ones that really can give good advice about shapes are shapers. I love to read the opinions of others and don't mean to discourage anyone from writing about them. It's just not for me.

So many variables. Small differences in rail design, outline, foil and rocker (hint, hint) can have massive effects on the board. So, I stay far away from giving impressions on the interwebs. How a board behaves for my weight, in my conditions given my limited skills may be completely different for you.

I posted the pics of the pointy tailed Footie just to show how different these boards can be.

Good on you for shaping your own boards.

You are a wise man LaPerouseBay!

If you have a chance it would be really interesting to see photos of your Foote board with a straight edge on it to get some idea of the rocker - or even just flat on the grass with the fin removed.

I have a lot of respect for Bill's shaping skills, loved his windsurf boards.

DavidJohn said...

mikeman said...

Some of these threads about the tail section is not right, in my experience. When you are chasing runs you are not too concerned with the swell behind you "pushing" you it is more the swell in front of you that is "sucking" you ie it is more "low pressure" than "high pressure" that you are looking for. Not sure if this makes sense to you if you do not spend a lot of time in the ocean. If you are up on the Goldie come for a spin sometime...

I have a DC16 (with rudder) and these are the types of boards you need to have ago on to see what its all about. Test a few and you will find the one that works for you. Have fun.

Thanks for your input mikeman.. .. I agree it sounds odd and I was just repeating what was said to me.

I'll have mine soon and I'll be interested to see if I can feel that squared off thick tail doing anything.

I have to admit tho on the short steep swells that we get on the bay there are times that the wave behind you will break and crumble across the tail area of the board.

The tail on the shorter DC race boards look pretty narrow and thin.. Have you paddled one?. Are they more for a light person or is each board a custom order?

DJ

You make a very good point here as the type of sea conditions will have a huge affect on how the board will perform. Here, on the GC, my DC16 will respond differently in the Northerly vs Southerly conditions - mostly due to the differences in the swell length. There are even large variations in the conditions we get in the southerlies here so there are a lot of variables to consider. I normally take my shorter DC11 (my wave board) out in the northerlies and my longer DC16 in the southerlies. I guess your conditions in the bay would suit a smaller board. I prefer chasing the bigger southerlies up here but its all good fun.

One of the big things you want to look for in the tail section is the drag factor. You need to test this both in flat and downwind conditions.

Ben dover said...

Interesting to see that two guys on Stand ups beat Jamie Mitchell on a paddleboard..

What were the conditions like?

Good pick up Jake ..... are my eyes tricking or did the guy who won was in the 50+ caterory ?

Rob

the fin on Larry's board is exactly what I have been envisaging I want to try on my 12'6 ....... anyone know where you can get them for a standard box set up?

Scotty Mac said...

Is 14 going to be a regularily recognised class in australia?

hi, this would be the class that would interest me too.if it is, can you have steering too?
cheers

Scotty Mac said...

Is 14 going to be a regularily recognised class in australia?

Scotty it's looking like the 14' class might be the one to go for.

Unlimited will become something for those with the latest/greatest and the biggest wallet.. IMO.

DJ

tHE NEW NAISH GLIDE IS SICK GOES UNREAL LOVE IT TO DEATH