I had the opportunity to upgrade from my 1
990's Bic Astro Rock (LENGTH: 2.85 m ,WIDTH: 0.61 m ,WEIGHT: 11 kg ,VOLUME: 125 l) to a 2007 Starboard S-type 126ltr Length 2,8 meters Width .61 meter
Huge difference, and somewhat of a learning curve. Here are some initial observation:
Astro Rock, narrow and longer Starboard shorter and wider
Astro Rock: when a gust comes in, get moving, get in the straps and harness, and sheet in, lots of pressure on the back foot and lots of leaning back on the sail Starboard, same scenario, did the same thing and had trouble getting on a plane. After some experimentation, I started putting more pressure on the front foot and that helped.
Astro Rock: I never had to point down wind to get on a plane. I understand the technique but never needed to use it. After several sluggish starts and hard times getting the board to plane, I started experimenting with this. Sometimes it helped and sometimes I catapulted, one time hard enough to sprain my wrist.
Astro Rock, slaps it's way over the chop, Starboard, depending on stance, wants to jump every single ramp, or cuts across the chop really well.
I didn't do a side by side comparison on the same day yet, but I can see some benefits of the newer board. While the Astro Rock gets up on a plane faster, the Starboard seems to have an overall faster speed (GPS was not charged, I'll confirm this later)
Astro Rock, I was able to jibe smoothly, long arcing jibes or short snappy ones. Starboard, I got the hand of the short snappy ones, but the long arcing ones, as soon as I depower, the sail, I would come of the plane and just do a slow slogging turn. I'm sure this is more technique, still sailing it like I learned and worked for the Astro Rock, Time will rectify that, I'm sure.
Question: I have short harness lines for the Astro Rock set up, keep them the same or lengthen them?
I think that once I get past the learning curve, I am going to love this new board!! Thoughts and comments?
fwiw, I'm seeing the Starboard as much shorter and wider than you list. About 239x68 or so. Here's the catalogue
You've got one level below the iSonic. It really will feel different than the Astro. Boards like that are meant to be driven off the fin and very powered up. As well, the rails are pretty thick (I'm guessing) so it'll take a fair amount of bent knees and pressure on the mast base to get through a jibe without scrubbing much speed. It really isn't meant to depower unless you are overpowered. Drive it through the turn and only oversheet if necessary. You want to carry as much speed in as you can tolerate.
Don't worry about pushing it off the wind to accelerate - that's how we do most modern boards and certainly how I do my foilboard. Keep your feet back and weight down on the mast base by pressing down on the booms. If you step forward, you risk pushing the rocker line down in the water. Older, longer boards slowly come up to a plane where modern new school boards depend on a bit of rider input but you'll be rewarded by it taking off very quickly. Look up Peter Hart and Jem Hall for the technique. I think both have written about it. Right now it feels different but once you get it down, you'll appreciate it - at least I think you will.
btw, to avoid catapults when accelerating, hang down hard on the booms. Or as Jem Hall says, "Get down, James Brown."
The current trend in harness lines is longer - keep the rig away from you. I'm short with short arms; and a chest harness and I'd use at least 24 if not 26. I'd think 28 or 30 would be the call.
There is a period of adaptation. I went through it when I moved up to my Tabou 3s about 6 years ago even though I was coming from a 258x65 120 l. 2006 board. I, too, struggled but after about a year, I really started to dial in the Tabou and could do things on it that I simply couldn't on the previous board. I think you'll like your new ride.
What might be fun for us is for you to update this post every so often as you uncover something pro or con.
Saw the pic on the WNC group and wondered who had the sporty ride. Congrats!
I had a starboard s-type 12? for a season or two. I could of swore mine was around 67cm wide though. Sold it to a guy that used it to do speed trials in Texas with.
It was also my first exposure to a short wide board. It had a flat-ish bottom and sharp rails. It was scary fast, probably one of the fastest boards I ever owned. Not the easiest board to jibe though, took constant pressure on the rail or it would round back into the wind.
My favorite sail with it was a NP 7.0 V8.
Congratulations on your purchase and pending white knuckles. LoL
Alan
All good info, thanks. I googled the specs, so likely they are wrong.
Good advice too. I hope it takes less than a year to get dialed. I was feeling more comfortable after the day on the water for sure.
Already started watching Jem Hall after I got home, I'll check out the other guy!
I'll keep you updated on my progression, thanks
I guess I meant that to completely override muscle memory and for you to have enough sessions in different conditions so you fully get the different nuances. I'm glad you started to feel home on it so quickly - that bodes well.
I guess I meant that to completely override muscle memory and for you to have enough sessions in different conditions so you fully get the different nuances. I'm glad you started to feel home on it so quickly - that bodes well.
Yes, that makes sense!
Ashevillejanes
Beautiful shot of the board in action
Update. I got out today for a light wind session on our local Asheville lake, Lake Julian. Very light winds with lengthy gusts of 10-20 mph. I was hoping for better, but realized the light wind was perfect for getting to know the board better. I rigged a 6.6 sail because I left my 7.5 boom at home. I worked on slow mo jibing and taking, and when the gusts came, I worked on planing. I got about 5-6 good runs and about 4 of those planing in the footstraps.
I focused on the above recommendations especially pulling down on the boom and putting the pressure on the front foot. Body language is everything and these things made a difference. I also lengthened the harness lines a couple of inches, and that made a huge difference.
On the slo mo jibes, I focused on getting my weight on the front foot.
I realized that on the Astro Rock, with the mast foot so far forward, I had to put a lot of weight on the tail to compensate, planing and jibing. With the Starboard,mast track/foot farther back/ more central, the board required that body weight stays more central. Make sense?
GPS recorded 22 mph on one run! My record speed on the Astro Rock is 28 mph on a high wind day with a 5.7 sail.....
webguy
Also, now I want a time accurate quiver of sails to match the board!!
Maybe a Duotone S-Types for your Starboard S-Type.
Don’t forget The Jaguar S-Type to haul them with.
Hamdi can design you a rack system.
Alan
Great report. Lake Julian, ha ha. Used to sail dinghies there in college and the wind coming around the power plant was brutal plus it was usually in the fall and cold as * launching in the morning.
Great to hear that the random spaghetti we throw against the wall actually helps sometimes.
When you are ready for your fo' real speed runs, plenty of downhaul, not too much outhaul, powered up as you can stand it and then turn 35 degrees downwind from a reach. Don't lean too far back towards the tail but try to stay somewhat forward. You might try a fin a couple cm smaller than usual, too. Gene used to rip on his Tabou and would use a 30cm with his 7.5 and it's probably similar width. iirc, exactly but probably around 66? So, anywhere from a 32-34 would work well if the GPS is on your mind.
Watch some Nico and Rytis jibe videos if nothing else to imprint the stance, etc on your brain. The've both done some good stuff.
+1 on the S-Types. Cams will get the most out of the board or a good no-cam freerace like the Cheetah or Retro. At 7.5, I think Alan and I would go for cams but they aren't for everyone. A 2 cam freeride will be easy handling - easier jibes and waterstarts s . A 3 cam freerace slalom will let you hold that board down with gusts well into the mid 20s (Ezzy Lions have a nice range for a 2cam sail). Kind of read between the lines of reviews/descriptions what the sail is meant for.
Know of anyone with dome power box fins for sale?
What size?
Currently have a 39cm/ 15.5 inch,
I think a 20 cm and a 28 cm would be a good start. Or something close
I prefer the sweeper/ freeride style,
For which board? I probably have something that hasn't been used forever. I'll be in Gainesville this morning and I'll try to take some pics.
Starboard S Type 126
Scratch that, just went back to the catalog to check the specs, range is 32-42 cm, so 32-34 would be good, I think. I'm open to your thoughts, I don't usually change fin with sails,
Nice thread!
But Stephen (and William, if you are digging through your fins for him): Pretty sure the starboard does not take a power box fin....but a tuttle - maybe even a deep tuttle. (all I know is it def has two bolts - right???)
or maybe I'm missing somethign with that "dome" part
Single bolt in the middle. Power Box?
yeah. single bolt, middle = powerbox.
But doesn't your starboard and fin have two bolts, one at each end of fin box?
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