THE OVERALL TOP 3´S GEAR AT THE 2011 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

European Championship 2011 - With the Aerolite 9.5 being the top 2 choic for the light wind contions at the European Championship in Finland, it looks like the rest of the pack have there work cut out for the upcoming Woulds in August. 

The top 3´s gear was following, 

#1 Patrik Polack - F2 Ligthning 380, Aerolite 9.5 (ligth wind sail) and NP RS:X 9.5 (high wind sail)
#2  Sugiura Kazumasa - Fanatic Mega Cat - Aerolite 9.5 (ligth wind sail) and Severne 9.5 (high wind sail)
#3 Juha Blinnikka - Starboard Phantom 380 (2011), Severne RB 9.5 (ligth wind sail) and Starboard RB 9.5 (high wind sail)

On the board choice there is not one board that stands out in the top 3, and it looks to be the ability to get the most out of the board makes the difference at this moment.

There is no information on fins and masts, but for sure it looks like that all 3 have had got it working well.

Link to competitor entry list with equipment details - HERE

NEW RACEBOARD FIN FORM BLACK PROJECT FINS

BLACK PROJECT TYPE RB FIN -" We have been working closely with Jon White UK raceboard suprimo and rising German racing star OTS to develop a raceboard specific fin to give even more of an advantage to the team in preparation for the 2011 World Championship! Jon and OTS have been using the Type R 50 and 45cm on their Starboard raceboards so far this season and have provided Tom with vast quantites of GPS data from different locations and condition. Designing this fin was not easy;

“It is really hard to design the Type RB becuase the fin needs to do two completely different things during a race. I am looking at a bit lower aspect fin actually shorter than the Type R with a bit of a sweep in the tip. Will be almost parallel in the bottom 1/3. The foil is similar to Type S foil, the reasoning is that upwind the foil is out of the laminar flow drag bucket anyway, so going with something more slippery deep downwind with good handling and less heeling moment, from my analaysis of the GPS data this will be a winner.” Tom Hammerton

Tom tells me that he still has some work to do before he is happy that he has it just right, Jon and OTS will be getting their new fins soon and they should be available in their production versions later in the year but for those who want to gain an advantage in time for the worlds we’ll have some special custom versions available...

LINK TO BLACK PROJECT FINS HERE

THE LINEUP OF 2011 - RACEBOARDS AND SAILS

A lineup of the 2011 Raceboards, Hybridboards  and sails which will compete locally, nationally and internationally for honor and glory.

Here you will find a recap of most of the Raceboards, Hybridboards and Raceboard / Hybrid sails you can find on the market in 2011.

THE WEIGHT OF EQUIPMENT

After I've created this blog / website, I've had the opportunity to look at a lot of equipment. That made ​​me curious to know more about my own setup and where there would be something to improve in relation to performance.

There is no doubt that hours on the water is the best way for me to achieve better performance. Compared with weight then there is no doubt that if I throw 5 kg of my excess weight, it will be the good way to improve my performance.

I looked at the weight of the equipment which has won the World Championship the last few years. The estimated weight of it is around 30.5 kg. +/- 0.5 kg. This was done by collecting information from the Internet, combined with the weight of my own gear because it is very similar to that used by the top three at the World Championships in 2009.

Then I tried to see how low the total weight could come down if you took various part components. The figure I came up with was that you could probably get the equipment weight down to around 26 kg if you went the whole way. By this I mean custom made ​​centerboard and insets, etc. You can see the table below, however it is important to remember that there are approx. numbers and weight do not do it alone.

As I read the numbers it is the rig (sail, extension, mast and boom) I could pick the biggest weight savings. This little exercise has given me a list of things I should be aware of when equipment must be replaced.

LEFVEBRE SAILS- 2011 RACE PRO 9.5 NEW ON WATER VIDEO

Lefebvre team sailor Martin Mortis shows the 2011 Lefebvre Race Pro 9.5 on his Starboard Phantom Race 380 in this video. The mast used is a Neil Pryde RS:X 520/32, and the fin used is a Drake R19 NR 50 cm.

AEROLITE SAILS - RR 11 - 2011 RACEBOARD SAILS

"R-aceboard / R-evolution - The RR-11 is the 2011 raceboard sails from Aerolite sails.

Raceboard Sailors, like sails without complications, especially for this Class to achieve the best results with high performance. As designed by Kiko, World Champion sailor and international coach to Raceboard and Olympic Windsurfing Class, the RR-11 is manufactured in Spain, one by one with the best materials with utmost precision.

Not "MADE IN CHINA."

After winner 19 World Raceboard Championships in Aerolite Sails make the R-Evolution, and obtained one sail to get back above any other Raceboard Sail.

This is not sail for beginners or sport sailing, this is a real sail for competition. Seamless redundant, without screen printing with colorful, panel designs or absurd, is simply the best sail competition that you have to win.

Designed and built with ultra lightweight (RR-11 9.5 less than 4.5 kg. wet or dry) and durable materials, European origin, will make this the front Raceboard fleet.

More compact, center of gravity low, and light weight for transferring extra zero inertia. The most balanced in all directions, easy glide with light wind and very tolerant in the gusts, with a unique twist design of the leech.

ADJUSTABLE HARNESS LINES - YOUR OPTIONS

Adjustable Harness lines - Here is a brief overview of the different options you have if you need adjustable harness lines.

Chinhook, Dakine, Advance Technology, and Tunafish are some of the companies that make adjustable harness lines suitable for raceboard windsurfing.

ON THE ROAD TO PERFECTION - PATRIK POLLÁK WRITING

Patrik Pollák shares his knowledge in the first of several articles - Big Thanks.

"In the next few articles I would like to give some advice to all of you who want to improve your sailing on longboards. 

It’s all about balance; and I do not mean only your balance on the board.

1. TRIM - One of the things I like about sports in general is that people who know how to do it look unbelievable effortless doing things some other can only dream of.

Many years ago when I was maybe not a beginner anymore, but most definitely not an expert, I remember sitting on my raceboard (mistral OD at that time) in the sea in Sopot recovering from another crash. I just lost another episode in my „fight against nature“. I was trying to catch my breath to get the sail one more time out from water and sail back to the beach to finish the day as a loser. Just as my vision stopped to be blurry, there was a 50 kg, tiny blond Polish chick sailing around with big smile on her face. Like it was not blowing 7B and there were no waves. First I thought it was some kind of hallucination because it was not possible. But damn; it wasn’t. My physical exhaustion turned into general depression very fast. My first though was: Ok; it is time to start playing chess or do bowling. Then the second one: That is a stupid idea because I will probably suck in those sports as well.

MISTRAL - MISTRAL ONE DESIGN - RACEBOARD

"The Mistral One design has been one of the most successful one-design classes in recent history. Today the class remains strong and represents the best option for sailing in 0-30 knots with one board, one sail and one rig - Anders Bringdal.

For sailors in the 45-80kg range the Mistral One Design represents the best option for anybody that likes tight racing with an excellent performance in all type of conditions and remains pretty much the only one-design class that will perform in 0-30 knots of wind.

The board - The length of the board makes for an excellent platform in light wind and the same length means that the board in planing conditions is not going to bounce out of control making it possible to sail in the higher winds with the same sail and rig.

The board design by definition of its one-design status has not been changed. 3 concave in the nose running into a single V in the tail.

AEROTECH SAILS - DAGGER 9.5, 8.5 AND 7.5 - 2011 RACEBOARD SAILS

"Concept: Longboard racing  - The Dagger is Aerotech’s longboard racing sail. For 2011, this model has remained unchanged and is built of 100% grid construction.

With longboards making a huge comeback into the market, Aerotech has just the motor that these boards need.

This sail features afull powerful shape with firm leech tension. Moderate sleeve width and camber inducers give it maximum range and speed.

Construction: Other features include; roller bearing camber inducers, a thermo-formed base pad, a new raised stainless steel 6-1 pulley with oversized rollers, and an interactive rigging guide."

DEMON SAILS - VG7 9.5 - 2011 RACEBOARD SAIL

"VG7 -THE FUTURE - The VG7 is an all new Raceboard sail from the raceboard specialists at Demon Design. It was unveiled in the middle of 2010 and used in conjunction with a VG5 by Mark Kay to dominate the racing, winning both the 2010 UK CUP SERIES and the 2010 UK INLAND SERIES of events.

Mark is a very good sailor but in winning these series the performance of the VG7 shines through. Mark is a heavy weight and was regularly competing with and beating sailors 15kg lighter than himself. This should not be underestimated.

Interestingly, as well as its light wind performance, Mark reckoned it the best strong wind 9.5 he had ever used as well.. not bad for the prototype. Currently the design is being finalised in the 9.5 class size and it will then be followed by an 8.5 and 7.5 version.

Compared to the VG5 it is taller and the upper leach is designed to be held more closed and fuller by the distinctive aramid band emanating from the tack and progressing to the upper leach. In its current form it is about 400 gramms heavier than a standard VG5- expect this to come down in the near future. It is built in a mix of Aramid, Pentex and Polyester laminates from Bainbridge and Dimension Polyant."

Recomende mast for the 9.5 m2 is a Tushingham Ultimate Pro 550 cm. - bend curve number 17 (Flex top)
TO GO TO DEMON SAILS CLICK HERE

FINS - THE QUEST IS YOURS

What is the optimum allround fin for a raceboard, it's not easy to answer. It would be optimal to have only one sail and one finn that work plus 90% of max. in all conditions. Since we always have centerboard down going upwind is the fines ability to sail upwind not so important, or is it ?.

The two largest manufacturers of dedicated raceboards - Starboard and Exocet, have respectively chosen the Drake R19 NR Race 48 cm and the Exocet race 52 cm as a good all-around fine on their Starboard Phantom 380 and Exocet Elite 380.

A guess on the characteristics of a good allround raceboard fin could bee following;

- Vertical or near vertical, to keep the lateral center as fare forward as possible

- Narrow core - reducing drag and for not pulling lateral center back

- Thin profile - minimize resistance

- Good downwind capabilities

- Good to keep planing

- Easy to use

We have collected data from the internet on a lot of 48 cm fins so you can start your quest for the right one.

SLIM SAILS - MARATHON SL 9.5, 8.5, 7.5 - 2011 RACEBOARD SAILS

"Marathon SL - a camber, very light sail for competitors and enthusiastic riders of longboards with a center board.

The profil of the sails is made in the whole area of the sails so that they are suitable in the weak wind, too. 

A new wide mast sleeve gives higher power to a sail and makes easier putting a mast into it during trimming. New concave cutting off the leech and foot prevents from its twisting.

Six carbon battens give the sails stability, little weight and great power in the light and middle wind conditions.

Recomended mast for the sails is Technofiber CC 490/29 IMCS (constant curve) plus steady mast extension 45 cm or 35 cm for the 9.5 m2 and 8.5 m2 sails. You can also use a 520/32 IMCS mast."

NEW HYBRID - RS:ONE - NEIL PRYDE

"One start line, one race course, one objective - victory. Victory against others, the elements and yourself in an accessible, performance one-design class.

NeilPryde presents its one design concept featuring one board and one rig from the same pedigree as the RS:X, the official gear for the 2012 Olympics. It will allow young athletes to achieve their first steps towards Olympic competition and weekend racers to compete together. See you on the start line!"

As one design class, like the Bic Hybrid OD, Bic Techno 293 OD, RS:X and Kona OD all gear is fixed.

The RS:One comes with a 7,8 m2 5 batten twin cam sail, a 460 cm. 65% carbon 2,2 kg. mast, a 200-250 cm. 30 mm. T6 alloy boom, a 48 cm power box finn and a 63 cm long centerboard, a US pin power joint and a 34 cm alloy extension (X3).

"Patrice Belbeoch the RS:One Board Designer say´s 

What is your involvement within this project? 

I wanted to work on a board which will be the natural step to the RS:X. It is a great opportunity for our sport and for our young racers as it seems that they are not satisfied with existing boards today. The one-design concept allows everyone to compete on an equal footing while encouraging and developing sportsmanship. Mr. Neil Pryde and I share the same view on this and our paths crossed.

WINDSURFER - COURSE RACE 370 - RACEBOARD

Windsurfer Course race 370 - is a new board on the market form 2010, and it is a board out of Windsurfer Japan Inc.

It look´s to be at true contender for high winds or the lighter windsurfers with its 247 l.  It is a narrow board with its 64,6 cm. and with its length of 369,8 cm. it must certainly be a worthy competitor even in light winds.

 It seems that Windsurfer has worked on keeping the weight down, with its minimal graphics, additions, and its sanded down appearance. It is build in 150 g. biaxial carbon in its full length (deck and bottom), and its weight is 12,9 kg.

It comes with a 74,8 cm. epoxy/glassfiber/ form  centerboard, with a 9,6 % profile. For the fin you find a power box with recess, and it is comes with a 37,5 cm. G-10 fin. Furthermore, it has a 76 cm. long adjustable marsttrack, and is equipped with 2 upwind and 4 downwind footstraps.

BRAND

MODEL

MODEL YEAR

Length (mm.)

Wigth (mm.)

Weigth (kg.) #1

Volume (L.)

Board martriael

Finbox type

Standard fin size (cm.)

Centerboard length (cm.)

Masttrack length (cm.)

No. Of straps

WINDSURFER JAPAN

Course Race 370

2010

3698

646

12,9

247

150g biaxiel Carbon sandwich

Power box

37,5

74,8

76

6/8

To see centerboard click HERE   To se more photos look in the photo gallery   To se videos click HERE    For more information click HERE