Had a go on a Starboard hypersonic last night. When the wind gusted enough to get the beast planing it was the weirdest thing i've ever sailed.



I'm ready to be disproved but I reckon your standard slalom board of yesteryear will be a lot faster.



p.s got a bad back this morning - is this hypersonic related ?

I had a go on one a few months ago at Rutland water. I was able to compare it directly to my AHD 300 Pro Race by using my 8.3 Pryde Z1 on both in typical shite gusty Rutland conditions.



My impression was that it was a lot smoother than my AHD and noticably faster though it did take some getting used to. As for planing gybes.....



I think I would like to have a few more goes before I commit myself (partly because I get frustrated sailing in those conditions, give a 4.7 and wave board any day) but I definitely wouldn't write it off especially when you consider the sail capacity for such a low volume short board. Its good to see some innovation in the sport

...I had nothing to compare it with directly on the day. I'd been on my wave board and I was on a 5.7 which is probably the high end of it's wind range.



The boom needs to be set so high compared to standard equipment, and footstearing is ....well.... non-existent. Gybing is indeed fun. I found the only real way to gybe it on the plane was a step gybe - strap to strap was a real no go.



I still reckon in a good blow, 5.0m and below, a DSB will hammer it. Above 6.5m ? Dunno I'll be doing the garden !



Ern.

Tried the hypersonic with a 10.3 at windy john's demo day last march.

Best half hour work out i have ever had in 6 kts of wind. Surprisingly easy to plane but the novelty wore off quickly, how the hell am i going to learn to vulcan on one of those!!



Got the 'showing off video' by harty and his crew, so should soon be able to crown myself as King of the Lake! Off to rhossy this arvo, don't want to make you workers too jealous!!!

Good to know if I'm injured today all the quacks from Arrow Park are in North Wales.



Get back to work I thought you lot work 150 hrs a week.

300 hrs actually...........