Roberts/starboard opinions

[jmck]

I want to replace my old old fashioned 9 ft slalom board with a more modern board. I have a nice cambered Ezzy 6.6 to go on it. My first thought is to go for the standard traditional favourite Roberts slalom type, but the shorter wider starboard designs are pretty interesting. Thing is, it's hard for me to get my staid old mind around a 99 litre board being only 8'3" (like the Carve 99). I'm a lightweight (135lbs.) experienced sailor. I would appreciate the impressions of contemporary windsurfers on the two design styles. Thank-you.
Oh, by the way, I'm totally impressed with you-all sailing in maxed out conditions in rather cool temps. Very brave. Inspiring.

[Wind Pig]

Short and fat is the way to go. You may give up a little flat out speed but you'll be planing easier, sooner and longer than on a similar volume older style board. And shorter boards tend to turn nicer as well, therefore more fun all round. You'd probably be pretty happy with a carve 99 or similar board.

[winddoctor]

Hi jmck,

There's nothing really wrong with the "traditional" Roberts type slalom boards if you are mostly looking for top speed and fast jibing in lit up conditions. However, they seem to have a narrower effective wind range than a modern Carve or Sonic. In the upper wind range the old Robert's slalom boards would be tough to beat, but they are most fun when super powered. The low end of these boards is not as good as a comparable modern slalom board with a wider tail and shorter length. I haven't seen any of Rob's latest go-fast slalom boards, but I'm betting that even his full on race - slalom boards have evolved into the slightly shorter and wider route as well. The newer shapes are still very fast, yet they are easier to control (thus possibly ultimately faster than a trad. design as they are more controllable in voodoo conditions). They also accellerate quicker out of a hole to top speed faster than old designs and tend to turn easier. The shorter lengths offer less of a pitching moment or swing weight than the old boards so they feel a bit more direct with rider input.

So there really aren't too many reasons why you'd want a long skinny board over a shorter wider one unless you are mostly interested in purely top speed (and even then, modern speed boards are much shorter as well). At your 135 pounds, a Carve 99 would be a big board for you unless you only plan to sail in moderate wind. Do you also have high wind gear?

[jmck]

Yes, I have smaller wave and bump and jump boards. And yes, this would be a moderate wind board for me. 100 litres floats me high and dry so it could be my largest board. I wonder what is the largest sail one might use on the Carve? And thanks for the input. I'm afraid buying gear is a rather anxious affair for me.

[downwind dave]

i hear you jmck, ive got a, older 71l nuke board and a newer 97l freestyle board, they are both 8'2"! there is a demo day coming up may long weekend at the lake that might help you, i think the starboards will be there.

[mortontoemike]

jmck.

A couple of years ago I traded my 9'4" - 120L slalom board (Bic Vivace) for a 8'4" Carve 121 and I am delighted (I weigh 200lb). There is no doubt that it is not quite as fast as the Vivace but it is a much smoother ride particularly in Nitinaht chop where the Vivace could get slap happy. It is much more lively ride, gets on a plane faster, and is way easier to jibe. I use it for 6.0 - 7.5 conditions. In my opinion the Carve is the way to go and the Carve 99 got 10/10 on every review I have read.

This year I blew my life savings on a Kombat 95 (8'0") for higher wind (down to 4.2) riding and for bump and jump. I have only been out on it once under overpowered 5.0 conditions at Centennial and I was really pleased.

Short is sweet!

[mortontoemike]

Did I say "PLEASED"? Hell I was stoked!

[Rob Laurin]

There will be demo days at Nitnat on the may long weekend May21/21. There will be a pile of Starboards and Severne sails to try. It might help you decide??