Hey, I've seen no discusion of this board here on the forum. I count on the ABC forum to tip me off on longboard developments. Maybe I was napping, but then again, I nap even less than I longboard, anyway...
check these out:
Exocet's 2007 WARP X-380 claims speeds UPWIND in excess of 20 knots with it's removable "Step Tail Adapter" -- I know that's not a totally new concept, but look at it
http://www.exocet-original.com/products/warpx.asp
And now the KONA in 2007 comes in two more versions:
the "Mahalo" version is also a tandem board - it has 3 mast tracks , so it can go tandem or a single rig centered in the right place.
http://www.exocet-original.com/products/konamahalo.asp
And the "Kona Surf" downsizes the 380 X 76, 295 liters '06 Kona to a lightwind surf (or lightweight surfer) size of 315cm X 65 at 180 liters in a lighter epoxy construction.
Chuck Hardin
Whitecap Windsurfing, Inc.
c:706-833-WIND (9463)
There finally are some good new longboards coming out.
The Kona's were well represented at the Fall Showdown at Ft. Walton Beach a few weeks ago. There was a fleet of about 10 kona's racing in the longboard class. They were fairly competitive with the regular longboards, which is pretty good considering their sail size was limited to 7.4 and they lack the usual adj. masttrack, etc of the race longboards. The top Konas finished 5th and 6th, while beating out several coneventional raceboards.
I got to sail the Kona briefly - much nicer planning performance than just about any longboard I've sailed. Reminded me a little bit of a formula board. Didn't try it in light wind but they seemed to do just as well in light winds as stronger winds (based on finishing positions).
There was also a Warp-X present, but it was only in one race, I think. To prove that the old longboards aren't dead, top honors went to Mark Boersma, in a 1990's vintage AHD Eliminator (open class, big sail.)
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I see Randy lived up to his 'diety' status at the Fall Showdown with FIVE FIRSTS in 5 races! Way to go your highness!
NM
Only a diety in lowly sport fleet, I'm afraid.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I'm not sure these are for everybody, yet...
but it is an important step to revive racing in the S.E. U.S. which could never fully embrace Formula because of the sketchy wind. Even if more people wanted to race, there was only a finite supply of boards since just about all went out of production.
There are probably a lot of old raceboards out there in closets, garages, attics, cellars, etc. Probably enough to supply a bunch of fleets, but there probably is more of a buzz when its a new one design board and you've got factory support for the class. Be nice if the Kona fleet did take off - it would provide a good racing format for the SE, for sure.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Results from the Raceboard Worlds in Thailand. (48 Entries). The Warp X 380 came in 2nd. Best Kona came in 25th.
The "MOD" board is the IMCO - sailed with 7.4 sails, even though up to 9.5 was allowed. There wasn't that much wind, so I would assume the other guys were on bigger sails. So the old IMCO is still competitive.
http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/files/usercontent/pages/RB_Worlds_06_final_results.htm
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.